The Work of Father Christmas
Imagine a charity that did the work of Father Christmas...
This was the dream that inspired LaplandUK founders Mike and Alison Battle to establish the Lapland Foundation in October 2024 with the simple ambition to do the work of Father Christmas by bringing joy and hope to young children facing challenges at Christmastime.
Sadly, thousands of children have their childhoods interrupted and question their belief, not only in Father Christmas but in life itself, challenged by illness, disability, isolation, bereavement or financial and domestic hardship.
Restoring childhood wonder & belief
It is here where the Lapland Foundation is committed to helping, because we believe every child is important, and every childhood deserves to be honoured and nurtured no matter what circumstance children find themselves in.
In creating the world of Lapland, Mike and Alison have witnessed firsthand the unique and powerful restorative influence of Father Christmas. The Lapland Foundation goal is to bring this gentle benevolent energy to reignite childhood wonder and belief in the world and their future in it.
Bringing the magic of Christmas
Currently in the UK thousands of children face Christmas in the care of a UK hospital or hospice with many of them worrying, despite their challenges, that Christmas will pass them by in some way. Many believe that Father Christmas will not know where to find them to deliver presents if they are not at home. Lapland Foundation aims to remove those fears and spread Christmas joy to those who have had their childhoods interrupted. This can take many forms, from delivering a beautifully packed stocking from Father Christmas to a young person’s bed or bringing the spirit of Father Christmas to their hospital, hospice or home.
Father Christmas would never forget a child at Christmastime, so nor must Lapland Foundation!
What we do...
Our purpose is to honour childhood by providing relief, joy, and festive cheer to children in need, particularly those facing ill-health, disability, financial hardship, bereavement or other challenges / life interruptions. We are committed to preserving the wonder of childhood by reminding children that Father Christmas has not forgotten them at Christmas. Through our efforts, we aim to uplift children in difficult circumstances and celebrate the magic of childhood, especially during the Christmas season.
The annual Lapland Foundation Christmas Stocking campaign is a key focus of our work, but it will certainly not be our only initiative.
We also spread Christmas joy to young children facing difficult times in a variety of other ways including through grant making to charitable organisations.
The Lapland Foundation operates completely separately from LaplandUK’s commercial activities so Lapland Foundation is not involved in gifting tickets for LaplandUK.
2024 Activities
In 2024 LaplandUK spread Christmas magic to children most in need by distributing Christmas stockings to children and their siblings supported by: Demelza Hospice Sittingbourne and Eltham, Ellenor Hospice Gravesend, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, University Hospital Lewisham, St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Middlesex, Dash (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) Bracknell, Home-start Bracknell Forest, Link Berkshire and Berkshire Community Foundation.
As well as working alongside Berkshire Community Foundation to fund Christmas parties for the following charities: Home-start Berkshire East, Home-start Bracknell Forest, The Dash Charity (Domestic Abuse Stops Here), Vsi Razoom- Ukranian charity, Busy Buttons, Charge R&R, Stepping Stones DS, Parenting Special Children, Daisy’s Dream, Create Hope, The Woodland Centre Trust.
And filmed and distributed personalised Christmas messages from Father Christmas to children supported by Demelza Hospice and Ellenor Hospice
Charity Feedback
The beautiful Christmas stockings, jam-packed with gifts, will bring so much joy to the children we support at Home-Start. It’s hard to put into words just how much this means to us and to the families we work with. Thank you for making the season so special with your kindness and thoughtfulness. Your support truly makes a difference, and we are so grateful for all you’ve done.
Home-Start Berkshire East
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with you and for the support you have provided to help us organise the Christmas party for displaced Ukrainian families. Your involvement has made a tremendous difference, allowing us to bring joy, hope, and a sense of community to families who have experienced significant challenges.’
Vsi Razom
We are especially grateful for the generous donations of Christmas stockings. These stockings will bring much- needed happiness to vulnerable children in our local community this Christmas. Your kindness and support will make a world of difference, and we are honoured to be one of the chosen charities to receive these thoughtful gifts.
The Link Foundation, Bucks
I am writing to express our heartfelt thanks for the incredible generosity and thoughtfulness you have shown to The Dash Charity and the families we support this Christmas season. Your donation of beautiful and filled Christmas stockings will be bringing so much joy to the lives of children affected by domestic abuse, during what can often be a challenging time. Beyond the gifts, your generous donation to fund Christmas parties at our refuge houses will allow us to create joyful, lasting memories for the children and their families we support.
The DASH (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) Charity, Berkshire
Demelza were delighted to be gifted the most beautiful stockings that were filled with LaplandUK gifts for the children and young people that access our services. These stockings went a huge way to supporting Demelza’s appeal to create memories this Christmas that will last a lifetime. Thank you for the support and generosity.
Demelza Hospice, Kent
We are incredibly grateful to the Lapland Foundation for their generous donation of the beautiful Christmas stockings in December 2024. These thoughtful gifts brought immense joy and comfort to our patients and their families during the festive season. Many were despatched to the patient’s homes and the siblings were fortunate to be included too. The delight in receiving the stunning stockings along with personalised videos from Father Christmas created the most memorable experience bringing love and compassion to many families.
Ellenor Hospice, Kent
We were blown away to receive the beautiful Christmas stockings from the Lapland UK Foundation, and our family support team could not wait to distribute them to the children and families we support. It can be difficult for families to plan for Christmas, when you don’t know what tomorrow will bring but these stockings brought some Christmas magic and smiles to our supported children, their siblings and to bereaved siblings and their families.
Shooting Star Chidren’s Hospices, Middlesex
