For many families, Christmas is a time to come together; to celebrate with music, presents, and an all-important Christmas feast.  

But this year, it’s likely to look a little different. The usual mixing of friends and relatives will be restricted, and some families may be unable to see their loved ones as usual. 

Sadly, lockdown isn’t the only reason families may spend Christmas without a loved one. For children facing serious illness, a traditional Christmas may not be guaranteed, and for families approaching Christmas without someone they love, the festivities can feel incredibly challenging.   

That’s just one of the reasons why, with your help, BBC Children in Need provides funding for Sebastian’s Action Trust, a charity supporting children and families facing serious illness. Your donations help to pay for the roles of two Child/Family Support Workers at the Trust, one of whom is Tracy.   

Every year, with the help of Tracy, Sebastian’s Action Trust organise a special festive event in July to make sure that seriously ill children and their families can still experience the magic of Christmas.  

This support has always been incredibly important, but with the pandemic bringing additional challenges of shielding, isolation and anxiety, it only became more crucial this year. 

Despite facing the difficulties of lockdown, Tracy and her colleagues at Sebastian’s Action Trust were determined to continue their July celebrations with an amazing virtual Christmas for the 1,200 children they support.  

In the middle of July, Tracy and her puppet-friend Buddy hosted a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with a concert, circus acts, bubble art, a farm tour and much more. And of course, the festivities wouldn’t be complete without a present, so every child also received a gift from Father Christmas! 

Having now reached December, Sebastian’s Action Trust has continued their support for families throughout the festive period, with another online Christmas party which even included a pantomime!  

Thanks to your donations, this hugely important support gives children and families a chance to celebrate and make memories in a time when things are incredibly tough.  

Whilst life will continue to be challenging for many people this Christmas, projects like Sebastian’s Action Trust bring happiness and comfort to us all. 

Thank you, and Merry Christmas!