Helping blind children

With the festive season nearly upon us, Santa and his elves are already busy getting everything prepared to make sure every child has a magical Christmas.

As always, Santa is expecting to receive millions of letters from children all over the world with asks of what they’d like to receive in their stockings on Christmas Day.

To make sure that every child can read his reply, Santa has teamed up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to make his letters available in accessible formats, including braille, audio and large print, for children who have a vision impairment.

Last year, the elves sent 1,465 letters from Santa to blind and partially sighted children across the UK, helping them experience the same magic of Christmas as sighted children.

If you know a child who has a vision impairment and who would love to receive a letter from Santa, please send their Christmas letter to: Santa Claus, RNIB, Northminster House, Northminster, Peterborough, PE1 1YN.

Santa has also gone digital! Email santa@rnib. org.uk by Wednesday, December 22 for an email response with a large print attachment.

Letters can also be requested through RNIB’s website at www.rnib.org. uk/santa.

On behalf of Santa, his elves and all at RNIB, we wish you a Merry Christmas! effect the bangs and flashes can have on pets and people and to be considerate of their neighbours this Bonfire Night.

In the UK 70 per cent of owners report their pets being affected, some being physically sick and too frightened to leave the house for days after the fireworks have stopped.

Please consider using low-noise fireworks or sparklers this year in your back garden where possible or give neighbours advance warning if you’re planning to set off fireworks for the sake of pets and people across the country who may struggle with them across the country.

Advice on how you can help prepare your pet for fireworks season and what to do if they are fearful on noisy nights is available from the charity’s website.

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