William, eight, spreads festive cheer for refuge
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy is raising money for a women’s refuge charity, because he does not want anyone without an address to be missed by Santa this Christmas.
For the past three years William Webb has gone door to door selling homemade hot chocolates, reindeer food, and popcorn to raise money for children whose parents are struggling at Christmas time.
William first became determined to make a positive impact in his community when he noticed the toy collection trolleys at his local Asda in Brackla, Bridgend, and his mum Kimberley had to tell him what they were collecting for.
This made him so sad that William set out on a mission to do what he could to make a difference.
This year, he has already raised £1,000 so far for Bridgend’s Women’s Aid – and is already planning ahead for next year.
In the previous two years, he has made around £300. But this time around, it has been an especially busy one.
He has gone door-to-door selling his things and has raised money with a local triathlon by giving a speech and attending their annual Christmas gathering.
Kimberley said: “William was really upset when he found out not everyone has very much for Christmas.
“He said he wanted to start raising some money for it so we came up with some ideas that wouldn’t be too high in cost but make a big impact.
“He goes round the houses in Brackla door-to-door, and over the years it’s been freezing cold but he just gets on with it. And he gives a small speech about why Santa doesn’t know where the children live, and always does really well.
“My mother and I had a conversation this year about where he could donate to, and which places were accepting toys and Bridgend Women’s Aid was one of them.
“We spoke to him about it, and explained how the children which the charity also supports might have had
He’s already started planning ahead for next year... as he is slightly concerned people will stop giving to him because he won’t be as cute
to leave their homes and some of the toys behind, and he’s only eight so we also explained that Santa might not know where they lived now as well, so he decided that was the one he wanted to raise the money for.
“We tried a GoFundMe page and he’s also been going around selling things that he made, and then he also went along with his dad to the triathlon club that he runs in Porthcawl and he went to their annual Christmas do and did a speech in front of about 150 people where he raised money there.
“So we’ve just last night now finished buying all the presents for the charity and there’s absolutely loads.” William has bought toys for 12 boys and girls, and seven mothers.
When William is older, he wants to be a professional footballer, or maybe a GP, according to Kimberley, who described her son as “loving” and “very funny”.
She added: “He has always been very caring, but he is an only child as well so I think that might be a reason.
“But he’s also very aware that he’s in a lucky situation and that he has the things he needs and wants. But he understands that they don’t just come.
“I think it’s good that he does care about other people, and I think he wants to be the Santa for those children this year. He’s really risen to that challenge.
“And we’re so grateful to people as well because in this day and age, the cost-of-living is so high so everyone is struggling but people have been so generous.
“He’s already started planning ahead for next year, when he will be nine, as he is slightly concerned people will stop giving to him because he won’t be as cute.
“I don’t know how we’re going to top it from this year, but he wants to make even it bigger and better.”
William’s mum Kimberley