Edison Media, in partnership with Glencar Construction, has launched the Christmas Toy Appeal to support children within the City of Salford and the boroughs of Bury and Bolton.
Manchester media agency Edison Media and Glencar Construction are calling on businesses and individuals across the region to come together this Christmas and support their 2026 Christmas Toy Appeal, “Be Someone’s Santa”.
The appeal will support vulnerable children and children in need aged 0–18, as well as families across the City of Salford and the boroughs of Bury and Bolton.
For many of us, Christmas is a time we look forward to all year. It is a time for family, celebration and creating memories, with the excitement of Christmas morning at the heart of it for children.
But Christmas can also be an incredibly difficult time for children and families who need additional support. At a time of year when the pressure and expectation surrounding Christmas can feel greater than ever, hundreds of children across our local communities are in need.
The partnership wants to help change that.
Hundreds of children are in need this Christmas, and we want to be their Santa.
Through Be Someone’s Santa, Edison Media is asking its clients, partners, media owners, suppliers, local businesses and the wider community to help provide Christmas gifts for vulnerable children and children in need across Salford, Bury and Bolton.
People can donate a new, unwrapped gift or make a financial contribution, with every penny raised used to purchase presents for children and young people aged 0–18.
A single donation might feel small, but collectively it can become something much bigger.
A £10 donation can become a new toy. A gift picked up while doing the Christmas shopping can become something chosen especially for a child or young person. An office collection can turn into dozens of presents.
And when hundreds of people and businesses come together, those individual acts of kindness have the potential to make a real difference to children and families across our local communities this Christmas.
The appeal builds on several years of fundraising by the Edison Media team, including its support for families affected by premature birth through the World Prematurity Charity Ball. Together, those efforts have raised more than £150,000 directly for charitable causes.
After stepping away from the Prematurity Ball this year, the team wanted to put the time, energy and support that had grown around its previous fundraising into something new while continuing its commitment to helping children and families.
Nicola Orrell, Managing Director of Edison Media, said:
“Christmas has always meant a lot to us as a team. So many of us have young families ourselves and we know how much excitement surrounds Christmas for children. But we also know that Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for vulnerable children and families who need support. There are hundreds of children within our own communities who are in need this Christmas, and we want to do whatever we can to help. We've been incredibly proud of what we've achieved through our previous charity work, raising more than £150,000 for causes that mean a great deal to us. When we stepped away from the Prematurity Ball, we knew we still wanted to use the network and support around Edison to do something positive. That is where Be Someone’s Santa came from. We are incredibly fortunate to work with hundreds of businesses, clients, media owners, suppliers and partners, and we want to bring that community together. You don't have to make a huge donation to make a difference. It could be one toy. It could be £5 or £10. It could be asking your colleagues to bring a gift into the office. On its own it might seem like a small gesture, but put hundreds of those gestures together and suddenly we can do something really special.”
Ed McGillycuddy, CEO of Glencar, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to support Edison Media’s Be Someone’s Santa appeal. Giving back to the communities around us is hugely important to Glencar, and if together we can help make sure more children experience the magic and excitement of Christmas morning, then it’s something we’re very proud to be part of.”
The appeal will support children and young people aged 0–18
Money raised through the appeal will be used to purchase gifts suitable for different age groups, from toys, books and puzzles for younger children through to gifts for older children and teenagers.
We are also supporting families directly through Family Haven Hub CIC, a community organisation based in Little Hulton, Salford
Be Someone’s Santa
There are three simple ways to get involved:
DONATE
Make a financial contribution through the Edison Media 2026 Toy Appeal JustGiving page. Every penny raised will be used to purchase gifts.
GIFT
Purchase a new, unwrapped gift suitable for a child or young person aged 0–18 and bring it to Edison Media HQ.
SHARE
Tell your colleagues, clients, suppliers, friends and family about the appeal and help us get as many people involved as possible.
Whether it's £5, one toy or an entire office collection, every contribution becomes part of something bigger.
Together, we can help make Christmas a little more special for hundreds of children and families within the City of Salford and the boroughs of Bury and Bolton.
JustGiving:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/edisonmediatoyappeal
Toy drop-off:
Edison Media HQ, Manchester
Donation deadline: Friday 4th December 2026
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/besomeonessantabyedisonmedia/?hl=en - official Be Someone’s Santa Instagram page