Swindon Welcomes Ukraine has been running a festive appeal called Secret Santa, inviting local people to donate gifts and toys for children affected by the ongoing war. Many of the recipients are living in areas where access to basic supplies, let alone Christmas presents, is severely limited.
The story and accompanying photographs capture the moment the donations were collected, as volunteer John and his organisation, John’s Red Bus, arrived to load the gifts ready for transport. The minibus was filled with toys gathered through the appeal, marking the final Swindon handover before the journey to Ukraine.
Anastasiia Banatska, Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, said:
“This project is about dignity and hope for children who have had so much taken from them. Knowing that a child will receive a gift from Swindon, sent with love by people who care, means more than we can properly express.”
The appeal also received significant support from Swindon’s Polish community. Through local chair Ewa, the Polish Community donated more than £1,000 worth of toys, substantially increasing the scale of the delivery.
Members of the Polish community centre were among the first organised hubs in Swindon to send aid to Ukraine following the full-scale invasion in 2022, an effort that previously attracted national media attention.
John, from John’s Big Red Bus, said:
“When you see the volume of toys and think about the children they’re going to, it really hits home why this matters. We’re proud to be helping get these gifts from Swindon to where they’re needed most.”
Organisers say the collaboration highlights the close links between British, Polish and Ukrainian communities in Swindon, and the shared determination to support families affected by the conflict.
The journey of the toys to Ukraine will be shared on social media, allowing donors and supporters to follow the minibus from Swindon to its final destination.
