For over 40 years, Santa's Sleigh has been a well-loved tradition of Christmas in Holmes Chapel & District. On December evenings, local community groups bring Santa and his Sleigh around the neighbourhood so that excited children can meet Santa at their doorstep. His many helpers collect donations on the night, and this page allows donations to be made online. The total collected is distributed to worthy local groups.

Sleigh Run December 2021

This year the Sleigh will be out from December 1st to December 17th and also at the Christmas Market on Sunday December 5th. A full schedule will be published on the Holmes Chapel Partnership website www.hcpartnership.org.uk, Facebook, Villages Mag, and elsewhere.

You are invited to come and cheer, but you are asked not to come too close to the Sleigh and maintain your social distance between your family group and others.

We will use the Sleigh tracker so you will be able to see where Santa is on any night. The Sleigh will travel slowly and stop regularly.

Following the pleasure it brought to the younger children last year, Santa will again visit the local Primary schools.

This year the Sleigh will be brought to you by Holmes Chapel Scouts, Holmes Chapel Guides, Goostrey Scouts, Brereton Scouts, Holmes Chapel Pre-School, Holmes Chapel Viking Explorer Scouts, Dane Sound Radio, Holmes Chapel Primary PTA, and Bridge The Gap, who will each receive a share of the donations.

Donations

We hope that you will show your support by giving to one of the many collectors who will accompany Santa's sleigh on the night. Alternatively, you are encouraged to donate through this JustGiving page. The total collected less small maintenance costs will be distributed to the groups above.

It has been a difficult two years for all of the organisations, with restricted activities. They have not been able to undertake many of their normal fundraising activities that they rely on, yet have still had many of their costs.

For example, Dane Sound Radio have continued to support our local community, all working on an entirely voluntary basis, yet they too have ongoing costs.

Bridge the Gap has been forging more links between the young and old this year, by working with our local primary schools to introduce regular letters from our primary school children to people in our local residential homes.

The Holmes Chapel Partnership

The sleigh runs are organised by The Holmes Chapel Partnership (HCP) which is a voluntary group providing support to the Holmes Chapel and District community, supported by the Parish Council and Cheshire East.

This is the fourth year that the Partnership has managed the Santa Sleigh runs around the district. Originally the Sleigh was run by Holmes Chapel Round Table, and then 41 Club, and more recently the Rotary Club of Holmes Chapel.

Last year, because of Covid restrictions, we were unable to collect donations on the sleigh. Despite this, the usual groups who support us were still happy to brave the elements and bring Santa on his Sleigh to see you all. This year, subject to any late Covid restrictions, we are planning to return to near-normal operation.