Barnstaple Roundtable Santa Sleigh raises major funds for local causes

The Barnstaple and District Roundtable Santa Sleigh event has been hailed as a resounding success, raising a major amount for local charities in December 2024. 

This marks an 11 per cent increase from last year’s total. The group described this year as their “best year ever.”

On 10 January 2025, the group held its annual presentation evening at Barnstaple Rugby Club, where sixteen charities received donations. 

Rob Miles, Chairman, and Ash Thorne, Santa Sleigh and Charity Coordinator, thanked everyone involved, from volunteers to local sponsors.

“We are immensely proud of what the group and the charity collectors have achieved and would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the Santa Sleigh and a special thanks goes out to our sponsors, Tom Sandland and his team at Barnstaple Nissan for the loan of the e-power Nissan X-Trail, Mark Brend and the team at Taw Ford for sponsorship for the Santa juice for the vehicle and the sleigh generators. Thanks also go to Bruce Isaac and Simon Randall from Storage Space in Barnstaple in letting us store the sleigh over the Christmas season and designing and printing the Christmas cards with QR codes and finally a special thanks to The Voice and DevonLive who helped to promote the Santa routes across Barnstaple and the surrounding areas on the Breakfast Show and through their online platforms and papers.”

The funds raised will support numerous causes, including Children’s Hospice South West, North Devon Hospice, Families in Grief, and other local groups.

Children’s Hospice South West shared their gratitude, saying: “We are delighted to support the Roundtable Santa’s Sleigh event. A team of staff and volunteers soon forgot the cold weather when they saw the children’s reactions to seeing Santa. The wide-eyed waves and smiles will stick in our memories. Due to the amazing generosity of the public, we received a fantastic sum which will support the families who use Little Bridge House. Thanks to all who donated and the incredible work and enthusiasm of the team at Roundtable.”

Rob and Ash continued, “Our biggest thanks go to the residents and people of Barnstaple and the surrounding areas in helping to make this possible through their generosity and support and we have already started planning for Christmas 2025 in making the sleigh even better for the people of Barnstaple.”

Additionally, North Devon Hospice received a £4,000 donation from the Barnstaple Roundtable Fireworks event held in November 2024.

Mikey Jewell, Fireworks Organiser for Barnstaple Roundtable, commented: “We are so pleased to make our full charity donation for fireworks to the North Devon Hospice as one of our ex-table members, Simon Randall from Storage Space, is currently going through cancer treatment and is getting first-class help and support from the teams at the North Devon Hospice.”

For over seventy years, Barnstaple Roundtable has been committed to serving the community. 

They continue to welcome new members.

For more information, contact barnstapleroundtable271@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page: Barnstaple and District Roundtable.