Motorway Service Area Operator, Welcome Break, has launched its Dial-a-Santa service for a second year following its successful debut in 2021, with the aim of helping those who want to take their children to see the big man but cannot afford to do so.

New research carried out on behalf of the company shows that despite 60 per cent of parents and grandparents believing it is important to take children to visit Santa, 31 per cent cannot afford the ticket price due to the rising cost of living. A further 20 per cent say they cannot afford the travel costs involved. The research was carried out among 1,000 parents and grandparents over the age of 18 by Opinion Matters during November 2022.

For one day only, on one of the most popular weekends for visiting Santa and travelling to see family pre-Christmas – Saturday 10 December – children will be able to video call Father Christmas via FaceTime OR WhatsApp by dialling 07355 983802 between 9am to 5pm.

“When we heard that a third of parents and grandparents are unable to afford a grotto visit this year, we knew we had to relaunch our service for a second year running,” said Welcome Break CEO, John Diviney. “Due to the huge demand last year, we’ve asked the man himself to take a day out of his busy schedule. We can’t wait to delight children around the country again this year and bring some festive cheer!”

Welcome Break will be hosting lots of other festive activities this year. All sites will have templated letters and addressed envelopes to Santa and if parents add a stamp and post before Friday 9 December, the Royal Mail will send a response from the North Pole. There will also be festive colouring in sheets and crayons, and each service area will also have a tree and wish tags so children can write their wishes and add them to the tree or take them home.