Hundreds of poorly and disabled children and young adults have been able to visit Santa’s grotto this year thanks to a business couple.
Callum and Nikki McKeefery said they were inspired to create their own grotto by their five-year-old son Hudson, who has special needs.
They spent tens of thousands of pounds and six months transforming a building in Leicester city centre into an accessible grotto for children and their families who might otherwise miss out on a visit to see Santa.
So far around 800 people have visited the grotto, free of charge, and that should reach around 1,000 by its last day this Thursday.
The couple run Reviews.io which is used by thousands of brands to build customer review scores, and employs around 100 people in its home town of Leicester.
Callum said the grotto – run by volunteers with places pre-booked online – stems back to having to ask his uncle to dress up as Santa for Hudson because taking him to a normal grotto would have been too distressful.
The 44-year-old and 27-year-old Nikki decided to do-it-themselves after buying a former Dorothy Perkins unit in Leicester’s Gallowtree Gate when the Arcadia Group went under.
Callum said: “The idea is to give children with special needs and their families that bit of normality.
Most Read
“It’s a completely safe space, so there will be nobody there judging the kids if they’re playing up or taking their time settling in.
“It’s not just grottos at Christmas, it’s anywhere – if you have a child who needs extra support, it’s difficult to do anything as a family.
“What often goes unrecognised is the fact that children with special needs can take longer to get used to new surroundings, so normal grottos don’t really work for them.
“Having spent a long-time queuing, the kids are sometimes dashed in and out within minutes.
“We give Santa the chance to spend longer with the children, which means they can warm up slowly and the parents can enjoy the process.
“One of our main aims is to get each visitor a nice photo with Santa – I know just how much that will mean to the parents.
“Sometimes, perhaps for the first time, they’ll be able to get a festive picture of their child printed and send it to family.
Don’t miss
“They’ll be able to look back on that photo and have such amazing memories.
“The parents love it, there are so many tears of joy coming from them. They can share a really special moment with their child without feeling out of control and sometimes judged by others.
“And it’s not just about the children with special needs, it’s a treat for their siblings too. They could be having a tough time themselves, or they might be needing to help out more at home, they deserve to have just half an hour of normality.”
The couple, who live in the village of Kirby Muxloe, spotted a delay in their son’s development when he was little and spent years trying to get to the bottom of it.
When he was three, Hudson was diagnosed with an incurable gene-related disease called FDXR (Ferredoxin Reductase), which means he cannot walk, talk, or sit.
Callum said: “It was as if someone had punched me in the stomach. It took the wind right out from underneath us.
“It was incredibly lonely and all of a sudden, it felt as if we were being treated differently. To some, it was as if we were invisible – people didn’t know what to say to us anymore.
“Hudson is just brilliant, he’s the happiest of little boys and absolutely loves life. He is the spark behind the grotto.”
Hudson officially opened the grotto on December 1 and each child gets around 15 minutes with Santa – or more, if necessary – with the experience is customised to suit their needs.
Callum said: “Seeing their faces light up, that’s what makes it all worth it.”
Children leave with presents either bought by Callum and Nikki, and by the Leicestershire-based Menphys charity, which provides services and activities for disabled children.
Callum said spaces are booked up but cancellations might become be available on the website at www.santasinclusiveworkshop.com.
Sign up for your free East Midlands newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
Email newsletters
BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the East Midlands including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates.
We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away.
For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our