Mansfield company's initiative to give poorly kids chance to meet Santa live online

Prestige Events Photography, based at the Millennium Business Park, has created a live interactive video call with the big man himself, Father Christmas.

The firm has offered its new ‘Santa Calls’ service free to Great Ormond Street Hospital, and will be delivering it to over 200 sick children over Christmas.

The attraction photography company is run by married couple, Karl and Kimberley (known locally as ‘Billie’) Woodcock.

Karl said: “In our business we’ve been working extremely hard to create an incredible, online, live virtual meet-up with Father Christmas, called ‘Santa Calls.’

“We think our experience truly is the best! We have seen many try and launch this type of thing before, but nothing really seems to be able to step close to how we are delivering our experience and the magical interactions that take place.”

Within the live call with Father Christmas children get to meet mischievous elves, check in with Ruldoph the red nosed reindeer and there is an interactive ‘Nice-o-Meter’ that checks live if they have been naughty or nice this year.

Karl added: “It really is amazing!”

As a service provider Prestige Events Photography deal with the technical aspects of the experience. The company offered the delivery of its creation to the Manchester-based firm Chill Factore, which also provides the physical Christmas grotto and Father Christmas.

For anyone who would like to book the ‘Santa Calls’ service, the usual cost is £20.99, but there is also an opportunity to offer a donation of £2 to Great Ormond Street Hospital, on the booking website.

Karl said: “We’ve had to adapt our usual photo Christmas experiences to a more Covid 19 friendly experience. We think it is set to be the UK’s best online virtual visit with the big man himself!

"We would love people to get behind us, and book this magical experience for their children, and also helping a local business.”

To book a live Santa Call see https://www.chillfactore.com/christmas. For more information about Prestige Events Photography see: http://www.prestigeeventsphoto.co.uk