Supporting Charities
Supporting the local and worldwide community.
Every year we give away tickets to our event to help support local charities and causes. If you wish to apply please click the button below.
The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
For our 2023 event we decided to support the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland.
Therefore, for each sale of our biodegradable bags at our events, we donated 5p to the Herd.
Supporting Local Charities
At the end of each Christmas season, we sometimes have surplus cookies from our THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride journeys. Rather than waste them, we donate locally to schools, NHS staff rooms, and food banks. It’s a small gesture reflecting our values of warmth, generosity, and community spirit beyond the railway platform.
Charities On Board
Each year, during our Sneak Peek trains, we are delighted to invite local charities and the families they support to join us on board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. These special journeys give families the chance to experience the magic, joy and excitement of the event together, creating unforgettable Christmas memories.
It’s our way of sharing the spirit of the season with organisations doing incredible work in their communities and offering the families they support a truly magical experience.
Devon Air Ambulance
Devon Air Ambulance is a life-saving charity that provides rapid response medical care to people who are seriously ill or injured across Devon. Using two helicopters and a fleet of Critical Care Cars, their highly skilled doctors and paramedics can reach patients quickly, even in remote or hard-to-access areas, delivering advanced treatment when every second matters.
Because of the incredible work they do for the community, we were proud to invite the charity, their crews and their families on board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride South Devon to experience some festive joy together.
"Thank you so much for your generous gift of Polar Express tickets for the families of Devon Air Ambulance staff. It was a truly magical experience for the children and their grown‑ups. There were countless smiles and laughter, all accompanied by hot chocolate, sleigh bells, and festive excitement. We are all incredibly grateful for this thoughtful gesture. It created unforgettable memories and was the perfect start to the Christmas season.With heartfelt thanks from the crew of Devon Air Ambulance."
Shpresa
The Shpresa Programme is a charity that supports Albanian-speaking refugees and migrants across the UK, helping individuals and families settle, access education and training, and build positive lives within their communities.
In recognition of the incredible support they provide, we were delighted to invite the charity and some of the families they support to experience the magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
"Our group from the Shpresa Programme had the pleasure of attending the rehearsal night of The Polar Express Christmas Experience 2025, and it was truly unforgettable.Many of the young people we support are separated from their families and find the festive season particularly difficult. That evening, however, they were able to set aside those feelings and simply experience the joy and magic of Christmas. Seeing them laugh, cheer, and light up with excitement was deeply moving for all of us.
We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown in offering this experience. It meant far more than a train ride - it created cherished memories and reminded our young people that they are valued and not alone during the holidays. Thank you Emily and Polar Express team!”
Give Us Time
Give Us Time is a charity that supports military families by providing breaks in donated holiday accommodation from hotels, holiday parks and private holiday homes. These stays give families the chance to rest, recover and reconnect after long periods of separation caused by military deployments and the demands of service life. The charity prioritises families who have experienced bereavement, health challenges or financial difficulties.
In recognition of the vital support these families provide to the Armed Forces community, we were honoured to invite the charity and some of the families they support on board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride to enjoy a special festive experience together.
“We are incredibly grateful to PNP for their generous donation of tickets on The Polar Express for 15 Forces families from Give Us Time.
From the moment the steam engine rolled into Euston, to the scrummy hot chocolate and cookies, to the dazzling performances and that unforgettable moment with Santa, it was a truly magical evening.
These memories have done so much more than delight, they’ve helped rebuild bonds after deployments, brought comfort to families affected by bereavement, and created magical moments for those separated by the pressures of military life. Thanks to PNP, our families will carry these moments in their hearts forever.”
Little Willows Wish
Little Willow’s Wish is a registered charity based in North Devon that supports families in the South West who have critically ill children receiving care in hospital. The charity provides essential supply boxes filled with everyday items such as food, toiletries and household essentials, helping families who must stay close to their child during treatment.
They also offer financial support to help with additional costs like food and fuel. Because of the incredible support they provide to families during such difficult times, we were delighted to invite some of the families they support along with their volunteers to experience the magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
"We had the best time aboard The Polar Express, it was truly magical for the families we support. Seeing the children’s faces light up with wonder and joy reminded us why experiences like this matter so much. It was more than a train ride, it was a memory our families will cherish forever."
Helping Heart North Yorkshire
Helping Heart (North Yorkshire) is a small registered charity based in Northallerton that supports Ukrainian families who have fled their country and are rebuilding their lives in North Yorkshire, as well as the host families who welcome them.
The charity provides practical support such as welcome boxes, community meet-ups, help with English lessons, job applications and everyday essentials to help families settle into their new community. Because of the incredible work they do supporting families starting a new life in the UK, we were delighted to invite some of the families they support to experience the magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
"One of our mums who went on the Polar Express last year said to me afterwards ‘Thank you so much. It’s been magical and it feels like the countdown to Christmas has begun. It’s a truly wonderful experience.'I would like to add that, as someone who’s been on it with our groups for a few years now, I never cease to be impressed at the exceptional standard of all the actors and volunteers.It just seems to get better year on year and for our families it makes the world of difference because it gives them the opportunity to do something as a family in the run up to Christmas and makes up for what they can’t do/are missing because they have had to leave their homeland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine."
When You Wish Upon A Star
When You Wish Upon a Star is a charity that grants the wishes of children living with life-threatening illnesses, helping create special moments and lasting memories for them and their families.
Founded in Nottingham by Barbara White CIOF OBE, the charity has granted over 18,000 wishes across the UK since 1990, bringing joy and hope to brave children through magical experiences and special days out. Because of the incredible work they do, we were delighted to invite the charity and some of the families they support to experience the magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
"We had the most wonderful night on board The Polar Express! Going into London normally fills Penelope with anxiety as she assumes we are heading straight to Gosh!
The experience was the perfect way to kick off Christmas, we often look back at the photos and remember what a treat it was!
Thank you for letting our family celebrate together after years of trauma and stress.""We had the most magical time on The Polar Express on the 28th of November 2025! The children were speechless by the end and really enjoyed the immersive experience.
Meeting Santa and watching the various performances made it utterly unforgettable. Thank you so much for kindly giving us this experience!"
"We had an absolutely amazing time, the process was made easy to board then whilst on board we had minimal people in our carriage meaning our daughter got a lot of attention.
It was the PR evening so we met lots of celebrities and even danced with lacy turner. We are forever grateful to this charity for the time you bring us with our daughter. Thank you."
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is a charity that supports and champions single parents and their children, working to challenge stigma and the challenges many single-parent families face.
They provide expert advice, practical information and a strong support network so that no single parent has to face things alone. Because of the important support they provide to families across the UK, we were delighted to invite the charity and some of the families they support to experience the magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
Gingerbread Group Member:“Our trip on The Polar Express last night was the most magical experience and one I never would have able to justify us doing were it not for Gingerbread.I feel so lucky that my children were able to have this experience and I’m grateful to Gingerbread and to The Polar Express for making this happen and for so much more.”Gingerbread Group Member:"My daughter is the only child in her class living in a SP family and is aware her friends have many more experience and outings.This opportunity with The Polar Express is a lived example for her that she isn't missing out but is part of a group of children who share her experience and that she is part of a fun, energetic, and supportive community with lots of positive role models that gives us both a boost throughout our day."Vaila McClure, Head of Comms and External Affairs, Gingerbread"Riding The Polar Express was like no other train ride I've been on. It was a fully immersive experience that had everyone, young and old, joining in with the excitement and meeting Santa was the cherry on top!Events like this are a wonderful reminder of how much a bit of festive magic can mean to people and we feel fortunate to have been part of it."
4th Regiment Royal Artillery (The North East Gunners)
"This was one of the best events provided by Welfare and The Polar Express, the whole family had a magical time. The actors were amazing! Thank you !"
“We went and thoroughly enjoyed it! So far, it’s the favourite memory of our foster child, with us. She loved the way the characters engaged with her during the experience and that she was given a bell to always remember it by. We’re very grateful to have been able to offer her the opportunity to experience this. So Thank you.”
