Stan’s Secret Santa at The Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum’s beloved Tyrannosaurus rex, Stan, is getting into the festive spirit by pulling on his Santa hat for a charity gift appeal.

Stan’s Secret Santa will run from Tuesday 5 December until Friday 8 December and Stan will wear the giant hat, created by artist Lucy Burscough, to welcome donations for people experiencing homelessness and poverty across Manchester.

It is the second time Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester, has run the appeal after launching it in 2021. It was put on hold last year as the Museum prepared to reopen following a £15 million capital development project, hello future, but has now been revived and this year will support local charities Barnabus and Mustard Tree.

Visitors will be encouraged to pay the famous T. rex a visit in the Museum’s Fossils Gallery throughout the four days, to drop gifts and take a selfie with ‘Stanta Claws’.

Manchester Museum is appealing for donations of new, unwrapped Christmas gifts and new, seasonal food items, including festive cakes, chocolate selection boxes and chocolate Santas, as well as wrapping paper and Christmas cards.*

All gifts will be gathered by Stanta’s elves at the end of the appeal and passed to Barnabus and Mustard Tree, who will distribute them in time for Christmas. But if you’re unable to come along and make a donation in person you can support these wonderful Manchester charities by donating via the Barnabus website or the Mustard Tree website and marking donations ‘Stan’s Secret Santa’.

Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum, said: “Manchester Museum has been a landmark in the city for more than 130 years so we feel it’s really important to look out for people within our immediate community, especially those who may be vulnerable or struggling. Stan is also a bit of a Manchester celebrity so we’re delighted he’s bought into our values of care and inclusion, and chosen to support two local charities doing fantastic work in Barnabus and Mustard Tree.”

Jack Barton, Communications Manager at Mustard Tree, said: “Mustard Tree are greatly in need of donations all year round, but particularly during Christmas when parents are having to make impossible decisions around heating their homes or buying their children Christmas presents. Being able to provide donated items through our Community Shop means that families can have both. We’re incredibly grateful to the Manchester Museum team and visitors who have chosen to support us – thank you on behalf of everyone at Mustard Tree.”

Carol Price, Fundraising Manager at Barnabus, said: “We are so thankful that Manchester Museum have chosen to support Barnabus with their Stan’s Secret Santa appeal. This is such a brilliant idea encouraging the donation of gifts to support people rough sleeping and experiencing homelessness this Christmas and Winter.  It is such a memorable way for all the family to generously support Barnabus and have a festive selfie with their amazing T. rex ‘Stanta Claws’. Barnabus has been supporting people out of homelessness for over 30 years; meeting people at the point of crisis and supporting them all along their journey from the street and into a home, so we cannot wait to receive the items we need.”