Llangollen launches Christmas Volunteer Appeal

The Llangollen and Corwen Railway is looking for volunteers from across North Wales to help with customer-facing roles during the railway’s festive season. The annual appeal for volunteers invites members of the public to try their hand at volunteering at a heritage railway while delivering festive cheer for its Santa Special services in the run-up to Christmas. Each year, thousands of people travel on these services and enjoy the winter scenery from the steam train as Santa Claus brings the festive spirit and delivers presents to every child on board. Volunteers play a major part in the delivery of these experiences, with many roles available including raffle stewards, meet & greeters, Welsh-speaking volunteers and even Santa’s elves. This year, the Llangollen Railway is encouraging younger volunteers to become Santa elves because fewer people have signed up for these roles. Those interested do not need to have previous experience to step forward and play their part in an event that brings joy to so many. For those thinking about volunteering at Llangollen and Corwen Railway in the run-up to Christmas, volunteers can apply using the Llangollen Railway’s online form. The first day of festive operations is Saturday 28th November 2026 and continues at weekends and selected days over the holiday period. Volunteers can decide how much free time they can dedicate. Even just one day’s volunteering will greatly help in delivering the festive experiences to railway-visiting passengers. No two days of volunteering will be the same. Last year’s volunteers found themselves spreading Christmas joy across the country on live TV on BBC Breakfast and BBC Wales, which broadcast from Llangollen station at the opening of the 2025 festive season. All volunteers will receive a free lunch as a thank you for becoming part of a welcoming community bringing joy in the run-up to Christmas. “Volunteering on our Santa Specials is so much more than simply helping out for a few hours. It’s an amazing experience, and you genuinely never know where it might lead! Last year, some of our volunteers ended up appearing on BBC Breakfast and ITV Wales. Imagine signing up to help spread a little Christmas cheer and finding yourself on national television! “We’ve also got volunteers, including some of our steam locomotive drivers, who first came to the Railway to help on Santa Specials. They enjoyed the experience so much that they stayed, learned new skills and became part of our Railway family. “And perhaps the most special thing of all is the friendships. Some truly lifelong friendships have started through volunteering here. People who arrived not knowing anybody have gone on to become the closest of friends, all because they decided to give something new a try. “That’s what makes volunteering at Llangollen and Corwen Railway so wonderful. You might come along to help as an elf for a day and discover a whole new world of opportunities! “We’re particularly looking for friendly, enthusiastic people to help us as elves, welcome families at our gates, support our mulled wine station and help with our Christmas raffle. “We would also absolutely love to hear from Welsh speakers, especially those who can help us with our Sion Corn trains. It’s really important that we can offer a magical Christmas experience through the Welsh language, and our Welsh-speaking volunteers are a huge part of making that happen. “You don’t need to know anything about railways, and you certainly don’t need to have volunteered before. We’ll make sure you feel welcome, provide guidance and support, and we’ll even provide your lunch! “All we ask is that you bring a friendly smile, a willingness to help and a little Christmas spirit. “One of the loveliest things about our Railway is that everybody has a story. Some people join because they love steam trains, others because they want to meet new people or give something back to their community. Some simply fancy doing something a little differen…