When the festive season arrives, Shaun Barby is better known as Santa, perched atop a custom sleigh mounted on a large trailer, making his way through Adelaide’s northern suburbs, Christmas carols blasting and gifts at the ready.

In this tight-knit community, Shaun has come to represent Christmas, the joy of giving and, more recently, a whole lot of lollies.

“I love seeing the kids smiling, and making their parents happy,” he says.

“It gives me a warm fuzzy.”

Mr Barby is chairman of community advocacy group Community Matters Playford Inc and says the group’s Christmas gift-giving initiative - the Playford Alive Lolly Run, which has been running for several years - reached a record high last year after receiving a $4,600 grant from the Playford Alive Initiatives Fund.

“We gave out 5,500 bags of lollies last year in the two weeks leading up to Christmas,” Mr Barby said.

“There are people out there really hurting, and this gave them lots of joy.”

He has his fingers crossed for even more this time around.

This year, a total of $50,000 in funding is available to community groups supporting initiatives that enhance the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the Playford Alive area.

The maximum grant for individual groups has doubled to $10,000 and smaller $2,500 grants are also available.

Managed by Renewal SA, the City of Playford and the South Australian Housing Trust, the fund is supported by a 1% contribution from land sales in Playford Alive and Eyre developments.

Peter Gatsios, Renewal SA’s Executive Director of Residential Project Delivery and Assets says the fund plays a vital role in supporting grassroots organisations.

“This fund is about backing the people who know their communities best,” Mr Gatsios said.

“Whether it’s sporting clubs needing uniforms, single mothers needing food baskets or volunteers delivering gifts to children, these are the kinds of initiatives that bring people together and make a real difference.

“We would love to see some new community groups apply this year.”

Mr Barby says the fund plays a vital community role, allowing his team to run the Lolly Run, an annual Christmas sleigh ride through Munno Para, Smithfield Plains, Davoren Park, Andrews Farm and Eyre, delivering lolly bags to local children.

“This might be the only gift some of these children receive,” he says.

The initiative also brings neighbours together, often sparking interactions between people from different backgrounds and cultures.

“You’ll have people from the Indian community mixing with people who’ve come here from Africa and lots of other places. They all interact with each other, it’s great,” he says.

A much-loved figure in the local community, Mr Barby says that, along with the sled, everyone recognises his purple Ford XR6 as it makes its way around the neighbourhood.

He also knows what it’s like to go without and is passionate about lifting his community.

“My mother died when I was young. I grew up in boys’ homes, lived on the streets of Adelaide and I was determined to turn that into something positive,” he says.

“I’ve been involved in this community for 28 years. I was born to help people. It’s in my nature.”

He encouraged other local groups to apply for a grant from the Playford Alive Initiatives Fund.

“Some community groups are folding because it’s hard to get funding,” he says.

“I recommend people take advantage of what’s available to them and get out and support their community.”

Since its inception in 2009, the Playford Alive Initiatives Fund has awarded over $850,000 to projects in the local area including Munno Para Little Athletics Centre, Playford Men’s Shed, Local Heros and Women’s Safety Services SA.

City of Playford Mayor, and Chair of the Playford Alive Initiatives Fund Glenn Docherty says community groups like these are they heart of Playford Alive.

“The Playford Alive Initiatives Fund is a fantastic way to support groups and their projects in our local community,” Mayor Docherty says.

“This fund has a proud history of supporting local projects and groups that deliver real outcomes for the Playford Alive Community, and it’s wonderful to see it continuing to provide that opportunity again this year.

“I strongly encourage community groups and organisations to apply for funds in the upcoming grant round.”

This annual grant round opened on 1 September 2025 and closes on 14 October 2025.