Dean Banks has been giving away prizes across his restaurant group in the 12 days leading to December 25.
14:44, 23 Dec 2025Updated 15:48, 23 Dec 2025
Felix Banks with the toys donated by his father, Dean
An Edinburgh chef has served up some Christmas cheer for 16 families across Scotland because he wanted to make sure his young son knows the festive season is about giving.
Dean Banks has been giving away prizes across his restaurant group in the 12 days leading to December 25.
Young son and sidekick Felix, 7, shares his dad’s passion for food so Dean made one of the days about making sure countless kids across the country won’t miss out.
The chef reached out to Medics Against Violence who support families nationwide thorough issues from poverty to homelessness, addiction, medical conditions, mental health issues and much more.
And he and Felix met Sharon from the charity at a shopping centre in Edinburgh to load up her car with two trolleys stacked high with toys, to be distributed under trees for families who may otherwise have struggled.
Geraldine Lennon, Head of Service at MAV, said: “We were really surprised in the best possible way by the message from Dean.
“It wasn’t about our appeal or anything, he just wanted to keep teaching Felix that Christmas is about giving and about remembering there are others who just are not as lucky as many of us.
“That’s such a special thing and it really is an amazing thing for any parent to do, with or without a donation – making sure kids grow up wanting to help people in need.
“Felix went with his dad and chose lots of toys to make so many kids smile this Christmas – the trolleys were overflowing and we struggled to get them all in a car.
“The gifts have been wrapped and have already gone out to families in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow with more to go – this donation has really touched a lot of families and homes and spread a bit of festive magic.”
“Thank you Dean, Felix and all the Banks family from us and from everyone these presents have gone to – you really have given the gift of Christmas to 16 families this year and taken a huge amount of pressure and panic away from the parents.”
Dean was keen to play down the actual donation, but said teaching Felix what Christmas is really about this year and every year is very special to him.
And he was hugely proud that his son was so excited to help other kids – and has really embraced the idea.
Dean has restaurants in Edinburgh and St Andrews – Dulse, Dulse Leith, The Pompadour, Haar and Dune – and bar Temple Lane in Dundee so was keen to help families in those areas at first.
Dean said: “Felix and I do everything together which I love, he’s a really passionate boy and loves learning things and sharing experiences.
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“This was just about making sure he understands the joy of Christmas is giving to others, so is was a special day together doing something to help other parents and kids.
“He chose all the toys and gifts and was really excited to know he was doing a good thing for children who are not as lucky as he is.
“MAV do amazing work all over Scotland and while we were thinking of our local areas Dundee and Edinburgh, there are people in need everywhere so it’s up to the team.
“I actually didn’t realise initially that MAV are connected with the Dundee Parish Nurses who we have worked with every Christmas for a long time, it was a nice coincidence.
“The best thing is Felix has really taken it all in. At the weekend we were in Janettas in St Andrews and they gave him a white chocolate ice cream cake for his birthday which was earlier this month.
“He said, ‘look dad someone has been kind to me because we were kind to others’.
“Merry Christmas everyone and thank you to the MAV team for the incredible work they do all year round – please support them if you can.”
If you’d like to donate to help MAV this Christmas, visit their JustGiving page.