Category Archives: Charity News

Business, Charity Events, Charity News, South Wales

Consumer Energy Solutions kick off fundraising for Crisis

Leading energy efficiency company Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) has raised money for their charity of the year, Crisis, by taking part in the Swansea beach rugby tournament, Beach Rugby Wales.

The tournament, founded in 2006, sees a host of ex-international rugby stars taking part alongside newbies to the sport. 48 teams took part in this year’s event, sponsored by Nathaniel Cars MG.

Swansea-based CES fielded a team in the annual tournament which took place last month, led by Scott Barclay and Kyle Fisher, raising over £500 for Crisis.

Crisis is a national charity that helps people directly out of homelessness and campaigns for the changes needed to end homelessness altogether.

The Skylight, located on St Helen’s Road, Swansea, is one of 9 run by Crisis across the UK. The Skylight team support people at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot to end their homelessness through providing advice, support and learning opportunities.

CES, which has permanent bases across Wales and the South West and has a workforce of more than 800 people, supports customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint and ultimately, their energy bills.

Gemma Morris, Operations Manager at Crisis Skylight South Wales, said: “I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to CES for their ongoing support over the years, and for this donation in particular. A big thanks to Scott and Kyle for thinking of us when entering the tournament, and a big congratulations to them.”

Scott Barclay, Technical Surveyor Coordinator, Insulation Department at CES, said: “We’re so pleased to have raised so much for our chosen charity Crisis, all whilst having fun in the sun in Swansea Bay. The annual tournament is a great day out and to have raised much needed funds for such an important charity as Crisis is a great feeling. We hope to do the same again next year.”

Established in 2016, Consumer Energy Solutions delivers money-saving energy efficiency improvements to homes across South Wales and the South West. CES is an approved installer of Government backed scheme ECO4.

For more information, visit: https://www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk/

Business, Charity Events, Charity News

Charity Cath raises thousands for cancer

Swansea’s Catherine Robinson, account executive at Howden’s south Wales office, has raised £4,833 for multiple cancer care charities since April 2023.

Starting with the London Marathon in 2023, Catherine raised £3,453 for Young Lives vs Cancer. The following year, she ran the 2024 Edinburgh Marathon for the same charity, raising £1,130 and additionally raised £250 for Macmillan Cancer Support through taking part in its Marathon Hike in July of this year.

Catherine will be running the London Marathon once again to raise funds for Young Lives vs Cancer in April 2025.

On why fundraising for these charities is so important to her, Catherine said: “I am in true amazement of Young Lives vs Cancer and their work. When completing the London Marathon in 2023, I was greeted by an inspiring young volunteer who had a terminal brain tumour, and this was the moment I knew I had to help the charity as much as I could. The charity has given me so much support both in mindset of running 26.2 miles and raising the funds.

“My fundraising for Macmillan was more of a personal story. My mam beat cancer in 2021 under the support of Macmillan, but we sadly then lost my stepdad suddenly to cancer in June 2023. So, when my friend asked me to do the marathon hike this year which fell on my stepdad’s birthday, I knew I couldn’t say no. While this was emotional to complete on such an important date, it was an honour to give something back to the charity and play a part in helping those who need it in the future.

Catherine’s boss Gary Stevens, Regional Managing Director at Howden Wales, said: “We are incredibly proud and in awe of Catherine and everything she has managed to do for these charities. We support her every step of the way and strongly encourage anyone who can to donate via her Enthuse page. We wish her all the best with London 2025.”

You can support Catherine’s fundraising for Young Lives vs Cancer here.

Charity & CSR, Charity News, Marketing & PR, News

Shropshire boxing charity shares vital message in new video thanks to local agency scheme

Shropshire boxing charity, Brightstar, has launched a powerful new video campaign after winning free marketing support from local marketing agency, Reech, as part of a community scheme.

Brightstar, which is dedicated to empowering young people through boxing, education and mentoring, has unveiled the video to challenge its perception of being “just a boxing club”. The video showcases the holistic approach the charity takes, offering not just boxing training but also vital education and mentorship programmes.

It also highlights the crucial role Brightstar plays in the local community, guiding young people down a positive path, unlocking their potential, and helping tackle the mental health challenges they may face. This comes after the charity was crowned winner of Reech’s ‘Reech & Reward’ scheme, which is run annually and awards £10,000 worth of marketing services to one charity.

First created in 2022, Reech & Reward sees local charitable organisations participate in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to a panel of marketing experts, with support for the winning charity including anything from strategy and branding advice to website and digital marketing consultancy, as well as creating video and photography content.

Prior to creating the video, which received a heartwarming reception when it was showcased at Brightstar’s annual celebration night, the charity also worked with Reech to refine its brand positioning and visual identity.

 

Speaking about the partnership with Reech, Joe Lockley, Brightstar’s founder, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed working with Reech on this video. To finally have a clear and concise portrayal of everything we do for young people in one video is absolutely fantastic.

“It’s not just about boxing, it’s about providing a safe space for young people to grow, learn, and develop life skills. This video captures the essence of our mission and shows the world how we’re making a difference.”

 

Rob Hughes, founder and managing director of Reech, added: “Working with Brightstar and seeing firsthand the impact they have on young people’s lives has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and we’re proud to support such a dedicated organisation to help them share their story with the wider community.

“Our aim with the Reech & Reward scheme is to give back to the community by helping charities like Brightstar amplify their message and reach more people. We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting Brightstar’s mission to empower and uplift the youth in our community and beyond.”

 

Reech was founded in 2009 with a mission to help brands thrive in a dynamic landscape. The agency provides a full-service approach to marketing, incorporating branding and visual identity, content creation, design and creative, digital marketing, photography and videography, web design and development and full marketing strategy and planning.

 

For more information, visit: www.reech.agency and www.brightstarboxing.co.uk

Cancer, Charity Events, Charity News, Events, FInance

Maggie’s and Swansea Building Society Host 5th Anniversary Celebration for Cancer Support in Cardiff

Maggie’s Cancer Charity and Swansea Building Society are collaborating to host a memorable event commemorating the 5th anniversary of the Maggie’s Centre opening in Cardiff. The exciting 5th Birthday Ball will be held on May 17th at Dyffryn Springs near Wenvoe, bringing together supporters and beneficiaries for an evening of reflection and hope.

Swansea Building Society has pledged its support as the event sponsor, continuing its steadfast commitment to Maggie’s as its official charity for the third consecutive year.

Since its inception, Maggie’s Cardiff has provided invaluable support to over a thousand visitors each month, offering practical, emotional, and social assistance to individuals and families navigating the challenges of cancer.

The centre, situated in Velindre Road, Whitchurch, works in harmony with conventional cancer therapies, offering a nurturing environment where visitors can access support, information, and practical advice. From financial and benefits guidance to complementary therapies and nutrition workshops, Maggie’s Cardiff plays a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for those affected by cancer.

Supporting the charity over recent years, Swansea Building Society has organised a diverse range of successful fundraising activities, including dress-down days, raffles, and sponsored events like dog walks and open water swimming. These initiatives have resulted in an impressive cumulative fundraising total exceeding £60,000, providing vital resources to empower Maggie’s in delivering its essential services.

Richard Miles, Area Manager / Head of Savings & Marketing, Swansea Building Society, said:

“As proud sponsors of Maggie’s for the third consecutive year, Swansea Building Society is honoured to support such a vital cause. Our ongoing commitment to Maggie’s reflects our dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. We are delighted to be part of the 5th Birthday Ball celebration and look forward to continuing our partnership with Maggie’s to ensure their important work can thrive for years to come.”

Rachael Davies, Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s, added:

“We’re incredibly grateful that Swansea Building Society has sponsored our 5th Birthday Ball. Sponsorship of our events is so important, and we can’t thank everyone at Swansea Building Society enough.”

Charity, Charity News, Midlands, Transport

Veezu offers free rides to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s lifesaving crew

Veezu has renewed their partnership with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, offering a vital service to its advanced pre-hospital emergency service.

Formerly known as Go Carz and A2B Radio Cars in the region, Veezu has set up an account for the air ambulance crew, offering a free taxi service for them to get back from hospital when they have travelled by land ambulance or if the aircraft has needed to return due to nighttime and low visibility.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity operates and funds three air ambulances and a fleet of critical care cars covering six Midlands counties: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. It’s vital pre-hospital emergency service responds to some of the most traumatic incidents such as cardiac arrests, heart attacks and strokes.

Each year, it costs between £13-14 million to maintain its clinical operations, where the charity relies solely on the support of local people and organisations to fund future lifesaving missions.

They have recently opened a new base in Shifnal that will allow them to host more members of staff, events, and educational visits. Veezu will be helping to make travel to and from the base more accessible with QR code displays providing an easy booking service.

The account, which was set up last year following a cash donation, has provided a vital service to the crew of critical care paramedics and doctors.

Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Veezu has been supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity for a number of years, providing valuable financial and pro bono support.

“On occasion, our aircraft need to return to base due to nighttime flying restrictions, leaving our crew stranded at major trauma centres across the Midlands. Veezu provides a free taxi service to ensure the crew can return to base once their patient handover is complete. As you can imagine, this not only provides our crew with peace of mind but also saves the charity a lot of money. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support.”

Graham Hoof, regional operations director of Veezu in the Midlands, said: “We’re always happy to offer cash donations to charities but in this case, we thought we could offer something that was of tangible benefit to the charity.

“The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity account has proved useful to its crew over the last year, so it was a no brainer to renew the partnership. We’re so happy we’ve been able to help its team of highly skilled clinicians in instances where they have travelled to hospital via land ambulance or are unable to travel by via aircraft due to poor visibility. After a long shift, especially one where you’ve helped save lives, the last thing you need is to worry about how you’re getting home. “

Charity & CSR, Charity News, News, Recruitment News

Health Company Cygnet Joins Tent UK

Cygnet has joined Tent UK, a new coalition of 70 major companies that are committed to helping refugees become job ready and secure employment in the UK.

Cygnet has been a longstanding member of the Tent Partnership for Refugees – a global network of companies committed to helping refugees access labour markets. To date, Cygnet has hired over 300 refugees and where appropriate has provided tailored training opportunities to support their career development.

Other companies joining the coalition include the likes of Amazon, Deloitte, McDonalds, Microsoft and Virgin.

Ben Hopewell, Head of Resourcing at Cygnet said: “Tent is an organisation that supports individuals in the UK who are under a refugee status in finding work, whether that be in their previous profession or a new career. We’re extremely excited to be partnering with them, to provide opportunities to skilled individuals, expand our talent pools and develop our knowledge and understanding around refugees within the UK.”

In recent years, the UK has welcomed more than 500,000 refugees with approximately half hailing from Ukraine and the remaining half from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Syria, and elsewhere – yet many have been unable to find formal employment. While they have the legal right to work, refugees are over 20% less likely to be employed than Brits, with this gap widening to 30% for refugee women, according to the UK government.

At the same time, the UK is experiencing labour shortages, with almost one million job vacancies, across key industries such as hospitality, food service and others including manufacturing & healthcare.

“At a moment when UK employers face significant labour shortages, yet refugees across the country struggle to find decent employment, we see an extraordinary opportunity for our work,” said Gideon Maltz, CEO of Tent. “The coalition of companies that has come together to launch Tent UK understands that we need to act at scale to help hundreds of thousands of refugees in the UK secure jobs, rebuild their lives, and integrate into their new communities. Tent is uniquely placed and ready to help companies develop ambitious programmes to include refugees.”

“Tent is immensely proud to have brought together 70 leading businesses resolved to connect refugees to meaningful employment,” said Jen Stobart, UK Director at Tent.

“Refugees face numerous barriers to formal employment, such as lower language proficiency, transportation issues, lack of childcare options, as well as a lack of social and professional networks. These hurdles require particular attention from businesses, who – by making small upfront investments and tailoring their hiring practices – can level the playing field and give a fair chance to the many refugees still looking for a job in the UK.”

Tent UK will offer participating companies a host of services free of charge including: resources and trainings for HR teams; the sharing of best practices and ideas distilled from Tent’s global network of over 400 major companies across a dozen countries who are hiring and integrating refugees into their workforces, as well as tailored programmes and insights to the UK market context; regular convenings and workshops with other Tent UK member companies for peer-to-peer learning; and introductions to best-in-class partners across the UK that can source refugee talent based on the type of roles, the location, and their past performance.

Business, Charity Events, Charity News, Events, News from Wales, South Wales, Swansea

Howden official Swansea office opening flanked by rugby star

The official opening of a new Howden office in Swansea was flanked by Welsh rugby legend Tom Shanklin at an event last week, Thursday February 22. 

Howden, the international insurance intermediary group, began trading from the new office in Axis Court, Riverside Business Park, Swansea, last month, with this event marking the official opening of the new location. The office has already welcomed 14 skilled brokers since the beginning of the year, with plans to recruit more talent in the coming months.  

The official opening event saw Tom, who won 70 caps for Wales between 2001 – 2010, share his experiences with Welsh rugby and the British & Irish Lions—an association that aligns with Howden’s headline sponsorship for the upcoming Lion’s tour. 

Guests at the opening event also participated in a raffle in aid of Wales Air Ambulance Charity, with prizes including 4-ball at the Celtic Manor, a £250 Gaucho voucher, and a Fortnum and Mason hamper.  

The creation of an office in Swansea is part of Howden UK & Ireland’s commitment to further strengthen its foothold in the South and West Wales region, providing risk advisory services to businesses. 

On the event, Gary Stevens, Regional Managing Director, said: “Embracing the spirit of Welsh resilience and teamwork, the official opening of our Swansea office alongside rugby icon Tom Shanklin signifies not only our commitment to the region but also our shared values of excellence and community. Just as in rugby, where teamwork and strategy are paramount, at Howden, we are dedicated to working closely with our clients to navigate risks and achieve success together. 

“The swift momentum of our Swansea office speaks volumes, and we’re thrilled to have assembled such a skilled and seasoned team, with more to join in the coming months.” 

 

About Howden  

Howden is a leading global insurance intermediary group with employee ownership at its heart.  Founded in 1994, it operates in 50 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, employing 16,000 people and handling $38bn of premium on behalf of clients. 

  

For more information, please visit www.howdengroupholdings.com 

Business, Charity, Charity News, Driving, News, Transport

Veezu donates £11k to Childline Cymru

VEEZU, Wales’ leading private hire technology platform, has donated £10,989 to NSPCC Cymru following a month’s fundraising activity. 

 

Veezu donated a portion of its margin from more than 100,000 rides in South Wales, booked via its app in December, to cover the expenses of 2,700 calls to Childline during the festive season as part of its Funded by Veezu program. 

 

Funded by Veezu offers residents, charities and sports teams the opportunity to apply for funding and grants to help support them with their local community initiatives. 

 

NSPCC Cymru provides support to children, families and professionals in caring for their children and providing therapeutic assistance to help children move on from abuse. Childline is a free service for children and young people in need of support or advice who delivered an average of 16,300 counselling sessions a month last year. 

 

This is not the first time that Veezu is supporting NSPCC Cymru, as they annually donate to the charity through their Childline Club Cymru membership. 

 

Hywel Peterson, Chairman at NSPCC Cymru, said: “We’re incredibly thankful for Veezu’s generous donation. It will make us make a big difference and help us ensure that our trained volunteer counsellors can be there for every child across Wales, whenever they need us most.  

 

Nathan Bowles, CEO at Veezu, said: “We are delighted to have raised so much for NSPCC Cymru. Their work is of incredible importance and is one that we admire so highly here at Veezu. I feel privileged to be able to contribute to their life-changing work.” 

 

Bereavement, Business, Business News, Charity News, Wales News

2wish Cymru revealed as chosen charity for Wales Business Awards 2024

Bereavement support charity 2wish Cymru has been announced as the chosen charity for this year’s Wales Business Awards.

2wish Cymru was founded by its CEO Rhian Mannings in 2012 in memory of her son George and husband Paul. The charity provides immediate and ongoing support to families, individuals and professionals that have been affected by the sudden and traumatic death of a child or young adult aged 25 and under.

2wish Cymru aims to ensure that every emergency department in Wales has a suitable bereavement suite for families, that memory boxes are available for families at each hospital and that immediate bereavement support is available for suddenly bereaved families. The charity offers counselling, complementary therapy and play therapy to those it supports.

2wish Cymru primarily operates in Wales but has recently expanded its service into England.

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid will be raising awareness of the charity’s work and fundraising for 2wish Cymru during the Wales Business Awards ceremony in May.

The event, which celebrates the best of Welsh business, takes place on 16 May at The Vale Resort, with broadcaster Andrea Byrne returning as host. Businesses have until 29 February to enter the awards.

Rhian Mannings, CEO of 2wish Cymru, said: “When a family loses a child or young adult suddenly, the effects are devastating for all who knew and loved them. Our charity’s mission is to ensure that all those affected receive the bereavement support they deserve; it’s essential that bereaved families know that they are not alone in what can be an extremely distressing and isolating time.

“We are very grateful to have been selected as the charity for this year’s Wales Business Awards. We are excited to meet the finalists, winners and businesses in attendance at the ceremony to share our message, create connections and highlight opportunities to get involved with our work.”

Paul Butterworth, CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “We are delighted to be supporting 2wish Cymru as our chosen charity for the Wales Business Awards this year. We are looking forward to encouraging the Welsh business community to get involved with our fundraising efforts during the ceremony, in addition to shining a spotlight on 2wish Cymru’s incredibly important work here in Wales.”

For further information on 2wish Cymru, visit https://www.2wish.org.uk/.

For further information on the Wales Business Awards, including how to enter, visit https://cw-seswm.com/events/awards-2024-enter/

Business News, Charity, Charity Events, Charity News

City Hospice sets exciting new challenge in its 40th year

City Hospice has set a fundraising challenge for businesses and community organisations to mark the charity’s 40th anniversary.

The charity was established in 1984 to provide community palliative care to the people of Cardiff. Over the four decades since its inception, City Hospice’s services have expanded to meet the needs of its patients, families and the wider community.

In addition to home-based specialist palliative care for patients with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, the charity now offers welfare advice, complementary therapies, counselling and bereavement support.

To help City Hospice celebrate its 40th year and continue to care for Cardiff, businesses and community groups are being invited to take part in the 40 Charity Challenge and make a significant impact.

Each business or organisation that takes part in the challenge will be provided with £40, which has kindly been donated by sponsor Hodge Bank. Participants will then have until November to transform their £40 into a minimum of £1600 through creative and innovative fundraising.

An awards lunch will be held at the end of the year to recognise the achievements and fundraising efforts of participating businesses, organisations and community groups.

A number of local businesses including Apple Cardiff, Carter Lauren Construction, CPS Group, Effective Communication, Hilton Hotel, Isla Alexander Estate Agents, Jellyfish, Richard Andrews Architects, Route Media, Space2B at the Maltings, St David’s Centre and Wessex Garages have signed up for the challenge.

Sophie Mear, Office Manager at Space2B at the Maltings, said: “We are delighted to be supporting City Hospice as our charity of the year throughout 2024. Space2B at the Maltings is home to 130 businesses employing some 600 people, so we are only too aware that some of our families, whether tenants, colleagues or suppliers will sadly be affected by cancer or other life-limiting illness.

“We will do as much as we can to raise vital funds through the year, and we will be encouraging our tenants to take part in the 40 Charity Challenge being funded by Hodge Bank. This is what makes The Maltings special; that sense of community, which our late founder Nick Williams OBE always instilled in us from the very beginning. We are very happy to support City Hospice to continue his legacy.”

Nicky Piper, Corporate Partnerships Manager at City Hospice, said: “It is fantastic to see so many businesses already signing up to take on the 40 Charity Challenge in our anniversary year. From bake sales and bingo nights to skydives and team hikes, the fundraising possibilities for this challenge are endless and we can’t wait to see what those taking part decide to do!

“Our work, caring for our patients and families, would not be possible without the support of our local community, businesses and supporters. We hope this challenge provides participants with the opportunity to have fun and be creative, while making a difference to the lives of so many in the city.”

For further information, visit https://www.cityhospice.org.uk/get-involved/40-charity-challenge/