Charity

Child of Wales Awards to support lifesaving charities Wales Air Ambulance and Big Moose

Published

1 month ago

March 6, 2026

THE ASCONA GROUP Child of Wales Awards 2026 will raise vital funds for two lifesaving charities when the popular event returns this autumn.

The awards, which celebrate the inspirational achievements of young people across Wales, will take place at the Swansea Building Society Arena on Friday (Oct 2). More than seven hundred guests are expected to attend the prestigious evening, which will once again be hosted by BBC Wales presenter Gethin Jones.

This year’s beneficiaries are the Wales Air Ambulance and the mental health charity Big Moose.

The event has already sold out nearly eight months before the ceremony, highlighting the strong support the awards continue to attract from sponsors, supporters and communities across Wales.

Co-founder Blanche Sainsbury said: “We are very excited to be back for a fifth year and incredibly proud to say the event has already sold out with almost eight months to go.

“I think it reflects the passion of our sponsors and supporters who really believe in our event because it shines a light on these inspirational children.

“Every day the headlines are so bleak, but something like this really lifts everyone’s spirits and reminds us of the special people we have living in our communities.”

Pembrokeshire-based forecourt and roadside retail business The Ascona Group returns as headline sponsor for the second consecutive year.

The company has already raised more than £333,000 for Wales Air Ambulance — the equivalent cost of around ninety-four lifesaving missions.

Managing director Darren Briggs said: “We are incredibly proud to be the headline sponsor of the Ascona Group Child of Wales Awards for the second year running, celebrating the inspiring young people who represent the very best of Wales.

“Our return for 2026 reflects our continued commitment to recognising and championing the outstanding achievements of Wales’s remarkable young people and, of course, their families.”

Since launching in 2021, the Child of Wales and Child of Britain Awards have raised more than £300,000 for charitable causes.

Blanche Sainsbury said the event was also designed to showcase the work of organisations supporting young people across the country.

“There are so many wonderful organisations working with children and young people and our event is a platform for the incredible work they do,” she said.

“Wales Air Ambulance is one of the beneficiaries this year because it has attended so many of our past award recipients.

“Our headline sponsor Ascona Group’s Chief Executive Darren Briggs is also a business ambassador for the charity, so he has incredible insight into the work they do.”

She added that the awards also aim to highlight the work of smaller charities making a significant impact.

“We also champion smaller charities like Big Moose who deserve to have a bigger profile in Wales.

“On meeting its Chief Executive Jeff Smith and hearing his story, I was impressed with the work they are doing. They are supporting people as young as four with mental health problems.

“There is nothing more precious than preserving life and giving people the tools to help them navigate difficult moments. Big Moose is transforming lives every day.”

The awards celebrate extraordinary young people such as 13-year-old Ioan Watts from Caerphilly, who won the Young Fundraiser of the Year award last year.

Ioan suffered a catastrophic brain injury in 2022 and required treatment from the Wales Air Ambulance. Since then, he has raised more than £50,000 to support the lifesaving service.

During 2025, Wales Air Ambulance crews attended more than 3,600 missions across the country, including more than 400 incidents involving children.

The charity relies entirely on public support and must raise £13 million every year to continue its work.

Chief Executive Dr Sue Barnes said: “We are honoured to be one of the chosen charities for this year’s Ascona Group Child of Wales Awards.

“Wales Air Ambulance Charity was formed on St David’s Day, March 1, 2001, and this year we are marking our 25th anniversary.

“Wales Air Ambulance provides 24/7 advanced critical care and is often described as a ‘mobile emergency department’.

“Our consultants and critical care practitioners are highly skilled and carry some of the most pioneering medical equipment in the world.

“Our supporters are a big part of our Welsh success story; thanks to our generous fundraisers we can be there for patients wherever and whenever they need us.

“Every pound raised on the night will be shared between Wales Air Ambulance and Big Moose, helping save lives across Wales.”

Big Moose, which supports hundreds of children and young people each year, was co-founded by father and daughter Jeff and Chloe Smith. The charity aims to improve mental health support, prevent suicide and reduce homelessness.

Jeff Smith said: “I feel so fortunate to be at the forefront of what we do. It is a privilege to hear the stories first hand from the people we help.

“It’s very moving and it’s what drives me to want to keep doing this important work.”

Over the past twelve months the charity has helped more than 3,000 people.

Jeff added: “The number of referrals we received in 2025 doubled. Demand for what we are doing is rising every year.

“We have grown into a therapy-led organisation and therefore we need to ensure we are able to fundraise enough money to pay for the therapists needed for each referral.

“That’s why we are so grateful to the Ascona Group Child of Wales Awards for giving us an incredible platform and helping us raise awareness about our lifesaving work.”

Photo captions:

Awards host: BBC Wales presenter Gethin Jones will host the Child of Wales Awards at Swansea Building Society Arena (Pic: Supplied).

Air ambulance: Wales Air Ambulance crews attended more than 3,600 missions last year (Pic: Supplied).

Charity founders: Big Moose co-founders Jeff and Chloe Smith (Pic: Supplied).

Charity

Tenby Golf Club raises more than £50,000 for Welsh charities

Published

5 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Fundraising efforts by members, staff and supporters continue to make a major difference to good causes across Wales

TENBY GOLF CLUB has raised more than £50,000 for Welsh charities in recent seasons, with members, staff, visitors and local sponsors all playing their part in a remarkable community fundraising effort.

The club’s long-standing commitment to supporting good causes has gathered pace in the years since the return to golf after the Covid pandemic, with captains and members continuing to rally behind charities close to their hearts.

Among the organisations to benefit are Kidney Wales, Epilepsy Wales, Alzheimer’s Society, Motor Neurone Disease Association, British Heart Foundation, RNLI, Paul Sartori Foundation and Greenacres Rescue.

Some of the most significant recent donations include £12,500 for Alzheimer’s Society and more than £8,000 for the Paul Sartori Foundation.

The Herald understands the money has been raised through a combination of raffles, donations, fundraising days, prize contributions and sponsorship, as well as the time and effort freely given by club members and supporters.

***Charity support: Members of Tenby Golf Club present funds raised to the Paul Sartori Foundation***

Community spirit

Each year, the Club Captain, Ladies Captain and Seniors Captain choose charities to support, helping to ensure the club’s fundraising reflects personal causes as well as wider community needs.

This year, Tenby Golf Club is continuing in the same spirit, with fundraising focused on the DPJ Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society and Wales Air Ambulance.

A recent fundraising day alone raised £1,600 for Wales Air Ambulance, underlining the enthusiasm within the club for backing Welsh charities and community organisations.

The club has thanked everyone who has supported the fundraising efforts over the years, from those buying raffle tickets to those donating prizes, volunteering at events or helping to organise activities behind the scenes.

***Major donation: Tenby Golf Club members hand over £12,500 to Alzheimer’s Society***

Proud history

Founded in 1888, Tenby Golf Club is the oldest affiliated golf club in Wales. Originally opened as a nine-hole course, it was extended to 18 holes in 1907 after legendary course designer James Braid was commissioned to develop the layout.

In more recent years, the course has been extended from a par 69 to a par 72, with several holes reshaped both to increase length and to respond to the challenges of coastal erosion.

Tenby Golf Club has also earned national recognition within the sport, having been named Welsh Golf Club of the Year in 2014 and ranked among the Rolex World Top 1,000 golf courses.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s must-play courses, it has hosted national, county and PGA tournaments, while Rhys Harry serves as the club’s on-site golf professional and award-winning coach.

But beyond its golfing reputation, the club’s fundraising success is another sign of the important role it continues to play in the local community.

***Helping save lives: Members of Tenby Golf Club support Wales Air Ambulance during a recent fundraising event***

Cover image:

Lifeboat backing: Tenby Golf Club members support the RNLI through the club’s ongoing charitable efforts

Charity

Barry Scott retires from Fishguard RNLI after years of service

Published

8 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Former Launch Authority helped oversee 44 call-outs and brought decades of maritime and rescue experience to the role

A DEDICATED Fishguard RNLI volunteer has retired after years of service helping to keep the station ready for emergencies at sea.

Barry Scott stepped down from his role as Launch Authority after celebrating his birthday earlier this year and reaching the retirement age for the position.

During an eight-and-a-half-year voluntary career with Fishguard RNLI, Barry oversaw 44 shouts and played a key role in the station’s operational life.

He joined the station with a wealth of maritime and rescue experience, having spent 16 years as a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy, followed by 25 years with HM Coastguard.

As one of the station’s volunteer Launch Authorities, Barry worked on a rota providing a 24-hour link between the lifeboat station and HM Coastguard at the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Milford Haven.

When a lifeboat was requested, the on-duty Launch Authority would be paged by the Coastguard and contacted by phone with details of the incident. They would then decide whether to authorise the use of the charity’s assets, unless there was an immediate risk to life, in which case the full crew would be paged at once.

Once details of a shout were confirmed, the Launch Authority would brief either the coxswain of the all-weather lifeboat or the helm of the inshore lifeboat. They would also keep an accurate record of which crew members went to sea and which responded to the pager.

During a shout, the Launch Authority would often remain at the station, recording useful information from radio transmissions. After the lifeboats returned safely and the crew came ashore, they would consult the boat officers and crew to complete the records before submitting a formal report to RNLI Headquarters in Poole.

Asked about the standout moments of his time with Fishguard RNLI, Barry said: “The camaraderie and working with volunteers who want to achieve the best outcomes.”

He added, with a smile: “And of course the cake.”

Reflecting on his years with the charity, Barry said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with individuals from all walks of life who are willing to drop everything at any time, day or night, to help others in difficulty in all weather conditions, and still be able to maintain a sense of humour in potentially difficult situations.”

The team at Fishguard RNLI thanked Barry for his service and wished him a happy retirement, with the hope that he will now be able to enjoy full nights of sleep without the pager going off.

Fishguard RNLI is currently recruiting more Launch Authorities. Anyone living close to their local station and interested in volunteering as part of a lifesaving team is encouraged to get in touch.

Charity

Greenacres warns it may have to shut doors to new animals over £24,000 vet bill

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pembrokeshire sanctuary says it is at breaking point and fears devastating consequences if urgent public appeal fails

GREENACRES RESCUE has warned it may be forced to shut its doors to new animals unless it can raise more than £24,000 in just 20 days to clear a huge vet bill.

The Pembrokeshire-based rescue says it is facing its toughest month yet, with a March bill of £24,113.92 and a growing number of sick, injured and abandoned animals needing urgent treatment.

In a stark public appeal, Mikey Lawlor said the sanctuary is at breaking point and may soon be left with no choice but to turn away dogs and other animals in desperate need.

He said: “I am the one that will have to say no to dogs sat on death row.”

Greenacres said it will continue to honour commitments already made to animals in its care, but warned that failing to clear the bill could force it to stop taking in new emergency cases.

The charity said that could have devastating consequences, with some animals potentially dying before they ever get the chance of rescue, while others face far longer waits for urgent help.

So far this year, the rescue says it has already raised and paid off £43,404, but described the latest demand as its most severe financial crisis yet.

Among the major cases driving the cost are Ruby, who needs a leg amputation, Clio and Spot, who both require major dental work, Dixie, who underwent specialist orthopaedic surgery to save her leg, Freddie, who needed an eye removed, Ozzie the Chihuahua, who is being treated for hydrocephalus, and Biscuit, a cat needing leg amputation.

The rescue said the strain has been fuelled by the continuing fallout from excessive breeding during the Covid lockdown period, rising abandonment, and the increasing number of animals arriving with serious medical needs.

Greenacres also stressed that routine care such as neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and parasite treatment remains essential and unavoidable.

In the appeal, Lawlor thanked supporters and praised the rescue’s vets, saying the bill reflects the sheer volume of urgent cases rather than excessive charging.

The charity is now urging the public to donate or share its appeal, warning that clearing the March bill is vital if it is to remain able to respond to the next emergency call.