Charity

Tesco branches in Pembrokeshire help raise £40,000 funds for Air Ambulance

Published

1 year ago

February 19, 2025

SUPERMARKET staff and their customers have raised an incredible £40,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity in tribute to the team reaching 50,000 missions earlier this year.

Twenty-five Tesco Extra and twenty-three Express stores have taken part in a fundraiser which spanned from Milford Haven, up to Aberystwyth across to Caerphilly.

Regional store managers Nicola McGuiness and Vanessa Martin worked with their teams to “create something special” after learning the lifesaving service had supported many of its staff members’ family and friends.

Martin, who runs an Express store in Swansea, said: “A colleague’s father, had a health emergency and needed the air ambulance, so we all felt it was a really important cause to get behind.”

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.

It is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the charity’s vehicles.

The service is pan-Wales, and Matt Bourne who runs a Tesco Extra in Bridgend said it was important to reflect that by trying to get as many stores as possible across the country involved.

He said: “It has been fantastic working together across the Tesco family. We have been able to bring together all our colleagues from the Extra stores, like Bridgend where I work to the express stores like Martin’s in Sketty.”

Matt is a keen runner who oftens takes on big challenges like marathons and ultra marathons. He said: “Given my record, when I first reached out to colleagues, they were quire apprehensive.

“But once they knew we were organising a slightly smaller do-able walk, they were delighted.”

Around forty staff took part in a 12-mile hike along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from Freshwater East to Broadhaven South on 15 September 2024. Local landlord Nigel Land, from Jack’s at the Longhouse provided shelter, hot drinks, and cooked food for the team.

Matt said: “It was great to catch up with so many people who we’ve worked with in the past who have moved to other stores, and I hadn’t seen for years.

“It was a positive experience, not only because we’re helping a great local charity, but just to catch up and take some time out in the beautiful Welsh country.

“We were super grateful that Nigel at Jack’s at the Longhouse – stepped in and saved the day too – he really looked after us all.”

Each store has organised their own fundraisers from second-hand book sales, cake bakes too sponsored fitness challenges.

Matt continued: “There were running and cycling events in store, with gym machines brought in.

“The ones fortunate enough to have close links with their local air ambulance base managed to get pop up banners, which looked great.”

He added: “We’ve felt the love from customers running groups, cycling groups, motorbike groups, people that have had lots of experience with the Welsh air ambulance.

“This has been such an easy thing to raise money for because people are so enthusiastic about the charity, which encouraged us to keep going.”

Larger stores were set a £1,500 target, whilst the smaller ones were tasked with raising £250.

Matt said: “There’s been a playful sense of competition between a few of the large stores, including Haverfordwest and Carmarthen who raised £2,300 between them.

“I think once we get the final figure, everyone will feel a real sense of pride.”

He added: “It was a bigger hill for the smaller stores to climb too, so it’s great that the larger ones did so well. They’ve done a brilliant job.”

Martin who lives near the air ambulance’s base in Dafen near Llanelli, says he often sees it taken off from the back garden of his home.

He said: “It’s one of those things that you fundraise for, but you never want to have to use because you know it’s only coming to you if you are seriously unwell or injured.”

The whole team have been over-whelmed by the kindness shown to them. Local suppliers like Braces Bread donated £500 and a signed Swans shirt appeared on Martin’s desk.

He said: “I only mentioned on our store Facebook page what we were doing and a female customer messaged saying she’d get the team to sign this season’s shirt.”

Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

Martin said: “It costs such a huge amount of money each year to run and what we have raised in comparison is a real drop in the ocean.

“But over these past few months, everyone we’ve spoken with and told what we were doing have been very positive about supporting the cause.”

He added: “I think most people don’t realise how much these clinicians do at the scene. It has educated us about the work the air ambulance does.

“It is one of those things that you want to help fundraise for but never want to have to use because you know they are only coming to you if you are seriously unwell or injured.”

The Tesco team recently visited Wales Air Ambulance’s airbase in Dafen, to hand over a cheque for £40,000. Martin said: “It’s so fascinating to actually come and see the base. When you do the fundraising and your challenges, you don’t think about the area where the helicopter comes from, or the people involved.

“But just coming here and seeing the facilities and the clinicians, it has been incredible to see everything up close and in action. We were here when the team were called out and watched it take off and then return.

“It’s just an eye opener to watch behind the scenes what actually goes on, we are just so happy to have been able to raise as much money as we have for such a great cause.”

Mike May, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity said: “We were hugely proud to complete 50,000 missions earlier this year, but we could not have done it without fundraisers like this.

“The team at Tesco have been incredible, they really pulled out all the stops to make this happen and it has been wonderful for my colleagues Abi Pearce and Christian Sullivan and I, to support them along the way.

“To raise just over £40,000 is an incredible feat! It has been inspiring to see how everyone has pulled together. We are hugely grateful to all the staff and customers who made this possible.

“Each mission costs around £2,900, one hour of aftercare with our patient liaison team costs £31- so this large donation will really make a huge difference to so many people and help save lives across Wales.”

Charity

A cappella group hits the right note for lifesaving charity

Published

6 days ago

March 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pembrokeshire singers raise funds for Wales Air Ambulance during 25th anniversary year

A PEMBROKESHIRE a cappella group has been praised for supporting a lifesaving service during a landmark year for the charity.

The “Barnhowlers” recently busked at Cardigan Guildhall Market, raising funds for Wales Air Ambulance as it marks its 25th anniversary.

Since its first flight on March 1, 2001, the service has carried out more than 56,000 missions across Wales, delivering critical care to patients wherever it is needed.

Pam Jones, 74, who lives near Fishguard, said the cause was close to many people’s hearts.

“Most people know someone who has needed the Wales Air Ambulance,” she said.

“I know two people who are thankfully still with us because they received critical care from the service. It makes an incredible difference to patient outcomes.”

The Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service, bringing hospital-standard treatment directly to patients at the scene. If required, crews can transfer patients straight to the most appropriate hospital for their condition.

The service operates through a partnership between the public and third sectors, relying on public donations to raise the £13 million needed each year to keep helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

Highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners are provided by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), enabling advanced treatments such as anaesthesia, blood transfusions and even minor operations to be carried out at the scene.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency care, regardless of where they are based.

Pam said the Barnhowlers take pride in performing for causes that make a real difference.

“There is nothing quite like coming together to sing some of our favourite songs, knowing that we are also making a difference,” she said.

Formed in 2011, the group began as a barbershop ensemble and has since evolved into a versatile a cappella group performing a wide range of music.

“We like to mix it up, performing songs from The Beatles and Duke Ellington to Thomas Tallis and Disney,” Pam added. “We want to entertain people, and we love it when the audience joins in.”

The group performs regularly at community events, including the Friendship Circle, gardening clubs, Parkinson’s support groups and the Fishguard Folk Festival. They have also supported local food banks and other health-related charities.

“Local nursing homes seem to like us too,” Pam said. “We bring a bit of cheer and take people down memory lane.”

Barnhowlers have several performances lined up throughout the spring and summer, including a concert in aid of the Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire.

Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager Mike May thanked the group for their support.

“We are so grateful to the Barnhowlers for using the power of music to shine a light on local causes,” he said.

“They entertained the crowds at Cardigan Guildhall Market in aid of Wales Air Ambulance. Every pound raised will help save lives. Diolch yn fawr.”

Charity

Child abuse image offences rise in Wales as NSPCC calls for real-time tech safeguards

Published

6 days ago

March 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE NSPCC has called for mandatory technology to block child sexual abuse images in real time after new figures revealed more than 1,200 offences were recorded by police forces in Wales in the past year.

Data obtained by the children’s charity shows that 1,287 offences involving indecent images of children were logged by Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and North Wales Police between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

The figure represents a 3% increase on the previous year, when 1,244 offences were recorded.

Across the UK, almost 37,000 offences involving child sexual abuse images were recorded by police during the same period, according to the NSPCC.

The charity said the figures demonstrate the urgent need for technology companies to introduce stronger protections for children using smartphones and social media.

It is calling on tech firms to install systems on children’s devices that would automatically block nude images from being created, shared or viewed, stopping abuse before it happens.

If companies fail to act, the NSPCC says the UK Government should make such safeguards mandatory.

Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: “It is utterly indefensible that we are still seeing around 100 child sexual abuse image offences recorded every single day.

“Children across the UK are being completely failed by tech companies that should be protecting them online.

“Behind every one of these offences is a child who has been groomed, abused and manipulated. They are left to carry the trauma while tech companies continue to profit.”

The NSPCC said many of these crimes take place on social media platforms.

Of the 10,811 offences where police recorded the platform used, Snapchat accounted for the largest share at 43% of cases, followed by Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook.

The charity warned that end-to-end encryption used by some platforms may hide the true scale of abuse, making it harder for authorities to detect crimes.

Young people contacting Childline have described the devastating consequences of images being shared online.

One teenager told counsellors he was forced to move schools after a nude image he shared was leaked and used to blackmail him.

The NSPCC said 685 Childline counselling sessions last year involved concerns about online sexual abuse or exploitation, including threats to share intimate images.

The charity is urging ministers to go further in protecting children online, arguing that stronger safeguards are needed beyond proposals such as banning children from social media.

South Wales Police did not provide complete data for the latest figures, meaning the total number of offences recorded across Wales may be higher.

Charity

Car dealership smash cycling spin challenge target

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

STAFF at OC Davies used pedal power to cycle an incredible 453 miles as part of a fundraising event marking two major anniversaries.

The Cardigan-based dealership is celebrating 40 years as a Renault dealer in 2026, while the Wales Air Ambulance marked its 25th anniversary on St David’s Day (Mar 1).

To celebrate the milestones – and the launch of the new vehicle registration plate – the dealership held a community open day at its Cardigan site, raising £2,102 for the lifesaving charity.

As part of the event, staff and supporters took on a spin bike challenge to cycle the equivalent of 104 miles – the distance between OC Davies’ three dealerships in Cardigan, Neyland and Carmarthen.

However, the participants far exceeded expectations.

During the 12-hour challenge, which ran from 8:00am to 8:00pm, a total of 37 people took part and collectively cycled an impressive 453 miles.

Over the years, OC Davies has now raised more than £6,600 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

Nicola Lewis from OC Davies said: “We are incredibly proud to have raised £2,102. This fantastic amount exceeded all our expectations and shows just how supportive our community has been.

“The success of the event has inspired us to keep the momentum going and continue raising money for Wales Air Ambulance throughout the rest of the year.

“We currently have an Easter egg lucky dip running in the dealership and we’re also planning to raise further funds later in the summer at some outdoor events we’ll be taking part in.”

More than 200 visitors attended the open day and around 900 tickets were sold for a grand raffle.

Prizes were donated by local businesses including The Cliff Hotel & Spa, Tom Samways Butchers, U Melt Me, Tonnau, Theatr Mwldan, Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, and The Queen’s Hall.

Additional prizes were also donated by the Scarlets and Swansea City FC.

Nicola added: “The open day was wonderfully supported by local businesses and members of the community, which helped make the event so special.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity and support from businesses in Cardigan and beyond who kindly donated prizes for our grand raffle.”

The spin bikes used during the challenge were loaned by Neil Fulstow Fitness Coaching, with additional support from Clive Evans and Clive Davies.

The charity’s mascot Biggles also made an appearance during the day – even taking a turn on the DJ decks.

Emily Bell, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Co-ordinator, said: “A huge congratulations to the staff at OC Davies, who smashed their original target while raising an incredible amount for our charity.

“It was a lovely open day which I was delighted to attend. OC Davies found a wonderful way to mark both anniversaries.

“Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters flying and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers like this help ensure we can continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.”

Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service delivering hospital-standard treatment at the scene of an incident.

Through its partnership with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), NHS consultants and critical care practitioners can provide advanced treatment including anaesthesia, blood transfusions and minor surgical procedures before transporting patients to the most appropriate hospital.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel across the country to deliver lifesaving emergency care wherever it is needed.

For more information visit www.ocdavies.com.