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 says Welsh voters care deeply about animals as parties outline policies ahead of Senedd election

THE RSPCA has responded to the launch of Reform UK Wales’ manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, welcoming some proposals while urging politicians to base animal welfare policies on scientific evidence.

The charity said Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers of any UK nation and warned that voters will be closely watching political parties’ commitments to protecting animals.

Billie-Jade Thomas, Senior Public Affairs Manager for RSPCA Cymru, said that proposals to introduce clearer food labelling could help consumers better understand how animal products are produced.

“Wales’ consumers deserve more information about where the food they eat comes from and how it has been produced,” she said.

“Moves to introduce mandatory labelling, including for slaughter methods, are a positive step forward for consumer knowledge and could give the public more information about how any animal products on their plates were made.”

However, the RSPCA cautioned that policies relating to bovine tuberculosis must be based on evidence rather than focusing on wildlife culling.

“Taking an evidence-led approach to tackling bovine TB is always to be welcomed,” Thomas said.

“But the evidence indicates that the Welsh Government needs to combat this devastating disease by focusing on cattle-based measures, and not killing badgers unnecessarily.”

The issue of bovine TB and badger culling has long been controversial in Wales, with farmers, wildlife groups and politicians divided over how best to control the disease.

The RSPCA said the forthcoming report from the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group for Wales would provide additional evidence to guide the next Welsh Government.

The charity also warned that any reform of environmental regulation must not weaken wildlife protections.

“Reviewing legislation and regulation is an opportunity to ensure it is as effective as possible,” Thomas said.

“But any changes to general licences must not be a back door to weakening protections for many of our species in Wales.”

Looking ahead to the election campaign, the organisation said animal welfare should be a key issue for voters and politicians alike.

“According to our Animal Kindness Index, Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers of any UK nation,” Thomas added.

“Voters will be eager to hear political parties’ plans for animals of every kind.”

The RSPCA has published its own manifesto ahead of the election, calling for measures including recognising animal sentience in Welsh law, making pet abduction a specific criminal offence and introducing stronger regulation of animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres.

The charity is also calling for improvements in farm animal welfare, including a ban on the caging of farm animals and incentives for farmers who adopt higher welfare standards.

With the Senedd election scheduled for May 2026, campaign groups say animal welfare policies are likely to form part of the debate as parties seek to win over voters across Wales.

Hywel Dda Health Charities is delighted to announce that it has secured three free charity places for supporters wishing to take part in the TCS London Marathon MyWay 2026 – the virtual version of the world‑famous marathon.

Taking place on Sunday, April 26, the TCS London Marathon MyWay gives participants the freedom to complete the iconic 26.2‑mile distance from any location. Whether running, jogging or walking, entrants have 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds to finish the challenge. The event must be completed outdoors, but participants can choose any route that suits them.

The virtual marathon is the perfect option for anyone who has always dreamed of taking part in the London Marathon but would prefer a more flexible timeframe, the chance to complete the distance at their own pace and the ability to take part without travelling to London.

Participants will receive a finisher’s T-shirt and medal (optional), a free trial with Coopah, the official training app of the TCS London Marathon and access to the official event tracking app.

In return for one of the limited free places, Hywel Dda Health Charities asks supporters to raise a minimum of £300 in aid of a Hywel Dda service of their choice.

Tara Nickerson, Fundraising Manager for Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “We’re so excited to offer these special MyWay places to our supporters. The virtual marathon is a fantastic opportunity for people of all abilities to take on an iconic challenge in a way that works best for them.

“Every pound raised will make a meaningful difference to patients and staff across our local NHS services. We can’t wait to cheer on our amazing fundraisers as they take on the 26.2 miles their own way.”

Places will be allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis. To request a place or find out more, please contact the Hywel Dda Health Charities team via email at [email protected] or by phone on 01267 239815.