A search and rescue team in Bridgend and a diabetes research group working in Cardiff have received cash backing from a leading Welsh housebuilder. Western Beacons Mountain Search & Rescue Team and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) are to receive £1,000 each courtesy of Persimmon Homes West Wales’ charity initiative Community Champions. The Western Beacons team of volunteers is on hand all-year-round, responding to emergencies in the mountainous and rural areas of Mid, South and West Wales.
This service comes at a cost of over £20,000 each year. Trevor James, from the group, said: “To receive this generous donation from Persimmon Homes West Wales is great news for us. “We are called upon by the Police through the 999 system and provide a professional Search and Rescue service manned by volunteers and paid for by charitable donations. “Our Community Champions nomination form was submitted by a member of the public, Pam Beynon, who has seen our group in action. “We have the capability to carry out search and rescue operations in remote and rough terrain. Besides a fully equipped mobile incident control vehicle and a 4×4 ambulance, the team also carries specialist cliff rescue equipment enabling us to rescue people from dangerous locations.” The national
match-funding programme seeks to
support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life for local people - and has supported good causes with over £1million nationally since March
2015.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) fund research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and has funded over £1million worth of research in Wales. The Carten100 cycle ride from Cardiff to Tenby took place in May and Persimmon Homes were a generous sponsor of the event. Lydia Warrilow, Head of Regional Fundraising from JDRF, said: “We desperately want to find the cure for type 1 diabetes and we would like to thank the Carten 100 cycle riders and Persimmon Homes for their
GRAND BACKING FOR GOOD CAUSES
amazing support. “Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition which can strike people of any age and there is nothing that a person diagnosed or their families can do to prevent it. “We’re so thankful to Persimmon Homes for such their generous grant, it will really make a difference.” Sharon Robinson, sales director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “Supporting groups such as Western Beacons Mountain Search & Rescue Team and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is exactly what Community Champions is about. “The search and rescue team in Bridgend do such good work in their community, helping in so many emergency situations, and JDRF are working hard to funds research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. “As always it was a difficult decision to select our Community Champions but I would encourage any charity or organisation that missed out this time, even if they have won previously, to apply again.” To apply people can visit
www.persimmonhomes. com/charity.
Housing association staff step out of comfort zone to raise money for charity
Staff from a Swansea housing association have fundraised thousands of pounds for a variety of worthy causes.
Vicki Leclerc and Gary Morgan, both employees at Coastal Housing Group, organised two charity events and raised over £2300. Self-taught ukulele player Vicki, 29 from Neath, used her love of music to organise an open mic night at Swansea’s Hyst bar, raising money for Mind Cymru and Shelter Cymru. With no previous experience organising events, Vicki not only marketed and managed the open mic night herself, but also overcame her fear of performing on stage to an audience with her ukulele for the first time.
Part of the housing services team at Coastal, Vicki said: “I know that homelessness is a major issue, especially in Swansea, and the number of people who suffer from metal health problems is increasing too. I believe that these two issues go hand in hand, as one can often be triggered by the other, so I
6
Pontardawe all in the name of fundraising.
Coastal will now decide as an organisation how the money should be distributed, deciding between local causes, charities or even providing funds to tenants in need. Gary said: “It can feel like a lot of hard work organising an event of this scale but it’s so rewarding when the final total is counted, especially when
it’s a record fundraising amount. We know this money will be put to great use and support those in need.” Coastal Housing Group manages over 5500 properties across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire.
wanted to do what I could for the two charities. “Considering it was my first event, it exceeded all my expectations and I was so happy with the amount we raised. I’ll definitely be organising more fundraising events in the future to raise money for other causes close to my heart.” Elsewhere at Coastal, asset
manager Gary from Burry Port brought together colleagues, suppliers, contractors and friends of the housing association at an annual charity golf tournament, which raised a record total this year. The 46-year old, who has been organising the golf day for the last four years, coordinated fourteen teams who took to the course in
Head of HR & Corporate Services at Coastal, Samantha Morgan, said: “Both Vicki and Gary’s fundraising efforts are so admirable. Their attitude towards helping others is something we’re proud to foster at Coastal and we encourage all our staff to step outside their comfort zone and try something new in order to help other people.”
New Homes Wales and the South West
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