WINTER WARMER WINNERS

Save the Children in Wales have honoured individuals and branches across Wales with a special Volunteer Service Awards evening held in Coed y Mwstwr Hotel in Bridgend. The event was an opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to a number of individuals and local branches who have over 500 years of collective service for Save the Children.

One of the many volunteers to be recognised for her contribution is Caroline Williams, founder of the Penarth Branch, who have raised over £40,000 for Save the Children over the last six years. Caroline Williams was awarded ‘The Outstanding Contribution of the Year 2014 Award’ and has since moved to Tenby and founded the Save the Children Tenby Branch last November.

The Corporate of the Year Award for 2014 was awarded to Cardiff City Football Club for all our support with launching the Christmas Jumper Day Fundraising Appeal in Wales during November. This campaign proved popular amongst the Welsh public with hundreds of schools and businesses across Wales taking part in the festive appeal.

Cardiff City CEO Ken Choo said, "It’s an honour for our Club to win this award. I’d like to thank our players and staff for taking time out from their busy schedules to help support Save the Children. It was also a pleasure to receive the award alongside Fábio Da Silva and Federico Macheda at the ceremony in Bridgend.

“Many of our players have young children themselves and they know the importance of the exceptional work undertaken by Save the Children. I’m glad the publicity generated over Christmas raised extra awareness in Wales, which in turn helps to raise funds to positively impact the lives of children all over the world.

“As ever, our supporters and the people in Wales responded well to an enjoyable and festive Save the Children initiative and we thank them all. I would also like to thank Helen Kay, Dawn Williamson, Victoria McCracken and the staff at the Club who played a part in putting this together. At Cardiff City we make an effort to do more than what’s seen on the pitch and are fully aware of our civic responsibilities and the ability we have to help others. With hard work, determination and some good fortune we hope to continue our support of charities such as Save the Children, once again as a Premier League Club in the future.”

Speaking of the many worthy recipients on the night, Mary Powell-Chandler Head of Save the Children in Wales said: “We wanted to be able to say Thank You to all these amazing individuals and branches who have worked tirelessly on our behalf over the years. These people are very special and very dear to us as a charity. We are very lucky to have them supporting us and our work as they have over the years and this award ceremony is only a small gesture, but it is a way of saying a big thank you for everything they have done and are doing on behalf of Save the Children in Wales.”

The Wales Save the Children Award categories included ‘Outstanding Contribution of the Year’, ‘Young Person of the Year Award’, ‘Fundraising Group of the Year’ and ‘Corporate of the Year Ahead Award’. Amongst the winners this week are Michael Broad a former Programme ‘Young Leader’ and winner of the Young persons of the Year Award by Save the Children in Wales.