Dear Guests and Friends of The Child of Wales Awards,
After reviewing and taking some advice about the upcoming celebration of the Child of Wales Awards, It is with a heavy heart I write to tell you that due to the situation with the COVID virus we must postpone our event again on April 9th 2021. It really is sad as I know how much you, our winners, families and friends have been very much looking forward to celebrating.
With many events being cancelled this year despite the good news of the vaccine, it would seem sensible to move the event to 2022, the welfare of our guests and winners must come first. We have secured a date of January 21st 2022 at Celtic Manor and then we should be in a better position to enjoy the evening, hopefully without the worries of social distancing and mask wearing.
I have explored having a virtual event this year. However, feedback was overwhelming against this idea as many attendees are looking forward to getting dressed up for a night to remember celebrating with their families, colleagues and friends at Celtic Manor. A night to look forward to, in the diary, when everyone is able to meet again. We have some very special guests attending too, including famous sports personalities, and celebrities. We also have some wonderful video tributes to be played.
I wanted to also take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and understanding. How do we even begin to summarise the last 12 months? Words like “odd” “strange” and “unprecedented” feel entirely worn out by this point. But while the last year’s been unpredictable – we’ve been moved by your unwavering support.
Despite all that has happened we have had some highlights in 2020 with some of the children and young people attending the reception at Downing Street with families and also the fact we were able to donate some funds to our chosen charities NSPCC, Dreams and Wishes and Teenage Cancer Trust.
We will have our event and let us hope that in a year’s time there will be a better world – a world of optimism, stability, happiness, laughter and kindness – all the ingredients so appropriate to The Child of Wales Awards.
I would be very grateful for any feedback you may have.
Stay Safe
With Love
Blanche
One of our fantastic key partner charities, Dreams & Wishes, has launched a fun new campaign which aims to raise a smile and raise funds at the same time. It’s called #MilesForSmiles, and the plan is to keep spirits high and also help them to continue to deliver the amazing work they do for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dreams & Wishes understands that, during the pandemic, supporting and improving the lives of seriously ill children and young people is more important than ever. Through their tireless work, they continue to provide ongoing support to young people living with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Remaining committed to granting more lifelong dreams and wishes to build happy memories during such a difficult time.
To support their crucial work, Dreams & Wishes have launched their new #MilesForSmiles virtual fundraising campaign to encourage people to fundraise in their own unique ways at home.
Fundraisers can choose whatever activity they’d prefer, whether that be jogging, swimming or skipping for whatever distance or time they can perform safely. The challenge is suitable for all ages and abilities to get involved, so it’s a great activity to uplift the whole family.
Wendy Hobbs, business ambassador and volunteer, said:
“It’s fantastic to see so many people of all ages participating in our Miles for Smiles challenge. Getting fit and healthy is important and you can support a charity that puts plenty of smiles on the faces of seriously ill children and their families.”
To take part, simply choose your activity, donate what you can, and then nominate 3 friends to take on the challenge too!
You can help spread the word by getting social. Upload a video of your activity to Twitter or Facebook with the official hashtag #MilesForSmiles – you can even tag your nominees and friends online to get everyone involved! The further we can spread the word, the more money they can raise to grant incredible experiences to the young people who really deserve them.
To get involved in the #MilesForSmiles campaign, click the link below to learn more and make a donation – http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/milesforsmileschallenge
Dreams & Wishes have also given us, here at Child of Wales Awards, a huge thank you for our £5,000 donation to support their important mission. With this substantial donation, Dreams & Wishes can continue to do the life-changing work that spreads so much happiness and fulfilment to so many people.
So, we want to thank everyone reading this for your continued support of the Child of Wales Awards, enabling us to help charities like Dreams and Wishes with funds when they need it most.
To read more about Dreams & Wishes fantastic work and how you can get involved, visit the charity’s website here: www.dreamsandwishescharity.org
The Child of Wales Awards, an event that celebrates the inspirational achievements of children across Wales, has thanked its sponsors for their continued support, which has allowed it to make a substantial donation to charity now, despite its annual event being delayed due to the coronavirus.
The event, originally due to take place in the Celtic Manor on April 3, 2020, will now go ahead on April 9, 2021, after originally being rescheduled for the autumn. The event will also release a video celebrating the achievements of some of the children nominated for awards this autumn.
The Child of Wales will donate £5,000 to each of the charities it is raising money for in recognition of the challenging times they are enduring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Its charities are: Teenage Cancer Trust, Dreams & Wishes and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The Child of Wales is backed by Bluestone National Park Resort, Trade Centre Wales and Bidfood. The category sponsors are: 1192 Laser & Beauty Clinic, Acuity Law, Andrew Rees & Sons Butchers, Barclays, Bibendum Wine, Castell Howell Foods, DWJ Group, DWJ Wealth Management, Gower College Swansea, Iceland Foods, Joe’s Ice Cream, MGY, Mitre Linen, Princes Gate, Principality Building Society, RedKite Solicitors, Sytner BMW and Thomas Recruitment Group.
A number of other companies are helping fund the support packages for the winners, funding their stay at the Celtic Manor and Bluestone. These are: Penguin Recruitment, AB Glass, Work Wales, Gallagher, Seren Global Media, Holder Mathias Architects, Blue Tiger Marketing, Bullock, Storm technologies and MyConcern.
The Child of Wales will also unveil a small number of new awards this autumn, designed to recognise the contribution of young people in Wales who have gone the extra mile for their friends, relatives and their local community in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.
Blanche Sainsbury, the founder of the event, said: “We would, once again, like to thank all of our sponsors, supporters and stakeholders for their continued support during these unprecedented times. It means a lot to us, the charities we are supporting and the children and young people whose lives and achievements we will celebrate. It gives us all hope and something to look forward to in the midst of uncertainty. But in the context of the pandemic and limitations on social gatherings, we have had to map the best way forward for the Child of Wales Awards.
“We have done this in the context of government guidelines and scientific advice and in the best interests of everyone involved in Child of Wales. But we are also still determined to create some magic and offer joy and happiness to individuals – the purpose of Child of Wales. When the event eventually does go ahead next year, we promise the long wait will be worth it – the evening will be amazing. We intend to finally deliver what we started and what so many people have worked so hard to make a very special event.
“Meanwhile, we are acutely aware of the challenges many charities have faced as a result of lockdown and restrictions on society. The delay of our event has limited our ability to fundraise but in light of the funding challenges many charities are facing, we will be presenting our charities with £5,000 each immediately. We hope this will help them through these difficult times. We again thank our sponsors for their continued support, which has made this possible.
“In addition to this, because we did not want to keep our amazing young people waiting that long before their achievements could be recognised, we also have a special surprise in store.
“We will be contacting all our young award winners over the next few months to tell them they have won and give them some very special surprises. We plan to then release a video of celebration, on the original date of the rescheduled awards on October 30.
“Finally, we will be adding a small number of new awards designed to celebrate the bravery and community spirit of Wales’ young people during the pandemic and through lockdown. If anyone is interested in working with us on these or sponsoring then, please get in touch.”
One of our charities, Dreams and Wishes, has launched a new range of T-shirts and face masks to raise funds for seriously ill children and their families – while also aiming to put more beautiful smiles on faces.
The award-winning charity has launched the range of ‘Smiles on Faces’ T-shirts and masks as it attempts to tackle the fundraising challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.
T-shirts are £15 and are available from – https://smilesonfaces.square.site/
Masks are £11- order by Emailing the charity – info@dreamsandwishescharity.org
The award-winning charity is all about creating as many happy memories as possible for very special children that can last a lifetime.
The charity’s initiative also coincides with National Volunteers’ Week, which runs June 1-7 – an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.
Dreams & Wishes is run entirely by volunteers who work with the families of sick children across the UK, providing vital support throughout the child’s illness and helping to build happy memories by making wishes come true.
The charity has had to change some working practices in order to protect the health of its volunteers, the children it supports and their families. This has sadly meant postponing several events.
However, wherever possible, the charity is continuing to grant the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families.
If you would like more information about the charity, or you would like to help grant a wish to seriously ill children and their families, please contact – wendy@dreamsandwishescharity.org
Website – https://www.dreamsandwishescharity.org/
Here at Child of Wales, we are celebrating National Children’s Day today (Sunday May 17), which is dedicated to sharing the activities of all the wonderful organisations that work to promote and protect the wellbeing of children and young people throughout the UK.
The initiative is also inviting children and families to share what they have learnt in the last few months, about being connected as human beings sharing one amazing planet that needs our care. It is seeking entries from children and young people that showcase this in any form ranging from posters to paintings to poems to videos (www.nationalchildrensdayuk.com/)
This seemed like a perfect opportunity to remind ourselves about the fantastic work of some of our main charities and how they continue to help and support young people in these unprecedented times.
Teenage Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialist nursing care and support to young people with cancer, continues to do everything they can to make sure its specialist nurses and dedicated Youth Support Coordinators are still there for young people when they’re needed.
Young people being treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit or ward are continuing to receive care from specialist Teenage Cancer Trust staff even if in a different place, depending on the needs of the NHS Trust in question.
Meanwhile, Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinators are still working with young people going through cancer treatment; they may just be speaking to them by phone or online, instead of face to face in some cases.
For more detail on how this charity is coping during COVID-19 crisis, click here.
Meanwhile, Dreams & Wishes, a volunteer-run charity that works with the families of sick children across the UK, is also continuing to provide vital support throughout a child’s illness and helping to build happy memories by making wishes come true.
The charity has had to change some of its working practices in order to protect the health of its volunteers, the children it supports and their families. However, wherever possible, the charity is continuing to grant the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families.
For more detail on how this charity is coping during COVID-19 crisis, click here.
Finally, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) Cymru/Wales, continues its work supporting children, young people and their families throughout Wales.
Sadly, its Childline service has been inundated with contacts from children and young people about Coronavirus, and these are steadily increasing. Childline has already counselled hundreds of children and young people concerned about the virus, and young people are finding additional support in one another on its online message boards.
Common issues children are discussing include anxiety, exacerbated by the disruption of their normal routines due to school closures, as well as the inescapable 24/7 news coverage. Many young people are already coping with challenges in some way, whether that’s school, friendships, or just growing up. At this transitional point in their lives, the extra pressure caused by COVID-19 can be very difficult for young people to cope with.
The NSPCC says that talking to people will help a young person realise they are not alone. It’s important we allow them to make time for themselves, create a routine to limit the impact having time off can have on things like mood and sleep, as well as keep them busy with things like exercise, schoolwork or hobbies.
For more detail on how this charity is coping during COVID-19 crisis, click here.
In these unprecedented times, all charities are facing big challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis – including the four that Child of Wales supports: the NSPCC, Teenage Cancer Trust, Dreams and Wishes (100% volunteer run) and the Bluestone Foundation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic effect with the cancellation of thousands of events and the loss of billions in income through fundraising events. The Virgin Money London Marathon alone, which should have taken place on Sunday 26 April, is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, which raised more than £66.4 million for thousands of charities in 2019.
Many of charities, including some of ours, have had to reduce services at a time when vulnerable members of society need them most; thousands of staff have been placed on furlough and many charities face tough times ahead.
To mitigate some of these problems to some extent, an initiative called the 2.6 challenge will launch on Sunday 26 April 2020 – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one day annual fundraising event. The challenge will last for a week. The 2.6 Challenge is open to anyone of any age – the only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing and remember to stay local.
From Sunday 26 April 2020, the organisers are asking you to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise by donating.
The mass-participation event’s organisers behind the 2.6 Challenge are: Human Race, parkrun, The Great Run Company, Run 4 Wales, Grounded Events, London Landmarks, Virgin Sport, Limelight Sports, Threshold Sports, Running High and London Marathon Events.
The design and website has been created by Studio Republic and the social media campaign by LiveWire Sport. Both agencies are working pro bono. The campaign is supported by the Charities Aid Foundation, the Institute of Fundraising, the Small Charities Coalition, the Office for Civil Society, Sport England, Let’s Do This, Virgin Money Giving and JustGiving.
So for more information on The 2.6 Challenge and to raise money for charities in need right now, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk
The Child of Wales Awards is honoured to be supporting Dreams & Wishes, a volunteer-run charity that works with the families of sick children across the UK, providing vital support throughout the child’s illness and helping to build happy memories by making wishes come true.
In these unprecedented times, we caught up with Dreams and Wishes to see how the charity is responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
The charity has had to change some working practices in order to protect the health of its volunteers, the children it supports and their families. This has sadly meant postponing several events including its highly anticipated Italian Passion for Speed event in Cardiff, showcasing spectacular high performance cars and bikes which has now been rearranged for November 2020.
However, wherever possible, the charity is continuing to grant the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families. Wendy Hobbs, Business Ambassador for Dreams & Wishes charity, explained:
“It is important that the charity continues to grant as many wishes as possible. Sadly, a child we support recently lost his battle with cancer highlighting the fact that suffering continues notwithstanding the coronavirus outbreak. It is therefore vital that our work does not stop during this distressing time.
“Fighting life-threatening and long-term illnesses is heart breaking for both a child and their support network. We understand that every child is unique with their own dreams and wishes, and our aim is to help every child we work fulfil their dream or wish, taking their mind off their illness and letting them be a child for a moment.
“Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, we were delighted to grant one child with their wish of a fantastic GoKart and helmet, which he thoroughly deserved for everything that he has been through. It was wonderful to see him smile and grant the wish of a very brave and courageous young person.”
If you would like more information about the charity, or you would like to help grant a wish to seriously ill children and their families, please contact – wendy@dreamsandwishescharity.org
Website – https://www.dreamsandwishescharity.org/
The Child of Wales Awards is raising money for Dreams & Wishes, a charity dedicated to ensuring that seriously ill children are granted their dreams and wishes.
So, what is coming up next for this wonderful charity?
For the third year in a row Dreams & Wishes is a finalist in the Best Charity Awards at the Cardiff Life Awards. The charity won the aforementioned award in 2018 for its outstanding work for seriously ill children and their families.
Dreams & Wishes is also delighted to be the nominated charity for the South Wales Law Awards on April 17 2020 at the Hilton Hotel, hosted by Sara Edwards. At the event, Dreams & Wishes will be raising money and helping to put more beautiful smiles on the faces of children and their families who suffer so much.
The following month brings another exciting event. On May 30, Italian Passion for Speed are partnering with Dreams & Wishes for a second year, hosting a spectacular free event at The Wales Millennium Centre to help raise funds and spread awareness of the charity’s amazing work. There will be some fantastic entertainment in the form of a powerful selection of rare and exotic Italian supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis! Dreams & Wishes is thrilled that this has become an annual event made possible by the overwhelming support from the residents of Cardiff and the visitors to Cardiff Bay.
This year, Dreams & Wishes has continued to arrange more wonderful trips and parties for very sick children and their families, including a trip to West Midland Safari Park on June 6. Other upcoming trips include three events at Cardiff Castle; a spectacular summer party on August 16, a Halloween party on November 1 with a spooky dungeon tour, and a Christmas party on December 20.
If families would like to get in touch with Dreams & Wishes to book a place at one of these events, contact details are as follows:
Website – www.dreamsandwishescharity.org
Facebook Page – Dreams & Wishes
If you would like to help grant a wish or a dream or learn more about the charity please contact, Wendy Hobbs, Business Ambassador
Email – wendy@dreamsandwishescharity.org
A bespoke design by acclaimed international fashion designer Jayne Pierson, the use of a super yacht for three days and a box at the Royal Albert Hall are just some of the prizes that will be available at the National Children of Wales Awards thanks to the generosity of the business community.
The National Children of Wales Awards will take place at the Celtic Manor on April 3, 2020. The organisers aim to raise £100,000 at the event, which will be distributed to four charities in Wales that help children: The Teenage Cancer Trust, Dreams & Wishes, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the Bluestone Foundation.
The event has already attracted remarkable support from the business community with all award categories now sponsored for the evening – though opportunities remain for businesses to get involved by supporting other aspects of the event.
The event’s two main sponsors are The Trade Centre Wales, one of the largest and fastest growing used car companies in the UK, and Bidfood, one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK.
The category sponsors are: 1192 Laser & Beauty Clinic, Andrew Rees & Sons Butchers, Barclays, Bibendum Wine, DWJ Group, DWJ Wealth Management, Gower College Swansea, Iceland Foods, Joe’s Ice Cream, MGY, Mitre Linen, Princes Gate, Principality Building Society, RedKite Solicitors, Sytner BMW and Thomas Recruitment Group.
But the event hopes to add even more extraordinary auction prizes to the roster – giving it every chance of exceeding its £100,000 target for the evening.
Blanche Sainsbury, chair of the Bluestone National Park Resort and founder of the National Children of Wales Awards, said:
“Companies from across Wales have demonstarted remarkable generosity in their support for the inaugural National Children of Wales Awards through both backing the event as sponsors and by offering some extraordinary auction prizes. We have been blown away by the support for this event so far and we are delighted to still be speaking to a number of businesses and individuals about additional prices and sponsorship opportunities.”
Some 15 children will be recognised at the awards. The categories focus on diversity, bravery, sporting achievements, and will recognise children who help others through championing causes, caring and fundraising.
The prestigious event will feature male voice choir Only Men Aloud, the winners of BBC talent show Last Choir Standing; Angelicus Celtis, a choir of Welsh schoolgirls who reached the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2017; and the event will also feature performances from Motionhouse, a world-class dance-circus production company.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the awards, buying a table or donating an auction prize, please contact Mark Hillary at: mhillary@bluestonewales.com
Dreams & Wishes, one of the beneficiaries of the National Children of Wales Awards, is a charity dedicated to helping seriously ill children by making their dreams and wishes come true.
Since it began in 2011, it has been working with families across the UK, providing vital support throughout the child’s illness as well as helping to build happy memories by granting lifelong wishes.
On the 16th December, Mr Tony Curtis MBE, Chairman of Dreams and Wishes, is delighted to be taking seriously ill children and their families on the charity’s annual trip to London.
This annual tradition is widely reported on TV and appears in the newspapers, and it’s something that the charity’s volunteers and the children look forward to each year.
The charity are the special guests of the Speaker of the House of Commons who will be welcoming the families on the day. He will have the opportunity to hear about the plight of the brave children in their care, and how the charity helps to create happy memories and put plenty of smiles on faces.
Dreams and Wishes have also kindly arranged a special visit from Father Christmas and Disney Princesses for the children, and each child will receive their own stack of presents.
Wendy Hobbs, Business Ambassador at Dreams and Wishes, will read her book ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ – a beautifully illustrated Christmas story that she wrote to inspire children never to give up on their dreams and wishes, and to give the parents hope. On the day, Wendy will present each child with a signed copy of the book to take home.
‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ helps to raise funds and awareness of Dreams and Wishes, and it is available for sale via the charity and on Amazon.
If you would like to show your support for Dreams and Wishes, please consider purchasing a copy of Wendy’s book via this link – http://MyBook.to/SpecialWish