A major charity match-funding initiative by the National Emergencies Trust and Crowdfunder UK has announced it will remain open over the coming weeks to enable Welsh charities and groups to cope with seasonal increases in demand. The Local Action Fund launched on 22 September to offer funding to community and voluntary organisations to help them counter the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Eligible charities simply have to set up a fundraising campaign on Crowdfunder UK, and the National Emergencies…

Human Appeal, one of the UK’s fastest growing NGOs, is returning its UK-wide winter Comedy Takeover to raise money for the Winter Emergency Appeal. The tour will take place in Glasgow, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Blackburn, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leicester, London, Croydon, Ilford, Luton and Slough with COVID guidelines in place.  Comics on the bill this winter include Ali Official, star and writer of hit series Muzlamic (BBC), judge of the BBC New Comedy Awards and presenter of the BBC’s Being British…

Noah’s Ark fundraisers (from left): Holly Padfield, Andrea May, Lucy Toutt and Vicky Toutt   Six brave fundraisers have raised £1850 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital by facing their fears on the world’s fasted seated zipline, situated at the old Tower Colliery mining site in Aberdare. Swansea Building Society cashier, Vicky Toutt, joined her sister-in-law Ceri Toutt and four other ladies to take part in the event organised by Noah’s Ark at Zip World Tower in the Rhigos mountain range….

Max J Hayward, Bartender at Lab 22 Bar in Cardiff won the Judges’ Choice prize with his cocktail, The North Coast Southside, a nod to the gin which is made in the UK mainland’s most northerly distillery, on the coast of Scotland. His recipe was chosen by the Judging Panel from a shortlist of 5 extraordinary entries to a national contest. The competition marked International Scottish Gin Day® (ISGD) held earlier this month. He wins a case of Rock Rose…

Nathalene had a stroke while she was still in the womb and was born with cerebral palsy. This has affected her movements down the left side of her body. Her family and their supporters fundraise for regular month-long constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT), which has helped her regain the use of her left hand. Fundraising for Nathalene’s therapies as well as for accommodation and other costs around the sessions continues. Mum Katie Szekely, 31, from Pentwynmawr, said: ‘We’ve been fundraising…

Military children from two primary schools in Cardiff took part in a free virtual workshop run by the charity Little Troopers this week. The children from Pontprennau Primary School and Oakfield Primary School all have parents currently serving in the British Armed Forces and logged in to the Little Troopers at School workshop with 260 other children from across Wales. Using storytelling, imaginative play, drawing, movement and drama, the children got to explore some the unique challenges that forces life…

Julian John, 50, collapsed in 2005 due to a brain injury that developed from food poisoning. Losing the ability to stand, walk and talk, he was housebound for three years. After undergoing five years of intense physical therapy in the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, he was able to make a partial recovery although aspects of his life are still limited due to his disability. Founder of the Diversity and Inclusion consultancy Delsion Ltd., Julian has excelled…

Merrythought, Britain’s oldest remaining teddy bear manufacturer, has launched a new teddy bear to mark 100 years of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.   Handmade in Merrythought’s historic British factory, The Royal British Legion Poppy Bear will help to raise vital funds for serving and ex-serving members of the British Armed Forces, as well as their families and dependents.  Fourth-generation managing director Sarah Holmes said  “Myself and the team here at Merrythought are honoured to partner with the Royal British…

  The Word’s Biggest Panto is back for 2021 with a spectacular arena tour kicking off in Cardiff. Starring The One Show and Our Farm in the Dales Matt Baker as Wizard and ITV The Chase’s Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan as the good witch Glinda, this brand-new production of The Wizard of Oz will be visiting arenas across the UK including a date at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday December 4. Tickets available from www.wizardofozuk.com This production of The Wizard…

Thank You – Summer Tour One of the most successful recording artists and entertainers of all time, Diana Ross has shaped the sound of popular music. In the 1960s she reigned as the Queen of Motown, leading The Supremes to chart dominance with hits such as Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love, and You Keep Me Hangin’ On. Ms. Ross released a new album on Nov 5.   The title track from her upcoming album, Thank You, was released…