Welsh Government thanks charities and volunteers on International Day of Charity
Llywodraeth Cymru yn diolch i elusennau a gwirfoddolwyr ar Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Elusennau
Today, on International Day of Charity, the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, thanked charities and volunteers across Wales for making life better for their communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: “Volunteers and charities in Wales have made a huge difference throughout Covid-19 lockdown and beyond. I want to thank the charities and volunteers of all ages and from all parts of Wales who have signed up to help their communities since March.
“Communities across Wales are feeling the benefits as time goes on. Shared commitment reinforces vibrant, caring communities, where citizens are bound together by close ties of co-operation and team work, inequalities are reduced, and the most vulnerable among us feel supported.
“Every single volunteer is valued and appreciated. Please continue to offer your services in whatever way suits you best – just be sure to keep yourself and others safe.”
Ruth Marks, Chief Executive of Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) said:
“Charities here in Wales and around the world help to support communities to be more resilient and inspire inclusivity - never has this been more important than in 2020.
“At the start of the year, communities in Wales suffered the devastating effects of storm Dennis, which was closely followed by the COVID-19 crisis. Charities and voluntary groups rallied around to help support our communities and have been, and will continue to be, vital in the recovery.
“At WCVA, every day is the day of charity, but today we celebrate the recognition of all the amazing organisations which are so instrumental in our society, especially during these turbulent times.”
Jane Hutt continued:
“On International Day of Charity, I want to reflect on and celebrate the huge contribution made by charities, third sector organisations and volunteers in Wales. Thank you – you have literally saved lives.
“Your tireless generosity has delivered vital help and support where it was most needed, and I hope you will be able to continue to offer your support as autumn turns to winter.”
The Voluntary Services Recovery Fund (VSRF) replaced the Voluntary Services Emergency Fund (VSEF), and was launched on 17th August. It will enable organisations to adapt and deliver services to communities throughout Wales, especially relating to specific challenges which have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, like mental health and social well-being.
Huw Lewis, Third Sector Development Manager at Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations, said:
“There is no doubt that Welsh Government funding has made a huge difference by ensuring the long-term sustainability of many community and third sector organisations in Blaenau Gwent. Volunteers and charities have been able to continue to deliver vital services to some of the most disadvantaged members of our community.”
The new Voluntary Services Recovery Fund is now open for applications.
The Third Sector Resilience Fund remains open for applications, and will continue to provide direct financial support to charities and third sector organisations to help pay bills and ease cash-flow.
Notes to editors
- The Voluntary Services Emergency Fund, announced in April, has awarded almost £7.1m in funds to third sector organisations in Wales, enabling them to co-ordinate the volunteer response and help to cover the out of pocket expenses of their volunteers. This fund is now closed to new applicants
- The Voluntary Services Recovery Fund, launched on 17 August, is for groups working with communities to deliver services to ensure a fair and just recovery across Wales, in the period following COVID-19’s initial impact.
- The Third Sector Resilience Fund remains open for applications.
- Case studies of third sector organisations which have been supported by the Voluntary Services Emergency Fund are available from Wales Council for Voluntary Action here.
Case studies
- During lockdown, Abertillery Bowls Club was awarded funds from Welsh Government’s Voluntary Services Emergency Fund (VSEF) to help and encourage older members to use and access new technology and stay connected with the outside world.
Richard Cook of Abertillery Bowls Club said: “To begin with, we regularly contacted isolated older members of our Bowls club by telephone, to check on their wellbeing and make sure they had food, supplies, and everything they needed.
“There was a wider issue though of keeping connected with the outside world. We started off by using old smart devices which members kindly donated, but buying new tablets made it possible for us to keep in touch with even more elderly members. It made a huge difference for all of us – knowing we could keep in touch, making sure everyone was ok, and staying connected.”
- Cymru Creations recently formed a new project – Tredegar Community Task Force, which has to date made over 10,000 deliveries to those in need across Blaenau Gwent, including free school meals and thousands of bags of free food. Task Force volunteers are continuing to deliver food, and up to 60-100 medications for local pharmacies every day.
Kevin Phillips of Cymru Creations said: “Our dedicated, professional volunteers have done an amazing job. Communities throughout Blaenau Gwent have faced huge challenges, and we are proud of the support we’ve been able to give. Families and vulnerable people are still facing difficult times, so we’re going to carry on supporting them, to give our community some much-needed respite.”
The Tredegar Community Task Force story:
Tredegar Community Task Force was established by Cymru Creations in the very early stages of the outbreak. At the beginning of March 2020 two staff members were attending a children’s film festival in Seattle on behalf of the Blaenau Gwent Film Academy when the virus started to take effect.
Two days later, upon their return on the 10th March, they had conceived a plan. The decision by the four staff members of Cymru Creations were unanimous; they would try and support the 160 members of their over 60’s club who would now be in self isolation during the Covid-19 crisis.
As a film and media company, the usual business model of different departments fulfilling different tasks, was implemented to great effect. A food distribution network, medical deliveries, and personal shopping service for those in self-isolation were quickly initiated. Weeks ahead of many official organisations and governing bodies, Cymru Creations became the go-to company for all types of support, and established itself as the forerunner of many organisations in Blaenau Gwent.
The company’s office, based in 'The Little Theatre', Tredegar, proved invaluable as the Headquarters for the operation, and it was transformed into a fully functioning base of operations, complete with social distancing markers, notice boards, and personal protective equipment for all the volunteers.
As word spread, during the first week it was clear that many other people in the community also needed vital support, and the task force would be needed on a much bigger scale than anticipated.
Soon the team were delivering: all the free school meals for Tredegar Comprehensive, medicines and prescriptions for two of the local dispensing chemists, personal shopping for self isolating families, educational supplies, and providing families who were facing financial difficulties with free food parcels.
Deliveries numbered up to 750 per week, with volunteers staff working up to 15 hours a day.
The project grew from just a handful of staff members, to a group of 35-45 volunteers, taking over 200 calls a day. While Cymru Creations staff organised the logistics of the task force, volunteers supported at all levels.
Referrals for food deliveries came in from social services, housing associations, schools, and vulnerable families, and many people who had seen the service advertised rang for help. Volunteers in full PPE even assisted a Cancer patient reach their hospital for their treatment. The task force were described by Blaenau Gwent authorities as a 'life line for many families'.
The service was promoted throughout Tredegar thanks to Tredegar Sorting Office and postal workers who delivered Task Force leaflets to every household in the area. Organisations such as Morrisons, Tesco, McDonalds, and local chapels began donating food, while Braces bread delivers over 300 loaves each week to the task force to further the cause.
Tredegar's Moose Lodge and the little theatre became the food distribution centre, where hundreds of bags of food are carefully packed and distributed.
After the borough took over the distribution of free school meals, the Community Task Force continued to deliver educational packs and sanitary products for the school. The number of free food parcels increased, and pharmacies requested extra morning deliveries to complement the afternoon deliveries. They were supporting more families than ever before.
This team of film makers, ex-teachers, steel industry workers, and self-employed volunteers, have all risen to the challenge in a time of uncertainty and crisis, going above and beyond what was expected of them. From performing a socially distanced pantomime in the garden of a disabled child for his birthday, to supporting other community groups in need to ensure everyone was cared for, the volunteers of the Tredegar Community Task Force are everyday people who stood up in unusual circumstances, putting the well-being of the community, before their own.
To date the group has received hundreds of cards of thanks from families around the Blaenau Gwent area, and the team continues to serve the community, and will do so until the pandemic is over. By then, they will have completed well over 10,000 deliveries.
As one of the grateful residents stated "The spirit of Aneurin Bevan lives on in the Tredegar Community Task Force."
Video about the Task Force here.
BBC News story here.
For further information and interview opportunities regarding case studies, or if you would like to interview the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip regarding this story, please contact Leonie Roberts: leonie.roberts018@gov.wales or Tel: 07971 593396