Leading children’s charity launches new fundraising initiative to support services

A new fundraising initiative aim to raise £1-million per year has been launched by a leading children’s charity.

The NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board has been set up to raise funds for the children’s charity’s services in Wales, including Childline, Speak out Stay safe school’s programme and direct services.

It is chaired by Hywel Peterson, who was a member of the NSPCC Wales Appeal Board which raised £3.7-million for the charity from 2016-2019.

Hywel was made an Honorary Member of Council for the NSPCC in 2019 and a Divisional Vice President in 2020. He has also served on the testimonial committees of former Wales rugby players Martyn Williams MBE and Gethin Jenkins, who both chose the NSPCC as one of their beneficiary charities during their testimonial year.

Hywel was also chairman of the Sam Warburton Testimonial Committee, which raised £100,000 for NSPCC Cymru.

A number of events were held to celebrate the career of the former Wales and British Lions captain in 2018/19, with NSPCC Cymru the main charity beneficiary of Sam’s testimonial year.

“The new board will raise vital funds for the wide range of services provided by the NSPCC in Wales, both through corporate partnerships and fundraising events,” said Hywel.

“It will also raise awareness of the work of the NSPCC, its campaigns and our events such as Childhood Day coming up on June 9, our national flagship day of fundraising and action that brings communities together and gives everyone a way to help keep children safe.

“I am delighted to have been appointed chairman of the board and very much looking forward to seeing the impact it can make and how it can support the vital work of NSPCC Cymru.”

The fundraising board held its first meeting in March and will meet once every two months.

The NSPCC has two Childline bases in Wales – in Cardiff and Prestatyn – providing a free, confidential counselling service for children and young people up to 19-years-old to seek support and advice.

It delivers its Speak out Stay safe service, an online safeguarding programme for children aged five- to 11-years-old, in schools across Wales.

The charity also runs Childline Club Cymru, an initiative launched by NSPCC Cymru’s Ambassador for Childhood Sam Warburton in 2021, providing businesses and individuals across the country an opportunity to help support children and young people across Wales.

The initiative has raised more than £50,000 for Childline in Wales, with supporters having recently renewed their memberships for a second year.

Membership ranges between £400 and £2000 which could fund the following:

• £400 could pay for volunteers to answer 100 children’s calls for help to Childline
• £1,250 could pay to run Childline for one hour
• £2,000 could pay to train a volunteer and to answer 100 children’s calls for help to Childline

Childline Club Cymru members receive a framed certificate, an invitation to attend an annual event at a Childline base in Wales and recognition of their support on social media.

Anybody interested in becoming a Childline Club Cymru member can email Emma Brennan, Supporter Fundraising Manager at NSPCC Wales, on [email protected].