M&S Newport Retail Park

We are Community Volunteers Wales, a volunteer-run, registered charity in South Wales, committed to creating empowered and robust self-sufficient communities. Founded at the start of lockdown in March 2020 we sought to help those forgotten and overlooked. What started as collecting shopping and vital medication for those totally isolated by the pandemic has developed into over 200 volunteers striving for a collective impact within the community. Our mission is to create robust self-sufficient communities that have kindness and connection at the very heart. We make over 170 kindness calls in our community every week to help combat loneliness. Combating the loneliness that contributes to poor mental health we work tirelessly to connect people. Every week we have clubs and scheduled meet-ups so that those who feel alone have an opportunity to make meaningful friendships. We believe in bringing people together to support each other and build strong, lasting bonds which is why we run a coffee shop in the heart of Risca. We believe no-one in our community should suffer the side effects of poverty or isolation. Through our We Share mentality we founded Tin on a Wall to help food banks deal with unprecedented demand. We operate a Community Pantry, The Pantri based in Risca which gives members the chance to secure baskets of food for just £4. We also run a Uniform Recycle scheme to help parents offset the costs of growth spurts and back to school. Everything we do looks to redirect waste from landfill and put good quality useable items into the hands of people who need them.

Zero hunger

SWAN UK (syndromes without a name) is the only dedicated support network available for families of children and young adults with undiagnosed genetic conditions in the UK. It is run by the charity Genetic Alliance UK. It is estimated that around 6,000 disabled children are born every year with a genetic condition likely to remain undiagnosed. Without a diagnosis families have no idea what the future will hold for their child. Will they walk? Will they talk? How long are they likely to live? Families struggle to have their needs taken seriously and access the services and support that they vitally need. Many feel extremely isolated and alone. SWAN UK supports families in hospital and at home offering 24/7 access to support and information. We run regular events to bring families together and provide opportunities to make precious memories. We support siblings to make new friends who understand how difficult having an undiagnosed brother or sister can be. We educate professionals about the issues faced by families affected by a syndrome without a name to help families receive high-quality coordinated care and appropriate testing or treatment. Our Big Ambition is that all families who have a child affected by a syndrome without a name get the support they need, when they need it. We know there are so many families out there who still need our support, which is why we are aiming to double our membership and help families feel less isolated and alone.