DVLA staff in Swansea are gearing up for a jam-packed year of fundraising for Tŷ Olwen after choosing them as their Charity of Choice for 2019.
This comes fresh off the back of the news that DVLA staff have raised a staggering £250,000 for five charities over the past five years as part of their Charity of Choice initiative which launched in 2014.
Activities for Tŷ Olwen have already kicked off. A new staff rambling group will take on a challenging hike each month to raise money for the charity, which provides palliative care services for people in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot. Other plans include a summer football tournament and climbing Ben Nevis, as well as cake sales, raffles and many other activities through the course of the year.
Last month DVLA handed over a cheque to Maggie's Swansea after raising £58,803 through staff's fundraising efforts. This amount will pay for the charity's Swansea centre to be open for five weeks of the year, benefitting around 2,500 visitors. It will help fund services such as benefits advice, clinical psychologist sessions and bereavement support for those who use the centre.
On hearing the news, Helen Murray MBE, Tŷ Olwen Trust Chairman, said:
The whole team at Tŷ Olwen are thrilled that we have been chosen to be DVLA's charity of choice this year.
Whilst Tŷ Olwen cannot offer a cure, we can offer a good quality of life for patients, along with compassionate end of life care when the time comes.
Our patients are cared for either in Tŷ Olwen itself, in their own homes or on the wards of local hospitals. This partnership will help to ensure that this vital care can continue and we look forward to working with the DVLA in the year to come.
Julie Lennard, DVLA Chief Executive, said:
Raising £250,000 is an incredible milestone to have reached. I'm extremely proud of our staff who continually rise to the challenge and give so much of their own time to raise money for our nominated charities.
I have no doubt that together with Tŷ Olwen we can make a big difference and I'm delighted that we'll be supporting this fantastic charity in 2019.
Notes:
Last year saw DVLA raise £58,803 for Maggie's Swansea, DVLA's Charity of Choice for 2018.
DVLA previously raised £21,389 for Wales Air Ambulance in 2014, £43,578 for LATCH in 2015, £70,906 for Alzheimer's Society in 2016 and £56,159 for Mind in 2017.
Tŷ Olwen offer quality of life for patients, along with appropriate and compassionate end of life care when the time comes. Patients are cared for either in Tŷ Olwen itself, in their own homes or on the wards of local hospitals. The care is extended to family and friends, and the support is given for as long as it's needed.
