Last night, Faith in Families proudly attended the Welsh Charity Awards 2025, standing alongside some of Wales’s most inspiring organisations. We were finalists in the Fundraiser of the Year category, sponsored by Utility Aid — and while we didn’t take home the top title, being recognised among the top three fundraisers in Wales is something truly special.
Because for us, this isn’t just an award. It’s a celebration of every single person who’s ever raised a penny, run a race, or taken on a challenge for children and families in Swansea.
A Celebration of Fundraising Heroes
Fundraising is the heartbeat of Faith in Families. It fuels our work, keeps our projects running, and turns compassion into lasting change. So this recognition belongs to every one of our incredible fundraisers — those who give their time, energy, and courage to make life brighter for others.
People like Ben from Belvoir, who’s running every single day in 2025 to reach an unbelievable 2,025 miles.
And Tom from Three Cliffs Holiday Park, who’s walking 4 million steps this year to raise vital funds for our work.
It’s for seven-year-old Ollie Blake, who’s already climbed Pen Y Fan, cycled 15 miles, and held countless bake sales — proving that you’re never too young to make a difference.
For Buddy and Caiden Martin, who took on the ultimate challenge — diving with sharks — to raise money for children they’ll never even meet.
It’s for our amazing adventure trekkers — the ones who’ve climbed mountains, crossed deserts, and hiked jungles for Faith in Families. People like Jonathan Morgan from Peter Morgan Estate Agents, Brian from ITCS, Caroline Platt from Platts Agriculture, and Ryan Bevington, each pushing themselves far beyond their comfort zones for families facing crisis.
And for Amy Seppman, who cycled all the way from Fishguard to London, and Ben from Fresh Faced Marketing, walking 5K every single day in 2025.
These are just a few of the extraordinary people who’ve fundraised for Faith in Families — there are hundreds more who’ve organised raffles, hosted events, baked cakes, climbed peaks, and given their all. This recognition is for all of them.
“This award belongs to every single person who’s ever supported Faith in Families,” says Cherrie Bija, CEO. “From the children selling cupcakes to the trekkers climbing mountains, every mile, every step, and every act of kindness helps us build stronger, fairer communities across Swansea.”
What Being a Finalist Means for Faith in Families
This recognition is about much more than an award — it’s about impact. Across Swansea, our projects are helping families to rebuild their lives every single day.
Through Inspiring Futures, adults gain the skills and confidence to get back into work or training.
Brighter Futures supports children through trauma and emotional struggles, offering one-to-one therapy that helps them heal and grow.
And in our Community Cwtches, parents, toddlers, and neighbours come together for workshops, lunch clubs, and support sessions that turn isolation into connection.
Our Cwtch Mawr Multibank is Wales’s first of its kind — supporting 127 partner organisations and helping thousands of families across the city to access brand-new essential items, from baby products to bedding.
Alongside our community fundraising, grants and funding applications have allowed us to support hundreds of children and families, keeping these lifelines running when they’re needed most.
A Community of Changemakers
Sharing the stage with The Parish Trust and Stephens and George Centenary Charitable Trust reminded us of something powerful — that Wales is full of changemakers. The Welsh Charity Awards 2025 celebrated not competition, but collaboration; not charity as an act of pity, but community as an act of strength.
As Cherrie puts it, “When charities, businesses, and communities work together, we create more than impact — we create hope. And hope is what changes lives.”
Keeping the Momentum Going
This moment is for every person who’s believed in Faith in Families and for every family who’s believed in themselves again because of that support. Being a finalist is just one step — the real achievement is what happens every day in our centres, classrooms, and communities.
So, if you’d like to join this movement — by donating, volunteering, or taking on your own challenge — we’d love to welcome you.
👉 Find out how you can get involved
Together, we can keep transforming lives — one fundraiser, one family, one cwtch at a time.
