Nominations are in for Community Chest Award

WE have teamed up with house builder Taylor Wimpey to offer worthy causes the chance to receive £500.

Many deserving charities and organisations have been nominated, and now we are inviting you, our readers, to vote for the one you feel is most deserving of the cash award.

Sara Taylor, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey South Wales, said: “We are delighted to see so many worthy causes nominated by readers of the South Wales Argus for the Community Chest.

“Each and every organisation on the list does great work within the local community, and it’s now down to the readers to decide which will receive the £500 cash award.”

To vote for the organisation you think deserves the cash the most, you can e-mail or send it by post by January 5.

To vote via email, email newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk with Community Chest Vote in the subject line. Include details of your chosen good cause, plus your full name and address.

To vote by post, send us your vote, full name and address on a postcard or sealed envelope to Newsdesk, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport, NP20 3QN.

Only one vote per person will be counted.

PANEL NOMINEES

All Creatures Great and Small, Cwmbran

All Creatures Great and Small is an animal sanctuary which has been serving the community since 1992.

The sanctuary is entirely funded by public donations and operates a programme of rehabilitating and rehoming injured, abused, orphaned and unwanted animals.

They campaign for a better quality of life for all animals and do what they can to help them avoid any pain or unnecessary suffering.

The Newport and Gwent Samaritans

The Samaritans provide support both locally and nationally around the clock to those in distress.

Since 1953, they have been listening to and helping those who feel isolated and providing a vital service to the community.

Samaritans are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential, non-judgmental support to people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, and they rely on public donations to do so.

Vale Cat Rescue, Gwent

This small voluntary group was set up to rescue and assist in the recuperation and rehoming of the many stray, feral, injured and abandoned cats and kittens in the Blaenau Gwent area.

With winter coming, they are working hard to help stray and feral cats living outside to survive the harsh weather by providing shelter and food.

They would use the award to help manage their vet bills and focus on helping more animals in need over the winter months.

Bettws in Bloom

This small charity has been run by volunteers for the last 16 years and many community groups rely on their premises to meet in, and classes are held in their centre on a daily basis.

They would use the award to pay for their electricity bills so that they do not have to pass on the increase to the groups which meet there.

Spencer Boys Group, Newport

This community group runs several football groups in the area for children in and around Ringland.

They have been active for over 20 years and work hard to coach the children and provide diversionary activities to keep them active and off the streets.

They would use the money to buy new kit and items for the club to ensure it can continue to function.

Gwent Cats Protection

This charity has been looking after cats and kittens in the Gwent area since 1979.

Volunteers give up their spare time to rescue and rehome hundreds of unwanted cats every year.

Their branch helpline receives hundreds of calls every month from members of the public asking for help for local cats in need.

The award would enable them to help many more cats who are desperately in need in the local area.

Usk Conservation and Environmental Group

This group is dedicated to resolving conservation and environmental issues in and around Usk, and rely entirely on donations to sustain their work.

Just a few of the practical community projects they have been involved in include creating a nature trail around the outskirts of Usk, creating a wildflower meadow, planting approximately an acre of trees and shrubs and providing talks and guided walks about local conservation and wildlife.

Newport City Anglers

This group works closely with local schools to encourage children to look after and preserve nature, as well as running monthly fishing competitions for adults and children in the local community.

They also offer weekly fishing sessions for adults with learning difficulties.

The award would be used to improve the paths around the pond to allow full wheelchair access, as currently only one section of the pond is wheelchair accessible.

The Royal Welsh Regimental Association

This ex-servicemen’s branch was formed in 1984 and currently has 120 members who are all veterans living within the community of Torfaen.

The association which relies on financial support to work with the community, hold monthly meetings and social events where they raise money for various charities.

The association also support commemoration parades and services and arrange trips to battlefields, cemeteries and memorial sites.

Newport, Caldicot and Chepstow First Responders

This group of volunteers are trained and controlled by the Welsh Ambulance Service, and provide life-saving treatment to patients suffering cardiac arrest, strokes and many other serious conditions before the ambulance arrives.

They give support to the ambulance crews on the scene as well as support to friends and family of the patient.

The Community Chest award would go towards volunteers uniform and equipment.

Raven House Trust, Newport

This small charity based in Newport supports those struggling to make ends meet by ‘recycling’ used furniture, providing food parcels for individuals and families and providing household necessities such as bedding.

They work in partnership with social services and other agencies to help many people in these times of economic difficulty. This award would enable the charity to help many more people in need.