MORE than 20 charity organisations took part in a celebration of voluntary action in the community at a Christmas fair in the Newport market on Saturday.

The event was organised by Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) and was supported by Mark Rogers, a trader in the market who is working alongside Newport City Council and Newport Norse to promote the market.

Stalls in the event ranged from Guide Dogs Cymru to Help for Heroes and from Newport Women’s Aid and to the Samaritans.

Jane Shatford, third sector development manager for GAVO, said the event was an opportunity for community and charitable groups to get together, raise money for the different charities and provide information to the public.

She said they were invited by the market and that they thought they would give it a try.

Ms Shatford said: “We had 25 charities and community groups here today.

“It is the first we have done this and I think it has gone really well – we have had lots of positive feedback and we will be doing it again next year.”

Ms Shatford said some of the groups had items to sell, so it was an opportunity to buy Christmas presents while supporting a charity.

“I would say we had about 200 people coming this morning,” she said. “Hopefully we will get up to 500 people throughout the day.”

They also had entertainment from Forget Me Not Chorus, a choir formed by people with dementia.

Jane Czyrko, project manager for Newport’s Forget Me Not Chorus, said the choir, which is formed by around 30 people, tries to keep their work “as professional as possible” so that people with dementia don’t feel “hidden”.

Ms Czyrko said: “It is great to have events like this – people do not realise how much is done by charities.”

Cyfle Cymru, which help people affected by substance misuse to gain the skills necessary to enter the world of work, were also at the event.

Noel Williams, project leader for Newport’s Cyfle Cymru, said: “I think today has been really useful. It is a great place for the sector to raise awareness.

“It has a real community vibe.”

Gary Workman, from the Bettws area of Newport, was one of the people who attended the fair.

The 55-year-old said: “It is really good – it is nice to find out more about the work different groups do.

“It highlights the good things there are in Newport.”