Latest news with #TŷHafan
Business News Wales
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Thomas Carroll Celebrates Decade-Long Partnership with Tŷ Hafan
Two teams of employees will take on the Welsh Three Peaks challenge as the next big next fundraising event in June. Thomas Carroll, independent insurance, risk, wealth management and insurtech company, is celebrating a 10-year partnership with children's hospice charity Tŷ Hafan, raising £122,150.33 in vital funds since the relationship began. To mark this milestone, Thomas Carroll is the headline sponsor of Tŷ Hafan's Welsh Three Peaks Challenge 2025, taking place on Saturday, 7 June. This single-day adventure spans over 20 miles and involves a total ascent of 9,397 feet, conquering the three highest peaks in Wales – Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Cadair Idris, and Pen y Fan, which will be a true test of endurance, team spirit, and determination. Two dedicated teams from Thomas Carroll will be taking on the challenge for a second year running, with additional colleagues providing vital on-the-ground support. The firm hopes to raise significant funds for Tŷ Hafan, which has been providing life-changing care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Wales since 1999. Natalie Sankala, Operations Director at Thomas Carroll, said: 'This challenge is another opportunity for us to step up and give back to a charity that means so much to us. 'This is more than just a hike. It's about pushing ourselves to support a cause that's close to our hearts. Every pound raised goes directly to Tŷ Hafan, helping them continue to provide comfort, care and precious moments to families who need it most. I have volunteered to part in this year's challenge, and look forward to not only raising money for Tŷ Hafan but to spend time with a lovely group of people, whilst taking in the amazing Welsh landscape'. Kelly Dibble, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Tŷ Hafan, said: 'When a child's life will be short, Tŷ Hafan will walk alongside their family every step of the way – through life, death and beyond. We were delighted when Thomas Carroll announced that they would support our flagship Welsh Three Peaks event by being the lead sponsor. 'Thomas Carroll's fantastic fundraising and long-term partnership has contributed hugely in our ambition to reach every family that needs us. The team are truly incredible, and we are extremely grateful to them for their ongoing support and enthusiasm. 'No parent ever imagines that their child's life will be short. Sadly, this is the reality facing thousands of families in Wales. We can't stop this happening, but together we can make sure that no one in Wales lives their child's short life alone.' Members of the public are also invited to join the challenge. Registration is £25 per team, with a fundraising target of £800. To show your support, you can donate to the Thomas Carroll teams on their JustGiving page .
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Tŷ Hafan 'doing excellent job', says inspection report
Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, one of only two children's hospices in Wales, was assessed in October last year by a five-strong team from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW). The inspection report, published in January, highlighted the "dedicated and skilled staff" at the hospice, as well as the "strong leadership" and "excellent culture." The inspectors found that the hospice provided "individualised care" and "dignified care" to its patients, as well as "good quality, nutritious food" and "bespoke activities." The hospice was also praised for its "excellent multi-disciplinary working" and "strong governance and audit programme." The inspectors spoke to families who use the hospice, who said that Tŷ Hafan had given them "a quality of life again" and that they "don't know where we would be without them." The families said that the hospice "only ever want the best for our children" and that "it feels like they are part of the family." Irfon Rees, Tŷ Hafan's chief executive (Image: Ty Hafan) Irfon Rees, Tŷ Hafan's chief executive, said: "HIW is the independent inspectorate and regulator of healthcare in Wales. "Last October a five-strong team from HIW undertook a two-day on site planned inspection of Tŷ Hafan to assess the quality of our work. "In January, HIW published 'Independent Healthcare Inspection Report (Announced) Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, Sully'. "We shared the outcomes from this inspection with colleagues in February at our annual staff conference. "At Tŷ Hafan, we're proud of what we do and how we do it and grateful that our continual striving to deliver the highest possible standards of care and support for all has been formally recognised by HIW. "This latest HIW Inspection Report shows that families and professionals can have confidence in the services Tŷ Hafan provides, that we are committed to continuous quality improvement and that our staff are fulfilled and happy. "Ultimately this report shows that Tŷ Hafan is doing an excellent job in providing care and support for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, and, it is a great organisation to work for. "This is a testament to the hard work, dedication and care of all of my colleagues and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart." However, Mr Rees said that the hospice is "not resting on our laurels" and that there is "so much more to do." He said: "The publication in 2023 of our Prevalence and Complexity Report shows that currently we are only able to reach one in every ten children with a life-shortening condition who could benefit from our services. "Tŷ Hafan's ambition is that when a child's life will be short, no family should have to live it on their own. "We have so much more to do and I invite everyone to support us in whatever way they can so that we can reach every child and family who needs us." The hospice provides specialist palliative care, addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of each family member. From diagnosis to bereavement, Tŷ Hafan is there for the family as long as they need, through life, death, and beyond. Tŷ Hafan offers families end-of-life care and services such as family support, complementary therapy, music therapy, and outreach play both within the hospice and in the family home. A child and their family can be referred to Tŷ Hafan at the time of diagnosis, with care and support being provided throughout the course of the child's condition, which can be for many years. The children and young people who access Tŷ Hafan's services suffer from a broad range of conditions, many with profound and complex medical needs. Some of the conditions are so rare they haven't been named. For more information and to make a donation, go to
Business News Wales
08-05-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice Unveils Latest Inspection Report
Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice has shared its most recent Independent Healthcare Inspection Report by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) ahead of International Nurses Day on May 12. The HIW inspectors found 'compassionate care delivered by dedicated and skilled staff supported by strong leadership and an excellent culture'. In particular the HIW team found: Happy children Satisfied families Individualised care Good quality, nutritious food Excellent multi-disciplinary working Strong governance and audit programme Bespoke activities Dignified care Tŷ Hafan Chief Executive Irfon Rees said: 'HIW is the independent inspectorate and regulator of healthcare in Wales. Last October a five-strong team from HIW undertook a two-day on site planned inspection of Tŷ Hafan to assess the quality of our work. 'In January, HIW published 'Independent Healthcare Inspection Report (Announced) Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, Sully'. We shared the outcomes from this inspection with colleagues in February at our annual staff conference. 'At Tŷ Hafan, we're proud of what we do and how we do it and grateful that our continual striving to deliver the highest possible standards of care and support for all has been formally recognised by HIW. 'International Nurses Day feels like a good opportunity to remind ourselves of this recognition and to proactively share the findings of this report more widely.' Two of the families the HIW inspectors spoke to said: 'The hospice has given my daughter and us as a family a quality of life again. They have cared for us all as a family and helped my daughter's pain tremendously. I don't know where we would be without them.' 'Our son (and our family) have been cared for by Tŷ Hafan for 12 years. Everyone involved in the charity is lovely and only ever want the best for our children. It feels like they are part of the family.' Irfon Rees said: 'This latest HIW Inspection Report shows that families and professionals can have confidence in the services Tŷ Hafan provides, that we are committed to continuous quality improvement and that our staff are fulfilled and happy. 'Ultimately this report shows that Tŷ Hafan is doing an excellent job in providing care and support for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, and it is a great organisation to work for.'
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Our daughter is a baby living in an adult's body and we have no idea why'
Mia is fourteen but has the mental age of a much younger child of around six months after being diagnosed with chronic epilepsy as a child, with doctors unsure what caused it A father has spoken of his sadness how his teenage daughter with the mental age of a baby will never 'go to university, be married or grow up' thanks to an unknown condition. Parents Chris and Emma Connor grew concerned for little Mia when they realised she was missing milestones growing up. Over her first Christmas she was taken to hospital for tests and diagnosed with chronic epilepsy, but since then the exact nature of her condition has remained a mystery. Now doctors say the 14-year-old has the mental age of a baby aged between six and nine months - with no clue as to what caused it. Chris told WalesOnline: 'It was a very difficult time, but beyond that was realising Mia was not going to grow up as normal. 'We suddenly realised, she's not going to uni, she's never going to a ball, never going to be married, never going to have her own children, everything you'd hope and expect for your child – none of that is going to happen for Mia. 'It took me quite a while to accept. I just couldn't understand – I'd think to myself, what's the point of Mia? What is she giving to society? "But when you get through to her and when you see her smile – everybody feels it. And in time I've come to realise that that is Mia's job - to make people happy. 'The cause of Mia's problems are still unknown. They've found no genetic markers. Lots of studies have been done and they've found nothing. She's now going through the SWAN clinic in Cardiff in a last-ditch attempt to find a reason for how she is. But I don't know if they ever will find any answers.' Chris and Emma continue to give Mia the best life possible, and Chris runs regularly with Mia in a special adapted buggy, often through the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes near the family home in Bridgend. He is running the Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K for Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice this July as they have supported his family and Mia for more than a decade. Chris added: 'Our family has never been able to help us and if we didn't have Tŷ Hafan, we'd have struggled massively with no support. Tŷ Hafan has definitely helped to keep our little family together and it has given us more of an existence, more of a life, with the opportunity to change to be normal and not just carers. 'Emma and me always get on better, when we stay at Tŷ Hafan. We're always that bit more giggly and better with each other. 'Mia is now quite big, and she has no sense of danger. That means every minute of every day, almost every second of every day Em and I have to look out for her. 'It's really only when we are at Tŷ Hafan that we are able to power our brains or systems down enough to properly relax because it is only there we are able to trust Mia's in safe hands.' The parents have also had to face their own health battles, as Emma was diagnosed with cancer and Chris has mild heart problems. James Davies-Hale, head of fundraising for Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice, said: 'We're so grateful to Chris and everyone who will be running the Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K for us on Sunday, July 6.'
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gavin & Stacey clapperboard raises thousands for charity
A clapperboard signed by the Gavin & Stacey cast has raised £3,700 for charity in an online auction. The item was donated to children's hospice Tŷ Hafan by one of the camera crew who filmed the show's final auction, which took place on eBay and saw 38 bids before finishing on Friday, was described by the charity as "beyond our expectations".Gavin & Stacey was first screened in 2007 and more than 19.1 million viewers have watched the final episode of the show which aired on Christmas Day. The show follows the story of Gavin, from Billericay, Essex, and his romance with Stacey from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, and the intertwined lives of their friends and clapperboard was signed by 12 members of the cast, including Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon and Larry Mladenovic, Tŷ Hafan's director of retail and lottery, said the response to the clapperboard auction was "huge" and "really captured people's imagination". "Our hospice is based right next door to Barry so we've had a long-term sort of connection with Gavin & Stacey," he Mladenovic said Tŷ Hafan was "shocked" the clapperboard sold for such a high amount, and has now become the charity's highest-selling auction item. "When we put this up for auction we thought it would go for maybe a couple of thousand pounds," Mr Mladenovic said. "So yeah, it really did go beyond our expectations."He said the charity needs to raise £6.9m every year to help children with life-shortening conditions and their loved ones.Tŷ Hafan is currently reaching one in 10 families in Wales that need help. Mr Mladenovic said the money raised will provide bereavement support, help children access play therapy or reach them in their homes. "We're so grateful for this kind of donation as it just helps us so much to generate publicity as it gets people to think about us," Mr Mlandenovic added.
