At their first meeting of 2012 the Trustees approved the immediate distribution of £40,000 donations to a variety of charities and organisations, and also set aside a further £30,000 which has been earmarked for applications already received.
MacMillan Cancer Support received £10,273 to help recruit a MacMillan Sarcoma Nurse for south west Wales, while Parkinsons UK, which provides invaluable support for people living with Parkinsons, will receive £5,000.

The British Heart Foundation was awarded £4,415 to purchase an ECG machine for the cardiac Unit at Llanelli’s Prince Phillips Hospital, and The Stroke Association was awarded £5,786 towards its Llandysul Positive Action for Stroke Group.

Swansea’s Special needs Improvements project was awarded £4,727 to purchase and erect a wheelechair swing for children with disabilities at its day centre, and the Llanelli based Ty Golau-Lighthouse project , a support centre which provides a health and wellbeing service to people living with dementia, was given £5,300.

The Towy Salmon Swimming Club for the Disabled based in Carmarthen Leisure Centre, which depends entirely on volunteers, will receive £2,000 towards the cost of running the club which caters for handicapped people of all ages, and the Llanelli Carp and Coarse Fishing Club were awarded £1,000 to purchase fishing tackle to provided coaching sessions for young people with learning difficulties.
Happy Days, a charity that provides respite break holidays and day trips for special needs children will receive £1,172 to take children from Carmarthen and Fishguard on special trips.

Nantgaredig Primary School was awarded £1,000 towards the purchase of a mini bus for children with speech and language difficulties, and Music in Hospitals, a charity which provides live music in hospitals, care homes, hospices, day care centres, and special needs school, to improve the quality of life of children and adults with illness and disability, were also given £1,000 Beacons Creative Wales which provides employment and work experience to people with learning disabilities, have been given £1,000. The Narthex@ St.Mary’s Church project in Burry Port, was awarded £200 towards the cost of providing catering equipment at its community room. Prince’s Trust volunteer Chris Ash, from Llanelli, was awarded £200 towards the cost of funding a charity jungle challenge to raise money for the Prince’s Trust.
“These latest donations bring the total amount of money the Ray Gravell And Friends Charitable Trust has donated to various charities, organisations, and individuals throughout West Wales to over £250,000 . This is a truly amazing figure which is a remarkable tribute to Ray, “ said Chairman of Trustees Robert Williams.
“ We are delighted to have been able to award so many donations to so many important local projects, and each and every donation is richly deserved.
“One of the primary objectives of the Trust when it was set up after Ray’s death almost four ago was to help voluntary groups and individuals whose aims are to improve the communities they live in and to help less fortunate people within those communities. It is heartening to know that the Trust has been able to make substantial donations year on year.

“ Ray will continue to be a great champion of West is Best through the work of the Trust, “ added Mr Williams.
Anyone wishing to know more about the Trust, or details on how to make an application for a donation, is asked to consult the Trust website at www.gravaffrindiau.co.uk or telephone the Trust office at The Stradey Park Hotel, on 01554 758171

Thank you

Come join Frankie & Benny’s Llanelli where we will be giving away FREE breakfasts for a minimum donation of £2 to Ray Gravell & Friends Charitable Trust on 27th April.

The restaurant at Llanelli will be offering free breakfasts to guests in return for a minimum donation of £2 to the charity. The event will take place from 7am until 12pm with guest hosts – Derek Quinell and Phil Bennet. There will be a raffle and a voucher booklet for every guest to take away, all proceeds from the day will go towards Ray Gravell & Friends Charitable Trust. Booking in advance is advised, to make a booking call Frankie and Benny’s Llanelli direct on 01554 740150 or Gemma Dawkins on 07554331970

They invite you to sample delights such as Eggs Benedict, Triple Stack Pancakes and Double Sausage and Egg Muffin from the great breakfast menu.

Frankie & Benny’s say “We aim to raise as much as possible for Ray Gravell & Friends Charitable Trust at this event so instead of paying for your breakfast, we just ask that you to make a minimum donation of £2 to this very worthy cause during your visit!”

If that is not enough, then four members of Frankie and Benny’s team are helping Ray Gravell & Friends Charitable Trust that little bit further by accompanying them in a sky dive event on the 14th May 2012 so feel free to sponsor our team to help raise that extra amount for Ray Gravell & Friends Charitable Trust as we like to be at of the heart of all things local.

HURRY HURRY. PLACES ARE LIMITED, PLEASE BOOK ASAP TO ENSURE YOUR SPACE!!! ………..

Gemma Dawkins
Tel: 07554331970
E-mail: Gemma.Dawkins@trgplc.com

A Scarlets rugby legend, broadcaster, actor, and passionate Welshman, he was an inspiration to so many without even realising it.

Grav will continue to be a great champion of ‘West is Best’ through the work of the Trust. We want to make a positive impact by working with selected charities and projects that are helping build, develop, and support the communities of West Wales.

Its aim is to ensure that the passion, energy and spirit of this great man continues through the work it does – protecting his love of and commitment to family life, sport, music, the arts, the outdoors, media and the Welsh language.

Donations totalling more than £25,000 have been awarded to six Carmarthenshire organisations by the Ray Gravell And Friends Charitable Trust.

The Marie Curie Nursing Service has been given £5,000, Breakthro Llanelli and Breakthro Carmarthen have each been given £5,000, the Llanelli branch of Parkinson’s UK will receive £4,000, St John Cymru in Ammanford will receive £3,000, and the Carmarthenshire Youth and Children’s Association in Llanelli, has been given £2,000.

The Towy Salmon Swimming Club for the Disabled based in Carmarthen Leisure Centre, which depends entirely on volunteers, will receive £2,000 towards the cost of running the club which caters for handicapped people of all ages.

 “These latest donations bring the total amount of money the Ray Gravell And Friends Charitable Trust has donated to various charities, organisations, and individuals throughout West Wales to very nearly £200,000 in the last three and a half years. This is a truly amazing figure which is a remarkable tribute to Ray, “ said Chairman of Trustees Robert Williams.

“ We are delighted to have been able to award so many donations to so many important local projects, ranging from palliative nursing care such as the Marie Curie Cancer Care, to groups caring for special needs children, to sports and recreation projects, and voluntary organisations like St John Cymru. Each and every donation is richly deserved.

One of the primary objectives of the Trust when it was set up after Ray’s death almost four ago was to help voluntary groups and individuals whose aims are to improve the communities they live in and to help less fortunate people within those communities. It is heartening to know that the Trust has been able to make substantial donations year on year.

Ray will continue to be a great champion of West is Best through the work of the Trust, “ added Mr Williams.

Anyone wishing to know more about the Trust, or details on how to make an application for a donation, is asked to consult the Trust website at www.gravaffrindiau.co.uk or telephone the Trust office at The Stradey Park Hotel, on 01554 758171