2Wish Foundation
Thank you to everyone at Valero for supporting 2wish at the UK Benefit 2024. 2wish continues to support those who are affected by the sudden death of a child or young adult. Our memory boxes continue to be given to families at the hospital at the most heartbreaking of times and this is where our journey with families start.
This year alone we have supported over 200 families in Wales and 140 families in the areas of England we are now working in. The amount raised by this event is lifechanging for our families and will help support families, friends and professional.
Rhian Mannings MBE Founder and CEO
Ambition Aspire Achieve
The funding provided by Valero’s Benefit for Children fund has been a tremendous support, enabling us to deliver two much-needed, week-long summer residentials for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people this year, including exciting trips to Wales and Mount Snowden and a week-long activity camp based at an outdoor adventure centre in Essex.
Thirty young people were selected to take part on the basis of need, targeting those attending our surrounding youth clubs who otherwise would not have had such opportunities.
The trips and experiences were truly transformative for all, with young people visibly growing in confidence, learning new skills, making new friendships whilst broadening their horizons.
ASD Family Help
ASD Family Help - Pembrokeshire - We were overwhelmed with the support that was given to us from the Valero’s Benefit of Children event.
The sponsors were so generous, this has meant that we have been able to offer more support around applying for benefits, for our families. Many of whom are unpaid carers to children who are autistic/neurodivergent. Put on family events so that we can bring them together and not feel so lonely, isolated and make new friends.
Our primary/teen clubs have been able to put on many exciting new experiences in an inclusive safe environment. Everyone has had so much fun and learnt new skills and we can continue to do this for the coming months. We are changing lives and bringing this wonderful community together by your kind support - Thank you
The Catrin Vaughan Foundation
The Catrin Vaughan Foundation has funded many items for children with additional learning needs ranging from full sensory rooms containing various sensory equipment, three strollers for and an LRC, specialist iPads, tablets and laptops loaded with support software to support individual children and communication support boards to aid the whole class and school,
Without the generous donations funding and support helping children with additional learning needs like this wouldn't be possible.
Cerebra
The funding so generously donated to Cerebra by Valero has helped us support many children in activities that they were unable to do without robustly funded research, design and manufacture.
Thanks to the support of the Valero Benefit for Children Classic, Cerebra's Innovation team have been able to create dozens of bespoke pieces of adapted equipment to help children who have complex medical needs. This equipment has provided these young people with increased mobility and confidence, opening a world of new opportunities to them.
Thank you to Valero, sponsors and participants for making this possible!
Child Bereavement UK - London
We are so grateful to Valero, their sponsors and everyone involved in the Benefit for Children for enabling us to support more families and young people through our London Service.
This year we received a huge £33,374.33, which could fund support sessions for 341 bereaved children and their families, helping them to rebuild their lives after the devastation of bereavement.
Just as importantly, our involvement in the event enables us to raise awareness to so many people that we are here should they or someone they know ever need us. Thank you.
Friends and Families - Plymouth
With Valero’s funding, we have been able to offer our families fully accessible activities that they would not usually have the opportunity to do.
In the Summer, we ran a wheelchair accessible power boating activity and the joy on the children’s and young people’s faces just summed up the experience. They even got to see dolphins jumping alongside them! We have also run other activities such as a Glow Party, Sensory Theatre trip and a trip to the Immersive Dome for a full sensory experience. The activities have created positive experiences and, to quote feedback from parents “Days like this make the tough times easier” and “We made lots of happy memories with our friends and made lots of new friends too.”
The grant has also supported our family support manager to offer financial support around DLA and PIP applications which has taken the pressure and worry away from the parents and carers. Parents/Carers often come to the appointments unsure with a high level of stress but leave with a completed form and a sense of relief. The money they will receive will help towards medical appointments, treatments and therapies, sensory equipment, and to support with bills.
Garth Youth & Community Project
At Garth Youth & Community Project our mission is to support the young people of the Garth Ward and local community. The project offers a safe environment for young people to meet, play, learn and educate themselves.
Helping them grow and develop into adults that are positive members of society continuously improving their future life opportunities.
To assist young people aged 8 – 18 years in accessing counselling sessions when needed, to help with personal development, growth and positive well being
Home-Start Rochdale and Bury for Families
Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents and carers play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them to achieve their full potential.
We provide a unique service; recruiting and training volunteers who themselves have parenting experience, to work with families in their own homes, building supportive relationships and responding directly to the family’s individual needs.
A network of Home-Start charities throughout the UK offer support within local communities , to help children to get the best start in life. Each local Home-Start is independently funded, managed locally and has the support of our national organisation Home-Start UK. Home-Start Rochdale and Bury has a proven, lasting, positive impact on the development of children and the health and welfare of the entire family.
Milford Haven Youth Matters
CREATING JOBS - SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE - DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITY - CHANGING LIVES
Funding has enabled us to create meaningful volunteer opportunities and expand community involvement. By supporting various programs, funding allows young people to volunteer, gaining experience and building skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication.
Additionally, funding enables us to employ young people in roles that nurture life skills, instil responsibility, and improve future employability. Employment through these programs offers hands-on experience, valuable mentoring, and training, all of which boost confidence and job readiness.
These opportunities allow young people to connect with their community, gain a sense of purpose, and establish foundations for successful and independent futures.
Momentum Children's Cancer Charity - Surrey & Brighton
Families experience immense emotional and practical challenges when a child is diagnosed with cancer or another life challenging condition,
With our latest survey of families reporting that 96% of parents experience a moderate to severe impact on their emotional health and wellbeing. Of the children who have been diagnosed, 85% report feeling ‘sad’, ‘frightened’ and wondering ‘why me?’
Momentum’s support is tailored to each family’s unique needs including providing access to counselling and creative therapies, peer support groups, and respite breaks. The Echoes bereavement support services help families should the worst happen and a child dies, and provide support for as long as a family needs it, with no time limit.
Momentum receives no government funding and the donations we have received from Valero have enabled us to continue providing this vital support in hospital or at home, providing coping strategies and ensuring that families do not feel alone during unimaginably difficult times.
Mudchute Farm Park - London
The funding from Valero Benefit For Children has opened up many opportunities for children and young people to become engaged in the wonders of the natural world and have access to a variety of innovative play activities.
The most valuable aspect of the funding is that we have been able to develop projects that are completely accessible to all who wish to participate. Activities such as Young Farmers and Forest School sessions are costly which means that many children and young people would often be excluded from taking part due to financial constraints which many of the families on low income are subject to.
We have also been able to provide opportunities for disabled children and young people. Several take part in the Young Farmers Group as we are now able to provide a member of staff who can work on a one to one basis with those whose needs require this. We are also in the process of opening a “safe Space” for older teenagers who simply want the opportunity to socialise with others in a safe, friendly environment.
There is nowhere in the area where this can happen and we already have several volunteers who are keen to take this forward.
Neighbours in Poplar
For over 50 years Neighbours in Poplar has organised day trips and activities for children and families in E14.
The day trips are all to local sea sides and are actually a life line for families on low income. There are only two criteria, the families must live in E14 and unable to afford a holiday away. The families we target have no hope of a day out of London apart from these trips.
They become the highlight of the children's summer holidays and enable them to return to school in September talking about their day at the sea. Otherwise, for the majority of our families, the whole summer holidays are spent on their Council Estate.
Last year one lady getting off the Coach with her children, came up to me, gave me a big hug and said: "Thank you for the holiday, we had a marvellous time together". (They only had one day away!).
NI Children's Hospice
When you fundraise for Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, every penny makes a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
Your support helps provide vital care to babies, children, and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, both at Horizon House, our purpose-built children’s hospice, and through our community nursing teams.
The funds you raise enable us to offer specialist medical care, symptom management, and emotional support tailored to each child’s unique needs. Families also benefit from respite care, giving them much-needed breaks while knowing their child is in expert hands. Beyond medical care, your fundraising contributes to creating joyful and memorable experiences through music therapy, sensory play, and family outings, ensuring every child lives their life to the fullest.
Noah's Ark Children's Hospital Charity
Each year, around 90,000 children come to the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales for specialist and often life-saving care. As a charity, we believe that every one of those children deserves access to the best possible medical care and child-centred support, over and above what the NHS can provide alone.
Thanks to the support of Valero and those who support the UK Benefit for Children, we can ensure that treatment and outcomes for children can continue to improve by funding new and innovative medical equipment and facilities. We are able to support children and families in the here and now through our emotional support service and the much-loved play specialist team.
We invest in the future by providing technology that helps train the bright clinicians of tomorrow. Together, we are also able to make the hospital a less frightening and more familiar place for children by creating family-friendly environments and by sprinkling a little fun and happiness into hospital days. Thank you so much.
The support means the world to thousands of children and families, from across Wales.
Pembrokeshire Sibling Group
The Valero funding allows Pembrokeshire Sibling Group to offer the sort of experiences that would otherwise be financially beyond us.
The Tall Ship experience allowed us to take 10 siblings for a week long voyage across the South Coast of England. They absolutely loved it and I am not exaggerating when I say that for two of the siblings, it was genuinely life changing – in that they are both actively pursuing further experiences (and careers!) linked to sailing or maritime heritage.
Pembrokeshire Sibling Group cannot thank Valero and their partners enough for the kind donations we have received.
RAiISE
RAiISE is a young person-led charity dedicated to supporting children and young people with invisible illnesses in schools. Born out of a negative personal experience, RAiISE seeks to ensure that conditions like lupus, epilepsy, diabetes, chronic heart issues, and mental health struggles don't prevent students from receiving the quality education they deserve.
Through collaboration with young people, parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals, RAiISE provides schools with a comprehensive support pack and essential online resources. We offer practical tools, training, and guidance to help educators better understand and accommodate students with invisible illnesses.
Small but mighty, RAiISE is on a mission to raise awareness and create a more inclusive educational environment for all students, regardless of their health challenges.“
RDA Barrow Farm - Essex
Valero Energy have been helping Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled for over 10 years, providing volunteering days and financial support through their Benefit for Children Awards. We are very grateful to them for supporting us in being able to give such a lot of pleasure to our children, many of whom have such challenging lives. The benefits of riding for our children are best appreciated through the smiles we see when they are enjoying their lesson each week.
Some comments from parents and riders:
It has given him a hobby, a purpose to get ready and out every Saturday. It also helps with muscles and posture. It's a vital part of H's routine. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Lots of learning as well as riding. We couldn't be more happy with the quality of the lessons. A's core tone is improved so much and she looks forard to the sessions every week. It gets her to do activities that also help her fine and gross motor skills. She loves horse riding as it is her only social activity. Some weeks she would only leave the house to attend BF. We are able to enjoy all aspects of horses, going to equestrian events as a family throughout the year. It has given our family ajoint interest that our daughter can express an interest and share with us as a family. It makes her so much happier. The joy that she gets from it makes me happy and the whole family benefits. We love coming to watch. It's the only activity we do with him on a regular basis so it helps as family routine.
Richard House Children's Hospice - London
The funding received in 2024 helped Richard House’s ever growing ‘Hospice at Home’ service.
In 2023 Hospice at Home catered to 20 families, providing 1,684 hours of complex care and 4,076 hours of respite care within the family’s home.
Today, because of the support we’ve received, we have expanded our service and now provide Hospice at Home to 30 families.
Sandy Bear
The funding we received has been instrumental in enabling Sandy Bear to deliver crucial bereavement support services to children, young people, and their families.
It has allowed us to expand our reach, provide specialised resources, and ensure that no child in our community has to face grief alone.
SNAP
The children we support, are facing the unique challenges of identified additional and complex learning needs.
The money received from the Valero BFC has allowed us to commit to providing practical, life-changing, and creative support, empowering our children to express themselves, communicate their needs, and thrive, all through the incredible power of play. We have worked with families to ensure that this unique voice can be carried with our children throughout their lives. We have empowered our children to fulfil their potential.
The photo show part of "M's Journey" - M was referred to SNAP with a diagnosis or Hirschsprungs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Hearing and Visual impairment, feeding difficulties and global developmental delay. Through the support of the Valero BFC , we have been able to provide M with weekly one to one play therapy sessions implementing bespoke individual development plans, including improving his physical development, communication skills and assessing his hearing and visual skills. We have also expanded our service from term time only to an all year around service, therefore we are in a position to support the whole family by offering training, additional support through the school holidays and workshops.
Teenage Cancer Trust - Birmingham
Teenage Cancer Trust fund Youth Support Coordinators (YSC) who work across their 28 units in the UK, They play a vital role in breaking down the sense of isolation and helping young people with cancer to maintain their mental health and wellbeing. They’re here to support young people with anything cancer throws at them, from dealing with hair loss or changes to how they look, to returning to work or study and adjusting to life after cancer.
They’re also skilled at bringing young people with cancer together to support each other. They make sure our units are a relaxed and welcoming place where young people can bond over TV, games or pizza.
Over the past 2 years Valero have raised in excess of £30,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust which is the equivalent of 1,200 hours of dedicated time for young people to spend with our incredible YSCs.
These services would not exist without the support of corporates like Valero.
The Children's Society
The support from the Benefit for Children is vital to our work, providing counselling and support to young people facing serious challenges.
It directly contributes to our development of nationwide drop-in wellbeing hubs—a key part of our 2030 goal to reverse the troubling decline in children's wellbeing across the UK.
Together, we’re building a brighter, more hopeful future for all young people.
The VC Gallery
The VC Gallery is a registered Charity based in Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock. They help Military Veterans and those in the wider community with Mental Health issues and socialisation.
They primarily work though art therapy but also help with counselling and other service. The Charity also focuses on the children of military veterans who are impacted and children whose parents are suffering from mental health issues.
The Charity was founded by Barry John MBE after 24 years of military service.
Tŷ Hafan
Tŷ Hafan is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities and offers care to children and support for their families, throughout Wales.
We offer comfort, care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families in the hospice, in the community and in their home so they can make the most of the time they have left together.
We allow parents and carers to relax and recharge their batteries. And we make sure the needs of brothers and sisters are never forgotten.
We are there for families in Wales for however long they need us – at home, in hospital, at school and in our hospice.
Importantly, we’re also a family’s safe haven when their child is close to the end of life, providing expert comfort and support in their darkest hours and beyond.
Valero Energy Ltd
27th Floor
1 Canada Square,
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London,
E14 5AA, UK
Email: UKBFC@valero.com
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