2Wish Foundation
Thank you to everyone at Valero for supporting 2wish at the UK Benefit For Children over the last few years. 2Wish continue 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 work with families start.
We continue to support 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 professionals.
Rhian Mannings MBE Founder and CEO
Ambition Aspire Achieve
Ambition Aspire Achieve (AAA) exists to improve the lives of children and young people (ages 5-25) in the London Borough of Newham, providing fully inclusive opportunities and experiences. We focus on supporting our areas most disadvantaged, at-risk and vulnerable young people through a range of projects and activities, providing support to help them overcome challenges, offering interventions that enable each young person to achieve their full potential.
We deliver a wide range of projects and services from our youth hubs and across local communities in Newham, reaching over 900 young people a year. Current activities include after-school clubs, holiday play/youth activities, targeted youth programmes, disability specific activities, detached youth services, personal development programmes, doorstep sports clubs and outward-bound activities and experiences, all with the aim to enable young people to grow and flourish and be the best they possibly can be.
Building on the success of last year’s Valero-supported programme, we’re offering exciting residential experiences for young people, including a 4-night trip to Snowdonia and 3-night stays at Essex Outdoors for those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Thanks to Valero’s funding, inner-city children can take part in activities like climbing, canoeing, high ropes, bushcraft, and more — building confidence, independence, and lifelong memories.
ASD Family Help
We were once again overwhelmed last year by the incredible support we received from the Valero Benefit for Children event.
The sponsors were so generous, enabling us to expand the support we provide to families—many of whom are unpaid carers for children who are autistic or neurodivergent. Thanks to this support, we have been able to offer more guidance around accessing benefits, helping to ease some of the pressures these families face.
We have also been able to organise family events, bringing people together to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, while creating opportunities for lasting friendships to form. Our primary and teen clubs have continued to thrive, offering a wide range of exciting and inclusive experiences in a safe and welcoming environment. Participants have had so much fun, developed new skills, and built confidence. With this continued support, we are able to carry these activities forward in the coming months.
We are truly making a difference—changing lives and strengthening this wonderful community—thanks to your kindness and generosity.
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.
Cerebral Palsy CYMRU
Cerebral Palsy Cymru is a national charity based in Cardiff. We provide the only specialist therapy and family support service in Wales for babies and young children living with, or at high risk of having cerebral palsy - both at our children’s centre in Llanishen, and via outreach visits across Wales.
Cerebral Palsy is the most common childhood physical disability in the world, and results from damage to the brain that occurs during pregnancy, around the time of birth, or within the first two years after birth.
Our flagship Early Intervention Service, Better Start, Better Future, focuses on children aged up to two years old, when the brain is at its most adaptable. At this critical stage, the right therapy can have a life-changing impact. Our team of highly specialist physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists work together to help each child reach their full potential, physically, emotionally and socially – all without charge to families accessing the service, and is funded entirely from our own fundraising. Specialist early intervention is critically proven to maximise the opportunity to establish neurological connections that are only possible up to 2 years post-term age. It can be the difference between a child learning to walk or talk, for example, transforming their future and improving their quality of life and that of their families.
Child Bereavement UK - London
We are incredibly grateful to Valero, their sponsors, and everyone involved in the Benefit for Children for enabling us to extend our support to more families and young people through our London Service.
Thanks to this very generous sponsorship, we were able to fund vital support sessions for 341 bereaved children and their families, helping them begin to rebuild their lives after the devastation of loss.
Equally important, our involvement in the event has allowed us to raise awareness among so many people that we are here—should they, or someone they know, ever need our support. Thank you.
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
Cricket Wales
Cricket Wales is a registered charity and one of 39 County Cricket Boards that make up the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), recognised by Sport Wales and Welsh Government as the National Governing Body for cricket in Wales.
Our values underpin our five strategic pillars which are: People & Culture, Thriving Clubs, Women & Girls, Facilities, and Ways to Get Involved, supported by Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and Partnerships.
Together, they guide our commitment to building a safe, welcoming, and inspiring cricket community across Wales, one where everyone has the opportunity to belong, grow, and thrive both on and off the field, ensuring that cricket truly is a Sport For All.
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a youth development programme that helps young people build confidence, skills, and resilience. It encourages participants to volunteer, learn new skills, stay physically active, and take part in an expedition, helping them develop teamwork, leadership, and independence while preparing them for future education and work.
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.
Haven House Children's Hospice
Haven House Children’s Hospice provides extensive specialist care and support for seriously ill children and their families, from diagnosis through to end-of-life and bereavement.
Following the closure of Richard House Children’s Hospice at the end of 2025, we took on care for over 139 babies, children and young people who suddenly lost their local hospice. We are now proudly responsible for around 450 families across seven London boroughs in addition to East Hertfordshire and Essex.
The expert care we provide helps children enjoy life as children, not just patients, and as families, not just carers. Our specific services include Respite care; Overnight stays; End-of-life care; Bereavement support and a wide range of therapies and life-enriching activities, including sensory play, music therapy, yoga and physiotherapy. Our care is free, but only possible thanks to our supporters. Together, we ensure no family faces the unimaginable alone.
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.
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
Thanks to the continued support from the Valero Benefit for Children, we are transforming the lives of local children by breaking down the barriers that too often keep them from the outdoors. This funding is more than just a grant; it is a lifeline that ensures every child, regardless of their family's financial situation, can experience the wonder of the natural world and engage in high-quality, innovative play.
For example, our Young Farmers and Forest School sessions, once out of reach for those on low incomes and those with disabilities, are now vibrant, inclusive hubs where children and young people from all backgrounds can learn, grow, and thrive together.
Through this funding, we have transformed from a basic service provider into a vital community hub that champions the rights of all children to play, learn, and feel safe. No child is a spectator; every participant is an active, valued member of our community.
The success of these initiatives has already inspired a dedicated cohort of local volunteers. Their commitment, paired with the foundational support from Valero, ensures that these programs are not just temporary activities, but sustainable pillars of support for the children and youth of our community.
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
The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity is dedicated to creating brighter todays and better tomorrows for the children cared for at our nation’s children’s hospital. Each year, the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales receives around 90,000 visits from children who require specialist and often life-saving care.
The charity ensures that treatment and outcomes for children can continue to improve by funding new and innovative medical equipment and facilities. It supports children and families in the here and now through its emotional support service and the much-loved play specialist team and it invests in the future by providing technology that helps train the bright clinicians of tomorrow.
Noah's Ark also strives to make the hospital a less frightening and more familiar place for children by sprinkling a little fun and happiness into hospital days.
Pembrokeshire Baby Bank
Pembrokeshire Baby Bank is a local charity who provide essential items to families in need across Pembrokeshire. In 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we were overwhelmed by requests for nappies, baby wipes and formula which were all in short supply.
Thanks to the generosity of the community, we were able to fulfil these requests and continue to offer our service right throughout the pandemic.
Demands have continued to increase month on month since we opened, but we have successfully dealt with the additional requests and continue to increase the services we offer. We now provide everything from clothes, to cots, highchairs, prams, toys and more; for newborns up to children aged 11.
Pembrokeshire Sibling Group
Pembrokeshire Sibling Group is a small children’s charity that supports the brothers and sisters of disabled and chronically unwell young people.
Founded in 1996 by a group of parents and professionals who understood that siblings could have their needs met in a more positive way, the group is believed to be the only group in Wales working with the specific sibling demographic. Run and managed by volunteers, the funding received from Valero has enabled the group to offer activities that otherwise would be financially beyond us, including the Tall Ship experience and several activity residentials.
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.
With Valero’s support in 2025, we successfully launched our new Youth Forum initiative, which is now fully established and running well
Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Cardiff provides a free “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children receiving treatment at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales. Families often have to travel long distances for specialist care, and the House allows parents and carers to stay just moments away from their child’s bedside, offering comfort and peace of mind during an incredibly difficult time.
The House offers private bedrooms, shared kitchens, living spaces, and essential facilities, as well as emotional support and a welcoming community environment. By removing the financial and practical stress of accommodation, Ronald McDonald House Cardiff helps keep families together, ensuring they can focus on what matters most—being there for their child.
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 first 1,000 days of a child’s life are important for a child’s healthy growth, setting
a course for physical, behavioural, social and emotional development.
SNAP Specialist Play is an innovative Pembrokeshire charity for pre-school children (and families), who are navigating the challenges of established, or emerging, additional and complex needs. We provide practical, life-changing and creative support, empowering our children to fulfil their potential, all through the incredible power of play.
Our vision is that every young child with additional or complex needs, has access to timely specialist care, in a safe and nurturing environment.
Our mission is to encourage and inspire children with additional and complex needs to have a ‘voice’, express themselves and their choice, to communicate their needs, and to have the opportunity to thrive from babyhood.
We do this through a personalised program of safe, engaging and stimulating play, to –
* enable the child to reach their full potential.
* transition the child into the most appropriate early years setting, supporting their additional and complex needs, and
* empower families to understand their child’s behaviour and needs, so they can develop strategies to communicate and care; and become a strong and optimistic family group, better equipped to give the best possible start in life to their children.
The children we support, and their families are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in treating them with respect and dignity and providing tailored care to the child’s needs.
We want the children we support to live their best life.
See our website for more information: www.snapspecialistplay.org.uk
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.
Photographer: Leva Umbrasaite
The VC Gallery
The VC Gallery has developed a strong, inclusive programme of support and engagement for young people, children and under-21s across Pembrokeshire with the vital support of the growing partnership and financial backing of the grant from Valero. With the investment the VC was able to deliver creative, nature-based and wellbeing-focused activities that strengthen resilience, improve confidence, and enhance community connection.
Through our two hubs at VC Pembroke Dock and VC Haverfordwest, we provide safe, welcoming spaces where children and young people can take part in meaningful activities, access positive role models via our integration opportunities guided by staff and key volunteers and experience a sense of belonging with our Pembrokeshire community hub.
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.
Vision Education Foundation
The Vision Education Foundation is a new Pembrokeshire based charity providing high quality training and accredited qualifications in the performing arts. The Foundation will offer GCSE and BTEC pathways in subjects including drama, music and dance, alongside specialist workshops, performance opportunities and industry led tuition.
Designed to support young people who may not currently have access to these subjects through school, including home educated learners and those seeking additional creative opportunities, the Foundation is also committed to breaking down financial barriers to arts education wherever possible.
Through recognised qualifications, practical training and professional guidance, the Foundation aims to create clear progression routes into further education and the creative industries.