Players and staff from Dragons RFC have been out in the Gwent community this week for several special visits to support local charities and spread some festive cheer.
On Tuesday morning the Men of Gwent were visitors to the children’s ward at The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran.
Jared Rosser, Luke Yendle, Rhodri Jones, Rodrigo Martinez, Ewan Rosser, Oli Burrows, Matthew Screech and Ryan Jones were among those to gift children and staff at the hospital some early Christmas presents as we looked to raise spirits this festive period.
It was great to see so many smiles on faces during a difficult time for the children, their families, and staff. Our thanks to the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) for giving us the opportunity to visit.
Thank you to both our fans who generously donated many new items, partners BlueTube Scaffolding for supporting this visit, and the Dragons Choir for their kind donation to purchase selection boxes for all visits.
During Tuesday morning we also paid a visit to Eden Gate in Newport. Founded in 2013, Eden Gate is a small but influential Christian charity working tirelessly in the expanding city of Newport, South Wales, providing daily support for those experiencing homelessness and those who find themselves placed in temporary accommodation, often with access to limited resources.
Aneurin Owen, Niall Armstong, Cai Evans, Rio Dyer, Harry Beddall, Mackenzie Martin and Jac Lloyd joined staff from Dragons to help at the charity and meet guests of the shelter.
Our thanks go to the staff at Brakes – the UK’s leading wholesale food supplier – for supporting this visit with a number of donations.
Discover more about Eden Gate and how you can help CLICK HERE
The players were also at Rodney Parade to support our Dragons Active Together programme in association with Re-engage programme for over-75s. Click HERE to discover more about this provision run by our award-winning Dragons Community team.
Captain Ben Carter, Brodie Coghlan and David Richards were among those to support the festive fun at the home of the Dragons.
Tuesday evening saw the likes of Nick Thomas, Harrison Keddie, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Barny Langton-Cryer, Huw Anderson, Chris Coleman and James Benjamin visit and help out at Sparkle - the official charity of Serennu, Nevill Hall and Caerphilly Children's Centres.
Sparkle ensures Gwent children and young people with disabilities and/or developmental difficulties, along with their families, are fully supported and able to participate in valued childhood experiences, with access to the same range of opportunities, life experiences, activities and community services as any other child and their family.
Our thanks again to both our fans who generously donated many new items and partners BlueTube Scaffolding for helping with this visit.
Discover more about Sparkle and how you can get involved CLICK HERE
We have also this week – thanks to kind donations from Brakes, BlueTube Scaffolding and supporters – visited and supported Big Bocs Bwyd at Maindee Primary School.
The second Big Bocs Bwyd in Newport was launched in March 2024 to tackle food poverty, improve resident health and reduce food waste, with a 'Pay As You Feel' shop. Discover more HERE
We will also be out in the community next week as the countdown to Christmas continues - with Bute Energy supporting Sporting Memories on Monday along with players for the Christmas party at Ebbw Vale RFC.
