Swansea City partnership helps raise more than £20,000 for the Swansea Bay Health Charity Cwtsh Clos appeal
Swansea City’s partnership with Swansea Bay Health Charity’s (SBHC) Cwtsh Clos appeal has raised more than £20,000 through supporter generosity and fundraising events, but the charity says that the actual value of the partnership has stretched far beyond the monetary value.
The Swans partnered with SBHC on their project to renovate five two-bedroom houses located on the grounds of Singleton Hospital. The houses are available to use free of charge by families whose babies are in the neo-natal intensive care unit and, over the course of the 2024-25 season, the Swans told the stories of some of those Jack Army families who had been through the toughest of times.
Mal Pope – musician and Swans matchday lounge host – launched the campaign last July when he told his family’s heartbreaking story of grandson Gulliver, who was born prematurely at Singleton Hospital and sadly passed away a few days later.
Swans supporters Pepsi and Scott shared their story of sons Louie and Jacob with the family needing the vital service provided by Cwtsh Clos following the premature births of both their boys.
Sadly, Louie was just too sick and passed away days after being born, but Jacob – who spent the first few month of his life needing constant care in NICU - stood front and centre at the club’s Cwtsh Clos dedicated matchday in March.
The campaign was also close to goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux’s heart. The Swans stopper had a child who needed neo-natal intensive care, and Vigouroux was a strong supporter of the charity, understanding how valuable the provision can be for families going through something so difficult.
The Swans also worked with the charity on a memory tree in the club shop during December, with supporters able to add their loved one’s names to the club’s Christmas tree to remember them, and worked with associated charitable group Advocates and Angels who – among their many provisions – run a football team for dads who are going through bereavement or whose children require constant care.
Alongside this an auction, golf day, darts event, bucket collection, seasonal giving and a fans' forum fundraiser helped bring in over £20,000 to be put towards renovations for the Swansea City branded house on Cwtsh Clos; which will be named Gulliver’s House after Mal’s grandson.
Lewis Bradley, charity support manager at Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “To be partnered with Swansea City for the 2024-25 season was truly special, something that we only thought was a dream.
"When you think of the club; you think of the community and the passion that it has to help others who need it most. That was evidently clear as part of our aim to raise money towards our Cwtsh Clos Appeal, supporting families that need help the most.
"The houses are used by families all across Wales, not just Swansea. But the number of patients who have told us they know about Cwtsh Clos because of Swansea City has been absolutely tremendous.
"The awareness that the football club has allowed us to have has not only had a significant impact on our appeal, but the charity in general. As the official NHS Charity for Swansea Bay University Health Board, we have seen other areas receive donations, increased staff awareness for their own funds and support from corporate sponsors to help us achieve more across our whole geographical footprint.
"From all of us here at Swansea Bay Health Charity and Swansea Bay University Health Board, we are truly grateful and send a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to everyone who has supported us over the past season."
Swansea City's head of supporter services, Hayley Ford, added: “It’s been a pleasure working with the team at Cwtsh Clos over the course of the season. To hear the incredible impact these houses have on the families who need them is truly heartwarming.
“As a club, we value our community and we understand how important it is to take care of it. Cwtsh Clos encapsulates this – offering a home and comfort to people going through one of the most trying experiences a family can go through.
“We are so proud of their work and we’re delighted to have played a part in the renovation of the houses over the past 12 months. We’re looking forward to the grand opening of the homes and to see Gulliver’s House being used.”