Organisations across South Wales recently came together to support young people in the city, helping to educate and support them around all things wellbeing.

Hosted and run by Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, organisations and local charities including the South Wales Police, Coles Funeral Directors, EYST, PAPYRUS, Switched On, YMCA, Youth Cymru and more, flocked to Cardiff City Stadium to offer and share their knowledge and services, engaging young people considered hardest to reach in our communities.

With over 50 children up to the age of 13 in attendance, the Foundation provided a safe environment for children to learn more about the importance of wellbeing and mental health (Coming Together to Make a Difference). As well as getting to meet various organisations, the children also took part in an afternoon of friendly football competition and fun at the Cardiff City House of Sport Air Dome.

Soraya Kelly of Cardiff City FC Community Foundation said:

“We’re always looking for new opportunities to engage and reach children and young people in our communities, and we had a very successful day at Cardiff City Stadium recently. So many organisations gave up their time to come together on a voluntary basis to improve children’s understanding of the importance of wellbeing and physical and mental health issues, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support.

“At the Foundation, we’re able to use the appeal of Cardiff City FC to change lives and support children, young people and families to achieve their full potential.

“We welcome organisations to get in touch to collaborate and develop an innovative community approach to improve wellbeing opportunities for children and young people ahead of our next wellbeing event.”

Over the past 10 years, the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation has invested over £10 million in sport and education programmes in the community and shows no sign of slowing its impact.

Coles Funeral Directors was amongst the organisations in attendance, talking to young people about its Hub services with 1-2-1 counselling opportunities and its kid’s corner, as well as death, dying and why talking about loss matters.

Speaking of the event, Gareth Coles, managing director said:

“It was fantastic to be part of such a wonderful event alongside Cardiff City FC Community Foundation and it was a great opportunity to engage with local children. They were all very keen to get involved and to learn more about Coles, and other organisations, in attendance.

“What we do can be challenging to understand for an adult, never mind a child, so that’s why we’re working closely with the local community and implementing our educational programme in local primary schools to help young people get their heads around what can be a very difficult topic to say the least. Increasingly, children have to deal with a raft of things that they shouldn’t have to at a young age which is why the work that the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation is doing will be truly lifechanging to many.

“We’re big advocates of community initiatives and we’re very proud to be part of such a supportive and welcoming community like Cardiff.”