During the Christmas period, many cities and towns have their streets lit up by Christmas lights hanging around shops and lampposts to bring that festive spirit to life. However, some small villages such as Waunlwyd and Victoria, Ebbw Vale don’t receive funding like other larger towns.

However, over the past three years, Aspiration Training’s Business Development Manager Alyson Dale has been working with an organisation that provides lights and social functions to their villages. This year, a donation from the Aspire Fund helped Alyson reach her target.

The Aspire Fund was officially launched at the Aspiration Training Annual Conference and Awards 2019 and is designed to provide funds to smaller charities in local areas. Aspiration Training has a long history of collecting money from our team and supporting charities that we love and who do a great job. The Aspire Fund currently receives requests for donations to local charities and community groups on an adhoc basis from our team and our CSR committee awards these on a quarterly basis.

Alyson Dale said speaking about her efforts –

‘For the past 3 years, I have been involved with an organisation that provides Christmas Lights and social functions in our community. Unlike other Councils, we do not get Christmas lights installed by them so each Community has to raise funds to get these installed every year which costs in excess of £4000. We raise funds through community events such as quiz nights, raffles etc. Each year lights or fittings have to be replaced so our fundraising is ongoing. The donation from the Aspire Fund, contributing to our cause is very much appreciated. Not only will this bring Christmas cheer to our villages but to anyone who passes through it on a daily basis.’

The cheque was delivered (pictured above) to their outgoing chairman David Jones at an outside event that maintained social distancing rules.

Incoming Chairperson Ceri Bird said

‘On a personal note, many thanks to everyone at Aspiration Training for this very kind donation. It has been so hard to fundraise this year due to Covid-19 so every donation we have received will help us to bring Christmas cheer to the villages of Waunlwyd and Victoria, Ebbw Vale.’

Aspiration Training’s Aspire Fund is exceptionally proud to help in Alyson’s ongoing efforts in providing her villages with Christmas lights. During this difficult year, festive lights and cheer are needed more than ever, to every village and every person.