LOCAL children of families living on the breadline will be reaping the generosity of guests from a popular holiday park group this season.
Lyons Holiday Parks, North Wales’s leading family holiday park group, has raised over £4,000 in aid of North Wales Superkids following two fundraising campaigns this season.
North Wales Superkids is a charity which helps relieve the needs of children and young people up to the age of 25 who are socially and economically disadvantaged – whether through financial hardship, domestic violence, health, substance misuse or other social and economic factors.
Generous donations from holiday makers and holiday homeowners from all over the UK have been totted up following an Easter ‘chick appeal,’ and a black-tie charity event this weekend at Lyons Eryl Hall in St Asaph.
The ‘chick appeal’ saw the Lyons groups’ coastal and countryside holiday parks flooded with thousands of knitted chicks, each containing a Cadbury’s Crème Egg, which were sold over the Easter period at 14 of the Lyons-owned bars and venues from Lyons Lido Beach in Prestatyn right through to the ownership, touring, and camping holiday park, Lyons Pendyffryn Hall near Penmaenmawr.
Ailsa Morris, head of food and beverage, said: “When the opportunity came up to help Margaret, we didn’t even have to think about it. We put the chicks in every one of our on-park bars or coffee shops and before we knew it, there were thousands floating about everywhere!
“They went down an absolute storm and were especially popular with our owners. It really struck us the generosity of some people, and our team were keen to spread the message about Superkids and the work that they do.”
Following the success of the egg-cellent appeal, Chris Watts, park manager of the exclusive owners-only holiday park in St Asaph, decided more was to be done for the local cause.
He said: “Although Lyons Eryl Hall is a holiday park, the word ‘community’ or ‘country village’ is more fitting, and what better way to celebrate our lovely community here than with a charity event to bring everyone together.
“Our owners are always incredible when it comes to fundraising appeals, and seeing how popular the chicks were, it just felt right to host a charity ball here in aid of the charity.
Dozens of donations were received for the raffle and auction, including a trip to Milan, spa day at The White House Rhuallt, a free gas test from David Roe, a bath hamper from Del Creations and cleaning services from TT Cleaning.
Chris added: “The night was spectacular, a proper team effort, and it was fantastic to see our holiday homeowners here on-park enjoy themselves all in aid of a great cause. The venue looked fantastic, thanks to our dedicated team, who we couldn’t have done this without.
“We love hosting events like this for our owners – we do across all of our parks – and the fact it was for charity made the atmosphere all the more special.”
Founder Margaret Williams, from Flint, who has over 30 years’ experience in the North Wales social care scene, said: “On behalf of all at North Wales Superkids, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Lyons Holiday Parks, and also to your wonderful holiday visitors for buying and eating our Crème Eggs chicks.
“The Lyons effort raised an amazing total of £613, and £2133.10 overall from all outlets which will be going towards our caravan project in Pwllheli.
“I would also like to say a heartfelt thank you for the amazing news that the summer ball held at Lyons Eryl Hall in St Asaph raised an absolutely staggering £2000. This will be vital for our Christmas Toy Box appeal project, ensuring that all referred children and young people can wake up on Christmas morning with smiles rather than tears, knowing Santa has not forgotten them.”
The Lyons Group will continue working alongside North Wales Superkids throughout the year in order to help as many families as possible.
Joseph Lyons Mound, company director said: “Look how amazing it is that holidaymakers and holiday homeowners did this, it’s incredible. We’re proud of the communities we continue to build across the North Wales coast and country, bringing people together from all parts of the country in such fantastic locations.
“We’re also dedicated to our own community, the locals who make North Wales the beauty that it is and as they give so much to us, we always want to give what we can back. Superkids as an organisation, and the work that Margaret does for it, is just absolutely phenomenal and we’re proud to be working in partnership with a charity that brings more joy and comfort to North Wales’s children than any of us can put into words.”
