Struggles 2 Smiles

22/09/2026

Get ready to rock 'n' roll! 🕺✨
Wishing the absolute best of luck to our incredible team fundraising at the Porthcawl Elvis Festival 2026 (25th 26th 27th Sept) this weekend! 🎶❤️
If you're heading down to enjoy the music, keep an eye out for our team, drop some change in our buckets, and help us make a huge difference while celebrating the King!
Let’s make this weekend a massive success! Thank you thank you very much for all your support! 🎸👑

15/09/2026

❄️ COMING TO YOUR SCREENS THIS WINTER! 🎥✨

We are beyond excited to announce that Struggles 2 Smiles will be featured in a brand-new documentary highlighting incredible local organisations across the UK! 🇬🇧📺

As a small grassroots charity, we take pride in doing exactly what we say on the tin. This year, we’ve continued to push boundaries and serve our community from every angle:
Fighting Food Insecurity: Delivering hot meals to homeless communities and local families struggling to put food on the table.

Ground-to-Plate Farming: Harnessing sustainable urban farming practices to get fresh produce straight from the soil into local food banks.
Empowering the Next Generation: Training young people from the Roma Gypsy community and underprivileged backgrounds in outdoor catering, while delivering fresh food hampers to those in need.

It’s been another phenomenal year for us - from hitting the road for amazing events nationwide to collaborating with inspiring partner organisations. We looking forward to making new connections and collaborations this winter and into 2027!! 💜✌🏼

As we gear up for the colder winter months, we want to send a massive THANK YOU to every single person who has supported, volunteered, and backed Struggles 2 Smiles. We couldn't do any of this without you, and we look forward to serving our community long into the future! ❤️
Stay tuned... we have even more exciting news on the way!

South Wales Police The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol

20/08/2026

Another great weekend just gone! 🔥 Thank you to our long serving head chef Dannie, working alongside our new young chef! Another event under our wing! Now let’s smash this weekend! Let’s gooo!! 💪💪🔥🔥
We have some exciting news coming shortly! Watch this space!

17/08/2026

🎒 Back-to-School without Breaking the Bank! 🎒

That new term feeling is great… until you check your bank account after buying uniforms, PE kits, and a mountain of stationery! 😅
If you’re prepping for the new school term, here are a few simple tips that saved us a small fortune this year:

1️⃣ Do a "Living Room Audit" First: Before buying anything, dump last year’s gear on the floor. Test pens, tear used pages out of half-empty notebooks, and have your kids try on their old uniforms. You’d be surprised how much life is left in last year's coat or jumper!

2️⃣ The Supermarket Multipack Trick: For plain items like polo shirts, trousers, skirts, and socks, high-street supermarkets (Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi, etc.) are a fraction of the cost of official uniform shops. Under UK guidelines, schools are supposed to keep required logo items to a minimum anyway!

3️⃣ Go Pre-Loved for Branded Gear: For required logo blazers or PE kits, check your school's PTA second-hand sales, Vinted, eBay, or local Facebook parent groups and other local community groups. You can often snag branded items in near-new condition for a few pounds.

4️⃣ Don't Buy Everything at Once: You only need enough to get through the first couple of weeks! Stagger your purchases - heavy winter coats, extra gloves, or non-essential supplies can wait for mid-term sales later in the autumn.

5️⃣ Check for Uniform Grants: If you're receiving Universal Credit or low-income support, check your local council website. Many offer uniform grants (up to £125+ depending on where you live). Don't hesitate to quietly ask your school office about hardship funds, either!

• For Cardiff Residents: Apply via Cardiff Council - Pupil Development Grant

• For Vale of Glamorgan Residents: Apply via Vale of Glamorgan Council - Pupil Development Grant

6️⃣ LABEL EVERYTHING: The most expensive part of back-to-school is replacing lost items in October! Grab a permanent fabric marker or cheap iron-on labels and tag every single jumper, shoe, and water bottle.

What are your best budget-saving hacks for the new school term? Drop your top tips below! 👇👇👇

05/08/2026

After doing a bit of digging into research from Save the Children, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), and the Bevan Foundation, the stats around family life in South Wales right now are a real eye-opener. 💔
While school holidays and Christmas should be all about making memories, the reality is that fewer than 1 in 3 families living in poverty in our communities can afford to take their kids to ticketed holiday events or a Santa’s grotto.
When a family day out for 4 easily hits £50–£80+, and discretionary budgets are stretched to breaking point by rising rent, energy, and food bills, even a small festive treat or a local festival ticket becomes completely out of reach. For single-parent families, over 60% say these kinds of days out are strictly off the table.
It’s a stark reminder of why local community hubs, council-funded "Food and Fun" schemes, and free local initiatives are absolute lifelines for so many children in our towns & cities.
No child should miss out on the magic of the holidays just because of a price tag. Big love and support to all the local volunteers and charities working non-stop to keep events free and accessible for everyone in South Wales! 📦❤️
Thank you to our volunteer Sonia for her reporting on this important subject. 💜

02/08/2026

Some of the food created by our young chefs over the weekend!! Well done you absolutely smashed this weekend off!! 🔥🔥🔥

27/07/2026