29/06/2026
What a week. What a journey. What a beginning. ā¤ļøš“
When we launched A Grand Week in Wales, our mission was simpleā¦
To bring together communities, schools, businesses, charities, sports clubs and people of all ages to celebrate everything thatās great about Wales through challenges centred around fitness, the environment, intergenerational connection, the arts, music, community spirit and helping others.
If weāre honest, when we were planning the week, our biggest worry was whether it was going to rain!
Never in a million years did we imagine weād be facing one of the hottest weeks of the year. The thought that it could actually be too hot hadnāt even crossed our minds.
Unfortunately, because of the extreme temperatures, several of our planned community and charity events had to be cancelled or adapted to ensure everyoneās safety. While that was disappointing, the wellbeing of everyone involved always had to come first.
But if this week proved anythingā¦
Itās that the spirit of A Grand Week in Wales is far bigger than the weather.
Looking back now, we couldnāt be prouder.
Did we complete every single challenge? No.
But that was never the point.
The challenges were never meant to be easy. They were designed to inspire people to step outside their comfort zones, work together, and prove what can happen when communities unite behind a common purpose.
And that is exactly what happened.
Throughout the week we had the privilege of visiting incredible schools, inspiring businesses and amazing community organisations. We shared unforgettable moments, from a fantastic evening of live music at Saith Seren Wrexham, to the joy on residentsā faces during our care home celebration with therapy alpacas, made possible through the incredible support of Newydd Catering and Cleaning.
We watched hundreds of smiles spread across Flintshire during High Five Friday, as children, businesses and communities came together in one giant chain of encouragement and positivity.
And what an incredible way to finish it allā¦
Our Family Festival at Rhydymwyn Football Club was the perfect ending to an unforgettable week with Ian Gibbons expertly hosting the the event mic.
A huge thank you to Mike Chesters and Ste Chesters for helping make the day such a fantastic success. It truly was a celebration of everything A Grand Week in Wales stands for.
There are so many people to thank.
To every school, business, sports club, performer, musician, sponsor and every single person who got involvedā¦
Thank you.
A special thank you goes to our incredible charity partners who embraced the vision from day one:
* Nanny Biscuit
* CAFgas CIC
* Green Paw Project - An Animal Welfare & Environmental Conservation Charity
* Woody's Lodge
* Mind The Gap
* Keep Wales Tidy - Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus
Your passion, commitment and belief in what weāre trying to achieve has been nothing short of inspiring.
But above allā¦
To our volunteersā¦
Without you, none of this would have happened.
You gave your time, your energy, your kindness and your hearts.
You worked tirelessly behind the scenes, solved problems before anyone even knew they existed, kept smiling through the heat, and helped create memories that will last a lifetime.
You are the heartbeat of A Grand Week in Wales, and we simply cannot thank you enough.
This doesnāt feel like the end of an event.
It feels like the beginning of a movement.
A movement that can grow bigger every year, reach more communities, connect more generations, improve more lives and celebrate the very best of Wales.
From the bottom of our heartsā¦
Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you for believing in A Grand Week in Wales.
We cannot wait to learn from this year, build on what weāve started, and come back even bigger and better next year.
Hereās to A Grand Week in Wales 2027.
See you all next year. šš“ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó æ
