High praise as country celebrates Grand Week in Wales

Throughout the pandemic, community group Nanny Biscuit has been helping vulnerable and struggling people across North Wales and beyond.

Founder James Hunt previously announced the launching of a new fundraising initiative called ‘A Grand Week in Wales’, with a mission to assist the plight of the vulnerable and lonely across the country.

Nanny Biscuit’s ‘A Grand Week in Wales’ idea was originated to raise money to combat food poverty, isolation and loneliness. The name given is in recognition of Wales’ 1,000-mile circumference, and the idea is to deliver a variety of community challenges based around the theme of 1,000, all in the lead up to St David’s’ Day 2021 (February 22 - March 1).

James told the Leader that ‘people are really starting to get behind it’ and residents across the country have been taking on their own 1,000 themed ideas.

The scheme has also garnered the attention of actor Jerome Flynn and sporting star Tom Lawrence.

In a video, Jerome Flynn was seen talking about the initiative and encouraging people to jump on board.

The Nanny Biscuit team themselves have been busy, with the aim of creating and sending 1,000 meals to key workers and 1,000 for the homeless and vulnerable.

Volunteers are also running 1,000 miles and picking up 1,000 bags of litter.

Runners from Cardiff getting involved

James added: “It’s going really well, people are starting to engage around Wales.

“The main thing for us is that it creates something for people to be a part of and they can engage with over the next week.

“It’s about trying to create joy and lift people’s spirits to get them through the lockdown as well as helping as many people as we can.”

Over 200 key workers have already received a meal, along with over 150 homeless/vulnerable and on Thursday, the team delivered meals to the Welsh Ambulance Service team.

Food parcels

Mark Timmins, Duty Operations Manager for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: “This is a really kind gesture. The staff of the Welsh Ambulance Service in the North really appreciate it. I know it will go down very well with the staff. We want to say a big thank you to CAF Gas, Newydd Catering and Nanny Biscuit and wish them luck with the A Grand Week In Wales campaign. We hope it is a brilliant success.”

Mark Timmins, James Hunt (Nanny Biscuit) and Dominic Haynes (Newydd Catering)

James is urging people to jump on board and come up with their own creative ideas from litter picking on their daily walks or joining in on the mass community singalong.

James added: “We would love to see a mass socially distanced litter pick around your area over the weekend with participants registering through our website https://nannybiscuit.org/grand-week-in-wales/grand-welsh-pick/

“Green paw project is also collaborating with us on the litter picking event alongside other helping organisations like team red volunteers, MoneySupermarket, Newydd Catering etc, but it’s important to remember social distancing here.”

Care homes and schools have also got involved with the event by creating poems and Welsh cakes or completing relay’s as part of their homework and lessons.

More information can be found on the nanny biscuit website on how to get involved or creative ideas to inspire you.

Litter pickers across Wales