PENARTH based award-winning charity, Challenge Wales, thanked its volunteers for their continued support at a festive volunteers evening held at Pier 64 in Penarth Marina recently.

In 2017, Challenge Wales volunteers donated no fewer than 14,500 hours of their time to Wales’ Tall Ship helping and mentoring young people through accredited onboard learning activities, overseas and local adventures enabling all abilities to develop and improve their employability skills.

During the evening Vicky Williams, trustee of Challenge Wales, shared many successful moments with volunteers and guests.

In particular, visiting 14 countries during the summer was an epic adventure for Challenge Wales but knowing that the boat was being crewed by young people who had faced bereavement, personal setbacks, life-threatening illness and other disadvantages made the voyages more memorable and rewarding for volunteers.

Over the year, the charity and its volunteers have also worked with young people who have low literacy, are homeless or at risk of homelessness or have learning disabilities as part of its successful Voyages of Discovery programme which is set to continue into 2018.

Although many of the volunteers help onboard Challenge Wales, the evening was an opportunity for trustees to thank all volunteers including those shore-side and behind the scenes who help with fundraising and raising awareness of the charity.