Hollywood star gets ‘in on the act’

A HOLLYWOOD star’s wardrobe and a signed rugby top helped raise over £2,000 at a school auction.

The auction, held at Ysgol Pentrecelyn, Ruthin, saw Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans’ old wardrobe sell for £200, first class train tickets for £160 and a signed rugby shirt from Welsh rugby star George North raise £100.

The event, held to raise money for IT and road safety equipment saw the Hollywood actor stepping forward to help his former schools raise much needed funds.

“We are very, very pleased with the amount that was raised,” said PTA member Delyth Griffiths.

“Our events are always well supported by parents and relatives, but what was nice this time is that we had members of the wider community attend.

“We are very pleased with the turnout and that so many people came out to support the school.”

Rhys Ifan’s wardrobe, bought by Liz Williams, owner of Pine Direct, will be on display in the furniture store in Ruthin.

And it seems Rhys Ifans isn’t the only one getting ‘in on the act’ and helping out his own community.

Business Supporting Communities (B2C), a Big Lottery funded initiative delivered by the North Wales County Voluntary Councils, work to help bring businesses and communities together. B2C say they are very impressed with the amount of support currently being shown in Denbighshire.

Three months after becoming the first café in Wales to run a donation scheme, Denbigh Chocolate Shop owner Mark Young said he is very happy to be doing his bit for the community.

The Suspended Coffee Scheme, allows the community to buy a coffee that will then be gifted to those in need.

“We don’t stipulate, we don’t ask questions, we have had people from all walks of life come in for a drink, or food,” said Mark.

“It is a simple system, people pay for their food/drink and then pay for one to be left in, the donation is written down on the chalk board, and then crossed out when it has been used.

“Our community support us, so this is our way of supporting our community.”

And nothing goes to waste, £52 was left over from last month’s donations, so Mark bought food and drink with the unspent cash and donated it to the Denbigh Food Bank.

Lucy Kew, project officer at B2C, said she was delighted that so many businesses are supporting their own communities.

“We have seen so many exciting partnerships develop between businesses and community groups, which the above examples highlight,” said Lucy.

“It’s great to see businesses and communities share the same values and work together to solve real problems.

“We have now worked with a multitude of businesses and it’s fantastic to see so many come forward that genuinely want to offer support.

“If you would like support in making use of any spare resources your business can offer, any free time you might be able to gift or expertise that you could share with a good cause please contact us.

“B2C we are also are keen to celebrate and share all the excellent work that businesses are already doing for their communities, so please do get in touch with your good news stories” Lucy added.

For more details visit www.b2cwales.co.uk or contact Lucy Kew:

lucykew@b2cwales.co.uk / 01492 523847.