A brief history of The Charity

The Welsh Guards Charity was formed in 2013 as a result of amalgamating several different Regimental Charities and Funds. The Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal, which was started in 2009 because of the significant numbers killed in action and injured on the Battalion’s first tour to Afghanistan in 2009, is also part of the charity.

With further deaths and casualties on the Battalion’s second tour in 2012, the Appeal grew into a nationwide appeal with an immense amount of success and support, including from the Worshipful Company of Drapers, former Welsh Rugby Union Captain Ryan Jones, the Peterson Family, Walk on Wales and our families and friends raising very large sums of money.  

How do we achieve this?

• By providing substantial financial support to the Battalion in order to allow them to engage in adventurous training and sports and also welfare grants to support serving soldiers and their families.

• By providing grants that support our recruiting and promoting the awareness of the Regiment amongst the general public.

• Assisting veterans of the Regiment and their families who are in need of support.

• Giving grants to ensure that our Regimental heritage is kept alive and remembered by all, whether retired or serving. This enables for example veteran pilgrimages to the Falklands for those who fought there in 1982, and underwrites battlefield tours to Africa and Europe re-tracing the battle honours and actions the Welsh Guards fought during both WW1 and WW2. It also helps us to maintain our Regimental Museum in Oswestry.

• Supporting the Regimental Association and the twelve branches that exist in it and the many gatherings that are held amongst our veterans, whether for annual Regimental / Association events or branch activities.

• Ensuring that our Regimental property and archives dating back to our formation in 1915 is properly and securely cared for. This includes Regimental Memorials in Wales and elsewhere.

• By employing a full time Regimental Veterans Officer who provides support to all our veterans and their families who are in need but also including serving soldiers and their families where appropriate.

• Our charity also works closely with other military charities including the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and Help for Heroes and together we provide the best possible support that can be given to those who need it.

  In summary, the Charity makes substantial grants each year to the Battalion and the wider Regimental Family along with the provision of advice to help improve lives and individual or family situations.  The Audited accounts are submitted to and displayed by the Charities Commission and can be viewed here and our own Charity Impact Reports are available to read here.