Dedicated staff and generous customers of Charlies raised nearly £23k for charity in 2025, bringing the total contributions over the years from the company to a remarkable £197k.
The total will be split £11,111 for the Welsh Air Ambulance, £4,110 for the Midlands Air Ambulance and £7,452 for Lingen Davies, ensuring vital support reaches our communities.
Charlies is renowned for providing customers with that extra dose of magic during the festive season and supportive customers dug deep to support the singing reindeer, yetis, penguins and farm animals. As well as this, other initiatives to raise money included a Christmas Tree decorating evening, wreath making workshops and a Christmas raffle for staff.
As has become a Christmas tradition for Charlies, £2 was donated from the sale of every real Christmas tree. This year the total number of trees sold amounted to nearly 4000 across all stores.
Becky Lloyd, Managing Director of Charlies, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing kindness and generosity shown by our customers year after year.
“We’re proud to donate such a large sum of money to such worthwhile charities. Next year our total will exceed £200,000 raised over the years for charity so we wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated, participated or supported our events. Your contributions genuinely make a difference.”
Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered via a unique third-sector and public-sector partnership.
The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Phae Jones, Director of Income Generation for the Wales Air Ambulance, said: “We are so grateful to Charlies, along with their dedicated staff and loyal customers, for their continued commitment to the Wales Air Ambulance. Their remarkable contribution once again this year strengthens our lifesaving work. Your support truly helps us reach those who need us most and keeps our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road.”
Steph Smith, Head of Philanthropy at Lingen Davies, said a heartfelt thank you to team members for their continued fundraising and support.
“We’re so grateful for the incredible efforts made by the Charlies team and their generous visitors. In addition to dedicating the festive season to raising vital funds for us, the team continuously went above and beyond throughout 2025 to make a difference in their community, participating in a variety of fundraisers for us throughout the year such as walking our Titty Trail in October.
“It’s because of incredible support like this that we’re able to continue supporting local people in our community affected by cancer, including the friends and family of those with a cancer diagnosis. Thank you!”
