The Pughy 9s started Bank Holiday Weekend 2017 after the untimely death of the popular young player, Tom Pugh. Now in its 3rd year, this touch rugby tournament has continued to grow in popularity, attracting some 20 teams to take part!
Raising money for charities in Tom’s memory the tournament is well supported by Swansea Uplands RFC (who organise and run it), local people and businesses alike. Dawsons have sponsored a pitch for all 3 years, as well as Killay Office sponsoring a ball at this year’s tournament.
Killay Branch Manager (and all-around living legend) David ‘Dai’ Parton, who represented the club and played with Tom, has played as part of the “Vets” team for all 3 tournaments. Each year they have managed to progress to the Quarter Finals of the Cup. It was the same again this year at which stage they were knocked out 3-1 against a strong Gower Rangers Team.
A Cup and Shield competition are run after the first rounds of Pool matches. This year Penclawdd came out on top of the Shield and Uplands Youth won the Cup.
After the rugby comes to an end, the clubhouse is packed with all players and supporters. Some tales of the day at the fore amongst the Vets, that’s for sure and as the evening wears on teammates, friends and family let off balloons in Toms memory. Always a poignant moment and a chance to reflect and think about a top man!
As we head into a brand new year, we look back over the past year at Dawsons and all of the amazing community events we have been involved with, money raised for so many good causes, and a wonderful team of people, all of whom have given their time & effort voluntarily. Thank you Dawsons Team and to everyone who has donated!
Happy 2019, let’s hope it’s an amazing one!
January
Christmas Jumper Day in aid of ‘Save the Children’
February
Our Valentine competition winner enjoying breakfast at The Optimist
March
Our branches collecting for the West Wales Poundies
April
Climbing Pen Y Fan for the Neonatal Unit
Several of our Dawsons babies have spent time in the unit, not least George on the left whose life was saved there seven years ago and completed the strenuous walk with the Dawsons banner in his rucksack.
May
Our ‘Sell your home for free’ competition winner
June
#OneThousandItemsOfFood for Trussell Trust Food Bank via Agents Giving & Relocation Agent Network
July
“Safe as Houses” supporting the child safety wristbands at Wales Airshow
August
Sponsoring and taking part in the Burry port Raft Race in aid of the RNLI and Afia Banjul Football Association
September
Macmillan coffee mornings across the branches
October
Dawsons Langland Litter Pickers.
November
Sam’s curry night as she heads off on Maternity leave, whilst undergoing chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.
December
Mr X Donations for underprivileged local children.
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning takes place annually and this year the date was Friday 28th September. It is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event for those who support cancer patients in the UK and people all over the Country are asked to host their own Coffee Mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year (2017) alone they raised over £27 million and I’m sure that this will be another successful year.
How did it start?
The first ever Macmillan Coffee Morning happened way back in 1990. It was a rather a small affair with a simple idea: guests would gather together, drink coffee and donate the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan in the process. It was so effective, they did it again the next year – only this time nationally. Since then, Coffee Morning has raised over £200 million for Macmillan, what an amazing achievement.
What does it mean to Dawsons?
With 150 staff, we have so many people whose lives have been touched by cancer, and at the moment one team member is undergoing treatment, so it really does mean the world to us. Macmillan do an amazing job and they are truly special nurses and support teams who face a lot of heartache every day, but with positivity and smiles on their faces.
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning 2018
So this year we set out to make our Coffee Morning the biggest we have ever achieved, and we decided to run the event in conjunction with our“Cake Smash” competitionsponsored by the amazing photography studio Safelight Images in Swansea.
(Winner of competition to be announced on our FACEBOOK PAGE
Each of the Dawsons offices was tasked with making their coffee morning the best ever, and to be honest, I was blown away by the results and the tremendous effort put in by the team members. So let’s have a run-down on how each office got on last Friday:
Marina office kicked off their morning at 9am with a veritable feast of baked goodies, and had their sales negotiator Laura Jayne Davies serenading the visitors with her amazing voice! As you will see from all of the photos below, there were so many cakes made or donated, in all of the Dawsons offices, and visitors flocked in with their charity money, and were blown away with the efforts, look and taste of all these treats.
Personally, I think we could consider a new type of estate agency with a tea and cake shop on the side. Now that would be a great idea, don’t you think? Although, after watching how the cakes disappeared so fast, I have a feeling the staff may worry a little about their waistlines if this was an everyday occurrence.
Whilst we are still tallying up the proceed for Macmillan, with a number of donations from local businesses yet to come, I have noted the running totals for some of the offices, under their branch names, so you can see it’s at least £700 so it really has been a worthwhile event, for our community networking and for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Well done to everyone who baked, donated, supported and enjoyed the morning! Bring on 2019…
It’s competition time and this one is for anyone who has a baby or toddler in the family or friends group. We are absolutely delighted to team up again with Safelight Images in Swansea, who are going to give our competition winner a FREE Cake Smash photo shoot (worth £150) – or voucher equivalent – for those who want to gift it as a birthday or (dare we say it) Christmas present.
So firstly, for those who haven’t heard of a Cake Smash, here’s what it entails:
Cake Smash sessions are probably the most fun-filled events for any birthday girl or boy to part-take in. The best age for a cake smash shoot is usually a 1st or 2nd birthday. The little one will be sat in front of a birthday cake* for them to get messy with, eat and demolish – all in front of the camera! Do not worry, the team at Safelight have a lot of baby wipes on hand to clear up the mess.
*If you wish for us to provide a cake for you, you will need to inform us when booking the photo shoot, but you are VERY welcome to bring your own. We’re sure in the spirit of this competition, you will be happy to bake a cake for such an event as this!
What is included in the Cake Smash session?
Safelight Images will provide you with the cake, balloons and bunting, an outfit and a 12×8 print of your favourite image from the shoot. We will also present you with a keepsake wooden spoon engraved with your little ones name on, that you can take home with you as a memento of their cake smash. Any further prints that you would like to purchase will be at an additional cost that we can discuss together, in the studio.
THE COMPETITION
1. BAKE A SHOWSTOPPING CAKE
2. TAKE A PHOTO
3. UPLOAD IT TO THE DAWSON’S FACEBOOK PAGE in the comments section under the competition post
WRITE YOUR NAME IN THE BOX IF SOMEONE ELSE IS UPLOADING THE PICTURE FOR YOU! https://www.facebook.com/DawsonsPropertySwansea/
4. ALL PHOTOS MUST BE UPLOADED BY MID-DAY ON TUESDAY 25/9/2018 – Any uploaded after this time will not be entered into the competition
5. SHARE THE POST AND ASK ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO LIKE YOUR PICTURE. Please use the hashtag #dawsonscakesmash
6. AT 4PM ON FRIDAY 28/9/2018 THE CAKE WITH THE MOST LIKES OR LOVES WILL WIN THE PRIZE:
ONE POINT PER LIKE
TWO POINTS PER LOVE
If anyone gets a laughing ‘ha ha’ we will count it as a LIKE…!
FINALLY, for the astute amongst you.
Yes on Friday 28/9/18 it is the Worlds Biggest MacMillan Coffee Morning. SO… If you are tempted to bake a cake and don’t really want to eat it yourself, or feel it would be better to go to a good cause… You can pop it into your local DAWSON’S office – they are all listed on the link below – where they will happily sell all cakes no matter what shape or size that has been donated, and ensure all proceeds from cake sales will be presented to the much-needed charity Macmillan.
Of course, before we eat the delicious cakes on offer, we will take a photo and upload it to the competition for you. Please, therefore, if you are leaving cakes at our offices, put your name and contact details with the cake, so that we can get in touch if you WIN the PHOTO SHOOT.
Our Llanelli and Mumbles branches along with our marketing team have been busy during August with sponsoring two prestigious local events: the 2nd annual Burry Port Raft Race and the 30th annual Crackers 7’s rugby tournament.
Earlier in the month our Llanelli office took to the water in the raft race while the marketing team manned the guess the balloons car, and even though the event had to be postponed from the Saturday to the Sunday due to poor weather conditions, there was a fantastic turn out for the day with all proceeds raised going to the RNLI and Afia Banjul Football Academy.
Further into the month our staff and customers enjoyed a Bank Holiday Sunday full of rugby, family entertainment, a new bar and an evening of music. For some years now Dawsons have sponsored the Crackers 7’s, bank holiday event in Underhill Park, hosting a hospitality tent, Hog Roast and some great company with a pitchside view of the day. The sun has shone for many years, but this year the rain certainly didn’t dampen the spirits.
If you are looking for sponsorship for 2019, please get in touch with Naomi from our marketing team by email:
As many of us will now know on August 2nd the Bank of England raised the base rate from 0.5% to 0.75% – only the second rise in over a decade
The base rate is the Bank of England’s official borrowing rate – i.e., what it charges other banks and lenders when they borrow money – and it influences what borrowers pay and savers earn.
What does this mean in real terms to those of us who currently have a mortgage and those looking to get on the property ladder and take out their first mortgage?
For current homeowners with a mortgage now is the time to check the status of your current mortgage, if you are linked to base rate you can look to re-mortgage to a fixed deal.
If you are a first-time buyer you will now benefit from some great deals on offer, our in-house mortgage advisors can offer deals fixed for 2 or 5 years with rates starting from 1.89% on a 90% LTV and 3.17% on a 95% LTV.
Despite this slight increase all is still positive within the property market, current mortgage lenders will no doubt continue to offer very good fixed deals, for further information contact your nearest Dawsons team and book your appointment now with one of our Mortgage Advisors.
Our in-house mortgage advisors are: James Boland, David Treharne and Shaun Sturgess
“Top Tips” for Buyers & Tenants
CHOOSING THE RIGHT AREA
Local amenities, schools and transport links can be the top priority when choosing your perfect location. Make a list of your specific requirements. Speak to a member of staff, who will be able to offer local advice and suggest the right area for your needs.
Seafront properties, funeral directors to executive apartments, we have it all this Auction! Block viewings are underway and registrations are open for our next auction which will take place at the Marriot Hotel Swansea on Wednesday 3rd October 2018 at 3pm.
Get in touch today on 01792 646060.
RELOCATING?
Sam Partner achieved her Relocation Agent Network accreditation this month, so our Llanelli sales team are now ALL fully accredited agents, alongside Danielle Thomas, sales administrator within our Mumbles office. So if you need to relocate and are considering moving to or from the Swansea area, make sure you speak to the Dawsons team who are the exclusive RAN agents for this area.
Preparations are in full swing for the 30th annual legendary rugby festival The Crackers’ 7’s over the August Bank Holiday in Underhill Park, Mumbles. The schedule is as follows:
Friday 24th August from 6pm
Mumbles Youth .v. Swansea Uplands Youth
Tom Pugh Memorial Game – Mumbles XV .v. Swansea Uplands XV
In memory of Swansea Uplands player Tom Pugh who tragically passed away at such a young age. Proceeds of Programme sales on the night will go to the chosen charity of Tom’s family
Saturday 25th August from 9.30am
Mumbles RFC Junior Section morning of rugby fun & games
Mumbles RFC Youth hosting a 7’s Tournament k.o. 12.00 Noon
Sunday 26th August from 11am
Crackers’ 7’s with the Men’s and Women’s tournaments running in parallel during the day.
Live entertainment from 7pm from local band ‘The Contenders’ in the Premier Marquee
There will be a beer tent and BBQ on all 3 Days plus loads of family entertainment including a bouncy castle, giant children’s slide and (wait for it….) zumba classes with Sion throughout the day
We at Dawsons are, again, so proud to be headline sponsors of this event and our director James Dawson explains why
“Having sponsored this event for many years as a company, and I myself playing in the tournament many times over the years, never successfully I might add, we understand the importance of the annual event to those living locally and those who travel from further afield to take part. The Crackers’ 7’s is a firm date in our calendar, for which we are proud to be the principal sponsor. The work that the rugby club do for the local community and for various charities is second to none and that is why we look forward to supporting MIND, this year’s chosen charity, to raise both awareness and much-needed funds for the work they do.’
Please try to come along if you are local, and share this with your friends as you wouldn’t want to miss such a great event!
Dawsons estate agents are sponsoring special wristbands to keep children safe at this year’s Airshow based on the Swansea sea front.
In a campaign named ‘Safe as Houses’, Dawsons’ wristbands will be handed out by Swansea Council officials to 1,000s of children attending the event over the weekend.
With more than 250,000 visitors expected to gather on Swansea’s promenade and waterfront for the action-packed weekend of June 30 and July 1, Dawsons felt it important to support the wristband campaign.
“We are delighted to be sponsoring a campaign that will help to keep safe all those children who will be visiting the Airshow on the Saturday and Sunday,” said Dawsons’ Senior Partner Chris Hope.
“The weekend is a fun-filled, family affair and anything we can do to keep children safe and eliminate any worries for parents then all the better.”
On entering the event a wristband will be given to each child can be collected from various information points, the park and ride drop off location or our car parks staff. The parents’ mobile number will be written on the back of the wristband before being put on the child’s wrist.
Losing a child, even for a few moments, can be very distressing and the Tag Your Totsscheme can help reassure and get help fast. Parents are being advised it they lose a child or need to report an incident to look for the nearest steward who will talk directly to the security and events team via radio.
Added Chris: “The Airshow just gets bigger and better and showcases Swansea at its best and we are delighted to be associated with it especially as this year the even takes on extra significance as it is celebrating both the RAF’s 100th anniversary and the Army commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.”
Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism, said: “We are delighted that a Company with such local recognition and familiarity as Dawsons Estate Agents have decided to become a sponsoring partner for the Wales Airshow 2018. The Wales Airshow is Wales’ largest, free event for the public to enjoy.
“The show attracts record numbers of visitors to the area, with children’s safety being of paramount importance throughout the weekend. With Dawsons’ contribution, we can effectively manage the number of families with children at the event, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy this fantastic two-day spectacle.”
The Airshow has grown in popularity from 75,000 visitors in 2009 to an audience of 250,000 last year and even more people are expected this year.
Full details about the event, road closures and other information is available at walesairshow.co.uk.
PICTURE: Swansea Uplands RFC Under 7s interrupted their training session on the beach to show off the bright orange wristbands that will be used during the Airshow
Dawsons is delighted to be the principal sponsor of the Burry Port Raft Race for a second year.
The event this year takes place on Saturday, August 11.
“We sponsored the event last year and we had no hesitation in doing it again this year, especially as it raises valuable funds for both Burry Port RNLI and Afia Children’s Football Academy Foundation in Africa,” said Dawsons’ Senior Partner Chris Hope.
“We have an office in Llanelli and many of our staff are from the Burry Port area and again we will be entering our very own Dawsons raft. We are just hoping that, despite great efforts by our crew, they go a bit better that they did last year!”
There are plenty of prizes for those involved including best dressed raft, first raft to sink, best dressed crew, last raft over the line and worst dressed raft.
If you need any further details or an entry form you can email burryportraftrace@yahoo.com
Dawsons Property is supporting a week-long campaign to collect items for Swansea Foodbank next month.
The special collection, which is part of Relocation Agent Network’s national fundraising event called #OneThousandItemsofFood, will take place between June 14 and 21 in conjunction with the Trussell Trust.
During the week there will be collection points in all of Dawsons’ branches across Swansea & Llanelli with special bins to be provided by their Dawsons’ reward card partner Exall & Jones.
The foodbank has become part of the social landscape of society with one in five people living below the poverty line in the UK.
“We are very grateful to Dawsons to their commitment to this food collection campaign,” said Kristina Williams, Assistant Manager at Swansea Foodbank.
“We tend to have a lot of contributions around Christmas time and harvest festival, but contributions tend to tail off a bit during the spring and summer so Dawsons’ commitment is both timely and welcome.”
Swansea Foodbank, which provides emergency food and support to local people in crisis, is open in several locations around the city on different days and times.
Swansea Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s national foodbank network and is supported by churches across the city to help people in times of crisis.
Dawsons is asking customers and staff to donate two items each of non-perishable food such as tins and packet food.
Chris Hope, Senior Partner at Dawsons, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of this campaign as part of the Relocation Agent Network which is running #OneThousandItemsofFood throughout the UK.
Unfortunately, we live in times when foodbanks have become a necessity for a part of our society, so we are determined to make this campaign as successful as possible, therefore all our branches will be collecting items between June 14 and 21.”
To find your local foodbank visit www.trusselltrust.org. Find out what supplies they are currently in need of and what items they have enough of. Foodbanks also accept essential non-food items such as toiletries and hygiene products. They also accept clothes and toys.
Dawsons estate agent has donated 27 high vis jackets to Tre Uchaf School in Loughor.
Head Teacher Christine Hewitt said the school were delighted with the contribution of the high vis jackets from Dawsons’ branch in Gorseinon.
“The high vis jackets are a very welcome gift from Dawsons. They will be used regularly by our younger classes while out and about in the community and on school trips and they will help ensure that the children are seen and safe,” she said.
Dawsons’ staff in Gorseinon Amanda Bamford, Sales Negotiator, and Simon McLaren, Senior Sales Negotiator, went to the school in person to present the jackets to Mrs Hewitt and the children.
“We were delighted to be able to go to the school and present the infants with these high vis jackets. It is very important for the children to be as safe as possible when they go on school visits,” said Amanda.
While they were at the school Simon and Amanda also judged the Infants’ Easter Bonnet Parade and the Juniors’ Easter Decorate an Egg Competition (see pictures below).
MAIN CAPTION: Pupils modelling their high vis jackets. Front row: Cole Morgan, Molly Pompa, Lily Puddefoot, and Jackson Beavers. Back row: Maisie Harris and Olly Thomas, with Simon McClaren and Amanda Bamford.