An Art and Craft weekend has raised over £5,100 for charity.

The Dartmouth Friends of Children’s Hospice South West is thrilled to announce the 15th annual Art and Craft weekend in Royal Avenue Gardens raised over £5000 last weekend.

The event was opened by Captain Jolyon Woodard, Captain of the Britannia Royal Naval Collage who presented a £1,000 cheque from the BRNC Charities Committee to volunteer, Sue Tweed.

Sue thanked the Captain for his support and the continued support of the BRNC especially in providing officer cadets who provide invaluable help in setting up and taking down equipment over the weekend.

Brilliant weather brought the crowds to watch the performances, demonstrations and enjoy the record number of 36 stalls of artists and craft workers.

The Children’s Hospice volunteers ran a very successful tea hut, a treasure hunt and a lucky dip for children.

There was also a wonderful variety of music and dance performed over the course of the weekend.

On Saturday, June 23, the Dashing Devon Dukes played their ukuleles, Antonia and Friends played some lovely jazz music and visitors saw some lovely dancing from the Dartmouth Dance Academy. The day ended with Colin Rickards’ singing and guitar performance.

Then on Sunday, June 24, Antonia and Friends returned, followed by a performance from belly dancers from Pyramid Studios in Paignton, Modbury’s Uke ’n Sing Ukulele band and to finish the weekend there was a performance from the Fiddlers on the Green.

To entertain the children, the town crier, Lez the Fez, wore his ballooning shirt and created balloon sculptures alongside some magic performances.

Children’s Hospice South West provides over 500 life-limited children and their families with specialist care and ongoing bereavement support.  It costs £9.8 million every year to run their three hospices in the region, of which only 15 per cent is provided by the government, the rest has to be raised by public donation and fundraising events such as this. 

The £5,100 raised at this event is £1,000 more than last year, a great boost towards helping Children’s Hospice South West to make the most of short and precious lives. 

Through their events, CHSW Dartmouth Friends Group aim to raise a substantial amount of money for, and awareness of this vital charity.  More volunteers are needed to help at our events - any help, however little or infrequent, is very much appreciated.  For details, contact Sue Tweed at [email protected] or 01803 770730.