ASCONA GROUP STRENGTHENS COMMUNITYCOMMITMENT WITH SECOND-YEAR HEADLINE SPONSORSHIP OF CHILD OF WALES AWARDS
Ascona Group is delighted to announce our return as headline sponsor of the Child of Wales Awards 2026 for a second consecutive year, coinciding with nominations officially opening for the nationwide awards initiative.
Now in their fifth year, the prestigious awards celebrate the courage, resilience and achievements of remarkable young people across Wales.
Our continued sponsorship reflects Ascona Group’s long-standing commitment to community support and giving, which has been central to our culture since our beginnings in 2011.
Since its foundation, the Child of Wales Awards has raised more than £300,000 for child and youth-centred charities across Wales. This year’s glamorous, red-carpet-style event will take place at the Swansea Building Society Arena on 2 October.
Also returning as presenter for a second year is Welsh BBC television personality Gethin Jones, who will be joined by around 650 guests, including winners and their families, fellow sponsors, celebrities and sporting stars.
Ascona Group founder and CEO Darren Briggs said:
“With our headquarters in Pembrokeshire, Wales, we are incredibly proud to be returning as headline sponsor of the Child of Wales Awards for the second year running.
The awards celebrate inspiring young people who truly represent the very best of Wales. Our continued support reflects Ascona Group’s commitment to recognising and championing the achievements of young people across Wales and supporting the communities in which we operate.”
With nominations now open across 12 award categories, Child of Wales Awards founder Blanche Sainsbury added:
“Without the continued support of Ascona Group, alongside the loyalty of other businesses, these awards simply wouldn’t be possible. Each year, I am genuinely moved by the generosity shown — whether through sponsorship, auction prizes, purchasing tables, or contributing time and expertise. That support helps us shine a light on truly extraordinary young people and their families.”
The free-to-enter awards celebrate inspirational individuals under the age of 20 who live in, or were born in, Wales. Categories recognise courage in the face of adversity, leadership, caring for others, fundraising, sporting achievement and acts of kindness within local communities.
Through the Ascona Giving programme, Ascona Group supports a wide range of community initiatives, including children’s sports teams and foodbank charities, and has donated more than £800,000 to good causes since 2017. The Group has also pledged to donate £1 million to Wales Air Ambulance over the next ten years.
To view the categories and submit a nomination, visit:
Nominate | Child of Wales Awards
To get a sense of the scale and atmosphere of the event, you can enjoy highlights from the 2025 awards ceremony here:
https://youtu.be/1KV0IOJEUXg
Headquartered in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Ascona Group is one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent forecourt operators, with a network of more than 70 sites nationwide and over 900employees. The business provides leading roadside retail services to more than300,000 customers every week and supplies over five million litres of fuel weekly, with many of its sites operating at the heart of the communities they serve.
