Insurance broker Howden raised £7,500 for children’s charity Wooden Spoon at its annual South Wales Commercial golf day, held at Machynys Golf Club in Llanelli.
The event drew 100 guests and featured rugby legends, a competitive round of golf, and a fundraising dinner in aid of a charity that supports children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland.
The day began with breakfast and a golf briefing, followed by an 18-hole competition, dinner, prize-giving, and a question-and-answer session with Dafydd James – a former British & Irish Lion, Wales international, and current Howden business executive who also serves as a Wooden Spoon ambassador.
Gary Stevens, regional managing director – commercial (Wales) at Howden, said the fundraiser reflected the company’s commitment to meaningful community partnerships.
“We are proud to have hosted such a successful golf day once again,” Stevens said. “This is a wonderful event with a great opportunity to raise vital funds for some truly deserving causes.
“Partnering with Wooden Spoon is a natural fit. Their work harnesses the spirit of rugby to support children and young people facing disadvantage, and we’re delighted to play a role in supporting that mission.”
Andy Jones, head of corporate partnerships at Wooden Spoon, said the broker’s values aligned closely with the charity’s own.
“Howden’s passion for rugby and community perfectly aligns with Wooden Spoon’s mission, and we are incredibly proud to have the support of Howden as we continue using rugby to change young lives for the better,” Jones said.
Founded in 1983, Wooden Spoon has supported more than two million young people through grants for sensory rooms, playgrounds, and specialist equipment, funded through the rugby community.
Separately, Howden recently announced a three-year kit sponsorship with Wooden Spoon in partnership with Canterbury, providing official playing kits for all Wooden Spoon Vets (Over-35s) and Open XV representative teams.
Howden also holds headline partnerships with Melrose Sevens and the British & Irish Lions as part of its broader engagement with the sport at both grassroots and elite levels.
The golf day comes during a period of expanded activity for Wooden Spoon. In September, the charity partnered with Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) to launch the Wooden Spoon GBWR Junior Regional Academies – an initiative designed to widen inclusive playing and training opportunities for junior athletes across the UK.
