The Development Bank of Wales has chosen the Wales-based mental support health charity bigmoose as its charity partner for 2025/26.
The group has kicked off fundraising for bigmoose with a successful event, after raising more than £25,000 at the FW Capital Charity Ball at St James’ Park, Newcastle.
This follows a successful year of support for the British Heart Foundation, during which the Development Bank raised £57,870 throughout the year – its second highest ever fundraising total – to help the charity in its goal of supporting the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Colleagues at the Development Bank, and its subsidiary FW Capital, organised and took part in scores of events to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, including hosting charity balls in Cardiff and Newcastle; taking part in the Endure24 twenty-four hour relay race across 315 miles; and with teams joining the Cardiff Half Marathon, the Great North Run and the Liverpool Santa Dash. Individual team members also took on the West Highland Way Walk, the Berlin Marathon and the 100-mile Run/Walk/Cycle for Hearts challenge.
These events, along with coffee mornings at regional offices and a monthly staff lottery, helped to raise £57,870 for the British Heart Foundation.
The Development Bank will raise funds for bigmoose in 2025/26. Set up by father and daughter team Jeff and Chloe Smith, bigmoose provides therapy and counselling for those going through difficulties with their mental health, while also providing mental health first aid training for those looking to help others.
Siân Price who, alongside Donna Williams, managed the partnership with the British Heart Foundation during 2024/25, said: “We’ve had a fantastic year of fundraising for the British Heart Foundation, with colleagues from across the business getting involved. Both of our families have been affected by heart and circulatory disease, and we’ve heard from many other colleagues who have also been affected. We’re so pleased with the total amount raised for this fantastic charity.”
Rhodri Thomas, Head of British Heart Foundation Cymru, said: “Congratulations to the team at Development Bank of Wales for an amazing year of fundraising for BHF Cymru. To raise more than £57,000 in a year takes significant dedication and we are so grateful to the efforts and the many events to fund our lifesaving research. Diolch o galon.”
The mental health charity bigmoose was nominated as the charity partner for 2025/26 by colleagues Donna Strohmeyer, Cai Greenslade, Giorgia Di-Girolamo and Navid Falatoori.
Donna said: “This charity is very personal to myself and my colleagues who nominated it. Either ourselves, or members of our families have used the services of bigmoose and can testify as to how the charity really helps people. Mental health is such an important issue that touches the lives of so many of our colleagues and their families and it is great to be able to support a charity that can act quickly to provide immediate support to those that need it.”
Jeff Smith, CEO of bigmoose, said: “The relationship between bigmoose and the Development Bank of Wales’ people is already strong, and the passion and enthusiasm for what we do in our charity has been mirrored by everybody we have met on the start of this journey. And so, we are super excited to be working together, on what will result in us helping and saving lives together.”
