Eisteddfod Wrecsam 2025 was held between the 2nd and the 9th of August 2025, and AVOW was there coordinating the Volunteer and Community Hub.
The Volunteer and Community hub brought together both local and national charitable organisations all under one roof. This was the your one-stop shop at the Eisteddfod to get to know charities working in Wrexham County Borough.
AVOW was responsible for organising the local charities in the hub, with a big thank you to our Eisteddfod co-ordinator and Health and Wellbeing Development officer Jane Edwards for pulling it all together. AVOW’s sister organisation, the WCVA (Welsh Council for Voluntary Action) worked with the national organisations that had booths in the hub.
It was an incredibly busy week, full of important conversations. Conversations between people and charities about how they can help. Conversations between the voluntary and community sector and government ministers about how they can work together to improve everyone’s experience.
AVOW was joined by it’s other north-Wales counterparts, Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) and Community Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC). They helped people our stall, and share the good work that they do in their own counties.
Over 1000 people came through the doors during the Eisteddfod, both young and old. They all enjoyed the crafts put on by our own Gwersyllt Hub Volunteers, and were refreshed by free tea and coffee, or water during the hottest parts of the week.
There were even two lovely support ponies that joined us from the Unicorn Equine project
They were very placid, and looks incredible in their little unicorn hats, with matching pink uniforms. We were told that they have a whole range of different hats, from cowboy hats to wizard hats.
Our mascot, Octavious was a hit with the people of the Eisteddfod, having replaced Ollie the Octopus since our last visit to the Eisteddfod in 2011. Octavius will be making his own post soon.
We were joined by a whole host of dignitaries. Cllr Tina Mannering, Mayor of Wrexham, Mark Drakeford MS (Cabinet Secretary for Finance), Jane Dodds MS, Jane Hutt MS (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice), Andy Dunbobbin (North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner), Jeremy Miles MS (Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care), Julie Gillbanks (High Sheriff of Wrexham) and many others. All of whom were actively interested in the work that the voluntary and community sector were doing in Wrexham.
It wasn’t all work for the AVOW Team. There was plenty of time for them to visit the maes, which was full of joy, laughter and music. Everywhere you went you could hear the strains of music coming from one of the many stages dotted around the maes, all of the music in Welsh, from traditional folk through to modern rock. With places for children to play in Wrexham’s Village, to stalls selling everything from traditional goods to locally produced clothing.
Wrecsam Eisteddfod 2025 had something for everyone. It was especially great to hear Welsh being spoken as the main language on the field, with even the most English of stewards and security giving greetings a go. The AVOW Team had a great week, and really hope that you all did too.
Photo by Phil Green
Photo by Phil Green
Photo by Phil Green
Photo by AVOW Media Team
Photo by AVOW Media Team
Photo by AVOW Media Team
Photo by AVOW Media Team
A Full list of charities that joined us on the week can be found below:
Barddas
AVOW (Cefnogi Sector Gwirfoddol Wrecsam)
FLVC (Cyngor Gwirfoddol Lleol Sir Fflint)
Ymchwil Canser y Gogledd Orllewin a Gogledd Cymru
NYAS Cymru
Tribiwnlys Prisio Cymru
Canolfan y Dechnoleg Amgen
Plant yng Nghymru
Diabetes DU Cymru
Cyngor Ffoaduriaid Cymru
Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gogledd Cymru
Youth Cymru
Mencap Cymru
Ymddiriedolaeth Lles Ieir Prydain
Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr Cymru
Cymru Versus Arthritis
Myf.Cymru
Bwrdd Iechyd Addysg Powys
PatientsCann UK
Cyngor ar Bopeth Wrecsam
Prosiect Glowyr Wrecsam
Mind Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru
Mind Cymru
Mind Conwy
Mind Dyffryn Clwyd
WeMindTheGap
Advance Brighter Futures
Theatr Grove Parc
Hwb Amlddiwylliannol Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru
Cymru Gynnes
Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru
Groundwork Gogledd Cymru
Gofal Canser Tenovus
TACT Maethu Cymru
Credu
Popham Kidney Support
Maes y Pant
Girlguiding Wrecsam
Shopmobility
Homestart Wrecsam
Tŷ Gobaith Hosbis Plant
Deaf and Sensory Network
Gardd Furiog Fictoraidd Erlas
Shared Lives
Cadwyn Clwyd
Hwb Gymunedol Gwersyllt
Chloe’s and Sophie’s Special Ears Fund
Ymddiriedolaeth Brydeinig yr Afu
Woodland Classroom
BAWSO
Crafts
Unicorn Equine
Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr
The Joshua Tree
Housing Justice
British Liver Trust
English (UK) 
Cymraeg