Our 2018 impact event was held at National Museum Cardiff on 25th October! It was amazing to be joined by over 300 people from businesses, organisations and community groups to celebrate another year of changing futures for young people and vulnerable women in Wales.

We were joined by our guest speakers, Sali Hughes and Owen Sheers, who each gave incredibly powerful and moving speeches. Sali Hughes shared her own experience of hidden homelessness as a young person living in London, and spoke about starting up Beauty Banks, an organisation working to end hygiene poverty in the UK. Owen Sheers shared his thoughts on creating a sense of identity for Wales built on kindness and compassion and read some moving extracts from his own work.

As always, we are incredibly proud of the young people and women we support. We got to hear the stories of seven amazing young people and women we have supported in the past year, who bravely spoke about their experiences on stage. The day was made extra special by a very exciting announcement that Jake, a young person supported by our Symud Ymlaen/Moving Forward project, has been offered a permanent contract of employment with his Symud Ymlaen/Moving Forward employer, EvoBead - congratulations and well done Jake! Jake was joined on stage by Lee from EvoBead to share his story and speak about his placement with EvoBead.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us to celebrate the amazing achievements of the people we support, and for your ongoing support on our mission to end homelessness for young people and vulnerable women in Wales.

Scroll down to see photos from the day! 

The Llamau Big Sing choir kicked things off in style.

'The support Llamau has shown me is like rocket fuel.' Conor spoke about his experiences of being supported by Symud Ymlaen/Moving Forward.

Dan did an amazing job of chairing the event and also shared his own experiences of homelessness.

Sali Hughes gave a moving speech about her own experience of hidden homelessness as a young person living in London, and spoke about starting up Beauty Banks. We are very grateful for the ongoing support of Beauty Banks to provide essential toiletries for the young people and women we support.

A huge well done and congratulations to everyone who received Learning 4 Life awards!

Owen Sheers shared his thoughts on creating a sense of identity for Wales based on kindness and compassion.

We then heard from our second panel of experts by experience, including Jake, who was joined on stage by Lee from EvoBead for an exciting announcement that Jake had been offered a permanent contract following his successful Symud Ymlaen/Moving Forward project!

'In Llamau, we see the whole person. We recognise the individual and their potential. We categorically refuse to put people in boxes. We believe in people, often before they believe in themselves.' - Closing remarks from our Chief Executive, Frances Beecher.

Over to the Llamau Big Sing choir to close the event!

Thank you once again to everyone who joined us to celebrate another year of changing futures in Wales. If you'd like to support our work, it's not too late to take part in this year's Sleep Out at Cardiff City Stadium on 22nd November! Register as a group of friends, colleagues or on your own to build your own shelter and sleep in it over night. Every penny raised will go directly towards supporting our work to end homelessness and change futures right here in Wales.

Register here