Porthcawl Museum
Museum volunteers explain how much of the collection is hidden from public view, the work involved in caring for it, and the moment in 2012 when the building faced closure after council cuts.
Fundraise for the swim
Get sponsored.
Make your splash count.
The biggest difference you can make is a JustGiving page. Every pound your friends, family and workmates sponsor you goes straight back out as grants to local charities and community groups.
£175,000+ raised for local causes since 1965
- 1Create your page — it takes about two minutes.
- 2Share the link with friends, family, work and your group chats.
- 3Take the plunge on Christmas morning while they cheer you in.
Have your say
Who should we support?
We decide as a committee where each year's grants go — but we want your say too. Cast an informal vote for the cause you'd most like to see prioritised. It's not a ballot — just a steer for our thinking.
Voting's reserved for people who've registered for the swim — sign up to have your say. Here's how it's looking so far:
20 votes so far
Don't see your cause?
Got a cause close to your heart?
Or raise for one of these Welsh charities
Fundraising for the swim itself is our main ask — every penny goes back out to local causes. If one of these Welsh charities means a lot to you, you can raise for them instead. Your JustGiving page still joins the swim's event, counts towards what the swim raises, and puts you on our fundraisers list.
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2 Wish
Bereavement support in Wales for families after the sudden loss of a child or young adult.
Raise for 2 Wish -
Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity
Helping 15–35 year olds in Wales who are struggling financially through cancer treatment.
Raise for Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity -
Wales Air Ambulance
Emergency air cover for everyone in Wales, 24 hours a day, funded entirely by donations.
Raise for Wales Air Ambulance -
Cancer Research Wales
World-leading research in Wales into earlier diagnosis and better treatment of cancer.
Raise for Cancer Research Wales -
Kidney Wales
Supporting families and changing the lives of people living with kidney disease.
Raise for Kidney Wales -
Sandville Self Help Foundation
Physical and emotional support for people with life-limiting conditions.
Raise for Sandville Self Help Foundation -
Prostate Cymru
Wales's leading charity in the fight against prostate disease.
Raise for Prostate Cymru -
Bridgend Foodbank
Emergency food for local individuals and families in crisis across Bridgend County.
Raise for Bridgend Foodbank -
Cwm Taf Morgannwg Mind
Local mental-health support across Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr.
Raise for Cwm Taf Morgannwg Mind -
Keep Wales Tidy
Helping communities across Wales take practical action for a cleaner country.
Raise for Keep Wales Tidy
To keep the money local, we can only include pages for the swim or one of the charities above. Got a Welsh charity you'd like on the list? Get in touch.
Raising money this Christmas
Our fundraisers (2)
Everyone with a JustGiving page on the swim — for the swim itself or a charity close to their heart. Give them a cheer, or a few quid!
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Charles Lambkin for the swim 2026 Porthcawl Christmas Swim£50.00 of £100.00
-
Hannah Lett-Logue for the swim 2026 Porthcawl Christmas Swim£0.00 of £100.00
Who we help
Why we raise it
The swim has always been about the town looking after its own. Money raised from the swim goes straight back out to local charities and community organisations across Porthcawl and the surrounding area — more than £175,000 since 1965, with the volunteers who run it deciding each year where it will do the most good.
In their words
Sandville Self Help Foundation
Founded by Sister Gwyneth Poacher to bring together people living with cancer and other serious conditions. Today it supports people with cancer, MND, Parkinson’s, MS, dementia, stroke recovery and other neurological conditions.
Porthcawl Male Voice Choir
Founded in 1980, with roots in the early days of the swim through Arlon “Coco” Owens. Funds raised go on to support other local charities and organisations.
Recently supported
- Alzheimer’s Society Cymru
- Porthcawl Male Voice Choir
- Porthcawl Museum
- Guide Dogs Cymru
- Porthcawl First Responders
- Fire Fighters Charity
- Porthcawl Girl Guides
- Porthcawl RNLI
- Sandville Self Help
- Porthcawl Coastguards
- Porthcawl Lifeguards
- Newton Lifeguards
- Porthcawl Stroke Club
- Porthcawl & Pyle Boxing Club
- Trinity Care & Support
- Porthcawl RFC Seagulls
- Pyle & Kenfig Hill Bowls Club
- Marine Debris
- British Heart Foundation
- Tŷ Llidiard
- Porthcawl Rotary Club