Massive thank you to Penarth

The second Penarth Fashion Week in aid of the RNLI took place in October, with huge support from the people and businesses of Penarth and surrounding areas, raising a colossal £16,163.48.

This year they had the unveiling of a second RNLI dress designed and made by Georgina-Grace Smith and her mum Angie Smith and worn by Mia Francis from Blu Hair Design and were also lucky to have a second outfit designed and made by Elissa Mancusso, a one-piece navy swim suit with an RNLI puffa jacket worn by both Lucy Flynn and Lauren King and showcased in Ener-chi’s window.

There were additions to this year’s events, a Bollywood Dinner and Dance with food by Chef Stephen Gomes, a Fashion Show by Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Peacocks at Holm House Hotel with Afternoon Tea and cinema screenings of Devil Wears Prada and Blow Up with Snowcat Cinema at Penarth Pavilion.

Amorio Cosmetics and SOHO Hairdressing also got involved this time along with Coffee #1 who hosted a coffee tasting event.

Bar 44, Etc and Willmore’s 1938 all gave donations to the RNLI during Fashion Week based on sales of certain food and drink and Coffee #1 also sold gingerbread men in aid of the RNLI between August and October. Specsavers Penarth had a spectacles MOT station with donations to the RNLI.

Fairfield, Evenlode and Albert Primary Schools all held non-uniform days and Griffin Books held a story time with Malachy Doyle reading Molly and the Stormy Sea with a visit from Stormy Stan from the RNLI and also raffled off a signed copy of J K Rowling's latest Cormoran Strike novel in hardback, under her pen name Robert Galbraith.

Returning with individual events this year was The Queen B, Blu Hair Design, Willmore’s 1938, Dawn Clinic, Ener-chi Organics, Crepe Escape and Refresh Skin Clinic.

Jason Hall, Managing Director of C3i Group, whose company provides digital support services to large scale events, was once again keen to support the RNLI as one of his employees, Jen Payne, volunteers as a crew member for RNLI Penarth. C3i transformed the Lifeboat Station into a Fashion House and Fine Dining Restaurant for James Sommerin. Jason willingly and very generously provided all the staging, lighting, sound and technicians to create the transformation and run the event. James Sommerin put together a superb 3 course meal for the black tie event in the lifeboat station.

Events@room 11 were happy and excited to support the Penarth RNLI Fashion Week fundraiser again. “We believe the RNLI provide an essential service for the people of Penarth and surrounding areas, it was an honour to be involved and support the volunteers who give up their time and risk their lives for their community.”

Hayley from Blu Hair Design did the hair for The Queen B models for the Lifeboat Station fashion show and also kindly looked after Caroline and Sara as they were all day setting up for the evening.

We were very lucky to secure the make up skills from the talented Allison Sing again, owner of Hair Or Make Up and her colleagues Danny Marie Elias and Amy Paul as their hectic schedules include Doctor Who and other tv and film productions. The ladies worked all day making sure the models looked their best.

Organisers and RNLI Penarth Fundraising Committee Members Caroline Eva and Sara Siddall said: “We are absolutely thrilled at the support we have received for the second Penarth Fashion Week and the amount raised for the RNLI is absolutely fantastic, thank you to everyone.

So many businesses have given their time and generous gifts as raffle prizes – we could not have achieved such an event without their support – we are looking forward to 2019.”

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.