Dragon Helpers was launched on March 1st, St. David?s Day 2007. It is the first company in Wales, which exists to raise funds for a group of Welsh charities working together.

Dragon Helpers will raise funds and awareness nationally for essential Welsh charities, and donors can be assured that all the money raised will be spent in Wales. The group of 15 Dragon Charities is being put together now and will comprise of charities in many sectors, each receiving an equal share of the proceeds. The first charities to join were Depression Alliance Cymru, Prosiect Dyslecsia Cymru /Welsh Dyslexia Project, and Wales Council for Deaf People.

Michael Davies, Trustee of Prosiect Dyslecsia Cymru said: "Working together with Dragon Helpers will enable Prosiect Dyslecsia Cymru to not only raise much needed funding to help it further its aims of making Wales a world leader as far as supporting the dyslexic individual is concerned, but also to raise an awareness of dyslexia across Wales."

Tim Watkins, Director of Depression Alliance Cymru said: "Dragon Helpers is an exciting, inspiring, positive initiative for Wales-based charities and donors? Dragon Helpers operate in line with current government thinking, by developing charitable sector partnerships for the benefit of the community? [and] will allow us to access funding streams that we could not hope to access with our limited resources."

Hannah Jones and Chris Vrochidis, who met while studying for masters degrees at Warwick Business School and formed the company last October, are both encouraged by the response to the initiative so far. Mr Vrochidis said, "Our mission is to create a new, positive era of fundraising in Wales which gives everyone the opportunity to take part and benefit. By creating a partnership of Welsh businesses, individuals and charities we can have a dramatic and sustainable impact on our society."

Although charities are still joining, business, individuals and even schools in Wales are already getting involved with Dragon Helpers and the company looks set to gather even more pace.

The backbone of Dragon Helpers? fundraising will be payroll giving in businesses across Wales, in order to raise continuous reliable income for the Dragon Charities.

The company will also be cash-collecting at existing local and national events; running activities for businesses and the public to take part in; and encouraging businesses and individuals to organise their own events to raise funds.

Dragon Helpers does not charge any fees to charities, businesses or individuals, instead taking 15% of the proceeds raised in order to cover some of their costs. The company also plans to attract high profile sponsors across Wales in order to lower this percentage to 10% as soon as possible and distribute even more money to the charities.

Based on utilising their already positive brand identity and as many income streams as possible, Dragon Helpers aims to become a household name across Wales.

Dragon Helpers hopes that the charities they represent will also become household names and attract more and more support across Wales on a sustainable basis, though the power of group representation.

For further information as to how your funds can support the charities, contact hello@dragonhelpers.co.uk and shwmai@dragonhelpers.co.uk OR VISIT www.dragonhelpers.co.uk

Alternatively contact Prosiect Dyslecsia Cymru at llechryd1@btconnect.com