Monmouth volunteer recognised with prestigious award

A LOCAL volunteer was recently named Volunteer of the Year 2026 at the Welsh Charity Awards organised by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

Annie Hutchings is the Founder and Lead Volunteer of Tots Early Years Community, a registered early years charity based in Monmouth. Annie is also a full-time parent carer to her daughter Annabel who is now two.

Tea and Tots was set up in March 2025 when her daughter Annabel was six months old.

“At that point, I wasn’t setting out to create a charity. I was a mum looking for somewhere to go with my baby when my second journey through motherhood looked very different from what I had imagined,” said Annie.

“Annabel had significant feeding difficulties and was fed through a nasogastric tube visibly taped to her face for the first 18 months of her life, before undergoing surgery for a gastrostomy to provide longer-term feeding support.

“Alongside that, we were navigating hospital appointments, developmental uncertainty, long NHS waiting lists and eventually an ultra-rare genetic diagnosis.

“We had excellent clinical and professional support around us, but I realised there was something missing outside appointments. I knew there must be other families locally who were also waiting for answers, navigating disability, developmental differences or medical needs, and looking for somewhere they could go and feel understood.

“I was looking for somewhere ordinary to go. Somewhere children could play, siblings could be included, parents could talk, and families could support one another.

“Tea and Tots began as a universal weekly stay-and-play. As the group grew and I listened to families, it became clear there was also a need for a calmer, more flexible early-years environment.

“Together Tots followed, and Tots Early Years Community developed around the two groups before becoming a registered charity in July 2026.”

Today, they describe it as two sessions.

Tea and Tots is their universal stay-and-play, while Together Tots offers a calmer and more flexible environment for families who many benefit from it.

In around 18 months, TEYC has grown from one weekly group into a charity run entirely by volunteers. With sessions every week and on average seeing around 25-30 families attending in a week.

“TEYC Talks brings professional knowledge, research and lived experience into relaxed, accessible conversations for parents and carers. The first event took place in September, and we are developing the programme into regular in-person talks covering subjects such as child development, communication, emotional regulation, additional needs, family life, wellbeing and advocacy,” said Annie.

Behind the group comes with a special understanding.

“Belonging from the beginning” is the idea that underpins TEYC. The idea that children and families should not have to wait for a diagnosis, referral or crisis before they feel included in their community.

Annie also contributes her own personal experience in a variety of ways and groups, helping bring a parent-carer perspective into wider conversations.

To find out more and Tots Early Years Community, what their upcoming project are and ways to get involved read more, here: totsearlyyearscommunity.org.uk/