On Wednesday 8 October, Mal will take to the stage at Swansea Arena for his Homecoming show — and 10% of the profits will go towards finishing a £160,000 appeal to refurbish five small houses next to Singleton Hospital. The homes give families somewhere to stay while their baby is being cared for in the hospital’s specialist baby unit.
For Mal, it’s personal.
“My little grandson, Gulliver, was born at 21 weeks and taken straight into the unit,” he said. “They were wonderful with him… and they looked after the whole family. I said, ‘If there’s ever anything I can do to help, just ask.’ A couple of weeks later they called and told me about the fundraising — and we’ve been on this journey ever since.”
Turning grief into action
Mal admits it’s not easy to talk about.
“Every time I mention Gulliver, it brings back all those memories. I always tell people, ‘Don’t worry about the tears — the more tears I shed, the more money we make.’”
He’s called on friends from the worlds of music and sport to back the appeal. Swansea City AFC, where Mal is a Vice President, made it their charity of the year and even named one of the houses Ty Gulliver — Gulliver’s House — in his grandson’s memory.
“The first thing I did was burst into tears,” Mal said. “The family were delighted.”
A night to remember
The concert will feature special guests and songs from across Mal’s career, including his new single Best of Times. He hopes the night will raise the final £15,000 needed to complete the project.
“It’s a celebration of something that’s been really sad, but something unique has come out of it,” he said. “Out of great sadness, great things can happen. We’re hoping to hand over a cheque for the full amount on stage.”
Lewis Bradley, from Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “Mal’s story has touched so many people. Every ticket sold brings us closer to giving families a warm, private place to stay while their baby is in hospital. The difference this will make for years to come is huge.”
Tickets for Mal Pope’s Homecoming Concert are on sale now: bit.ly/MalPopeSwanseaArena2025
