Llys Cwm Lydrhew project 

Following a customer consultation event, it became evident that the ‘unwelcoming’ communal lounge was causing issues around social isolation. It was decided that the lounge needed to be a welcoming space where tenants and families wanted to spend their time together.  

A fresh coat of paint, some new light fittings to increase brightness levels, a sofa for extra comfort and some artwork by a local school created a more inviting, comfortable and homely space for everyone.  

Tenants said:

‘It’s so much better and more welcoming. There is now a group who meet weekly in the lounge for a coffee and a chat’   

‘Jo was great and I think with all of the improvements put together, it makes it way cosier.’

Happy café partnership

Happy café is a mental health support hub based in Aberbeeg. Our wellbeing coach Jo, met with a tenant who was suffering from severe anxiety and was living in isolation following the pandemic. Jo met with her a number of times and persuaded her to attend the Happy Café. Jo accompanied the young lady on her first few sessions. She had a great time and felt very welcome. As time went on, she was found to be a talented artist and has since used her skills to enhance the building and garden and leads activities with other attendees.

Swimming project with Aneurin Leisure

We funded and facilitated a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification for 12 young people, 10 of whom went on to gain employment as Leisure Assistants with Aneurin Leisure. We also funded a Swimming Lessons Project where 45 children (all tenants) had a block of swimming lessons.

Healthy Food recipe project

Over the course of last winter we delivered a healthy cooking project in various locations in Blaenau Gwent. Participants were shown how to cook a healthy meal (chilli con carne) and were given a shopping bag with all the required ingredients.

Terence Gardens Summer fete

Over 500 people attended the Summer Fete at Terence Gardens last year. Designed to be a family fun day, both children and adults enjoyed some fun and games, but with the attendance of support organisations alongside Tai Calon teams it was lovely to see advice and guidance for people across the borough being fully utilised.

The feedback we had was excellent and there was a lot of tenant engagement on the day.

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards 2022

We delivered the DofE bronze award to 12 students from Sgiliau who were not in employment or education. We engaged with them through various volunteering aspects of the course alongside their own coursework set out by Sgiliau. To complete the full bronze award the students had to navigate a route across the black mountains and then set up a campsite and camp the one night. Each student then qualified for their bronze award. This award is recognised across the commonwealth and can be put on their CV to show determination, ability to lead and leadership.

Winter warmth project

This is a current ongoing project to support 2 groups of people the first being participants in the Growing Space mental health charity. The second is older people who live on their own and are finding it difficult to heat their homes due to the cost-of-living crisis. The plan is for the group, who suffer from various mental health issues, to make quilted blankets. This will teach them a new skill set (sewing, material cutting and measuring) and make them feel they are contributing to a good cause giving them purpose. The blankets once made will then be given to a chosen pensioner who needs one of our blankets to keep warm during the day watching TV etc. or at night as an extra quilt to go on their bed.

Community kit room project

The Community Kit Room is a free service that provides appropriate sports clothing and footwear for people aged 3 – adults. The aim is to support members of the community within Blaenau Gwent with their health, sport and fitness journey. The project is led by Aneurin Leisure, and we are key partners in supporting and promoting this very worthwhile project.