We recognise that this past year has been hard for many, so with this in mind, we’d like to promote some other incredible initiatives working to create stronger, cleaner, and more sustainable communities. Each month we will be promoting a location that is home to one of our repair cafés, celebrating the many other inspirational, forward thinking organisations that strive to make Wales, and the world, a better place.
This month we are showcasing Maesteg, developed during the Industrial Revolution this former mining town can be found nestled within the stunning Llynfi Valley, and is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales. The name ‘Maesteg’ is translated as ‘fair field’, a name that indicates the journey of this town in recent years, having reclaimed much of their industrial landscape in favour of more natural spaces and creating attractions such as the beautiful Parc Calon Lan, and inspired Spirit of Llynfi Woodland, a woodland designed and developed with the community, for the community. Using sculpture and art to show their respect for, and celebrate the people of their industrial past, Maesteg is now looking towards a greener future, a future in which the spirit of Llynfi may be reborn in the efforts of the local community and in the conservation of the local environment.
The Siding by Emmaus South Wales
The Siding reuse shop at Maesteg’s community recycling centre is located in the Heol Ty Gwyn Industrial Estate and first opened in February 2020 as an initiative run by Wastesavers Charitable Trust. Sadly, the pandemic took its toll on the project and, like so many others in recent times, the shop was forced to close. As of January 2022, however, Emmaus South Wales has re-launched the initiative, working in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and Kier, to take the reins and continue to reduce items going to landfill in Maesteg. Now taking donations of any items that are in good, saleable condition, any visitors to Maesteg recycling centre can pop those items in to The Siding, where they will be resold at affordable prices, offering a new home for your items whilst reducing landfill waste. All profits from the sale of donated items will be invested back into the Emmaus South Wales charity, who provide a home, meaningful work, funded training and daily support for people who have experienced homelessness. The Siding by Emmaus South Wales is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and you can check in advance what can and can’t be recycled at Maesteg’s community recycling centre here.
To find out more about The Siding by Emmaus South Wales, you can visit their website here, or check out their Facebook page, here
Men’s Shed Maesteg
Describing themselves as a group of old and new friends, Men’s shed Maesteg meet weekly, working together on projects, sharing skills, knowledge and companionship. Affiliated with Men’s Sheds Cymru, this organisation tackles social isolation and declining mental health in men, offering a movement in which men can have some autonomy over the establishment of their organisation, and creating a space where men are able to talk whilst engaged in some form of practical task or other activity, rather than what can be a more daunting face to face conversation. Embracing this ethos, the men of Maesteg’s Men’s Shed have fashioned their space at The Court House into their ShedQuarters, where they promote their belief that everyone has something unique to offer, and use their ShedQuarters as a platform to share those unique skill sets and experiences. Offering an array of activities for their members, there is a woodwork room, a master fabric engineer, they have recently run their first repair café, and two current projects are cited on the website as ‘making cigar box ukes’ and ‘painting sessions with acrylic paints’! With such a varied set of skills on offer to either learn, or get involved in, this group are crafting a culture of creativity in the heart of Maesteg. Whilst there are many creative offerings to get involved with, there is also a room to sit and simply put the world to rights – and apparently the grub is pretty good too! What is not to love?!
To find out more about Men’s Shed Maesteg, or how you can get involved, you can visit their website here.
Noddfa Kids & Community Project
Based in a chapel in Caerau that had been taken over by the local community, the Noddfa Community Project offers numerous services creating opportunities for children, young people and adults in the area. As a community hub, this organisation provides access to activities, workshops, training, informal learning, as well as day and evening activities for all members of the community. Running their Youth Club from the chapel, Noddfa provides a safe and inclusive space for young people to come and socialise in the evenings, offering plenty of entertainment in the form of games, cooking activities, fitness sessions, arts workshops, internet and computer skills, help with homework, as well as offering support and guidance on any issues raised. The Kid’s Club is aimed at a slightly younger age group, and held earlier in the afternoon, offering supervised sessions including crafts, cooking, sports, help with homework and involvement in community projects such as the most recent Window Wanderland. The Window Wanderland project aims to light up the streets of Caerau between 4th and 6th March by asking residents to create a colourful scene in their front windows using their crafting skills, or any candles or lights they may have, and distributing free packs to assist anyone wishing to create a unique and magical display for the community to enjoy. Alongside their fantastic youth initiatives, there are weekly bingo sessions run every Tuesday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, with tea and coffee available, and the Caerau Foodbank is held at the chapel every Tuesday from 10:00am to 12:00pm, providing emergency food and support for local people in crisis.
To find out more about Noddfa Kids & Community Project in Caerau, or how to get involved, you can visit their Facebook page here.
Caerau Market Garden
This award winning and long-established community market garden is run by Caerau Community Growers and a number of volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain this incredible project, promoting a culture of local food production and healthy eating, whilst aiming to provide employment, volunteering and training opportunities to local people. Developing the area over the years from the brownfield site it once was, into a fabulously productive market garden offering affordable homegrown vegetables, freshly laid eggs, stunning hanging baskets and planters, and apples fresh from the orchard, this space has become a huge success. Aside from the wonderful produce available, the market garden offers a green space for families and the local community to come and enjoy, whilst plots are available to rent (with the first year of membership free of charge!), community open days are held frequently, and the local primary school even have their very own strawberry poly tunnel! With all this fantastic fun going on, and so much more, it is such a joy to see the Caerau Market Garden made time throughout January to launch a Christmas tree collection service, recycling the trees in an environmentally friendly way, and reusing the wood as garden chip or bark. Caerau Market Garden has become one seriously successful plot, and certainly deserves a visit!
To find out more about Caerau Market Garden and how you can get involved, you can visit their Facebook page here.
