Renewable energy company Pennant Walters has donated £2,500 to the Friends of Gilfach Goch Day Centre to support a programme of community classes and activities aimed at reducing social isolation and strengthening local connections.
The funding will now help the centre expand its range of accessible sessions and events, bringing more local residents together through creative, educational and wellbeing-focused activities. Located on the High Street, the busy community centre offers an active and growing programme designed to encourage inclusion and community engagement. The funding will now allow them to put on activities including craft sessions, exercise classes and social events, alongside new initiatives that promote the Welsh language and provide opportunities to learn new skills in a welcoming environment.
Sarah Berbillion, Secretary and volunteer for Friends of Gilfach Goch Day Centre, said: “We’re passionate about creating a welcoming space where people can come together, build friendships and feel part of their community. The support from Pennant Walters will help us continue providing activities that promote wellbeing, reduce loneliness and keep our classes accessible to everyone.
“One of our key priorities is promoting the use of Welsh locally and this funding will now allow us to include conversational Welsh coffee mornings and incorporate Welsh terminology into existing activities, such as crochet and crafting sessions, helping participants learn the language in a relaxed and supportive setting. We’re delighted that, once again, Pennant Walters is lending its support.”
The funding was provided by Pennant Walters from a community fund linked to two wind farms in the Gilfach Goch and Blackmill areas — Pant y Wal, in the county of Bridgend, and Fforch Nest, which straddles the border of Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Together, the sites comprise 21 turbines producing 53 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes. The support builds on previous donations that have enabled Pennant Walters to back a wide range of local community groups and projects.
The funding will also support the continuation of popular dance fitness classes, whilst also expanding the centre’s volunteer-led “How to…” crafting workshops, introducing beginner sessions such as pyrography, jewellery making, art and pottery painting, with funding helping to cover materials and specialist instructors.
Pennant Walters Managing Director, Dale Hart, said: “We are proud to support community organisations that make a real difference locally, and the Friends of Gilfach Goch Day Centre continues to provide an invaluable service by bringing people together, encouraging learning and helping to combat social isolation. We are delighted to contribute to the continued growth of their activities.”
The donation forms part of Pennant Walters’ ongoing commitment to supporting community initiatives across the areas in which it operates, helping local groups deliver projects that improve wellbeing, inclusion and opportunities for residents.
