Protecting community assets in the South Wales Valleys

In the South Wales Valleys, strong communities matter. But too many places have lost the local spaces where people can meet, learn and get support close to home. 

The Industrial Communities Alliance report, Next Steps for the Valleys describes the Valleys, home to around three-quarters of a million people, as possibly the most disadvantaged former industrial region in Britain. The report also shows that deprivation remains concentrated in many Valley towns, with high proportions of neighbourhoods among the 30 per cent most deprived in Wales. 

That is why the Coalfields Regeneration Trust works to protect and bring back community assets where they are needed most. CRT Hwb Cana in Penywaun had been derelict since 2015 before CRT refurbished it and helped turn it back into a place for training, support and community activity. 

Derrick was involved with the centre before it closed. When the refurbished building reopened, he came along to see what had changed. He says the improvement was “unbelievable”. From there, he took part in IT courses and has stayed involved with other activities at the hub. 

For Derrick, the impact has been practical and personal. He says many people in the village cannot use a smartphone, but learning digital skills has helped him deal with everyday problems, use his laptop and iPad, and stay in touch with family. He explains: “I never done IT until I was 72. I’m 84 now and I can, you know, do things.” 

Working with local communities, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust is helping places like CRT Hwb Cana become more than buildings. They are trusted spaces where people can build confidence, learn new skills and reconnect with the wider community. 

If you want to talk about community asset support in Wales’s coalfield communities, contact the CRT Wales team: 
Message via coalfieldsregen.uk/contact