In March 2022, St David’s Uniting hosted an event to celebrate the good work of groups and individuals in and around Pontypridd. Everyone who was nominated received an award and a blue plaque to remember their achievement.
PRESS RELEASE: ST DAVID’S EVENT TO RECOGNISE ‘COMMUNITY SAINTS’
A Valleys community will recognise its local ‘saints’ at an event to be held in Pontypridd during the week of St David’s Day.
People in the town and surrounding area were invited to nominate individuals, groups and organisations who have followed St David’s advice and done ‘the little things’ – or even big things – which make a difference to the lives of their neighbours and community.
The ‘Community Saints’ project was launched by St David’s Uniting Church, Pontypridd on All Saints Day last year with the aim of recognising the ways in which people – and the environment – have been helped during the pandemic, floods and in day-to-day life.
The Prince of Wales lent his support when he asked his Charitable Fund to make a generous donation. The Minister of St David’s Uniting, Rev. Phil Wall, said: ‘We were delighted to have the support of the prince. It was a wonderful endorsement of this project.’
The list of people and organisations nominated ranges from ‘good neighbours’ to local ‘green’ groups, businesses, and an initiative set up to support grieving people. All those nominated will receive an award at the event on Saturday 5 March.
Jeff Edwards MBE, High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan, is a member of the awards panel which includes a range of people – from different walks of life – representing local organisations.
‘I was delighted to be asked to be involved in the ‘community saints’ scheme as it is important that we celebrate the role of unsung heroes in our community who perform services not for reward or recognition but because they love their communities,’ he said.
‘The individuals and projects submitted covered all aspects of life and made a real difference to people’s lives who live in the area. The community awards are a way of saying diolch yn fawr iawn to those unsung heroes and projects.’
For more details on the range of individuals and groups who will receive award, please see the attached sheet.
The event will take place at St David’s Uniting Church, Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd on Saturday 5 March (10.30 a.m.).
For more information or to arrange to interview those receiving awards, please contact Dr. Phil Wall at St David’s Uniting Church, Pontypridd.
COMMUNITY SAINTS BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Those to receive awards (with extracts from their nominations) include:
* Local Litter Pick Challenge: ‘They keep the streets clean, remove debris from drains, organise community litter picks and even river cleans’.
* Pontypridd Green Week: ‘It was an inspiring and engaging week and has inspired further action by many living in our community. They are also involved in so many brilliant environmental projects.’
* Friends of Graigwen Woods: ‘Thanks to the hard work of a group of dedicated volunteers, residents were able to purchase Graigwen Woods, securing it for future generations. This became a sanctuary for many during the pandemic and continues to much valued and loved by the community.’
* Good Neighbours: ‘Throughout the pandemic, they have lifted the spirits of friends and neighbours by dressing up, arranging quizzes, games and (socially distanced!) parties.’
* Good Neighbour: ‘During lockdown she organised lots of activities for our street … We were invited to sit outside our houses, while she acted as an MC. Such was her enthusiasm that our get-togethers were not short-lived occasions. On the contrary they lasted many hours with plenty of refreshment stops enough to stiffen our resolve to carry on writing quiz answers and celebrating important historical dates such as VE day and Remembrance Day.’
* Grief Support Cymru: (Two individuals are being recognised) (1) ‘She has helped over 100 people of all ages to deal with the loss of someone they loved. From having no direction and no one to talk to she has turned their lives around and given them a direction they never saw. She is an amazing young lady with a massive heart and smile.’ (2) ‘Through Grief Support Cymru, he and his team have supported over 300 people in its first year and through Covid. He is a total inspiration to everybody.’
* University of South Wales Students’ Union: ‘ For more than 10 years USWSU has coordinated collecting gifts for disadvantaged children as part of RCT Santa Appeal. What started as a small idea involving clubs at the SU, has grown into an annual event engaging departments across the University and beyond.’
* Refugee Support: ‘She works for Rhondda Cynon Taff Council and is responsible for coordinating the resettlement programme for refugees in the area. She goes over and above to make sure the families feel welcome and the houses allocated to them made into homes. Yes, this is her job, but she supports each new family who arrive with a care and consideration that goes well beyond any expectation.’
(The project has been supported by: The Prince of Wales Charitable Trust; Interlink; Local Giving; United Reformed Church; South Wales Baptist Association; Principality Building Society; Alpha Kitchens; Westmore Insurance.)