Tai Tarian’s Biggest Ever Community Challenge a Success

Tai Tarian’s biggest ever community challenge has been declared a success.

The mammoth project which took place at Ysgol Hendrefelin in Bryncoch over the summer involved Tai Tarian staff clearing the overgrown grounds, building new paths and erecting fencing.   They also cleared an old pond and brought it back into use. A new viewing platform was then built which allows pupils access to the area in order to learn about the local wildlife.

A new seating area and sensory garden was created as well as installing new raised beds and planters.  A brand new storage shed will erected whilst the school’s existing out-house has been transformed into a relaxation room.

The work, which took two weeks to complete, was carried out by Tai Tarian’s direct labour workforce, ensuring that the school benefited from their considerable skills and experience. 

In addition, staff from the housing provider’s Copper Foundation initiative also worked on the project.  The initiative teaches new skills to the long-term unemployed and provides valuable experience which aims to help them back into work.

Andrew Hall, Tai Tarian’s Development Officer said:
“The work at Ysgol Hendrefelin was our biggest and most ambitious community challenge to date and has seen dozens of staff members working on the project.  Given the additional needs of some of the children at Ysgol Hendrefelin, we had to ensure that the outdoor garden area was accessible to all pupils. We hope that everyone at the school will now enjoy using the area.”

Angelina Lewis from Ysgol Hendrefelin said:
“We are extremely grateful to Tai Tarian for the work they have carried out at the school.  The garden was a lovely area but had become run down and overgrown.  Now, thanks to work that’s been carried out the pupils will once again benefit from the space and will be able to enjoy being outdoors."

Tai Tarian’s Community Challenge has been running for five years and has resulted in many worthwhile projects benefiting from a variety of work carried out by the housing provider and their contractors.  In 2017 a total of nine community facilities will have benefited from the programme.   

The final community challenge projects of 2017 will take place at Ynysfach Primary School and the Port Talbot Foodbank over the coming weeks.