Tai Tarian Takes on it’s Biggest Ever Community Challenge

Tai Tarian is taking on it’s biggest ever community challenge as it transforms the garden at a Neath school.

The mammoth project will take place at Ysgol Hendrefelin in Bryncoch and will involve Tai Tarian’s staff clearing the overgrown grounds, building new paths and erecting fencing.   They will also clear an old pond and bring it back into use. A new viewing platform with then allow pupils access to the area enabling them to learn about the local wildlife.

A new seating area will be created in an enhanced sensory garden as well as installing new raised beds and planters.  A brand new storage shed will be installed whilst the school’s existing out-house will be transformed into a relaxation room.

The work, which is expected to take around two weeks to complete, will be carried out by Tai Tarian’s direct labour workforce, ensuring that the school benefits from their considerable skills and experience. 

In addition, staff from the housing provider’s Copper Foundation initiative will also be working 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 is our biggest and most ambitious community challenge to date and will see dozens of staff members working on the project.  Given the additional needs of some of the children at Ysgol Hendrefelin, it is important that the outdoor garden area is accessible to all pupils. We hope that the work that we have undertaken has contributed to achieving this.”

Angelina Lewis from Ysgol Hendrefelin said:
“We are extremely grateful to Tai Tarian for the work that they are doing at the school.  The garden is a lovely space but we aren’t able to utilise fully it.  Having this work done will open the space up and help the pupils explore their senses and discover the environment around them.”

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.