Blaenau Gwent Council will work with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Aneurin Leisure Trust and the Welsh Government to bring Trinity Chapel, Abertillery, back into community use following approval by the Executive Committee.
The Council’s Executive Committee recently approved Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s bid for a Community Asset Transfer of both Trinity Chapel and the current Abertillery Library building in Castle Street
Funding from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme will be used for an internal refit of the landmark building, turning it into a new home for the town’s Library and Adult Education Courses; an art gallery and a support hub offering employment and health advice. In addition, SmartMoneyCymru Credit Union will provide a new weekly financial loans and savings service from the Hub. There is also a plan to locate an ATM cash machine within the building.
The former library will be turned into a Training Centre especially for young people, providing them with skills to start businesses and obtain jobs in the local economy. The Training Centre will also incorporate a jobs and training advice service. It will also house a Community Shop and Café, doubling up as a training facility and promoting healthy foods and nutrition.
The use of the building is aligned to the Council’s priorities in promoting health and well-being and building fairer sustainable communities by working with local people to address poverty and unemployment.
The exterior of Trinity Chapel was originally refurbished as part of the Abertillery European Convergence Programme, and the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Programme.
Councillor Dai Davies, the Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration says:
“I’m delighted that the Executive Committee has unanimously agreed these plans for Trinity Chapel and the Library in Abertillery, and we look forward to be working with partners to deliver this exciting community project. We are fully committed to creating fairer communities here in Blaenau Gwent by working with partners to reduce poverty and to create opportunities for local people, especially our younger people to help them access training and skills. We want to help families maximise their income and improve their skills in order to improve the future economic prospects for themselves and for Blaenau Gwent.”
Councillor Joanne Collins, Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Education says:
“We are committed to delivering on a new 10-year Leisure and Culture Strategy which has been developed for the borough, and we fully recognise the importance of library services and Adult Education opportunities to our residents. Libraries are about so much more than just books, and offer a range of services that help combat digital exclusion and in some cases can stop people becoming lonely and isolated. It’s exciting to be working with the Aneurin Leisure Trust and Coalfields Regeneration in Abertillery, to not just continue to provide these services but to actually build on and enhance them.”
Alun Taylor, Head of Operations for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Wales said:
“The Trust is committed to assisting with the regeneration of town centres in former coalfield communities, like Abertillery. These new projects will demonstrate how partnership working can achieve the shared ambition to make Valley towns vibrant and prosperous places to live and work, creating new services on the high street and helping to create local training and local job opportunities for the future.”
Phill Sykes, Director of Operations at Aneurin Leisure Trust said:
"This is a really great development for Abertillery. A high street location will provide greater access to resources and assistance needed by the community to develop improvements for day-to-day living."
Hannah Blythyn Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government said:
“The regeneration of Trinity Chapel will enhance well-being and employment in the community, increase vibrancy in the town and create opportunities for local people. This is a fantastic example of how support through our Transforming Towns programme can be used to create a hub where people can go for a range of advice and support, that will be an asset to the entire community.”
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in 1999, in response to recommendations made by the Government’s Coalfields Task Force. It was set up as an independent charity with a focus on supporting and working with former coalfield communities in most need to help create new social and economic opportunities for people in their local communities.
• For more information go to - https://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/