GAVO has been helping Publicans Rhiannon Metters and Jason James in their mission to support people in the isolated farming community of Tal-y-coed, Monmouthshire. GAVO colleagues Chris Irving and Jo Webb were delighted therefore to attend the launch of the new Community Interest Company (CIC) and its first project - a village shop.
The Halfway Pub is the hub of this rural community where many people, including farmers, live and work alone, meaning they have little opportunity for social interaction. The area has a population of around 730 people and limited services with no local shop or public transport links to nearby more populated areas. The nearest supermarket is over a 20-minute drive and the road can be closed in bad weather. Not only this, but the Community Council area of Whitecastle has no village hall or community centre of its own, so a meeting place like this is even more important to local people.
With a grant from Pub is The Hub's Community Services Fund (Pub is the Hub is a not-for-profit organisation that helps pubs to diversify and provide essential local services) a community marquee and a fridge for the the village store has been purchased. The new CIC (registration pending) also now has a craft box, featuring basic drawing tools including paper, pens, charcoal and pastels, watercolour and acrylic paints, as well as origami materials & air-drying clay, and is in the process of becoming recognised as a dementia-friendly pub. There are also plans for more projects to support children with life-limiting conditions as well as workshops to enhance rural community cohesion and support farmers. Regional Advisor for 'Pub is the Hub', Roger Belle, said: “These publicans are the real heroes of this local community and have made the pub the hub of this rural village. Offering these services and activities to support people in this area of Wales is proving to be a lifeline to overcome social isolation and loneliness.”
Credit to Welsh Country Magazine: https://www.welshcountry.co.uk/