Newport community hub bags improvements boost

A Newport community hub set up to ease the cost of living crisis and to alleviate loneliness has won support from Selco.

Sirhowy Valley Hub has secured £500 worth of building materials through our Community Heroes campaign.

The hub, on Maindee Road in Ynysddu, offers a food pantry with affordable products as well as a safe environment for visitors to have a chat and receive support.

Jamie Arr, founder of Sirhowy Valley Hub, said the materials from Selco will help to rejuvenate the meeting space.

Jamie said: “We were absolutely thrilled to receive this support from Selco.

“We launched as a food pantry giving people the chance to purchase 20 items for just £5. Many of the products have been donated by local supermarkets or by groups in the area.

“It’s open to absolutely everyone and helps people with the rising cost of living. These are tough times, so if people can save some money on food and essentials they have extra funds for bills.

“With the money from Selco we’re looking to buy some flooring and decorating materials, which will help make the meeting space much more comfortable for our clients.

“It’s somewhere where they can go, have a chat and a piece of cake, and be signposted to any support they need. We can’t wait to get to work.”

We are awarding 12 prizes of £500 worth of building materials throughout the six-month Community Heroes campaign.

Sirhowy Valley Hub will also be a competition finalist later in the year, going head-to-head with the 11 other Community Heroes winners in a public vote to bag £5,000 in cash, or £1,000 as runner-up.

The scheme is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entries can be made by explaining in no more than 100 words how they would use the building materials or money to benefit them.

Entries can be made online.

Carine Jessamine, Selco marketing director, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support Sirhowy Valley Hub and the tremendous work they do in Newport.

“It’s a really hard time financially for many people so groups like this can make all the difference.

“We look forward to welcoming Jamie into branch and helping him find all of the products he needs to completely revamp this room.”

Other Community Heroes winners so far this year include Bury Veterans Hub, St John Ambulance Cymru and Watford Mencap.