‘If it’s offbeat and in Cardiff then it’s online here’
LISTEN To OUR PODCAST
  • Social Life
    Social Life
    Women in cowboy hat at country music event.

    A popular country music night in Cardiff brings fans together to make new friends

    Outside of Cardiff Central train station, showing the Christmas illuminations

    Local Welsh art projected on station as part of a huge Light of Winter trail

    Author and storyteller launches typewriter-for-hire service in Cardiff market

  • Work Life
    Work Life

    Two chefs to open a restaurant after the decline in Wales’ hospitality industry

    Local Rainbow

    How Welsh musicians are using social media to keep the spirit of bilingual music alive

    Picture of monitor on.a film set, showing actors preparing for a scene in the background

    Training project that aims to make screen sector more accessible gets funding boost

  • Active Life
    Active Life

    Local yoga instructor sees a rise in men embracing yoga classes to improve wellbeing

    ‘Men and women are not built the same’: Fighting for female-friendly fitness gear

    Three girls playing netball, laughing and smiling

    Netball participation among adults is growing as women seek a sense of community

  • Public Life
    Public Life
    AI Generated image of an empty theatre

    The last act? Wales’ arts sector faces an uncertain future in challenging times

    A cluttered wardrobe that could use the help of rental fashion

    Fashion crisis unwrapped: The ‘rental revolution’ for Welsh consumers’ wardrobes

    Four wheels to two, how the Welsh government has failed to get the nation active

  • Long Reads
    Long Reads

    ‘Men and women are not built the same’: Fighting for female-friendly fitness gear

    AI Generated image of an empty theatre

    The last act? Wales’ arts sector faces an uncertain future in challenging times

    A cluttered wardrobe that could use the help of rental fashion

    Fashion crisis unwrapped: The ‘rental revolution’ for Welsh consumers’ wardrobes

  • Magazine
    Magazine
    queer magazine cover

    The Queer Culture Issue

    Magazine cover showing a rugby pitch

    The Grassroots Issue

    Magazine cover showing Christmas presents wrapped up

    The Mental Health Issue

  • Podcasts
Reading
Project fights back against recent rise in homelessness in Wales
ShareTweet

Project fights back against recent rise in homelessness in Wales

Erin Zammitt·
No logo
·8 November 2022

Twelve months since being established, Fighting Homelessness is using new ways to combat the increasing demand for help

Participants at Hangar Human Performance Centre, one of the gyms used by the project. Photo – Robert Green (also pictured in image)

A Cardiff homelessness project is celebrating its first anniversary, as well as using new methods to tackle the current cost of living crisis.

November marks a year since Fighting Homelessness was set up, after receiving National Lottery funding.

The project uses combat sports, including boxing, to overcome the challenges faced by those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with specially designed 10-week programmes.

Founder and CEO Robert Green sees the fighting aspect as a metaphor. 

“When you’re getting hit hard, that’s like life hitting you hard and trying to push you back,” he said.

This August, The Salvation Army reported that in 2021 there was a 6% rise in homeless households in Wales compared to 2020. 

Fighting Homelessness is using new ways to tackle this rise, including sponsoring two youth football teams to provide more support to grassroots sport – a barrier which Green suggests can be a cause of homelessness. 

He said, “If they’re not involved in these kinds of things at an earlier age, there’s no sense of achievement, or sense of belonging.”

The current cost of living crisis brings further problems too. The Bevan Foundation’s Snapshot of Poverty this summer reported that 11% of Welsh people are worried about the prospect of losing their home over the next few months.

Green argues that these figures are a cause for concern, leading not only to a rise in homelessness but crime rates, as prisons are desirable for those desperately struggling with gas and electric bills.

There are exciting developments in the works for the project, including an interclub competition between the Cardiff and Swansea groups, and new programmes in locations around Wales.

Green is proud of what Fighting Homelessness has achieved so far, but firmly believes that they are just getting started. 

“My response is that we need to do more. As the crisis gets bigger, I want to be able to meet the demand.”

Tags
boxingcharitycommunityhomelessnessmartial arts
Erin Zammitt
Erin is a trainee journalist, studying Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University, with a love of all things television and culture.
Related
No logo

‘You find somewhere so comfortable and find friends that make you feel like you belong’

Previous Independent Canton cafe sells beer and wine for the first time
Next Used vape cartridges are becoming an ‘environmental concern’ says councillor
AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
Loneliness can be as dangerous to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and 70% of 16-24 year olds report they feel lonely often or very often.Wales has a strong choral tradition that dates back to communities of industrial workers who found camaraderie in singing. Choirs for Good won the Welsh wellbeing award this November, suggesting the answer to gen Z’s loneliness epidemic could be found in Welsh history booksWant to know more? Read our article on the alt.cardiff website#loneliness #altcardiffreports #choirs #cymru Feature by: @readevacahill ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff is in Wales.

5 months ago

AltCardiff
Now, more than ever, fast fashion needs to slow down. Could rental fashion be the answer this Christmas? 🎄Feature by @lois.journo#SustainableFashion #Cardiff #Christmas ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
Cardiff is trialling a new food scheme to help people facing financial difficulties access local organic produce. While this is a great way of exposing more people to fresh local food from @cardifffarmersmarket farmers are concerned that Planet Card holders are often disconnected from real food and don’t know how to make the most of their produce.Busy stall holders tell us they often have to make time to explain what they’re selling and provide cooking suggestions to people in the scheme#.Perhaps financial aid isn’t everything, and more time and funding should be spent on educating people about the importance of shopping locally. To read more visit the long reads section on the alt.Cardiff website. #cardifffarmersmarket #cardifffoodie #sustainablecardiff #shoplocally #cardiffjournalism ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
The first wellbeing village for Cardiff has been approved for construction, and the people of Ely aren’t happy.Despite anger from residents regarding traffic concerns, on 7 November, Cardiff planning committee approved the plans. Council meetings enabled locals to voice their concerns, but people felt ignored.The site is set to begin construction in the Autumn of 2025, bringing 200+ homes to the area.Click the link in the bio to check out the website, and give the story a read.#Ely #housing #traffic #estate ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
In the wake of the damage caused by Storm Bert in November and the threat further flooding poses to south Wales, communities in Cardiff are taking action. Using the power of collective action, local community groups aim to tackle climate change and raise awareness.To find out more, read the full article on the alt.cardiff website.#climatechange #CommunityAction #flooding #altcardiffreports ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
Clubbing could be extinct by 2029, according to a @ntiaofficial survey. But what can we do to tackle this rapid decline? We spoke to leading industry professionals about the need for nightlife to evolve for new music audiences. Read our latest feature article by following the link in our bio, which includes insight from some of Cardiff’s most exciting DJs @palmermolly and @_sarah_sweeney, with expertise from recently closed venue @themooncardiff 🎶Words: @alanyajourno #altcardiff #music #nightclub #clubbing #cardiff ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
With Christmas approaching, these sessions will be more vital than ever for the homeless and who have gone through homelessness. Cardiff reported to have the highest number of people assessed as homeless. Choir with No Name brings the volunteers together to forget about the hardships of homelessness for a couple of hours.Choir with No Name will hold their first Christmas gig on 10 December at St John The Baptist City Parish Church in Cardiff city centre.According to Statistics Wales, Cardiff reported to have 1,788 households assessed as homeless. The report also showed that in Wales, 91.0 cases per 10,000 households were assessed as homeless in 2022-23. There is an increase on the rate of almost 85 cases per 10,000 households reported in 2021-22.Do read the latest story in the long reads section on the Alt.Cardiff website.Written by: @maleeha.s.journo #choirwithnoname #choirwithnonamecardiff #homelessness #singing #homelesschoir #christmasgig ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

5 months ago

AltCardiff
A growing number of women are choosing singlehood over marriage, but according to recent data this could put them at greater risk of experiencing loneliness. Offering a different type of long-term companionship, communal living could hold some of the answers - helping to foster a sense of purpose and belonging. But is this lifestyle a fix for everyone? Read more on the Alt.Cardiff website ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

6 months ago

AltCardiff
As we head into winter and the weather gets colder, many of us are reaching for our thermostats to stay cosy and warm. Yet, some of us are also opting to avoid the thermostat due to worries over energy prices. In this article we speak to Wales’ unpaid carers about the struggles they are facing and why they are choosing to avoid the thermostat and keep the costs down this winter. ❄️ 🌡️🏠#altcardiffreports #unpaidcarers #energyprices ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

AltCardiff

6 months ago

AltCardiff
After Storm Darragh caused flooding and strong winds across Wales. Welsh creatives talk about how they are approaching the climate crisis creatively. We spoke to three authors who are going beyond the statistics to explore their personal connections with nature and the beauty of wildlife.🗻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿📖 Read more on the Alt.Cardiff website now! #altcardiff #cardiffcreatives #localartists #ClimateAction #climatechange ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

About Us

  • About Alt.Cardiff
  • Contact
  • Magazine
  • Podcasts
  • Top stories from Alt.Cardiff
Copyright: James Taylor
  • Social Life
  • Work Life
  • Active Life
  • Public Life
  • Long Reads
  • Magazine
  • Podcasts
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
food Cardiff charity Art culture
See all results