Cardiff councillors set to vote on community centre proposal this week
CAERAU and Ely Sports Trust is submitting plans this week for an extension to its pavilion building, which is set to provide jobs and recreation for the community.
If passed, the extension would add a 300 square metre L-shaped floor space to the building at Trelai Park, Caerau, which would be split into two wings.
The first wing would rehome the Flying Start Playgroup in a larger area to allow for an increase in staff and more babies in the nursery.
The second wing would house an 80 square metre community space to be rented out to local groups and initiatives.
Caerau and Ely Sports Trust chairman, Joseph Goode, revealed his plans for the community space in an interview with The Cardiffian.
“We’re also aiming to provide a youth area to try and tackle the anti-social behaviour currently operating in Ely and Caerau.
“A space for local food bank charity, Cwtch Up, and also a local mental health group called Mind Your Fitness who will be based at Trelai, and their aim is to create a healthy relationship between food and training to improve overall mental health and well-being.
“The existing pavilion will then be converted into a community café with an outdoor community garden space which we’re aiming to be Green Flag standard.”
Caerau and Ely Sports Trust was formed in 2016 and aims to provide free and discounted sport and health sessions to the people of Caerau, Ely and the surrounding areas.
In an average week, they put on three to four sessions in association with local sports clubs including Glamorgan AFC, Caerau (Ely) AFC, Ely Rangers AFC, Caerau Ely ABC, Caerau (Ely) RFC and Glamorgan Cricket Club.
Every session is created with personal development and affordability in mind.
“You can do a lot through sport and the change in which it brings,” said Mr Goode.
“We’ve got a lot of kids that they call ‘naughty kids’ in our area, but a lot of those kids engage very well through sport.
“It gets them off the streets and out doing sport.
“But, even 50p is a barrier for some kids in the area, so we always try and make stuff free if possible or if not, as cheap as possible.”
Among their trustees is Caerau Councillor Peter Bradbury who has been extremely complimentary of the charity’s work.
“Caerau and Ely Sports Trust and the work they do are hugely important to my community. I am proud to be a trustee and to work with great people making a real difference in my area,” said Coun Bradbury.
The pavilion extension will allow the trust to further their work in the community and fulfil its goal of making sport accessible to all.
Next month volunteers will be continuing their fundraisers to help with building costs on the pavilion by running a Christmas market and Santa’s grotto at Trelai Park.
- Caerau and Ely Sports Trust can be contacted via the ‘contact us’ page on their website or by calling 07966 728289.
