The historic building in Adamsdown needs renovations to continue helping asylum seekers
THE Trinity Centre is seeking donations to make renovations to its Grade II listed building and ensure it can keep helping refugees and asylum seekers.
The building requires major refurbishment to the heating, lighting and kitchen, as well as general maintenance throughout.
Users are missing out on extra support because parts of the 19th Century building are inaccessible.
Dubbed ‘The Sanctuary Project,’ there are building plans to create private interview rooms and more toilet cubicles. Currently, a staircase can prevent vulnerable people from accessing the help upstairs.
The Sanctuary Project also aims to install a lift and make ramped floors to improve accessibility.
“[For them] to not be able to be part of something that’s going on upstairs because of accessibility is devastating,” said Fflur Angharad, the Centre’s Administrator. The project is all about, “making the whole building more welcoming and friendly for the whole community.”
The centre has been running since 2013, providing essential support for vulnerable members of the community. It is a hub for other organisations, such as Space4U and the Welsh Refugee Council to provide services including housing, food and clothes. It is open to all and hundreds of people use the services each week.
Covid-19 has slowed the progress of the building work which was originally set to commence in early 2021. Despite restrictions, they obtained planning permission and work will begin as soon as possible next year.
The centre has applied for funding to complete the project but any donations would be beneficial.
A ‘local giving’ page has been set up for the public to contribute.
https://localgiving.org/appeal/TrinityCentreSanctuaryProject/
Adamsdown’s councillor, Owen Llewellyn Jones recently visited the Trinity Centre and said the building proposals would, “dramatically improve the building.”
Covid-19 also prevented lots of groups from meeting at the centre. During lockdown, the organisations could only offer support with essentials but services have re-opened on an appointment-only basis in a socially-distanced manner.
Steve, a volunteer from Space4U said of the centre: “Just being involved is a privilege.”
For more information about the services the Trinity Centre offers, email enquiries@trinitycentre.wales.
