A volunteer-led scheme to transform the former Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital into a community centre has been praised by the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Regeneration.
Alun Davies AM visited the Caerphilly Miners’ Centre for the Community on Thursday,February 8,and met with several groups who use the building.
On a tour of the centre,Mr Davies was told how the centre had been fundraising to achieve its aims and has received financial support from a variety of sources,including the Welsh Government.
Mr Davies said: “This is a fantastic and iconic building.
“What we need to be able to do is work with local volunteers and local organisations to breathe new life into these fantastic places to give them a future at the heart of the community.
“We all recognise the place that Caerphilly Miners has in the community and the task now is to reinvigorate it for the future and I hope the Welsh Government can play it’s part alongside the volunteers,organisations,and businesses to build something to serve future generations in a way that this place has served past generations.”
During his visit,the Cabinet Secretary,pictured right,met a group of jobseekers being helped back into employment by ITEC,who regularly hold sessions at the building for people to brush up on their skills.
Deb Moseley,Adult Engagement Officer with ITEC,said the centre was a great place for ITEC to run its classes and was of huge value to the community.
Caerphilly Assembly Member Hefin David said: “The Cabinet Secretary’s visit was an opportunity to press the importance of linking fantastic projects like the Miners’ Centre,which has been community-led,with Welsh Government policy.
“It’s particularly important that the centre plays a part in delivering the aims of the Welsh Government’s ‘Our Valleys,Our Future’ report.
“I aim to continue to press for exactly this in the Welsh Assembly.”
As a community centre,the original Beeches building is now used by around 1,500 visitors a month and hosts a range of activities throughout the week.
Despite the historic building,which is not listed,being saved from demolition when the hospital closed in 2011,funds are still needed to complete its transformation.