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Two Tirphil residents have refurbished and reopened a community centre that was at risk of closing forever. 

Tirphil Community Centre could have been lost in 2021 but now it has been brought back to life for residents – just in time for its 40th anniversary. 

Edward White, 75, and Coral Williams, 48, reopened the centre about a month ago.

Edward, who is one of its founding members, went to a meeting where the future of the hall was being discussed and fought for it. 

“If I hadn’t walked in on that one meeting, going back about two years,” said Edward, chairman of the centre, “it would have been closed.”

He continued: “I’m Tirphil born and bred. I didn’t want to see this place go.

“I took over certain parts of it and I got Coral involved.”

The two worked together to refurbish the hall, organise events and get it ready to be a community hub for residents. 

They were faced with quite a big challenge – damaged walls, an overgrown garden and a hall in bad need of refurbishment. 

 “This hall hasn’t been decorated for 40 years,” said Coral, secretary of the centre, adding that the paint was the same as what she saw coming as a child. “We’ve stuck at it,” she added. 

Now, the community centre is now fully operational.

There is a parent and toddler group, pool and bingo to name just a few – with some classes and groups already attracting lots of people.

Just this week two residents in their 80s enjoyed coming to the centre.

“They were beaming,” said Coral, “all they had done is bingo for two hours.”

That’s what it’s all about for Edward and Coral – social interaction, community and ensuring no one feels isolated. 

In fact, they both recently drove some residents to the centre as there are no direct bus services and the walk would be too strenuous. 

As Edward said: “It’s getting people’s confidence back, that’s what we’re doing at the moment.”

The plan is to ensure the hall can be hired as a venue and that there are activities year-round, both inside and out. 

Coral is hard at work to create a rockery, a garden with a community space and a sensory area. 

This means the community garden could be used by men’s mental health groups and the sensory garden by people with dementia or additional learning needs. 

She said: “It’s engaging people throughout the summer.

There’s also a remembrance garden being built, where people can come and put plaques of their loved ones on the wall where Coral hopes that a bench – which she applied to the council for – can be placed for people to come and sit. 

“We’re hoping to get the go-ahead on that quite soon,” Coral added.  

Catering for what residents need

Both Coral and Edward want the people of Tirphil to feel that this is a community hub. 

They’ve tried to ensure events are available that suit all ages and interests. 

There’s free tea and coffee all year round and even a free uniform exchange on Fridays.  

“We run a free uniform hub in the corridor,” said Coral, adding that the clothes were provided by Caerphilly Uniform Exchange, a local school and parents. 

The placement is to ensure that people could come and go without embarrassment. 

“If they don’t want to come in to see us, they can walk in there, take the uniform and go,” she added. 

There was such a high demand for the service that what was going to be a monthly offer will now be weekly. 

“If that’s what the community needs, that’s what we need to be reacting to,” Coral added. 

But the same is true in reverse – to keep the centre running it needs to be used. 

“I would say that it needs to be used by the community of Tirphil because if it doesn’t get used they will lose it,” said Coral.

The duo see it as an opportunity to reinvigorate community spirit in the village. 

“There’s been nothing around here for years,” said Edward, but both saw the positive effect the recent coronation party had on the people in the town and hope that this can continue in spirit. 

“A community is about helping each other” 

Edward and Coral have been the driving force behind the reopening of the centre but they have had notable help and donations. 

Sponsorships and donations have come from Wickes, HD Bathrooms New Tredegar and New Tredegar Building Supplies, Celtic Horizons and Transport for Wales. 

There’s also been support from councillors Mark Evans, Eluned Stenner, Tracey Gifford and council employees Kevin Lodge and Alan Ford. 

Donations, however, are still very welcome, Coral added: “Gardening things would be amazing.”

There are also plans for a committee and an official opening event for the village. 

Tirphil residents are also invited to volunteer at the centre to help give back.

After all, it takes more than two people to build a community.

“If everybody goes home and shuts the door a community doesn’t work,” said Coral, “a community is about helping each other.” 

Ultimately, everyone is welcome. “It’s there for them, it’s open for them – come along,” added Edward. 

Tirphil Community Centre is located on School Street, Tirphil.