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Coral Williams stood at the back door of Tirphil Community Centre and pointed at the empty land in front of her. 

To the naked eye, there were a few rocks, overgrown plants and a fairly steep verge on a grey November day. 

Coral, however, saw only potential.

“There’ll be greenhouses,” she said, mapping out the space, “We’ve got a Keep Wales Tidy grant which will put in beds. Then the residents will be able to grow their own food.” 

The plan is to create a community garden, which will improve residents’ wellbeing while trying to boost community engagement.

It’s hoped that people can come and grow vegetables which can then be distributed to people in the village. 

Coral continued: “It will help with the cost-of-living.”

There will also be a sensory garden where people with dementia or additional learning needs can come and relax. 

There is a problem, however, as the community centre doesn’t have the funds to start the work. 

They need breezeblocks to build a retaining wall before they can continue developing the garden – 2,900 breezeblocks to be exact.

The garden is just one example of the long list of ideas that have helped to revamp Tirphil Community Centre, which reopened its doors earlier this year after Coral and fellow Tirphil resident Edward White took over. 

The two have already brought activities to the area such as darts, craft groups, pilates and a memorial space outside for residents to remember loved ones. 

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer earlier this year Edward said: “It’s getting people’s confidence back, that’s what we’re doing at the moment.”

He continued: “It’s there for them, it’s open for them.”

Coral and Edward have given much to their community but now, they need some help in return. 

After all, as Coral previously said: “A community is about helping each other.” 

They’re looking for financial donations or a person or organisation that could provide the breezeblocks so that work can get underway. 

Asked when the breezeblocks were needed, Coral joked: “Yesterday.”

Tirphil Community Centre can be contacted on Facebook and is located on School Street, Tirphil.