Caerphilly Miners Centre supporting the community through closed doors

Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community has vowed to continue to help the community despite closing its doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The centre has launched its 50+ Dance warm-up exercises as an online resource.

The class’ teacher Beth has posted the exercises online in an attempt to keep people moving and engaged during social isolation.

Caerphilly MP Wayne David, trustee of the centre said: “Caerphilly Miners Centre put the community at the heart of everything we do.

“We want to stay engaged with our community now more than ever.

“People, old and young, can become increasingly anxious during such difficult times, and social isolation only adds to anxiety, loneliness and depression.

“We are continually thinking of new ways to bring people together, and our online exercises is the first of many such initiatives.”

The next few months will see more and more technological solutions appearing to bring people together. Communities are also pulling together and identifying new ways of staying connected.

Katherine Hughes, the centre’s secretary is urging anyone who needs anything to get in touch.

She said: “Our doors may close for a while, but we have opened many new channels of communication, we want to reach our community in any way we can. Our range of social media channels are all being used to reach out to different groups. Our phone is also redirected so that we can answer calls whenever people need to speak to us.”

The centre is now preparing to have a range of activities and classes ready to ‘nourish the soul of the community’ once the doors are once again open to the public.

There are plans for a new gardening project underway, and Tai Chi, choirs, yoga, crafts, meditation, language clubs, parent and toddler groups will all be awaiting members.

The centre has developed a webpage and will post new activities online: https://www.caerphillyminerscentre.co.uk/upcoming-events

Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital closed its doors in 2011 with services transferred to Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach. Built in 1923, the old hospital was paid for by the miners of the Rhymney Valley after they each put aside 6d out of their weekly wage of 12s 6d to raise the £30,000 needed.

After its closure, the wider hospital site was cleared with the land sold for housing. The original Beeches building, which was bought by the miners and which is not listed, was under threat of being demolished. A group was formed which eventually led to the Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community charity being established.