New £550,000 Family Centre Opens In Dolgellau

A new centre that draws together a range of key services and facilities for children and families in the Dolgellau area has been officially opened. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Located in the old ‘Drill Hall’ in the town, the new Canolfan Deulu Dolgellau which has been made possible thanks to substantial upgrading work and over £500,000 investment is now home to the Cylch Meithin, the local Ti a Fi Group, Gwynedd Couincil’s local Flying Start Service and Early Years team, local health visitor led baby clinics, Barnado’s sessions, the Cadets as well as having space for other local activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Officially opened by the Chief Executive of the national Mudiad Ysgolion Meithin, Dr. Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, over 150 children, parents and friends had a sneak preview of what the new centre has to offer during the grand unveiling last week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn who is also a director of the new Canolfan Deulu Dolgellau company said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The opening of this wonderful new family centre provides first class facilities for the children of Dolgellau and the local area. It is the culmination of the vision of the staff and committee of Cylch Meithrin Dolgellau and years of dedication and hard work especially by Eirian Davenport and Eleri Lewis who have led this project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This historic old building in the town has now been transformed into a lively light building which will be a valuable resource for the children and families of Dolgellau. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are grateful for this funding of over £550,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, Welsh Government, Gwynedd Council, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd and others in helping to deliver these important facilities. This is of course in addition to the £2.5 million investment at Ysgol Gynradd Dolgellau and the £4.5 million new resource on the Coleg Meirion Dwyfor campus.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first Ysgol Feithrin was opened in Dolgellau by a group of young mothers in 1977 in the Capel Tabernacl vestry which has served them well over the years. However, with expanding demands and modern requirements for external play areas, the leaders of the Cylch Meithin were in search of a new home for the group. Having considered various options and with the opportunities of bringing together a range of children and family services under the one roof at the old Drill Hall building, work got underway to establish Canolfan Deulu Dolgellau. The building owned by Gwynedd Council has been leased to the family centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Eleri Lewis and Eirian Davenport, who have both led the work of delivering Canolfan Deulu Dolgellau said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We were delighted to see Canolfan Deulu Dolgellau opening its doors. We firmly believe that locating a range of children’s services in the one building will be of huge benefit to local families as well as helping the services themselves in their work of improving the lives of the area’s children and young families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As the town’s Cylch Meithrin leaders we are looking forward to making the most of our new home, which will help us to provide the children with a range of experiences required by the Foundation Phase and Estyn. This is an exciting time for the children and families of Dolgellau.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Canolfan Deulu Dolgellau has been supported by the Big Lottery Fund, the Welsh Government, Gwynedd Council, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd and funding from Natural Resources Wales to provide exterior play area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​