Keeping Local Youth Club Afloat

The Welsh Government Warm Homes Arbed project, working with Merthyr Tydfil Council, has invested over £3.5 million improving the energy efficiency of 293 homes in Twynyrodyn , Merthyr Tydfil. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme was delivered by Melin Homes’ Being Greener Team, who also worked with the local youth club TAG to improve the energy efficiency of the community hall they occupy. Through contributions from contractors and suppliers, plus free labour from Joyner Group, based in Risca, and the donation of materials by SPS Envirowall, the team invested over £21,000 improving the energy efficiency of the community hall. Improvement measures included the installation of new windows and planters, so the club can grow fruit and vegetables with the children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The community hall had been struggling with high energy bills and without the support of the Welsh Government Arbed project they do not know what they would have done. Callum, a trustee at the TAG Centre, said “We cannot thank the Welsh Government Warm Homes Arbed project and the Being Greener Team’s framework contractors and suppliers enough, especially Joyner Group and SPS Envirowall. The building not only looks amazing but our energy bills have been halved. This means much needed money can be spent on activities for the hundreds of users of the community centre”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dawn Bowden AM visited the Youth Club to see first-hand the benefits of the project.”I am delighted to see that the Welsh Government Warm Homes project here in Merthyr Tydfil has provided so many properties with external wall insulation, thereby improving the energy efficiency of these homes. The TAG centre has received a much needed boost with the replacement of broken windows, fitting external wall insulation and improving the general appearance with the provision of plants and planters. This work will not only make the TAG Centre a more pleasant place to be, but it will ensure that energy bills are reduced, benefitting the centre and its users further”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Melin Homes Chief Executive Mark Gardner added: “The impact made by the Welsh Government Warm Homes Arbed project has been huge and we are so proud of our part in its success. We are also proud of community projects like this one and ensure they are at the heart of everything we do.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member with Portfolio for Social Services and Town Ward Councillor, Councillor Linda Matthews, said: “As ward councillors, we were pleased to see this “Warm Homes Project” delivered in partnership between the Housing Solutions Team of the Council, Merthyr Valleys Homes and Melin Homes (being Greener Team) and primarily funded by Welsh Government,implemented in our area – making homes warmer and reducing heating bills. The added bonus was the community benefit work carried out at TAG youth club; insulating the building, repairing and replacing windows and the planters in the garden which allow the children to learn about how vegetables are grown. The youth club has hundreds of children a week attending and the resulting reduction in their heating bill will allow this money to be spent on on-going projects.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​