Funding Support Helps To Restore ‘Pride’ To Historic Community Building

A Dulais Valley community building which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary has been given a new lease of life thanks to a series of successful funding bids, supported by Neath Port Talbot Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Onllwyn and District Community Welfare Association secured funding to the value of £92,942 to enable essential renovation works to take place at Onllwyn Welfare Hall, a key location for both the 2014 film ‘Pride’ and the events during the Miners’ Strike that inspired it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding came from several organisations including a £44,625 grant from WREN Landfill; £30,162 from the Maes Gwyn Wind Farm; £7,755 from Onllwyn Community Council and £4,000 from the Onllwyn Distribution Centre / Washeries managed by Celtic Energy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Built in 1955, the much-used facility was in need of renovation both internally and externally and needed a new insulated composite roof to improve energy efficiency and to keep the building weather tight. The work also included new storm water goods, render and exterior redecoration as well as sanding and treatment of the concert hall floor and the repainting of internal walls. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Delivered on time and on budget, the work was undertaken by Consultant Architects ‘Hurley & Davies’ of SA1 and Port Talbot-based ‘Contract Services Ltd’ as main contractor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The largest concert hall venue in the Dulais Valley and surrounding areas, the building hosts a wide range of community events and is well-used by groups such as the Women’s Institute, Banwen Pony Club, the local darts team and Male Voice Choir and also schools for their seasonal concerts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Hall was also a particularly important building at the time of the 1984-85 miners’ strike, providing facilities for the strike committees to meet. It was also the venue which hosted meetings between striking miners and a group of LGBT activists from London who pledged their support and raised money for families affected by the strike. Thirty years later these events were re-enacted in the very same location as part of the filming for Pride, the BAFTA-winning comedy-drama which told the story of this unlikely alliance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council and local elected member for Onllwyn said: “Onllwyn Welfare Hall has been a focal point for the Dulais Valley for over 60 years and is a much-used venue known locally as the ‘Palace of Culture’. I am very pleased that the present officials, committee and members have been able to rally the support needed to revamp the Welfare Hall which had begun to look ‘tired’”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In today’s climate it is very difficult to sustain an organisation of this size and I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and best wishes to all those involved”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lynn Parfitt, Secretary of Onllwyn and District Community Welfare Association said: “On behalf of the members of the Association I would like to thank the funders of the refurbishment works, the contractor and also Neath Port Talbot Council for bringing everything together. The works have secured the future of a state of the art facility at Onllwyn for the use of the wider community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​