Local Crafters Raise Money For Children With Disabilities

Users of the Croesyceiliog Community Education Centre have raised more than £600 to benefit children and young people with physical, learning or sensory disabilities in Torfaen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of the flower arranging class, wood turning club, ceramics class, and art club all made items for a Christmas sale, with the proceeds split between Torfaen Opportunity Group (TOGs) and Action for Children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sale was organised by Lorraine Geddes, the centre’s floral inspiration tutor, and it was supported by the Croesyceiliog Centre User Group, which provided funding for materials. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Geddes said: “This is the second year that we have raised money with a Christmas sale, but this year we wanted it to go to a local charity in Torfaen. Both TOGs and Action for Children do important work locally, so it is good to know that the money is being reinvested in the community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Most of the groups in the adult education centre came together to create items for the sale, and everyone pulled together and worked really hard to make it a success.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rebecca Driscoll, programme manager for TOGs, said: “We are entirely self-funded, so rely on donations like this to keep going. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Thanks to the support of all at the Croesyceiliog Community Education Centre we will be able to provide extra equipment for the children, or perhaps even organise a trip, providing the parents with some much needed respite.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​