Charities, Schools And Future Students Benefit From Caerleon Legacy

Local charities, schools, and the next generation of Gwent students are benefiting from the legacy of Caerleon Campus with donations of furniture and a new scholarship set up by the University of South Wales (USW). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A fund to support young people seeking to study at the University, from the area covered by the original Caerleon Training College, will be financed through an auction of contents and fittings from the campus. Former students and staff will be able to bid for those items which may have sentimental attachment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These are separate from artworks and historically valuable items that have been safeguarded on the expert advice of a specialist heritage group. Those will remain within Newport, either in the University’s Newport City Campus, the new Newport Knowledge Quarter, or civic buildings. Fittings specific to the original College building, such as panelling and coloured glass windows, will remain where they are. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More than 60 tonnes of old furniture and equipment without market or historical value has been donated to 14 schools and sports clubs, 20 charities, and a number of SMEs in the Gwent area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Schools and sports clubs, including Newport High School Old Boys rugby club, Caerleon Comprehensive, and the new Welsh medium school in Newport, Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, are among the recipients, as are local charities. Among them are the YMCA, National Autistic Society (NAS), and Choices Young Persons Drug and Alcohol Service/Drug Aid Cymru. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

NAS received items of furniture for use at its St Mark’s House branch in Newport. This offers a one-to-one day service each day for around 13 adults with autism (known as trainees), teaching them educational, vocational, and individual living skills. The group was able to create a relaxing lounge area for trainees’ use, convert an old conference table into a dining table, and use donated filing cabinets for storing sensitive information, while tables and chairs have been used in the art room and sofas have been used in the reception area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lyn Williams, NAS team leader, said “In February we relocated across Newport, from a 3,000 square foot building, to St Marks House, which is a 5,000 square foot building. Instead of having to wait to furnish a room at a time, we were able to fill the building with the donated furniture from Caerleon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s been brilliant as we were able to offer an instant service to our trainees.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile, Choices Young Persons Drug and Alcohol Service/Drug Aid Cymru has been able to furnish a new, bigger facility, while two SMEs have been able to part-furnish new offices and training classrooms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Huw Williams, USW Deputy Vice Chancellor, said: “The University has a long tradition of working with local organisations to help individuals to access opportunities that would not otherwise be available. That is why we believe a scholarship fund is an important part of recognizing this tradition. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This extends to supporting a society where everyone’s contributions are valued. We are pleased to donate this much-needed support to this wide variety of groups in our region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​