A well-loved community centre in Port Talbot has permanently closed - collapsing under the strain of spiralling energy costs and challenges brought by the pandemic. Age Cymru West Glamorgan said it has never faced such demand and received such little funding, leaving them with no choice but to close the Afan Nedd Centre and prioritise "essential" services such as Age Cymru's Advice and Telephone Service.
The centre has offered friendship and support for older people in Port Talbot for over two decades and was used for lunch clubs, befriending events and as a space for local community groups. During the pandemic, the centre’s kitchens were crucial in enabling Age Cymru West Glamorgan to launch its vital home cooked meal delivery service - which provided thousands of meals to people who were struggling to access food at the time.
The charity has now confirmed that it has agreed with the centre’s landlord, Neath Port Talbot Council, that it is leaving the venue this month as it increasingly struggles to balance a huge reduction in funding and donations with significant increases in running costs. All community groups who have been using the centre over recent years have been informed. You can read more stories about Port Talbot here.
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Connor James, Chief Executive of Age Cymru West Glamorgan said: "It is heart-breaking to announce the closure of the Afan Nedd Centre which has been used for decades to provide vital services to older people in the area. We have tried desperately hard since the pandemic to secure funding to keep the centre open, but sadly we have run out of time and options.
“We recognise that the centre is well-loved and appreciated by many in the local community, so it is with deep regret that our board of trustees has taken this difficult decision.
“To put it simply, we are struggling. We have never had so much demand and so little funding. The pandemic, energy and cost-of-living crisis have, and are still, presenting massive challenges. Unfortunately, a 600% rise in utility costs would mean having to find an extra £18,000 a year just for the Centre’s gas and electricity, we’ve been left with very little choice.
“We simply must prioritise our essential services. At the moment our most needed service is providing our Information and Advice service which helps older people across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend access the benefits and support they’re entitled to. This service is facing an unprecedented demand as people choose between eating or putting the heating on. It’s not a cost-of-living crisis – it’s a living crisis. We need to use what little money we do have as a charity to prioritise supporting as many people as we can to access the money they need to just live this winter.
“We would like to thank everyone who used and supported the Afan Nedd Centre over the many years. We would also like to thank those who continue to support us as a charity. We need your help now more than ever.
“We have the solutions; we just don’t have the funding to answer the unprecedented demand from older people who need us. If you can, please donate to us now to help us meet the overwhelming need for our vital services.”
Donations to Age Cymru West Glamorgan can be made online or by calling 01792 648866.
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