Grange Pavilion was one of the many hidden gems in Cardiff that opened rather silently throughout the pandemic. Though the project has been developing for a decade, over the last year the pavilion has been in full swing, and has proven itself to be a real success, bringing a community together during difficult times.
You can find the bold new Grange Pavilion nestled at the back of Grange Gardens, a small park in the centre of Grangetown. It’s joined by a bandstand and fountain canopy, adding to the lustrous green aesthetics of the grass-covered space. The entryway to the Pavilion is bustling with local residents bouncing between The Hideout Café with coffee and cakes in hand, or heading to clubs and lessons within the building and sports sessions out on the 3G turf.
Even its design was carefully thought out - earlier this year it was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Architects Wales (RSAW) 2022 architecture awards as a building based on inclusion, ideas ownership by residents, social cohesion and community wellbeing. Read more on that here.
And now, following its initial digital launch in October 2020 and a series of delays, it is finally ready for its grand opening on May 21. “In the last year, the pavilion has been filled with lots of different activities and the real feeling of community as people have used a space that they value," said co-chair of Grange Pavilion Board, Nirushan Sudarsan.
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As Cardiff University’s Community Gateways flagship engagement programme, Grange Pavilion was opened to help build a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with Grangetown’s residents and businesses. Since its opening in late 2020, the venue has played host to several projects. Most notably, Grange Pavilion is the home of an award-winning Youth Forum which consists of young Grangetown residents aged 14-25 who want to help their neighbourhood grow and develop as well as themselves.
The forum has provided young people with opportunities to engage with a wide range of groups and ideas they might have not previously accessed, including organisations such as Cardiff City Foundation which offers girls’ football training every week to local girls above seven. Director of the Youth Forum Shoruk Nekeb, highlighted the experiences of the Youth Forum attendees, and said she values “the benefits it provides for young people in our area.”
Last month, these unique opportunities were on full display at the Grangetown Careers and Role Model Week, during which Grange Pavilion opened itself up to Cardiff University and partners as they filled its halls with stalls and hope. In that time, it provided attendees with an introduction to STEM careers, career and employability skills, an exclusive careers fair and the opportunity to attend a bespoke Cardiff University Open Day, which included a visit to the new Centre for Student Life. Shoruk herself got an introduction to her career in architecture after attending a careers week, and speaking to staff and students from the course and believes “it is so important to show people how many routes and courses there are – every year it’s a huge success".
However, the Youth Forum isn’t all the Pavilion provides for young people. It also hosts SportFit Wales, whose afterschool multi-sport and sport-specific sessions are delivered by expert coaches for a comprehensive age range. From dance to netball to badminton, the children that attend these sessions are exposed to an array of unique skills and abilities. And on a Sunday, students can attend the Homework Club and catch up on any schoolwork or revision for the week ahead.
Outside of its spectacular youth services, Grange Pavilion has also become a pivotal part of the greater Grangetown community, through its wide-ranging accessibility and functionality. You can walk into the Pavilion on any night of the week and find a community, people just like you, simply looking to form friendships and share passions in a safe and happy space. It is the home of a choir as well as gardening and sewing clubs.
Residents can also access Adult Learning Classes at the Pavilion, giving many the opportunity to learn English in a safe comfortable environment, while others utilise the Pavilion’s Friends and Neighbours Club (FAN Club) to meet others from their community and practice some of their new English skills.
If that wasn't enough, the Pavilion has seen itself become the base of Grangetown’s Business Forum and shop local initiatives, hosting multiple successful Grangetown World Markets, the most recent in March. Throughout these events, local businesses and artists have had the opportunity to showcase their work and goods, while also giving residents a great opportunity to shop locally and enjoy some community pride.
Community Gateways project manager, Corey Smith said: “The Grangetown World Markets promote independent and local, shops and businesses in the area.” Alongside all the amazing, organised events and sessions, the Pavilion is also lucky to be the site of the popular Hideout Café. The Hideout has become the heart of the community providing a place for residents to come together. The team behind it are passionate about more than just delicious drinks and treats, but also about the wellbeing and cohesion of the community.
To top it all off, the Pavilion’s rooms are also available to be privately booked, with the venue quickly growing to be a popular spot for birthdays and weddings. When you remember its beautiful architecture and gardens as well as its central location in one of the city’s most diverse wards its popularity just makes sense.
The project began as a partnership between Community Gateway, Grange Pavilion Project, and Grangetown Community Action. But having been a decade in the making and only open for a year; Grange Pavilion has already provided so much for the Grangetown community. We can only guess what is yet to come. To keep up to date with news from across Cardiff, you can subscribe to our daily newsletter here.
