Monmouthshire Community Action Network has recently hosted a Thriving Communities Event, which has been described as “a tremendous success”.
The event brought together more than 40 local organisations and community members, who explored a range of volunteering opportunities, hobbies, and services.
Positive feedback was received from organisations highlighting the event’s impact on extending their service reach, fostering networking with other organisations, and successfully recruiting volunteers.
Workshops garnered significant attendance, with people embracing their inner child at the Chepstow Community Circus session (including Cllr Angela Sandles).
The expert panel discussion on funding in Wales was a standout, providing attendees with invaluable insights into the funding landscape.
The Magor and Undy Hub, with its state-of-the-art facilities and ideal location, served as the perfect venue, and we hope the event has contributed to putting this new venue on the map.
Cllr Sandles said: “I am thrilled by the tremendous success of the Thriving Communities event, hosted by Monmouthshire Community Action Network. It was truly heartening to witness the community uniting and establishing connections that undoubtedly pave the way for positive collaborations going forward.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to the Magor and Undy Hub, as well as our partners GAVO, MHA, and all the information stall holders, for their instrumental role in making this event a resounding success.”
>Get in touch with us: Community Action Network/Be Community Registration Form
Community Showcase
Kari Davies Manager of Magor and Undy Community Hub, Rachel Knight MHA, Cllr. Angela Sandles, Chris Irving & Beth Warrington GAVO, Fred Weston MCC.
Reminiscence Workshop with Monlife Heritage
Improving Small Green Spaces workshop by Keep Wales Tidy
Expert Panel Discussion on Funding in Wales, Sharran Lloyd MCC, Alison Palmer GAVO, Michael Dupree The National Lottery Community Fund, Sian Baker Maurice WCVA Cymru.
> Click to view list of community organisations and groups at the event >
Bridges Charity Projects
A Monmouthshire charity that offers multiple outreach services including a befriending service, community car scheme, inclusion projects for children and adults with additional needs, social activity groups, and a volunteering project.
📧Contact: marianne.piper@bridgescentre.org.uk
Ready Steady GO
A charity supporting autistic children, young persons, and their families.
📧Contact: admin@readysteadygoclun.co.uk
Magor East & Undy Councillors
Available to answer questions about local issues from residents.
📧Contact: angelasandles@monmouthshire.gov.uk, jogncrook@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Monmouthshire Reuse Shops
Situated at Five Lanes and Llanfoist household recycling centres, works with volunteers to salvage items from the skips and sell at the shop on Wednesdays, with profits going to tree planting.
📧Contact: rebeccablount@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Chepstow Community Circus
A group for people to practice and share circus skills, also provides workshops for other groups.
📧Contact: chepstowcircus@gmail.com
Chepstow Walkers are Welcome
A volunteer community group that worked to gain accreditation for Chepstow to become part of the National Network of Walkers are Welcome towns in 2012. Encourages people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors through walking to improve health and well-being, and attract visitors to the area to support the local economy.
📧Contact: chepstowwaw@hotmail.co.uk
Lads Lunch
A weekly lunch club for men in Bulwark, offering a free cooked meal and an opportunity for men to connect and make friends in a warm welcoming space. Also offers office space to other organizations during opening hours.
📧Contact: communitykitchen@thebridgechurch.online
Mind Monmouthshire
Provides mental health services for adults.
📧Contact: stephanie.thomas@mindmonmouthshire.org.uk
Gwent RPB
Provides Dewis Cymru, an online wellbeing resource directory.
📧Contact: ellys.perry@torfaen.gov.uk
Caldicot and District Local History Society
Holds talks and occasional trips relating to local history.
📧Contact: caldicothistorysociety@yahoo.co.uk
Usk Together for the Climate
A network of local residents working together to respond to the climate and nature emergencies by raising awareness and knowledge, taking practical steps, developing local projects, working with organizations, and creating a supportive community.
📧Contact: togetherfortheclimateusk@gmail.com
Severn Side Neighbourhood Policing Team
Providing Support and advice around crime prevention
Big Lottery Cymru
The National Lottery Community Fund gives grants to organisations in the UK to help improve their communities. Our local Monmouthshire coordinator will be able to give advise on the range of funds available locally and talk to project thinking of applying for funding.
📧Contact: Michael.Dupree@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Basecamp Cooperative
Provide a range of therapeutic services including counselling for resilient communities
📧Contact: projectmanagerbasecamp@protonmail.com
Age Cymru – HOPE Project
Offers free advocacy support to anyone over the age of 50 or their Carer if appropriate.
📧Contact: michael.mitchell1@agecymru.org.uk
Communities For Work Plus
Supports people getting into work, offering help with CV writing, interview skills and advice, job searching and application guidance, short accredited work-related courses, financial support to reduce barriers into work, mentoring and confidence building, and connecting with local employers.
📧Contact: ameletukandra@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Monmouthshire County Council Grounds and Cleansing Department
Offers volunteer opportunities in grounds and cleansing team to make Monmouthshire more beautiful and wildlife-friendly, including litter champions, Friends of Green Spaces, and pollinator monitors.
📧Contact: susanparkinson@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Magor and Undy Community Fridge
Prevent food going to landfill by hosting a community fridge where people can pick up free food within its use by date.
📧Contact: magor.undy.cf@gmail.com
Pre-Loved Prom Wear
Helps people who wouldn’t normally be able to attend their school prom due to the cost of prom wear, by providing donations of prom wear from local communities. Also provides an eco-solution to stop landfill and promotes the value of vintage or second-hand clothing.
📧Contact: melstirling37@hotmail.com
TogetherWORKS Caldicot
A Community Wellbeing Hub based in the heart of Caldicot. We offer a range of wellbeing services, clubs and hobby groups.
📧Contact: isla.arendell@gavo.org.uk
Keep Wales Tidy
A charity supporting voluntary action to improve the local environment.
📧Contact: thomas.ward-jackson@keepwalestidy.cymru
Gwent Federation of Women’s Institutes
The largest women’s organization in the UK, with 43 Institutes and around 1300 members in Gwent Federation. Offers women the opportunity to make friends and make a difference in the community, learn new skills, crafts, sports, and much more within a social, safe, and relaxed environment.
🌐Contact: https://gwent.thewi.org.uk/contact-us
Chepstow & Caldicot lions
A community service organization.
📧Contact: chepstowcaldicotlions@btinternet.com
Alzheimers Society
Supports people affected by dementia and their carers.
📧Contact: chris.hodson@alzheimers.org.uk
Phoenix Netball Club (formerly known as Magor and Undy Netball Club)
A community netball club for all genders and ages from 7 years upwards.
🌐Contact: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1271178783374616/
GAVO
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations aims to create a society where communities, individuals, partner organisations and the third sector work together to build a sustainable future by supporting, facilitating and brokering positive change in the wellbeing of people and communities through collaborative approaches. We heave a wealth of experience in volunteering, community and project development, building social capital and engaging with communities.
📧Contact: bethan.warrington@gavo.org.uk
Monmouthshire Housing Association
Engagement Team/iConnect – The Engagement Team is the outward facing community development arm of MHA looking to empower and strengthen communities and listen to the voice of MHA tenants and leaseholders throughout Monmouthshire.
iConnect – Aims to bring the digital World to everybody’s fingertips promoting easy affordable ways to get connected and to improve digital skills, ensuring nobody is excluded from the benefits of a digital World.
Young People and Communities
Provides community links, counselling, and young carer support for children and young people.
📧Contact: nathanmeredith@monmouthshire.gov.uk
The Cookalong Clwb
Empowers children with kitchen confidence, essential life skills, and supports feeding tummies, not the food bin.
📧Contact: hello@thecookalongclwb.co.uk
MonLife Heritage
Learning provides a range of resources and activities for people living with Dementia and their carers, including Reminiscence and historic object handling boxes, facilitated reminiscence sessions, and craft and conversation workshops. Also provides reminiscence training for care givers and care workers.
📧Contact: karinmolson@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Environmental Health
Here to provide advice and guidance to community projects who handle food.
📧Contact: samwatkins@monmouthshire.gov.uk, niachappell@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Monmouth U3A
Offers a wide range of member-organized special interest groups for people no longer in full-time work, encouraging informal study, leisure interests, hobbies, music, creativity, physical activity, and socializing.
🌐Contact: https://monmouthu3a.com/contact-us/
Halls Together in Monmouthshire and Newport
A project bringing halls together by providing a website platform for halls to market their community buildings and events and raise standards by providing support, information, and volunteer training.
📧Contact: ourhallstogether@gmail.com
WCVA
Enables voluntary organizations in Wales to make a bigger difference together, working closely with local County Voluntary Councils (CVCs) as part of Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW). Focuses on good governance, influencing and engagement, volunteering, and resourcing a sustainable sector.
📧Contact: sbakermaurice@wcva.cymru
Chepstow & District CAP Debt Centre
Offers free in-home debt advice and support, and also runs budgeting/money management courses.
📧Contact: davidprice@capuk.org
ABUHB Patient Experience & Involvement Team
Offers Dementia Awareness, Volunteering, Risk Factors of Dementia, Carers Education, and Community Listeners.
📧Contact: sian.hanniford@wales.nhs.uk
Monmouthshire Community Development Team
We are all about people doing great things together. Across Monmouthshire, people are getting together to take action on the things they care about. We’re helping people share ideas, talents, skills and passions to make a difference to where they live. If you would like to be more connected into your community, or if you have a great idea for something to bring people together then get in touch. We can help with things like:
o Finding funding
o Providing free training and development
o Building networks of support
o Encouraging other people to help you
o Finding a venue
o Promoting your idea
o Helping you with any regulations and red tape
o Wellbeing information and support to link you in with opportunities
📧Contact: wellbeing@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Care & Repair Monmouthshire & Torfaen
Care & Repair Monmouthshire & Torfaen provides help and advice for older people to remain safe secure and independent in their own homes.
📧Contact: dgrant-crichton@crmon.org.uk
This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.