Cyfarthfa Community Group in Merthyr Tydfil formed in 2017 to tackle an increase in littering across the ward.
They are now one of the most active community groups in Wales, regularly recording more than ten activities per month on eCount Cymru.
Here the group talk about how they formed and how their work has developed.
The group was established in 2017 following concerns expressed to our local councillors about the litter problem in the Cyfarthfa ward.
Once we contacted Keep Wales Tidy, the process of setting up a formal group was quite smooth. There is a local pub in Heolgerrig who were very willing to host a meeting, so we put out posters in the ward – in various shops, churches, the post office and the social club.
We had around 20 people turn up to the first meeting, which was encouraging. There was obvious enthusiasm that meant it was an easy decision to become a formal group.
We were supported by our local Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer, who explained the need for a constitution, for a committee of at least three members – Chair, Secretary and Treasurer – and the need to set up a bank account for the group.
We were supplied with a standard Keep Wales Tidy constitution which we adopted and still use. This is essential if a group wants to apply for grant funding.
What support did you receive from the local community?
Merthyr Council are very supportive of our activities and have always been keen to help. We worked very closely with our local councillors from the start. We are indebted to the support that we get from these elected individuals and their links with the wider council.
We also made useful links with local business. For example:
How has your work developed over the years?
Although we were initially set up as a litter picking group, we soon expanded into other environmental activities.
Several members had skills in other areas which could benefit the community. These included spring bulb planting, summer flower planting, hedge trimming and grass cutting. We were fortunate to receive grant money which enabled us to purchase tools and equipment to help with this.
We also adopted the park at the top of Heolgerrig which was rather neglected and installed a Local Places for Nature garden pack here and in Twyncarmel.
After the pandemic, we stopped holding regular group litter picks and instead decided to split the ward up into various areas – there are about eight – which individual members clean up on a more ad hoc basis.
However, we haven’t lost sight of the group ethos. We meet every two months and keep in regular touch via social media – we have a very active WhatsApp group and Facebook page.
We still hold at least five community event days each year where our numbers are swelled by others from the community.
What challenges have you faced in becoming an established community group?
As a volunteer group we do have challenges in attracting volunteers – we could always do with more hands!
We’re also self-funded and rely on grants and bequests.
We’re eternally grateful for the funding we have received from organisations such as Ffos y Fran and the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust. Without this support we wouldn’t be able to carry out the activities and work that we do.
What are the benefits of being a community group?
Being a community group has many benefits. It’s satisfying to give something back to the community, even though it’s frustrating when we see litter reappearing.
Our members are very sociable and enjoy meeting up, working together and learning from each other.
Running a community group can be hard work, but it’s also very rewarding. And we do believe we give something back to our community. Phil Star, Chair, Cyfarthfa Community Group
Phil Star, Chair, Cyfarthfa Community Group
To find out more about the Cyfarthfa Community Group, follow them on Facebook.
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