A small village community hub that has become a lifeline for residents is set to expand its activities thanks to a funding boost from local energy company, Pennant Walters.
The Glynogwr Hub, based at St Tyfodwg’s Church, has received £11,000 which has allowed the purchase of new chairs that will replace the pews and transform the way the space can be used by the local community.
The Hub opened in 2023, and is managed by a dedicated group of local volunteers with support from Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO). Since then, it has quickly established itself as an important focal point for the village, hosting a growing number of activities, which run alongside the church’s regular religious services.
Prior to the Hub’s creation, there was no dedicated place for residents to meet, socialise or organise local activities. However, as the only public building in Glynogwr, the Hub now plays a vital role in bringing people together.
Gill Morgan, a volunteer at the Glynogwr Hub, explains:
“We have worked hard to raise awareness of the facility and encourage people to make use of the space through a variety of social events and training sessions. However, being a church, the fixed pews limited the available space and made it difficult to host larger activities or attract groups looking to hire the venue.”
With funding support from Pennant Walters, the pews have now been removed and replaced with a stackable system for chairs, creating a flexible space that can easily be adapted for different community uses.
The change will allow the Hub to host a wider range of activities including exercise classes, slimming groups, dance classes, fashion shows and food and craft producer events. The chairs can also be quickly moved or stacked to create more space for larger gatherings.
For the volunteers who run the Hub, the improvements are about more than just furniture – they are about strengthening the sense of community in a rural village where isolation can sometimes be a challenge.
Gill continued:
“We are so grateful for the support we’ve received from Pennant Walters. When the Hub first opened, we knew it would make a difference, but it has exceeded our expectations and having a place where people can come together, talk and support each other has been incredibly important for the village.
“By replacing the pews with chairs, we now have a much more flexible space. This will allow us to host larger events and activities, and hopefully bring even more people through the doors. For a small and quite isolated village, like Glynogwr, having somewhere to meet and socialise really does make a huge difference.”
The Hub is helping reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation among residents, giving people somewhere to meet new friends and stay connected with their community. It is also available free of charge for community members who wish to discuss issues or seek advice, and it has been regularly used since opening.
Dale Hart, managing director at Pennant Walters said:
“We are proud to support the Glynogwr Hub and the volunteers who work so hard to make it a welcoming place for the community. Projects like this show the real value of local facilities in bringing people together and tackling issues such as isolation in rural areas.
“We hope this funding will help the Hub continue to grow and ensure it remains a sustainable and vibrant space for local residents for many years to come.”
With the expanded space now in place, the Hub is looking ahead to a busy calendar of events in 2026, including coffee mornings, a spring fete, fashion shows, concerts and a Christmas fete, alongside the weekly groups that already bring residents together.
