Originally built in 1893 & opened 5th March 1894, Blaengarw Workmen's Hall is a monument to the resourcefulness & commitment of the men who worked at the coal face in the mines of Blaengarw. Each contributed 2p a week from his wage packet towards the construction of a building which would house their academic, creative & cultural aspirations. At a grand cost of £3400, it held a well-stocked library & reading room, cinema & theatre, & soon became the main focus for community activities, sporting events & meetings of every description.
A near disaster in the mid-70’s lead to the closing of the hall, after a heating pipe ruptured, spewing carbon monoxide fumes through the cinema. Thankfully, there were no fatalities.
After its rescue from dereliction by Valley and Vale & the local community, the Hall was officially reopened in 1992. Creation then took over the running of the premises on behalf of the local authority, with the aim of making it the thriving heart of the community again.
What we'll deliver:
- boiler repairs, technical equipment, new lighting, new flooring, new roof, new cctv, paint and materials
- New External Doors, internal fire doors, refurbish bathrooms, repair lift, new alarm system, safety curtain,
Why it's a great idea:
Blaengarw Workmens Hall is a hub for the local community to come together and socialise, learn, enjoy performances of all kind and volunteer. The Hall is the home to The Garw Valley Timecentre, a scheme where active citizens can volunteer their time to benefit their community whether it's tidying the streets or shopping for their neighbour, they are then given a 'Time Credit' for every hour they volunteer. 1 hour= 1 Time Credit. This hour is then redeemed at any of our events such as mothers and toddlers, bingo, discount at the cafe or learning activities and accredited training.
We would now like to renovate our building as it's very old and dated so we can offer better facilities and more experiences to our brilliant and supportive community. This was built by the modest donations of local people for local people and has be continuously enjoyed through the generations, we're now asking for donations to keep this building going for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
Steps to get it done:
- Through traditional fundraising like, sponsored runs, fun days, activities for the family, bake sales etc
We're asking for the local community to make a modest donation to contribute to the renovation of this fabulous and historic building in the same way the local community donated just 1p for its’ construction. £1 or whatever you can afford will play a massive part in this!
For anyone who can’t afford to donate any money or who’d like to help in a different way, we also need any old tools or unwanted pots of paint etc. that you no longer need. We also value your time so any free time you have pop in to see us and lend a hand! Everything helps and we appreciate it hugely!
