Gabalfa Youth and Community Centre has hosted a special event to celebrate its remarkable transformation and the successful collaboration of various partners in delivering five innovative projects.
The event showcased the results of five major projects developed with the input and creativity of young people;
Horse Box Café: A horsebox donated by Boskalis Westminster will be transformed into a café run by young people, providing them with valuable skills and confidence. Galliford Try will assist in fitting out the horsebox based on the young people's ideas and aspirations.
Development of Multimedia Room: In collaboration with Tool Station, Barclaycard, Dulux, and Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), the development of the studio has provided young people from the community with qualifications in joinery,painting & decorating and Health & Safety
Completed Multimedia Room: this project, in partnership with Sound Progression, will create a music studio in North Cardiff, supporting young aspiring artists from local communities to develop song writing and music creation, as well as honing production and recording skills.
This initiative will complement the work of Cardiff Music Service, in line with the ambitions of the National Plan for Music Education and Cardiff's Music Strategy. This will enable young people to access a range of opportunities in their own community, in a safe space supported by youth workers, with the advantage of quality input and guidance from a range of professionals.
Unify: Engaging five local schools, this project involves creating graffiti art to improve and beautify areas of Gabalfa, culminating in an exhibition.
Wellbeing Garden/Outdoor Learning Area: This initiative includes bike maintenance, Duke of Edinburgh programs, and wellbeing facilities such as a firepit, promoting outdoor learning and community engagement.
Renovation of Gabalfa: With the support of various partners, the Centre has been redesigned to be more inviting and exciting for young people, creating a space they can be proud of.
The event also featured a community consultation project where young people used a “maptionnaire” to identify safe and unsafe areas within Gabalfa, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for their community.
Cardiff Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Sarah Merry spoke at the event and reiterated the importance of collaborative working, saying:
“This event celebrates and demonstrates the importance and the impact of collaborative working between local authority and business partners to provide provision and opportunities for communities. From a Horsebox Café to the development of a Music Multimedia room, these projects would not have been possible without the collaborative working between business, partners and local authority.
“Encouraging partners to utilise their Social Value and Corporate Social Responsibility commitments to benefit children and young people can have an immeasurable impact on the lives of young people and looking to the future, there is so much more we can achieve together.”
Cabinet Member for Tackling Poverty, Equality and Supporting Young People, Cllr Peter Bradbury said:
“Over the past 18 months, Gabalfa Youth and Community Centre has evolved from having no full-time youth provision to offering an extensive range of engagements and clubs, across six days a week.
“This special event has showcased the journey of the Centre as it expands its services and opportunities for the young people in the community and is a testament to the power of collaboration between Local Authorities and private and third sector organisations.”
