SHORTLISTED FOR COMMUNITY NEWS AWARD 2020 AND 2019 - WALES MEDIA AWARDS
This is a community website for Grangetown in Cardiff, highlighting people, business, community activities, local news and things to do in the area and linking other websites and blogs.
This voluntary project - in connection with Grangetown Community Action - is the free, independent, online presence of the long-running Grangetown New s community paper, which has been distributed to 6,500 local homes at least twice a year for 40 years.
E-mail us on grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk if you'd like to help, are local or would like to send any contributions for inclusion, or wish to advertise. Also if you'd like to be included FREE in our DIRECTORY,
You can also follow us on Twitter @grangecardiff and look for Grangetown Community Action on Facebook. We have a growing number of followers and are keen to encourage a social network to promote Grangetown community events, activities, issues, businesses and organisations.
Lunch project beats virus with al fresco approach
Local residents managed to overcome the obstacles posed by coronavirus to provide free and healthy lunches to families in Grangetown over the summer holidays.
Grace Church Cardiff in partnership with Grangetown Community Action served nearly 400 lunches to families in the area through the Make Lunch Grangetown initiative.
Prior to the pandemic, Grace Church were planning on running lunch clubs through the holidays, however circumstances meant this was not possible. On realising the potential impact coronavirus has had on finances in households across Grangetown, they have worked with Grangetown Community Action to secure funding to provide the meals free of charge.
The lunches were served outside the Grange Pavilion in Grange Gardens, as work continued inside to finish off the new community venue.
Lizzie Swaffield from Grace Church Cardiff said: "It's been pleasure to be able to serve the community through Make Lunch Grangetown over the summer holidays. A fantastic team of volunteers have done a great job of preparing and distributing lunches to support local families."
She said the project was aimed at helping families struggling with food costs "at a difficult and uncertain time for many people."
EVENTS
Monday 21st September: Grangetown In Lockdown Art Exhibition, Grange Pavilion, weekdays until 3 October. Free. Art and photography inspired by extraordinary times of being stuck in your house or neighbourhood. Curated by Grangetown Art Trail, who have been gathering contributions on social media over the summer. This is a chance to see them altogether - and what a wonderful way to launch Grange Pavilion as a community space too.
Sunday 27th September: Grangetown Front Gardens walkabout, 10.30am-12.30pm. Organised by Growing Street Talk garden project, a chance to see some lovely and inspiring front gardens and yards, a chance to meet some residents - and get some ideas for your own. Need to register online.
Saturday 10th October: Keep Grangetown Tidy litterpick, 10am-12pm, Clive St / Penhevad St junction Second post-lockdown group litter-pick. Everyone welcome but limited to 30 people, so please register in advance if you’re coming. Link to follow.
Saturday 17th October: Grangetown World Market, 10am-2pm, Grange Pavilion. First street market with crafts, designs, vintage and street food outside - and indoors - at the new community venue.
Saturday 7th November: Keep Grangetown Tidy litterpick, 10am-12pm, Grange Gardens. New volunteers welcome to join monthly litter-pick. Everyone welcome but limited to 30 people, so please register in advance if you’re coming. Link to follow.Add your Grangetown event here, email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk
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The hopes of an opening party to mark the opening of the building in Grange Gardens were dashed due to coronavirus, but residents are being asked to join in virtually on Friday to mark the occasion, using the hashtag #MyGrangePavilion.
Local residents and local organisations, from Grangetown Community Action to Cardiff Bay Rotary, have been in partnership with Cardiff University's Community Gateway project since 2014.
The venue has different sized rooms, a cafe and toilets, as well as a big outdoor space and terrace. The hope is there will be a lively range of events, classes and attractions - from yoga to Grangetown's own community market.
Other regulars include a weekly Youth Forum, a social running group and a mental health peer support group, all of which can now meet at the new building.
Pavilion manager Sophey Mills is already a few months into the job - and rooms are getting booked up via its website. Reduced rates are available for hire costs to local groups and charities.
Ali Abdi, Grangetown resident and member of the Community Gateway team said: "The community in Grangetown is made up of people of all different backgrounds, so to have a mutual building to bring all of these communities together has always been at the forefront of our conversations with this project."
Ayah Abduldaim, a member of the Youth Forum and girls’ football coach said: "I can’t wait to be able to use the new Grange Pavilion and encourage girls from our football project to come along, get involved in physical activities and take part in the events that will be taking place in Grange Pavilion in the future."
As well as the building, the grounds include room to grow fruit and vegetables and pond area, to encourage wildlife. It includes a research garden for the university with specific plants for pollinators that residents can also benefit from to make their own honey.
"It’s across the road from where we live and
right at the heart of the community," said Steve Austins, chair of trustees."The
vision for Grange Pavilion is really exciting
and it’s been a privilege to play a part in
making it happen."
Colin Riordan, Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University said the venue would make a real difference in the community.
"Despite not being able to physically come together to share in this huge achievement, Grangetown has shown that not even a global pandemic can stop them," he said.
Housing association to press on with flats plan
Residents have been told that controversial plans to build 74 flats are to go ahead - despite the site being bought by a housing association
Developers Rightacres sold on the old Track 2000 site - and planning permission for 74 flats - to Hafod Housing last year after a protracted battle with local residents.
The Bottleworks proposals had faced 140 objections and a petition from local residents, while local councillors objected to the scale and Cardiff Civic Society called it "unsympathetic" and "retrograde".
Now local ward councillors have met with Hafod and been told it intends to continue with the development as planned.
Councillor Lynda Thorne told the Pentre Gardens residents group that they had reiterated their concerns about "scale of the building, waste collection issues and other concerns".
Hafod told them they planned a "modular build" for the project and were pursuing an innovative funding grant, and hoped to start work either next Spring or Spring 2022. Pentre Gardens residents have welcomed the idea of social housing but say they are "disappointed" the size of the development is still being considering and are hoping Hafod will listen to their concerns. Cardiff-based Hafod has a portfolio of 5,700 properties across seven council areas and a turnover of £60m a year. It is committed to investing £170m in new homes over the next few years. Street market to be relaunched at new pavilion Grangetown's community street market is to be relaunched in October with the opening of the new Grange Pavilion in Grange Gardens. Grangetown World Market - offering a mix of crafts, designs, clothing and selected street food - will be held at its new location on Saturday 17th October (10am-2pm).@HafodHousing to go ahead with controversial plans for track 2000 despite widespread opposition, 3 very critical reports from independent consultants and only 4 of the 10 planning committee members voting in favour of the plans. Social housing welcomed but this is disappointing
— PentreGardens (@pentregardensCf) August 26, 2020
The stalls will be spread out over the sizeable green at the £1.8m community venue - but there will also be room inside for more stalls or if the weather means that an indoor market is the best option.
The market was trialled on a few occasions at St Patrick's school playground - although the weather proved a handicap.
The new home for the market - launched as part of the #LoveGrangetown, Shop Grangetown project - offers more room and versatility, as well as toilet facilities.
The not-for-profit project ploughs money raised back into the market infrastructure, such as gazebos. The aim will also be to encourage local, young designers and entrepreneurs who want to try out selling their produce.
The organisers are looking for more volunteers to help run and organise future markets, with the hope if there is demand, that it can become eventually a monthly event.At the moment, markets are pencilled in for Saturdays on: 12th December 2020; 27th February 2021; 15th May; 17th July and 11th December 2021.
The prices for stall-holders are: £25 – Food stalls; £20 – stall with gazebo; £10 – stall without gazebo (please feel free to bring your own).
Anyone who wants to book a stall or help plan future markets can email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk
COVID-19 SUPPORT NETWORK PAUSED
Grangetown's neighbourhood support network has been suspended from August 16th, as the wave of coronavirus has eased.
More than 160 people stepped forward to offer help with errands and keeping an eye on neighbours shielding or staying at home during lockdown. Grangetown volunteeer network coordinator Dafydd Trystan thanked everyone for their help - with 160 volunteers offering support."We haven't had many new referrals in the last few weeks, but there are a number of neighbours that we've continued to support," he said". "It's difficult to put a precise number on it - but there have been well over 200 residents of Grangetown that have been supported by the Grangetown volunteers - some of whom supported every week (and more) during lockdown."
"I think we can all take pride in the Grangetown response to the pandemic."
Those needing help will be referred to other organisations but formal work by the network has been suspended. "If things do take a turn for the worse - then we will be here - ready, willing and able to help," said Dafydd.
We have all current information, contacts and further community resources on our webpage here.
Grangetown News - we hope to be back later this year
Grangetown News on hold during coronavirus pandemic
Due to the pandemic and the fact we rely on volunteers to deliver the newspaper, we have put plans on hold until later this year. In the meantime, we're trying to update our website and social media as often as possible and would welcome any help or contributions.
Our autumn 2019 edition included news on the progress of the £1.6m Grange Pavilion, including an exclusive first interview with the newly-appointed manager. We have features on one long-running shop that has closed - and a new business which has opened. A look behind the scenes at Grange Albion football club - and we will be also catching up (if we can!) with the folks involved with Run Grangetown.
There is also a special farewell message from Grangetown vicar Father David Morris.
There is now an online version here - and we are appealing for volunteer deliverers, especially for streets in North Grangetown and off North Clive Street.
Please email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk or go to our Trello board to register an interest in delivering.
Copies are distributed to 6,500 homes, shops and businesses. It is also be available in Grangetown Hub, local shops, venues and pubs and you will be able to view an online version above.
Grangetown News was shortlisted for a community news award in the 2019 Wales Media Awards in what is the publication's 40th year.
The newspaper - with website and social media presence - was chosen by the judges in the community news category. Can we take this opportunity of thanking all our readers, contributors, volunteer deliverers and advertisers for all their help and support over the years.
Now called Grangetown News, the first edition of the new-look 16-page full-colour tabloid newspaper came out in May 2016. Published by Grangetown Community Action, it has been a quarterly magazine format since 1978. In March 2019, it was shortlisted in the community news category in the Wales Media Awards.
Thanks for all those who have contributed and advertised - and also to our volunteer deliverers. If you can help deliver - email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk
Should you have a local news story or would like to tell the community about your organisation or school then our paper is a perfect way of reaching people!you are a local business/organisation who would like to advertise to the local community our paper is an ideal place to place an advert.
Our rates are listed below:
1/8 page - £40
1/4 page - £70
1/2 page - £110
1 full page - £200
1 full back page - £250
The Grangetown News is still printed 100% in COLOUR, but is printed in a tabloid format, making your articles and adverts larger than ever! This is a pilot project which will hopefully allow us to increase readership through spreading more positive, local news stories. The editions are 16 pages. All articles submitted should be in a Word document (or jpeg for images / designed adverts - All images to be supplied high-quality 350dpi, colour pictures converted to CMYK) and sent to grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk.
If you would like to discuss advertising in the Grangetown News, please feel free to contact grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk, or call Ashley on 07572875804.
As well as more local news stories, there are features on local businesses and also sport. The paper has also been designed by Grangetown residents. Online versions of the features - with more photos - will also be put up later on this website But it's not too late if you want to get involved:
Other Cardiff community websites: Cathays Danescourt Lisvane Pobol Caerdydd Radyr Roath Rumney Splott St Mellons Tongwynlais Whitchurch/Llandaff North © Grangetown Community Action and webmaster 2020. Last updated September 21st |