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.
Cafe forced to move
Wild Thing cafe in Clare Road has been forced to close because its landlord is modernising the building and selling up.The vegan cafe has admitted it was "really upsetting news" but have pledged to find new premises and be back open in Grangetown soon.
It's a blow, only 18 months after opening and developing loyal customers, as well as demonstrated a firm commitment to local community and homeless projects.
Despite having to shut during lockdown, the award-winning team raised money to operate a food delivery scheme to provide 11,000 free meals for those in need and signed off with a "gourmet" delivery night, which also raised money.
Owner Lauren Saunders said: "Although we are shocked and sad, we are optimistic for the future". They are now looking for bigger premises so they can hold more nutrition and cooking workshops and also operate the community food project. Wild Thing will continue operating deliveries from its satellite base in Cathays from the end of July.
Tramshed late licence granted
Tramshed will be able to open for 10 more late-night club events, after councillors gave them a chance to prove they could deal with noise issues.
The venue will be able to hold a maximum of 31 DJ nights a year, two a week, but for a year-long trial period after objections about noise from people leaving, urinating in gardens and cars and drug-taking in what one local councillor called a "nightmare."“I have no objection to the venue or problem with the operators, they're trying their best," said councillor Lynda Thorne. "This is a residential area. I have no problem with people enjoying themselves, but those events should be taking place in the city centre. My community really shouldn’t have to be putting up with this.”.
There were 36 objections to the late openings to 3am - including from the landlord, which underlines the wider planning row between venue and developer, over controversial proposals for offices/flats behind Tramshed. But there were also 20 letters of support.
The venue hosts mainly live music in the 1,000 capacity venue with an earlier cut off but its operators say they need to hold more club nights to make it viable.
Looking for Grangetown business litter champions
Grangetown Community Action is looking for local shops and businesses to become litter champions. As part of the volunteer efforts, involving Keep Grangetown Tidy, litter-pickers and a brush are being made available to business owners to help tidy up on the pavement and area around their premises.
Already the Honeycomb toy shop (owner Maia is pictured above) Holmesdale Street post office and neighbouring Naz’s Stores, Wild Thing Cafe in Clare Road and Kent Street Stores have taken delivery of their equipment.
The aim is that everyone tries to do a little bit immediately around where they're based to make the sreets look tidier - and spread the message to residents
A letter is being sent to shops and businesses by Grangetown Community Action co-chair Ash Lister. If you'd like to be involved in the meantime, email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk Grange Pavilion keys handed over
It was a key moment (pardon the pun) when the Grange Pavilion team finally took charge of the £1.8m building this week.The project has been taking shape despite the months of coronavirus lockdown. Although the current situation put pay to a spring opening party, there has been real excitement to see the finishing touches to the eye-catching development.
Grange Pavilion will be run as a charitable incorporated organisation, with partners including residents, Grangetown Community Action, Cardiff University and Cardiff Bay Rotary Club.
We asked project manager Lynne Thomas to bring us up to date, as Grange Gardens celebrated quietly its 125th anniversary.
What is left to do?
We still have around six weeks of work to go, including painting and decorating, sealing the floors, installing the induction loop, laying a timber floor in the blue room, installing Wi-Fi and finalising the landscaping.
When are you hoping to open the doors?We hope to open mid-August, depending on the Welsh Government regulations for use of indoor spaces / community centres.
Obviously to start with things may be different but any idea how rooms can still be used, will events be possible? What about the cafe?
At the moment, events will not be possible, however smaller workshops may be viable, once regulations allow indoor activities. We are in the process of recalculating room and building capacity and adapting our policies to include social distancing measures and increased health and safety measures.
We are working out our one way systems, for example, and where we will have sanitation stands, and we are preparing to order signage. We are fortunate in that we have a large outdoor space that can hopefully be used as an extension to the café, and we will work strictly within guidelines and closely with the café manager to ensure that all regulations are met.
Can the outdoor area be used?
Yes, when we officially open, within the guidelines for use of outdoor spaces.
Can people still inquire about booking?
Yes, by all means! Sophey (manager Sophey Mills) is available to take queries on bookings and volunteer opportunities. Please email any queries to Sophey@grangepavilion.wales. Read more about the pavilion and the rooms for hire at grangepavilion.wales and follow us on social media for regular updates. @grangepavilion on Facebook and @Grange_Pavilion on Twitter.
A reminder what will be in the Pavilion:
Beautiful shot of Grangetown in Lockdown. Share your snaps with us! #grangetownarttrail https://t.co/ii7CcQl7Df
— Grangetown Art Trail Helfa Gelf (@ArtGrangetown) July 3, 2020
Grangetown's neighbourhood support network will be 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 and formal work by the network will be 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 ediiton includes 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 July 25th |