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June 9 2009

FAKE GOODS MADE GOOD

Cyrenians Cymru a local charity supporting homeless and socially excluded people in Swansea received a large donation of fake designer clothes which had been impounded by Swansea Trading Standards and then re branded by HIS Church.

Richard Humphrey from HIS Church stated :

"It is a joy to support Cyrenians Cymru, not just because of the work they do but because of the way they do it. The Cyrenians team genuinely care about the vulnerable people they look after, demonstrated by the superb quality of service they give.

We are delighted to donate brand new clothing and top quality food which will help Cyrenians to continue providing practical help in a way that brings hope and restores dignity.    

We must also say a big thank you to Swansea Trading Standards who's partnership makes all this possible. They provided the clothing, recommended Cyrenians for a donation and then helped with distribution.

Cyrenians are a credit to Swansea, epitomised by the fact they gave out of their donation to so many other charities within the community, which was wonderful - they are a great testimony to a community that cares."

David Picken from Swansea Trading Standard stated:

"Trading Standards is grateful to HIS Church for their efforts and arrangements to make a legal and practical use of counterfeit goods whilst at the same time providing local care organisations with food and supplies which they can make good use to assist disadvantaged people in our community."

Clare Evans the Healthy Living Coordinator at Cyrenians Community Centre in High Street Swansea stated:

”we are delighted to accept these high quality clothes and food and would like to thank both Swansea Trading Standards and HIS Church. They will be of great benefit to the most needy in the city.”

May 9 2009

Europe Day 9th May

Cyrenians Cymru is celebrating Europe Day on 9th May – and flying the flag for Europe.

European Funding has made a big difference to the services Cyrenians can deliver to the people of Swansea and further afield. Vocational and creative training, recycling and boat-repair, health support and overcoming barriers to employment, retail training and work experience, restoring our heritage and environment, building up confidence to improve skills and get back into work.

All of these have come about through EU funding, and made a huge impact on the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens.

We are not only making a difference in our Swansea-based services, but across Europe as well. Our Grundtvig partnership project ‘European Fire Celebrations’ has been hailed as a beacon project (no pun intended), and brings together adult learners from Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic and Denmark. For more information on this see www.dragonarts.co.uk .

For the next three years, Cyrenians will be developing its employment support and training with the help of European and Welsh Assembly funding. Working with partners, we will help some of the most vulnerable adults in the community gain skills and employment.

Cyrenians Cymru is not only a Welsh organisation, but a European one, working in a European context and helping Wales work towards the Lisbon Agenda.

 

March 18th 2008

Cyrenians Community Centre win AFAL award

Cyrenians Cymru have won an AFAL (Awards For Food Action Locally ) award for their work on improving healthy eating in Swansea’s community!
The Food Standard Agency Wales runs the annual AFAL (Awards for Food Action Locally) scheme to recognize an individual or team contribution to local nutrition initiatives that have made a positive impact on the diet or eating habits of residents in the communities where they work.

Click here to download the Food Standards Agency's Press Release.

 

March 10th 2008

Roberto Martinez visited the Cyrenians Snipers, a street soccer team who are part of the Street Soccer Cymru League, to offer some advice and training tips. This visit was took place at the Phoenix Centre in Townhill, Swansea and was part of Sport Relief

Please follow this Link for the Evening Post Article

October 26 2007

Welsh Assembly Government Press Release
Datganiad i’r wasg o Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru

Health Minister launches new health service for homeless and disadvantaged people in Swansea.

Edwina Hart, Minister for Health and Social Services, officially launched the new health service at the Cyrenians Community Centre yesterday (25 October) in Swansea.

It is the first of its kind in Wales and offers health and medical support, careers training and advice as well as training in cookery and exercise to the homeless and disadvantaged in the area.

The health service at the centre is a partnership between the Cyrenians and the Swansea Local Health Board. This follows a pilot project, funded by the Cyrenians, which established a high level of need among people attending the centre who are not linked into mainstream health services. It comprises a registered nurse offering a service four mornings a week, and a local surgery providing a Local Enhanced Service for homeless and vulnerable adults.

In launching the partnership, Mrs. Hart applauded the new initiative and voiced the need for more attention to be given to the health needs of vulnerable people in the community. She said; “I am delighted that we have been able to support this fantastic project and would like to pay tribute to the excellent work that is carried out by this facility in providing invaluable support to vulnerable people in our community.’

‘I congratulate the work of Cyrenians Cymru, which has worked passionately for over 30 years to develop a caring and compassionate community.”

Conrad Watkins, Cyrenians Director, said ‘We are pleased to be in partnership with the Swansea Local Health Board to bring essential primary care to people who are on the margins of mainstream services. But this is just the start. We hope this partnership is going to develop over time so that we can offer dentistry, podiatry and mental health support; and within the framework of a centre that promotes all aspects of healthy living, including good quality food, training and health awareness.

Cyrenians Cymru purchased two thirds of St. Matthew’s Church, which is grade 2 listed, to convert into a state-of-the-art community centre. The remaining part of the church was fully restored for the local congregation.

The site is historically associated with health support for the poor. The original chapel was built by the Knights Hospitallers around 1165 AD. To the rear of the building lie fields used for the burial of the cholera dead in the three severe outbreaks that hit Swansea in the 19th century.

Funding from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Objective 1 programme and the Heritage Lottery Fund, enabled the Cyrenians charity to open the centre last year

The centre is also used in the evenings for a wide range of activities by community groups, and is becoming a thriving resource within the area.

- Ends –

Available to download as a PDF document

Click here also for South Wales Evening Post article

Cyrenians Cymru, Head Office, 124, Walter Rd, Swansea SA1 5RG
Phone - 01792 467926
Fax: 01792 464978
cyrenians@cyrenians.co.uk

© Cyrenians 2007 - Registered Charity / Elusen Cofrestredig No. 503535