Y Sied Community Hub
“Cartref Yn Y Coed is a new Pobl development of 45 homes for people aged 55+, in the Treberth area of Newport, and attached to the building is a new community hub facility called Y Sied.
Along with the residents and community, Pobl and partners have been developing and shaping a new community offer based at Y Sied which puts the community in the driving seat.
A 50-plus partnership network has been set up, led by Integrated Wellbeing Network, part of Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board, to support and help shape a bespoke service offer for the area, that puts customer and wellbeing at the heart of its approach.
This network has community, Pobl, health board and Local Authority representation. All involved are committed to working together to develop an offer that is based on what matters to the community and what strengths and gifts the community has within it – An offer that is both supportive yet empowering, putting the community up front and leading the way.
Loneliness and isolation have long been a concern for this community, which is primarily made up of older people, which has only been further exasperated by the post Covid effect, yet in recent months both the existing and new community have come together to change things for themselves.”
“A new community group has formed, offering social events for residents and the local community, with activities ranging from coffee mornings, bingo, breakfast clubs, to social supper nights and community trips to name but a few.
These activities have directly contributed to improving the wellbeing of residents, some of whom say they ‘didn’t even have anyone to have a cuppa tea with before’. They have even recently held their first community family fun day event, raising over £1000 that will be reinvested to support the groups further growth and fund more events and activities in the future.
This has all being made possible through the dedication and hard work of key leaders in the community, both old and new, who have come together, supported and welcomed one another and together are a force to be reckoned with, achieving great things!
Pobl’s role has been only to support this growing and developing group, leading from the back, supporting with grant funding, training, and advice and guidance.
Pobl have also encouraged colleagues and external partners through the 50-plus network to utilise the available space at Y Sied, to host drop in surgeries, meetings and hold events and activities that welcome the community in and that provide a tangible benefit to that community.
Now Pobl are transforming one of the rooms into a salon to encourage local businesses to use on a low rate, rent a chair basis, supporting local business, whilst also providing a vital health, wellbeing and social offer for the community to utilise.
This is only the start of great things happening at Y Sied, with lots more to come!” (POBL, 2023)
‘The Life of Y Sied’, a short fly on the wall style documentary film funded by Pobl, directed by the community, and produced by start-up company White Crow Productions. An emotional roller-coaster of a film, it tells the story of the community hub, the neighbours and friends who use it, and the support they provide each other as they go about their everyday lives.
Samantha Howells, Area Regeneration Manager, Pobl Group, said:
“Cartref Y Coed is a flagship development for Pobl. A little over a year since the first people moved in, we are now able to fully appreciate just how important the element of community space is within these developments and the benefits it brings to the wider community.
“The Community Group have fully embraced Y Sied and are leading its development, supporting each other and creating services such as the community shop that will make a real difference to the lives of people who live here. The role of Pobl and the network going forward is to come alongside the community, understand what matters to them and support and enable their vision.”
Victoria Dyer of the Aneurin Bevan UHB Public Health Team, said:
“It was fantastic to see the hard work of the network paying off with the success of the event. This really was an effective partnership approach, linking the strengths of the community and wider organisations to deliver targeted health and wellbeing support for local residents.
“There was such a positive and community feeling to the day that was immortalised in the wonderful film produced by the residents, showcasing the support they provide to each other and wider community. A real example of unity and shared purpose.” (POBL, 2023)
Are you a resident of Treberth? Would you like to be more involved in the activities at Y Sied?
The 50 + Partnership Network is looking for residents of Treberth who would like to be involved in shaping a bespoke service offer and incorporates all aspects of wellbeing. Please contact info@yournewport.co.uk for more information.
