#afanvalley — Public Fediverse posts
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Cwtch Mawr multibank begins pilot expansion into Neath Port Talbot
Faith in Families says the expansion marks a significant step for the Swansea‑based project, which has been battling rising need by redistributing new, surplus goods from businesses to families struggling to afford the basics. The charity says it is now moving at speed to support more households across the county.
Five hubs have been chosen for the rollout — in Port Talbot, the Afan Valley, Neath, the Dulais Valley and Pontardawe. Faith in Families says each hub will receive clothing, toiletries, nappies and household essentials, ready to be passed on through trusted local organisations.
The charity says its vans are already being loaded, with deliveries expected to begin as soon as each hub gives the green light.
A rapid response to rising need
Faith in Families says the pilot will test how fast large volumes of essential goods can be moved across a wider area while keeping support rooted in local communities. The charity says the work forms part of a wider partnership known as NPT United, bringing together public services, charities and businesses to support families under pressure.
Jon Waite, Facilities and Development Manager at Faith in Families, said:
“This pilot is about working at pace while keeping things local and practical. We know there is real need across Neath Port Talbot, and by working with established community hubs we can get essential items to families quickly, through people they already know and trust. This trial will help us understand what works best on the ground and how we can build strong, joined‑up approaches going forward.”
Expanding a model built on speed and dignity
Faith in Families says the multibank model is designed to get essential goods to families without delay, paperwork or stigma. The charity says working through schools, community groups and frontline services ensures support reaches people through organisations they already trust.
Faith in Families says the Neath Port Talbot pilot will help shape how the model can be expanded further across Wales, with the aim of making sure no family goes without the basics.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
New and expanded Cwtch Mawr Multibank opens in Swansea
A major expansion of the Swansea hub, boosting capacity to support families across the region.Local multibank helping over 120,000 people each year gets £30K cash boost
Funding support to help the multibank meet rising demand for essential goods.New charity initiative already supporting thousands
Early coverage of the multibank model as it began delivering essentials to families in need.Virgin Media O2 donates hundreds of smartphones and free data to Swansea’s Cwtch Mawr Multibank
#AfanValley #clothing #costOfLiving #CwtchMawr #DulaisValley #FaithInFamilies #householdItems #Multibank #Neath #NeathPortTalbot #PortTalbot #surplusStock #toiletries
A major tech donation helping families stay connected during rising cost pressures. -
Upper Afan Valley lined up for £20m boost as council backs decade-long regeneration bid
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet has backed the Upper Afan Valley as the single community to put forward for the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme — a decade‑long investment scheme targeting the UK’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
The decision follows months of analysis comparing deprivation, crime, health, education and access to services across the county. Officers say the Upper Afan Valley stood out as the area facing the deepest and most persistent deprivation, with one local zone ranked among the 15 most deprived in Wales.
A valley hit by long-term decline
The Upper Afan Valley area put forward by the council covers Cymer, Croeserw and Gwynfi, along with the smaller communities that make up the wider valley. Together they form a single, connected neighbourhood identified as having the highest concentration of deprivation anywhere in Neath Port Talbot.
The council report paints a bleak picture. Parts of the valley have been classed as suffering “deep‑rooted deprivation” for almost two decades, appearing in the 50 most deprived communities in Wales in every official index since 2005. Jobs are scarce, health outcomes are poor and access to services is limited. Officers say the area has also missed out on other major regeneration schemes, leaving it with fewer chances to attract investment than other parts of the county.
Although the population falls slightly below the UK Government’s preferred size for the programme, the council argues the level of need is so severe that the Upper Afan Valley remains the strongest and most justified choice.
Three contenders — but only one could win
Under the rules, Neath Port Talbot can nominate only one neighbourhood for the £20 million fund. Officers examined the Upper Afan Valley alongside Sandfields and Aberavon, and Briton Ferry West and Neath East. Both of the urban areas have larger populations and stronger links to Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme, giving them more immediate opportunities to draw in other funding.
But the council’s independent review found that the Upper Afan Valley’s deprivation was more severe, more entrenched and more concentrated than anywhere else in the county. It also noted that, because the valley’s population is smaller, the investment per head would be far higher — giving residents a better chance of seeing visible, long‑lasting change.
“An optimistic sign of investment”
Cllr Jeremy Hurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said:
“If approved by UK Government, this money for the Upper Afan Valley is an optimistic sign of investment in what is – on average – the most deprived area in Neath Port Talbot.
“I hope the UK Government approves our recommendation so that the community can benefit.”
What the £20 million could deliver
If the bid is approved, the Upper Afan Valley would receive one of the largest single‑neighbourhood regeneration packages ever directed at a community in Neath Port Talbot. The funding would be spread over ten years and could support improvements to public spaces, upgrades to community facilities, investment in local assets and projects tackling health, employment and education inequalities.
A new Neighbourhood Board, led by an independent chair, would be created to oversee the plan and ensure residents shape the priorities.
A tight deadline — and a big decision ahead
The council must now secure letters of endorsement from local MPs and MSs before submitting its formal proposal to UK Government ministers. The deadline is 9 January 2026, with decisions expected later in the year.
If approved, the Upper Afan Valley would become the focus of a decade‑long regeneration effort aimed at reversing decades of decline and giving one of Wales’s most disadvantaged communities a long‑awaited boost.
More Pride in Place news
‘Transformational for our communities’: MPs react to £214m funding
South West Wales MPs welcome the UK Government’s new investment package.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment
Councils across the region set to benefit from long‑term regeneration funding.Clash over £20m Carmarthenshire Pride in Place funding
Political tensions rise as Carmarthenshire’s preferred neighbourhood sparks debate.‘Constitutional outrage’: Senedd Labour revolt over funding bypass
#AfanValley #CllrJeremyHurley #Croeserw #Cymmer #deprivation #Gwynfi #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PrideInPlace #UpperAfanValley
Senior MSs criticise the UK Government’s approach to distributing regeneration money.