As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the NHS workers on the frontline of this pandemic; to the care workers looking after some of the most vulnerable in our community; to the paramedics responding to calls; to the teachers looking after the children of key workers; to the shopworkers keeping the shops open so we can buy the food and items we need; to the police keeping our streets safe; to the road hauliers making sure that supermarket shelves are stocked and vital supplies are delivered; to the post men and women and delivery drivers who are continuing to deliver our post and parcels; to the bus and train drivers keeping public transport moving; and to our council workers who are continuing to deliver the vital public services we all rely on.
I’ve always known that there is a legendary community spirit in Aberavon, and yet again you’ve risen to this challenge and there have been some truly amazing things happening in our community. I’d like to share some of those examples here:
Community Groups and Charities
Age Cymru West Glamorgan – They have been cooking and delivering warm meals to people in the area. Thanks for all the work you are doing to keep our most vulnerable fed.
Baglan Street Champions – residents have volunteered to help vulnerable residents with shopping and running errands. Thank you for the help you are providing
Bethel Community Church – The volunteers have been busy distributing food parcels and clothing to residents in need. Thank you for what you are doing to help the community.
Briton Ferry Covid-19 Support – They have been doing a fantastic job co-ordinating the street champions, getting food and medication to people who need it most. Thank you and well done to you all. Your work and your community spirit is what Briton Ferry is all about.
Busy Bees Sewing Group – Their members have been working tremendously hard to make over 8,000 scrubs bags, 550 plus Alice bands and 1,300 Covid forehead bands. Others have joined the groups including Hems and Hobbies Group, Cwmafan Bowls Club and WI Ladies. Thank you, brilliant work everyone.
Covid-Cwm – An army of volunteers have come together to demonstrate that great Cwmafan community spirit and support the most vulnerable residents in Cwmafan by running errands and helping with food and medication. Thank you for all the wonderful work you have been doing
Cymer Afan Library – They have re-opened as a as a Community Help Hub to coordinate support for the community. Thank you everyone.
For the Love of Scrubs Swansea Bay UHB – Port Talbot volunteers have been working tremendously hard making hundreds of scrubs of the NHS. They’ve been helped by St David’s Church in Margam and Carmel Chapel who have provided access to their halls for cutting. Well done and thank you.
Friends of Margam Park – They have been making drawstring bags for NHS workers, allowing them to take their uniforms or scrubs home and place them directly into the washing machine. Well done and keep up the good work.
Foodbanks – Thank you also to the volunteers who run our Foodbanks in Briton Ferry, Cwmafan, Cymmer, Port Talbot and Skewen, for continuing to provide this vital service at such a difficult time.
NPTCVS – The team at Neath Port Talbot CVS have all been working really hard coordinating volunteers and helping people access the support they need. It’s been a brilliant effort, well done and thank you.
Patchwork and Quilting Group, Pontrhydyfen – Thank you to all those involved with the Patchwork and Quilting group, you’ve been working really hard to make scrub caps and masks for the NHS. Well done everyone.
Paul Potts – Thank you Paul for the performances you’ve given throughout lockdown. Your singing has lifted the mood, boosted morale and brought smiles to many faces.
RADAR – The Aberavon residents action group have been working hard to support residents living in the area with food, medication and other essential supplies as well as running errands. Well done and thank you for all your hard work.
Safe and Well – Over 500 people have volunteered with the Council’s Safe and Well scheme to support residents who have been told to shield themselves and don’t have someone to call on for support. They’ve been picking up prescriptions, posting mail, making regular phone calls and so much more. Thank you.
Businesses
Andrew Scott Ltd – They have worked hard to transform the Llandarcy Academy of Sport into a fully equipped field hospital with 340 beds to help the local health board deal with large numbers of coronavirus cases. A brilliant achievement, well done to all those involved.
BOC – They have been keeping hospitals supplied with the oxygen needed to help patients fight the virus. BOC engineering and project teams have worked in designing and installing systems to the Nightingale Field Hospitals in Swansea, Cardiff and 9 other hospitals in the UK. Great work everyone.
First Corporate Clothing – They have utilised the skills of their workforce and turned their production over to making scrubs for frontline medical staff working to fight COVID-19. They’ve also donated fabric to the Busy Bees Sewing Group to help them with their efforts. Great work everyone.
Ministry of Furniture – Staff have used their skillsets, utilised their versatility and repurposed their machinery and facilities to make disposable face shields for frontline healthcare workers. Well done everyone.
Rototherm Group (Margam) – They have reconfigured their facility on the Kenfig Industrial Estate and have been producing 100,000 face shields a week. An amazing effort and well done to all involved.
Safe Face Mask – CanDo Laundry have started a new business venture in the Sandfields making non-medical face masks for the public to use, reducing the pressure on NHS supplies. Great work.
Tata Steel – They have donated vital personal protective equipment, like masks, gloves, aprons and shoe covers, to those on the frontline treating patients with coronavirus in Swansea Bay University Health Board. Thank you.
Tai Tarian – They have donated 1000 facemasks to Swansea Bay University Health Board. Thank you.
Education and Sports
Aberavon RFC – working with Age Connects NPT, the players have been volunteering to run errands for people in the community. Thank you all for the help you are providing.
Afan United – They have been busy keeping fit and raising money for Swansea Bay NHS. Well done everyone.
Dwr Y Felin Comprehensive – The staff have been busy 3D printing thousands of protective masks. Great work everyone.
Neath Port Talbot College – They have turned their Llandarcy Academy of Sport into a field hospital, with the help of Andrew Scott Ltd and Neath Port Talbot Council, and handed over the 340-bed facility to Swansea Bay University Health Board. Thank you and let’s hope we don’t have to use it.
Swansea University College of Engineering – Students and staff have been using their base on the Bay Campus to mass 3D printing protective masks for the NHS. Thank you and well done.
Ysgol Bae Baglan – The staff have been donating visors to doctors and nurses. Thank you.
There are so many organisations and individuals doing great work across our community, if there is any organisation or individual that you think should get a mention and they are not included above, please let us know and I’ll be sure to thank them.