A summer house has been built in the grounds of a sheltered housing complex in Ogmore Vale in a bid to bring residents together frequently and increase social interaction amongst the group and which was purchased after residents applied for funding from Pennant Walters. They were thrilled to be allocated over £4,000 from Pennant Walters, which operates a fund linked to the construction of the new, but standalone, Pant y Wal Wind Extension Farm, adjacent to Ogwr Valley.
The summer house has been erected in the grounds of Linc Cymru’s Gwrt Gwalia complex and will now be used for a host of social activities, including coffee mornings, games and day to day interactions, for those residing in the 36 flats in the housing complex.
Pennant Walters Operations Manager, Harry Llewellyn, said:
“What a fantastic addition the summer house is to the housing complex! It’s great to see it in situ and we are delighted that it’s already bringing such joy in the short few weeks it’s been in place.
"Our wind energy project community funds exist to make a difference to the local communities in which we work, and it’s clear to see the positive impact this will have for the coming years. We hope the residents of Cwrt Gwalia are able to use it to socialise all year round.”
Treasurer of Cwrt Gwalia, Brian Thomas, who has been a resident for over 15 years, explains the need for a permanent structure:
“By the nature of a sheltered housing complex, there are people of many ages living here, and not everyone is able to get about easily.
“It’s great to have a facility on site that allows us to get together and socialise and we had a gazebo which we’d use, particularly during the pandemic, but sadly this didn’t stand the test of time.
“We knew the benefits a permanent structure would bring but sadly we didn’t have the money to purchase one, so when we found out that Pennant Walters would fund this, we were all over the moon.”
Now that the summer house is firmly in place, it is hoped to benefit all residents for years to come.
Brian continued:
“The summer house is fantastic! Even though it’s only been in place for a matter of weeks, we are all enjoying it and there is a new lease of life amongst the residents. Even during the changeable Welsh weather it’s nice to be able to step outside and enjoy a bit of fresh air.
“For us, living in one- and two-bedroom flats, we don’t have gardens to enjoy, so this is a great addition to the complex and I know just how much joy this will bring for many years.”