THE PEOPLE of Swansea are being invited to see how work is progressing on new facilities at one of the city’s architectural treasures.
An open day is being held at the historic Morriston Tabernacle – and all are welcome.
The towering 152-year-old landmark is undergoing a sensitive transformation as Swansea Council regeneration work continues to put it back at the heart of the community.
Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “Great work is being carried out at this fantastic listed building – and we want to keep people fully up to date on progress.
“It’s a beautiful structure and our work – being undertaken with the support and efforts of many others, including congregation members – will help it become a community focal point for generations to come.”
A free-access family-focused open day showcasing the improvements is due to be held at the Tabernacle from 10am-3pm this Saturday ( July 27).
There’ll be free refreshments and free activities including workshops with Swansea-based youth charity Circus Eruption and stilt walking plus glitter tattoos and face painting.
Entertainment will include live singing by the students of Swansea-based professional tutor Catrin Harries, giant bubbles, and children’s entertainment with the city’s Heaven Sent Parties.
There’ll be a range of arts and crafts stalls, a raffle, a digital photobooth and a display of artwork by pupils of Swansea’s Clase and Tan-y-lan primary schools. Pupils from Glyncollen Primary School will be selling items they’ve made themselves.
The Tabernacle stands in Woodfield Street at the heart of Morriston. Its improvements project is expanding the venue’s range of activities and attracting new users.
It’s improving accessibility to the venue and the knowledge of local heritage, is increasing opportunities for younger people and those who are socially isolated and has improved the layout of spaces available for hire.
Funders include the Architectural Heritage Fund, Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme, a Welsh Government Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant, UK Government Community Ownership Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund People and Places, Cadw, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Landfills Disposal Tax Community Scheme, The Welsh Church Act Fund and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Past partners involved in developing the project include Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, NHS Social Prescribing, Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Caredig and Addoldai Cymru.
Meanwhile, the council is regenerating a wider area of the Lower Swansea Valley.
This includes work to open a new base for drinks firm Penderyn which was completed last summer at the site of the former Hafod Morfa Copperworks and a pontoon that’s been installed at the copperworks riverbank. A range of other work is planned.
Tabernacle:www.morristontabernacl.org
