CAERAU MEN’S SHED SINCE COVID
Since Covid hit the UK in January 2020 many organizations were badly affected.
Caeraumenshed were among those that were hit.
However simultaneously CMS was entering serious negotiations to move into new premises and set up a Workshop.
This was right at the start of the Lockdown !!
Negotiations were underway to take over the former Ann’s Enterprises building in Nantyffyllon Maesteg.
To do so would see major changes in the operation of CMS along with a massive financial commitment.
Do we go forward or withdraw? Two difficult questions that members had to decide.
The building was in a very bad state and in need of major repair.
Bravely or foolishly the decision was made to proceed and a 5-year lease was drawn up with the owner
Funding was required and ILC helped along with WaterBridge, a Canadian company whose owner Brian Hicks came from Nantyffyllon and played rugby for Nanty RFC in his formative years. Brian although living in Canada knew many of the members, and his support has been invaluable. Support has also been received from Maesteg Round table The national Lottery and BCBC and generous donations from individuals.
Throughout lockdown improvements were made to the building including a new office roof, upgrading original engineering rooms, and converting them into offices, whilst in the rear of the building a huge clean-up operation was underway to enable the building to be used as a workshop.
Wayne Thatchel builders were instructed to go ahead and working very closely with Mr Ray Watts architect, the building was brought back to life.
Two years on and CMS can now look back with pride at what has been achieved.
The building still needs a lot of attention but now houses a workshop, Santa’s Grotto a disabled toilet, an office and craft room with access for disabled and wheelchair users, along with car repair facilities.
We have our weekly meetings at 11 am in Dyffryn Chapel, Caerau every Friday whilst the workshop is open 5 days a week.
During lockdown and over the past 2 years CMS has been instrumental in supporting the community.
During the pandemic, they were instrumental in delivering 130 food parcels with support from a local bakery and supermarket.
They planted 100 trees around the perimeter of the workshop that was supplied by Woodland Trust.
They have been actively working in local schools renovating the allotments at Maesteg Comp School whilst Ysgol Cynwyd Sant took delivery of 17 very large planters and the repair of garden furniture.
Repair jobs have been undertaken at Dyffryn Chapel including the removal of a former stage and fitting a new roof on an outbuilding.
Christmas saw the shed supplying 100 Xmas trees in 2020 while 2021 saw over 200 trees being sold and many delivered. Some FOC to schools and groups. CMS also built 3 Christmas sleighs and linking in with a local building firm LBS they took Father Xmas and his sleigh and elves around the Streets of Maesteg in the evenings, to the delight of hundreds of children who came out of the houses to see Santa.
During the daytime the CMS Father Christmas gave out over 500 Christmas presents to schools and children at their purpose-built Grotto.
In March 2022 as a result of their community work CMS was privileged and proud to be nominated for the Mayor’s Citizen Award and against many deserving organizations in Maesteg they were selected as the winners.
Besides the above, we produced our 4th Calendar and supported one of our long-serving members Kieth Dixen in the production of his two poetry books.
Our regular Walkabout Football held at Nanty RFC has increased in popularity and our Drama group will shortly be back to rehearsing after being put on hold because of Covid
So all in all CMS are a very focused and active charity who are always looking for new members
Now with Covid restrictions lifting many new and exciting activities are being planned.
So if you are a male and over 18 and feel you’d like to be involved even if it’s only an hour a week then please contact us for a chat. You’ll be made most welcome.
And Mums if your husband wants something to do or you want to get him out of the house give us a call.
We’re a friendly bunch and love what we are doing.
