Charlie's story - Moving up the ladder
Donna runs the Shape your Future scheme and I met her by chance. I had an established beauty business, The Beauty House. Nic had joined...
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Practical Support
In response to what working families told us about what would help, we worked with community members to develop various projects, including Your local Pantry Dusty Forge, Benthyg, and the Repair Cafe.
These all help families access food and things they might otherwise not be able to afford, reducing their outgoings, and help them to continue to use items through repair instead of replacing them. These projects are now central to the wider work of ACE, providing ‘ways in’ for people to access the support they need and bring their own contributions to the wider community.
Most of this work is delivered by volunteers. We have engaged with 82 volunteers, supporting their development, learning and progression with the help of our dedicated Volunteer Co-ordinator. 34 volunteers have completed training, through 12 courses. We’re upskilling the community as we learn together.
Watch: Nerys Sheehan Practical Support
Your Local Pantry
Dusty Forge
Your Local Pantry is a network of community shops, run as a membership scheme, building connections both locally and nationally. Members pay a weekly fee of £5, and can choose about £20-25 of shopping. The food comes from Fare Share, a Lottery-funded charity that redistributes supermarket surpluses, and other sources. The pantry offers fresh and chilled food, including meat, fruit and vegetables. It’s run by volunteers, who are themselves pantry members. ACE offers staff support, including training and food safety, but volunteers decide the shop’s layout and organisation.
“We wanted to provide something really affordable that had the dignity of choice. People are customers, it’s not like accessing a charity.”
Sarah Whitfield started out volunteering in the Pantry and is now working for ACE. Read her story here: 'I've grown so much.' <link to story post>
Watch: Pantry Video -
Alex and Sarah
Read: Sarah's story - 'I've grown so much.'
"I came down to ACE to get a Food Bank voucher. And they mentioned about pantry just starting up and they needed volunteers."
Benthyg
- Library of Things
Benthyg is Wales’ Library of Things and has one simple goal; to make borrowing as easy as popping out for a loaf of bread. Benthyg is a Welsh word meaning borrow or lend. We’re creating a culture of resilience and environmental sustainability that brings communities together to share items, knowledge and skills.
ACE’s Benthyg project at the Dusty Forge has grown substantially. In its first 16 months, ACE Benthyg has loaned out 299 items and has 240 active memberships, with 446 people signed up. We collaborate with Cardiff Youth Justice Service and Keep Wales Tidy, and are funded by WCVA and the National Lottery Community Fund. The library of things is another way to reduce people’s outgoings and provide access to things that would otherwise be unaffordable.
"I was able to get everything we needed for the camping trip, and then bring it back which cost a fraction of the price." - Read more of Dale's story - 'Benthyg is ACE' here. <link to post>
Watch: ACE Benthyg
Read: Dale's story - 'Benthyg is ACE!'
"You go to the library if you want to borrow books, when you go to this place, you can borrow items. It's an invaluable service."
Repair Café
"The Dusty's repair cafe has been running for over 3 years, and repaired over 300 items. Our team of volunteer fixers' skills include basic bike maintenance, electrical and IT repairs, ceramic and woodwork repairs, textile repairs including revival of elderly soft toys, and 1-2-1 advice about digital equipment. We continued our free service door-to-door during lockdown and now meet monthly to share skills with customers.
Most items are repaired, but all our customers leave feeling that they've received a very personal service and a friendly welcome from our volunteer hosts. Our repair cafe enjoys support from Unite Community Cardiff & Area branch and Repair Cafe Wales. Together with Benthyg and the ‘pay what you feel’ Dusty Community Shop, it supports ACE’s goal to develop a more sustainable circular economy, and helps community members to save money."
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