Clynfyw Work experience and Volunteering Programmes

​We run work experience sessions as part of our work to help people become ‘more employable’. Kinora also runs a community gardening service, taking care of gardens belonging to elderly and housebound people.

These programmes give people a chance to try more things, see what they like and, in some cases, move on into work. Many are linked to ASDAN certificated training which can help provide evidence of ability when looking for work.

The Wheelie Good Idea

​The Wheelie Good Idea sends shipping containers full of wheelchairs and refurbished mobility aids to our partners in Syria, Kenya and South Africa.

Do you have a wheelchair, glasses, gardening equipment, children’s games, sewing machines or literacy aids you don’t need? We’d love them to get them to people who do need them!

We support refugee projects in Pembrokeshire and are Anaya Aid’s West Wales drop off point, shipping aid directly to Syria, Yemen and Gaza. We also work with S.H.A.R.P. who are based in Swansea and take donations to refugee camps in Calais, Paris and beyond.

Some of our Team went to South Africa in 2017 and 2019 to meet our Durban-based partners, Container Ministry, and see where the donations end up. These were life changing trips—hugely inspiring for everyone involved, and for those left behind following the adventure at a distance.

Please get in touch if you would like to help in donations, repairs, volunteering, fundraising… We would love to hear from you.

. Horticulture

​Our horticultural project produces a variety of produce, but the main reason for it is to provide a meaningful engagement tool with which we help and support people. The wonderful chemical-free food produced is the ultimate bonus!

We used the majority of our produce cooking lunches every day of the week. We also sell to the Nags Head in Abercych, directly to the tenants living at Clynfyw and the remainder is sold to the local community including members of our participants and staff team.

Since 2018 our main growing area consists of 32, 5 metre long beds which are used to grow alliums, roots, solancea and legumes on a four year rotation. We are doubling our growing area in 2020 with intention of increasing more in years to come, building up our capacity to feed ourselves and to contribute to food security of our local community. COVID has delayed our plans a bit, but there we are! 

All produce is grown to organic principles (though we are not registered with any formal assessment association), using a permaculture design approach. ‘No-dig’ gardening is promoted, with digging minimised and organic matter incorporated to improve soil microbiology. We also have plans to save seed when the garden is fully established.

We have 3 polytunnels which we use to grow tender crops, a large fruit cage and 3 fully accessible raised beds. The raised beds are used by participants with mobility issues and are part of the four year rotation crop plan.

We are keen to increase our growing capacity, to save seed and link more with other local growers. With the increasing evidence of climate change, we need to be prepared for whatever challenges there are to come. But we are in a good place, and this project is going really well!

Clynfyw Learning Centre

​Our Projects are person-centred, developing as the result of feedback and stated interest of the people we support. The projects include small-scale horticulture, crafting, charcoal making, pork and poultry production, independent living and life-skills, computer literacy, bicycle maintenance, relationships, travel training, money handling, personal hygiene, numeracy and literacy, sports, woodland skills, bush crafting, swimming, football and other sporting engagement and other low-impact activities which help excluded people form a better understanding of farms and the rural environment.

Whenever possible these are linked to ASDAN certification with Clynfyw becoming a recognised training centre.

British Hen Welfare Trust West Wales Collection Point

​Towards the end of 2017, Clynfyw became the South Wales re-homing site for the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT). Since then we have helped re-home well over 3,000 ex-battery hens, and have 40 of which we have given a happy, free range home at Clynfyw. These re-homing days have helped raise vital funds for the BHWT with a donation being recommended for each rescued hen.
A re-homing day begins with picking up the hens our recipients have signed up for from Cardiff. On arrival back at Clynfyw, BHWT volunteers and our participants tend to the hens, give them food and water and let them stretch their legs after a long journey. The hens are then collected to go home with their new owners. It gives our participants the chance to build on their interpersonal skills by greeting members of the public and assisting staff in money handling and basic maths. What they really love though is to spend time caring for such vulnerable animals.
We have a number of participants who take a keen interest in the welfare of our hens and working with the BHWT has helped them gain an awareness of the methods involved in intensive animal farming. Our participants are directly involved with helping our re-homed hens get back on their feet by feeding them, looking out for any signs of illness, and ensuring a safe and caring environment. Eggs are collected and dated on a daily basis, used here as part of our catering projects with the surplus being sold to Clynfyw tenants and the public from a stand at the end of the drive which staff and participants also made, with proceeds going towards animal feed and supplies.
Tens of thousands of hens have been rehoused in happy homes by the BHWT around the country. We look forward to working with the BHWT in the years ahead to find many more hens a happy home.

If you’d like to help…. here’s how

​We have always run Clynfyw with the intention of relying on as little grant funding as possible. We do, however, need to seek additional funding to help with specific projects….like the Wheelie Good Idea!

It costs around £6,000 to buy, fill and ship a container-load of wheelchairs, mobility aids and other items to our partners in South Africa, Kenya and elsewhere around the world.

We raise a funds to send the containers through our community apple juicing project, but the more funds we raise, the more containers we are able to send.

​Perhaps you could help?

There are many ways. Perhaps you could hold a coffee morning in your local area. Perhaps you are a runner and would run a marathon for us. Perhaps you could organise a sponsored walk, a jumble sale or something else. Or perhaps you would simply like to donate using the button here.

All support is much appreciated.

If you would like help from us, please let us know.