The Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) regional mental health network ‘Together for Mental Health’ brings together the voluntary and community sector from across Bridgend, Merthy Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf county boroughs and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
The aim is to guide, monitor and facilitate the coordinated approach required to deliver the national Together for Mental Health Strategy and has the following core aims:
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For further details, contact BAVO, T: 01656 810 400, E: lucywilliams@bavo.org.uk or call 07850 700 377
Who Can Make a Referral?
Anyone who supports someone in need of a little extra companionship can refer to our service. This includes health professionals such as GPs, occupational therapists, social workers, and district nurses, as well as housing associations, voluntary organisations, family members, and friends. Self-referrals are also welcome.
Who Can Be Referred?
To be eligible for our face-to-face befriending service, individuals must:
Feel lonely or isolated with little or no family support
Live in Bridgend County Borough
Reside in their own home, sheltered housing, rented accommodation, or housing association property
Be experiencing grief or adjusting after a bereavement
Want to make new friends or join community activities but lack the confidence to go alone
How to Refer Someone:
Speak with the person first—they must be aware of and agree to the referral
Contact BAVO’s Project Officer on 01656 810400 or email bavo@bavo.org.uk
Complete our referral form [link or instructions here if applicable]
What Happens Next?
We’ll arrange an initial home visit to discuss the individual’s needs
A trained and DBS-checked volunteer will be carefully matched to them
A member of our team will accompany the volunteer on their first visit
We’ll keep you informed once befriending support has started
For more details, please download our Referral Guide for Bridgend County Borough here.
The Good Gardeners International Charity is based in Bridgend County with a demonstration farm in Pontypridd.
They are the pioneers and originators of the No Dig Gardening and Farming system in the UK and demonstrate the transformation of all forms of organic wastes including sanitation wastes into a world class optimum fertiliser in 90 days.
They are still the only organisation who can commercially stop all Slugs, Snails and Caterpillars without the use of any chemicals whatsoever.
Based in Bridgend, Project Seagrass are a marine conservation organisation working to save the world’s seagrass.
Seagrass meadows are havens of biodiversity, providing habitat, food, and shelter to thousands of species of fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Seagrass helps to stabilise our coastlines, they can improve water quality, and support food security by providing a habitat for fish species that we eat.
Yet we have lost up to 92% of UK seagrass in the last 100 years and our remaining meadows face a range of human induced threats including poor water quality, coastal development, and damage from anchoring and mooring.
To find out more about our work and how you can support Project Seagrass, visit: https://www.projectseagrass.org/
If your group is involved in “green/blue” issues such as climate change, sustainability, nature, growing projects and more – contact Alexbowen@bavo.org.uk to find out more about BAVO’s Green Network
InclusAbility are excited to launch their new gardening project at Bronfair Allotment Community Garden. This initiative offers children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning experiences in a safe, supportive environment.
Participants, accompanied by a parent or carer, can enjoy growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers, while also taking part in eco-friendly crafts and activities. Their project promotes wellbeing, creativity, and connection with nature for all abilities.
To find out more about their projects visit: https://inclusability.org/about-us
If your group is involved in “green/blue” issues such as climate change, sustainability, nature, growing projects and more – contact Alexbowen@bavo.org.uk to find out more about BAVO’s Green Network
Baobab Bach Working With Young People and Communities to Grow Green!
Baobab Bach is a social enterprise that is working to provide affordable food for all in communities. There is no means testing – absolutely anyone can use one of their Community Pantries, where they focus on distributing surplus foods that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
In order to supplement the surplus food supplies and ensure that everyone gets a good bag full of food, they are growing their own produce in several locations, one of which is at Bronfair Allotments and Community Gardens in Garth, Maesteg. Baobab Bach is always keen to welcome volunteers on board and works in partnership with a number of organisations, such as Itec, whose young people have successfully worked on this growing project with them, building and installing raised beds on the site.
This helps not only to reduce ‘food miles’ by growing food locally, but it increases carbon fixation in the soil. By working with their small team of growers, they have been able to generate local interest in growing food. In this way, Baobab Bach assists people of all ages to gain the skills needed to produce food and learn how to grow their own.
Baobab Bach uses as much natural pest control as possible, facilitating the propagation of useful insect species and wildlife such as hedgehogs. There is also a pond at the project, to which we hope to attract newts and dragonflies, known to frequent other areas of the allotments. This assists in supporting development of biodiversity, as well as assisting with the growth of crops.
They plan to continue to work with agencies such as Itec and with local volunteers to teach new skills around growing food as well as promote a healthier diet by introducing local communities to the joy of growing and eating your own delicious produce.
If your group is involved in “green/blue” issues such as climate change, sustainability, nature, growing projects and more – contact Alexbowen@bavo.org.uk to find out more about BAVO’s Green Network
Coed Pen-y-fai Trust was formed in 1999 to save a 3-acre woodland, Coed-yr-Hela, an ancient woodland in Pen-y-fai. Over the past 26 years, trustees and volunteers have built paths and bridges to make the woods accessible to walkers; overseen and managed the health of the trees, plants and wildlife in the woods; and to ensure the Trust’s sustainability applied successfully for CIO status.
The Trust is committed to engaging with the community, especially younger people, and has ongoing relationships with Pen-y-fai Church in Wales School and First Pen-y-fai Scouts.
For more information, please email admin@coedpenyfaitrust.co.uk or visit their website: www.coedpenyfaitrust.co.uk
If your group is involved in “green/blue” issues such as climate change, sustainability, nature, growing projects and more – contact Alexbowen@bavo.org.uk to find out more about BAVO’s Green Network.
See a list of dementia support available in Pyle, Kenfig and Cornelly below. If you would like more information on the support available or to get involved, ring Fiona on 07923 212737.
Feel Good For Life Activities
📍Community Centre/Public Hall (Halo)
Jigsaw Friday (Awen)
📍Pyle Library
See a list of dementia support available in Pencoed below. If you would like more information or to get involved in the groups, please ring Emily on 07590 851768.
Cuppa & Chat (Awen)
📍Pencoed Library
Dementia & Carers Group (Awen)
📍Pencoed Library
Find a list of support available in Porthcawl available below. If you would like more information on any of the groups or to get involved, please ring Georgina on 07855 825036.
Sporting Memories Group (Ospreys)
📍Porthcawl Rugby Club
Craft & Chat (Awen)
📍Porthcawl Library
Porthcawl Hub (MHMW)
📍The YMCA, John Street
Paned & Sgwrs (Awen)
📍Porthcawl Library
Well-being walk (MHMW)
📍Meet opposite Grand Pavilion
See a list of support available in the Ogmore and Blaengarw Valleys below. If you would like more information or to het involved in the groups, please contact Julia on 07923 212727.
Feel Good For Life Activities (Halo)
📍Ogmore Valley Life Centre
Blaengarw Hub (MHMW)
📍William Trigg Community Centre
See a list of dementia support available in the Llynfi Valley. If you would like more information on the groups or to get involved, please ring Rob on 07874 871499.
Sycamore Hub (Awen)
📍Maesteg Town Hall
Breathing Space (Awen)
📍Maesteg Town Hall
Bore Coffi (Awen)
📍Maesteg Town Hall
