Throughout the summer, the beautiful church grounds at St Mary’s Burry Port have hosted a very successful car boot sale, where every month there have been some stalls dedicated to fundraising for local charities. These include the RNLI, YMCA, and CYCA.
Last month a stall was set up for Burry Port’s Tŷ Mair Family Centre which raised £120 for this fantastic local family support service. A cheque was presented to the facility manager, Shan Cheesman, along with some of the grateful families who use the Centre, by members of the church congregation.
Tŷ Mair started in 2009 as part of the Plant Dewi St Davids Diocese initiative, and supports all persons who take on a role of parenting young families within the 0 to 11 age range. It can also provide specialist support for families of children with disabilities or special needs. The service is free of charge and all delivered through the medium of English and Welsh.
Some of the aims of Tŷ Mair are:
- to ensure children have a comprehensive range of education and learning opportunities
- to provide access to play, leisure and cultural activities
- to provide a safe home within a community which supports physical and emotional well-being, especially for those who may be disadvantaged by poverty.
The accommodation is based in Stepney Road, though the team also take their families further afield. Recent summer activities which were enjoyed by many parents and children include trips to the Gower (strawberry picking), Folly Farm, the Botanic Gardens and a Caerphilly Mountain View day.
There is also a comprehensive range of activities at the Centre itself which, for example, provides courses in baby massage, parent craft, mindfulness, as well as teaching essential skills such as cooking and budgeting.
Last year alone over 400 local families enjoyed having access to this amazing service.
Having recently lost some of their charitable funding, the Ty Mair team was delighted to receive the cheque from St Mary’s, and we enjoyed meeting the families dressed up for a special Pirate-themed BBQ day.
It was a joy seeing the children and parents happily engaged in caring and sharing the wide range of activities provided.
