A CAMPAIGNING Llanelli Labour councillor has given out thousands of free items in partnership with town charities in an anti-poverty drive he describes as ‘hugs not handouts’.
Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who first brought the idea of expanding the hugely successful Cwtch Mawr Multibank to Llanelli and Carmarthenshire as a whole about 16 months ago, said supplies of nearly 7,000 clothing and household items were issued to people in need.
Working with Ty Gwyn Church, Tyisha Foodbank, Myrtle House Foodbank, Llanelli LLAMAS (Llanelli Autistic Mothers Association), Llanelli Women’s Refuge, Links mental health charity, and Morfa Family Centre, councillor Greaney said the help had brought smiles to the faces of many people in difficult circumstances.
‘It has been wonderful to spearhead a project that could one day make a huge difference to the wellbeing and lives of thousands of Llanelli and Carmarthenshire residents,’ he said.
‘As a councillor representing Lliedi ward and a resident of Llanelli I have seen poverty at close quarters. It is a scourge on our society. It leads to premature deaths and blights the lives of too many families.
I am determined to do everything I can to tackle this through direct action and hard work,’ added councillor Greaney.
‘There is a massive problem in our community. It rarely makes headlines and it doesn’t feature strongly enough in local political discourse in my opinion. Fourteen years of Tory austerity has hollowed out public services, despite all the efforts of my hardworking council colleagues.’
Councillor Greaney said he felt ‘too often political differences and red tape, as well as the huge demand and pressures on public services slows direct, meaningful action to meet the needs of people in horrendous circumstances.’
Speaking after taking delivery of a batch of free baby milk for infants aged 0-12 from the Cwtch Mawr Multibank – which has already been issued to the Llanelli Foodbank at Myrtle House, Tyisha Foodbank and Llanelli LLAMAS, councillor Greaney said: ‘I have been proud to do my bit to get help to those who need it most.
‘Cwtch Mawr Multibank in Swansea has been extremely generous and helpful with those aims in mind.
‘I have heard of a young girl, aged nine, who received a pair of new shoes as a result of the Multibank’s work – she was thrilled and had tears in her eyes. Why? Because she had never had anything new in her life.
‘It’s heartbreaking to hear tales like that and that children are sometimes taken into care with their belongings in black refuse bags.
‘I firmly believe it’s incumbent on all of us who can to do what we can to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Councils and councillors in particular – of all political parties – should put the poverty problem at the top of the agenda.
‘If we don’t we will be condemning another generation, ‘ said councillor Greaney.
His plea comes after the Cwtch Mawr Multibank extended into Bridgend benefiting many residents in similar struggling circumstances as those in Llanelli and rural Carmarthenshire.
‘I’ve seen for myself the difference that hugs not handouts can make. It delivers dignity. It allows families to function. It helps keep the wolf from the door.
‘I want to pay a massive tribute to the charities and organisations that have taken this project on. It’s extra work for the volunteers and the charities but with their willing and welcome assistance we have cut through obstacles and red tape to reach the peop[le that need the help.
‘Long may that continue and let us let nothing stop the love spreading out. If people are hungry, feed them. If they are dishevelled, clothe them and tidy them up. Let’s stop demonising and judging people because of their financial circumstances.
‘Let’s make a difference in our communities, give real, meaningful help to those who need it, and do everything possible to encourage and enable the incredible community spirit that makes me proud to live in, and represent just a small part of the wonderful, welcoming town of Llanelli.’
The Multibank idea was the brainchild of former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and works with major companies including Amazon, to redistribute unsold items in pristine condition to communities in need.
Controversially, some years ago the items and unsold stock and end of lines went into landfill.
Since the Swansea Cwtch Mawr Multibank, which works in conjunction with the charity Faith in Families, was established it has given out almost 1.5 million items in the Swansea Bay area.
It was supported by the Welsh Government and Swansea Council.
Carmarthenshire County Council has agreed to establish something similar, but it has, as yet, not been established.
Speaking more generally, Councillor Greaney welcomed the £20 million Pride in Place project for Llanelli.
‘It’s a 10-year project that will work to transform the prospects of our town and its people.
‘I very much welcome the appointment of Steve Donoghue as the independent chairman and I hope the Board which will run the project will have top calibre people who have a track record of making a difference.
‘I understand the project may be able to lever in other funds from different sources that could increase the bang for the buck.’
He added that work to put the Board together was still underway,
It was our Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith who won this much-needed national Government money for the town. It’s for Llanelli and Llanelli people will decide how it’s used. It’s the ultimate in devolution and I’m excited to see the change it will deliver.
‘If it works well and is used wisely then, along with some of the multi-million pound Carmarthenshire County Council projects in the town centre, it could deliver hope where there has been despair, jobs where there has been worklessness, and a revival of fortunes for what for too long has been a town forgotten by central Government.
”We must work to ensure the profitable Trostre tinplate works which employs nearly 600 people remains in Llanelli and also ensure the Welsh Rugby Union do not axe our wonderful Scarlets.
‘These two bran ds are synonymous with Llanelli. they are parts of its fabric, it’s heart and soul.
‘If they disappear it would put Pride in Place in the shade.’
