Faith in Families secures nearly £250k Welsh Government funding for Bonymaen Community Cwtch

Faith in Families Swansea has secured £248,975 from the Welsh Government’s Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund to develop the next phase of its Bonymaen Community Cwtch project.

The funding will support detailed design and business case work for an Integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub at the former St Margaret’s Church on Mansel Road. The disused building has been gifted to the charity by the Church in Wales, paving the way for a major redevelopment that would bring community, health and wellbeing services together under one roof.

“Hope back to the Eastside of Swansea”

Faith in Families Chief Executive, Cherrie Bija, said the project had grown out of stark realities facing local children.

“When we first started this project back in 2021, with the support of an incredible fundraising dinner at Morgans Hotel sponsored by Swansea.com, guests were appalled to learn that 18% of children in our city were living in poverty. That figure has now shamefully risen to 31%,” she said.

“Our projects are teaching children to be resilient, to find personal tools to live in adversity — and that’s appalling in itself. We want children to be children, not to worry about hunger, cold, or missing out. This project gives hope back to the Eastside of Swansea, showing that our city cares, that Swansea stands together, and that we will create a place where all children can live, grow, work, and play.”

A community‑led vision

The Bonymaen Community Cwtch is part of Faith in Families’ wider ambition to create a “one‑stop hub” for health, care and community services. The charity says the model will co‑locate partners from across sectors while giving residents a direct role in shaping services through community consultation and co‑design.

Cherrie Bija added:

“This is an incredible moment for us all thanks to a collaboration of partners — a huge step forward for Bonymaen, Faith in Families, and the communities we serve. This milestone is not just about a successful application; it’s about partnership, determination, and a shared belief in what we can achieve together.

“Child poverty is everyone’s business — government, charity, and community alike. No single sector or group can solve it alone. But together, we can and we will make a difference for our children.”

Next steps

The charity is now working with professionals including Luke Hurley of Hurley and Davies to formalise designs and develop the full business case. A series of community consultation events will be held in the coming months, inviting residents to help shape the future of the former St Margaret’s Church site.

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