£1,000 donation helps Matt’s Café serve hundreds of meals a week in Swansea

Matthew’s House says donation is a “game-changer” for food storage and planning

Matthew’s House, based in a converted church on Swansea’s High Street, is home to Matt’s Café — a community space offering hot meals, showers, laundry, clothing and support to anyone who walks through the door.

The café operates on a “pay what you can” basis and is open three times a week, with no eligibility criteria. Guests are welcome regardless of their circumstances, and many are facing homelessness, mental health challenges or financial hardship.

Now, thanks to a £1,000 donation from UKSE’s Community Fund, the charity has been able to purchase a large freezer to store donated food more efficiently.

“It’s a game-changer for us,” said Project Leader Tom Lynch. “It allows us to plan and organise our food storage more efficiently. We are very grateful to UKSE for their support.”

Supporting Swansea’s most vulnerable with food, dignity and warmth

Matthew’s House was launched in 2017 by The Hill Church Swansea and has grown into a multi-service hub supported by over 150 volunteers. In addition to meals, the charity provides emergency packs, hygiene items, advocacy, and a welcoming space for those who need a chat or a moment of peace.

Much of the food served at Matt’s Café comes from the Fair Share scheme, which intercepts unsold supermarket goods that would otherwise go to waste.

UKSE Regional Executive Alan Jenkins said the company was proud to support the charity’s work:

“We are delighted to assist the wonderful work done by Matthew’s House and, along with their many other supporters, to enable them to bring hope to people who are struggling — especially at this time of year.”

How to support

Matthew’s House continues to rely on donations, volunteers and community partnerships to operate its services. More information is available at matthewshouse.org.uk.

More on Matthew’s House

Matthew’s House named among Big Issue’s Top 100 Changemakers
Swansea’s “beacon of hope” recognised nationally for its work supporting vulnerable people.

Matthew’s House launches ‘Hope in Swansea’ app
New smartphone app connects people in need with local support providers across the city.

Swans Big Sleep Out fundraiser with Matthew’s House
Swansea City AFC Foundation partners with Matthew’s House to raise awareness of homelessness.

Donation station set up for Matthew’s House
Yorkshire Building Society in Swansea collects food and essentials to support the charity.

Browse all Matthew’s House coverage
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#FairShare #foodWaste #HighStreet #homelessness #MattSCafé #MatthewSHouse #Swansea #TheHillChurch #UKSE #UKSECommunityFund

Boost for Aberavon’s Mighty Quins as UKSE backs junior rugby project

The £1,000 donation from UKSE’s Community Fund will support the creation of a new play area at the club’s ground, where dual-code rugby star Regan Grace first learned the game. The initiative is part of the club’s wider effort to strengthen its junior section and improve the match-day experience for local families.

“This is a project we’ve been wanting to push ahead with for some time,” said Ashley Jones, coach of the junior rugby section. “We’re very grateful to UKSE for their support.”

The Quins currently run three youth teams — Under 7s, Under 10s and Under 13s — and have long been a launchpad for Welsh rugby talent. In addition to Grace, who has played for St Helens and Cardiff Rugby, the club has helped develop internationals Richard Hibberd and James Hook.

UKSE’s Howard Thompson, Regional Executive for Wales, said the donation reflects the company’s commitment to supporting grassroots sport and community wellbeing.

“Local rugby clubs are vital to the wellbeing of the community,” he said. “This type of project is exactly why we established our Community Fund — to support initiatives across Neath Port Talbot and South Wales.”

More information about UKSE’s community support programmes is available on their official website.

Related steel and community stories from Swansea Bay News

Steel investment programme for jobs hits £3 million
Published July 2025: UKSE’s support for South Wales businesses reaches milestone, backing hundreds of jobs and start-ups linked to the steel industry.

Former Port Talbot steelworker Martyn launches mental wellbeing support business
Published June 2025: After redundancy, Martyn pivots to mental health advocacy with a new venture helping others navigate life after the steelworks.

Steelworker launches stylish Aberavon coffee venue
Published May 2025: A former Tata employee opens a new café on Aberavon seafront, blending industrial heritage with coastal hospitality.

Port Talbot Welding Skills Academy pledges to retrain 300 ex-steelworkers
Published April 2025: New academy offers retraining and job pathways for former steelworkers, backed by industry and government support.

#Aberavon #AberavonQuins #MightyQuins #PortTalbot #Rugby #TataSteel #UKSE #UKSECommunityFund

Lichfield charity’s social enterprise project given boost by donation

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2025/07/17/lichfield-charitys-social-enterprise-project-given-boost-by-donation/

Steel investment programme for jobs hits £3 million

The Programme was launched last summer in response to changes as Tata Steel moves to greener steel-making at its Port Talbot plant with a £1.25 billion investment in the new Electric Arc Furnace. 

Many of the 84 companies supported are in the Port Talbot and Swansea area, while the others are across South Wales.  

“Our strategy is to stimulate the jobs market by identifying businesses with growth potential that can create the jobs of the future,” said UKSE Area Manager Rob Barber. “We took a flexible approach aimed at making a swift response in order to make a significant impact on the local economy.

“We committed considerable resources to the Programme, both in terms of personnel and finance, and I am delighted to say we have exceeded our expectations and the response from both employers, and new start-up businesses, has been excellent.”

Just under 50 start-ups have received grants and loans, many of them launched by former workers at the plant such as Coffi Portablo, the colourful and inviting coffee venue in Aberavon Shopping Centre run by Vichuda and Cassius Walker-Hunt.  The loan enabled Cassius to buy a commercial refrigerator, coffee blenders and other equipment. “It has been very useful indeed and has helped get the business off the ground,” he said.

A further 30 companies have benefitted from loans to enable them to bring their business plans forward with speed.

Port Talbot based JES, an important contractor to the steelworks over many years, has launched an academy to train former steelworkers and others in welding and fabrication skills backed with a £200,000 loan from UKSE.

Businesses supported cover a diverse range of sectors – environmental, well-being and mental health support, innovation in industrial equipment, heavy industry, personal care, sportswear, landscaping and many others. 

To deliver the programme UKSE in Wales increased the size of its Investment team, bringing in Regional Executives Michelle Noble and Alan Jenkins to work alongside Howard Thompson, under the leadership of experienced former commercial banker Rob Barber. 

“Working closely with other agencies I am confident that UKSE has made a significant and useful contribution to helping the local economy move ahead and mitigate the changes that have occurred. There is of course more to be done and the UKSE Support Programme is set to continue and support job creation in Port Talbot and South Wales,” said Mr Barber.

#Business #PortTalbot #PortTalbotSteelworks #steelworks #TataSteel #UKSE

Former Port Talbot steelworker Martyn launches Mental Wellbeing support business

Martyn worked at the steelworks for two years in the run up to the recent changes at the plant offering Mental Health and Wellbeing support to the workforce during that difficult period. 

Now, with financial support from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE he has launched Springfield Advisory working with businesses and organisations in Neath and Port Talbot and elsewhere to continue his work helping people get through the challenges of daily life.

The problem, he says, is that people often don’t want to confront issues and find it hard to open up to others. “Many people don’t want to admit what they see as weakness and dig themselves further into a hole. This is what I myself did some years ago until I sought help and my life improved as a result.”

While at the Port Talbot works he supported around 100 employees conducting webinars, awareness seminars, walking groups and other techniques he had learnt previously in his work with youth groups in the town where he gained a range of qualifications in First Aid, Mental Health, Addiction and Wellbeing. 

The £11,500 Fast Track loan from UKSE was part of its Support Programme for Wales which has now injected £3 million into the Welsh economy since it launched last year, creating around 400 jobs in 81 businesses.

“It was very beneficial and enabled me to create a website, and this has really helped get the business off the ground.”

Martyn explained that recent changes by the Health and Safety Executive mean that employers must take more responsibility for providing Mental Health and Wellbeing support for the workforce. “This has been a major step forward, and benefits both employers and their workers. From the employer’s point of view it means a more productive, efficient workforce and less time lost through absence.”

Michelle Noble Regional Executive with UKSE said she was delighted to support Springfield Advisory. “In modern life there is a growing awareness of the importance of Mental Wellbeing both at work and in the community. Martyn has the skills and experience to help people deal with the challenges they face and effect real change. We wish the business every success.”

(Lead Image: Nick Treharne)

#Business #mentalHealth #PortTalbot #steelworks #TataSteel #UKSE #wellbeing

Liam, who is leaving the Port Talbot works after taking redundancy, has established Todd10Sports with the aid of a £7500 Regeneration Loan from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE.

His Swansea-based firm is supplying kits and teamwear to soccer and rugby clubs in the area at he says much lower costs than other larger providers.

He says the concept is catching on because he allows the clients to create their own bespoke style.

“The tell me the colour scheme and I give them templates and they work on these to choose the look they like best, and basically design it themselves. They can add sponsors’ logos and anything else as they wish,” he added.

“I can supply playing kits and all the other teamwear that clubs these days have. This helps the clubs to build their brand and attract support from sponsors and to promote the club in a professional way.”

Liam, a keen footballer himself, is aiming in the future to expand into other sports, and is confident there will be high demand for his service. While he likes to deal directly with his clients and take a personal approach to understand their needs, he is also building a website to take orders. He is using the Regeneration Loan to finance this. 

“The support from UKSE will help me set up my website and purchase equipment and has been very timely,” he said.

Michelle Noble, Regional Executive with UKSE, said:

“The £7500 funding is half a loan and half a grant, and we are pleased that it will help launch this imaginative business and we wish Liam every success.”

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/10/27/port-talbot-steelworker-sets-sights-on-new-career-after-steel/

#PortTalbot #TataSteel #Todd10Sports #UKSE

UKSE has provided a six-figure loan to local engineering contractor JES which is greatly increasing the capacity of its training centre. The firm has been a key contractor to the Tata Steel works, their business relationship stretching back some 40 years.

The JES Skills Academy plans to eventually have 80 training bays where fabrication, welding and pipework will be taught offering new career paths to people leaving the steelworks and to others who want to follow this career.

The company is investing in and  expanding the state-of-the-art centre, and has made a commitment to offer the training to up to 300 former Tata Steel employees, as well as a range of other candidates, in the next 12 months to set them on fresh career paths.

In the longer term, the firm is aiming to diversify into new markets including oil and gas, petrochemical, renewables and nuclear energy and expand creating between 50 to 100 skilled and semi-skilled jobs based around the workforce trained at the Skills Academy.

The Academy, launched last year to support JES apprentices, has drawn praise from politicians in the UK and Welsh Governments, including local MP Stephen Kinnock. Support for the project has also come from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

It will offer comprehensive, face-to-face training, both hands-on and classroom based,  and with their qualifications students will able to take their skills out into the workplace.

Speaking about the program head of the academy Sam Owen said:

“Our professional team of tutors will operate a range of courses for which we leverage all possible funding support from Government and other agencies. 

“We are not just about training, but about enabling people to step into work when they leave us.”

JES Director Justin Johnson explained that demand for welding and associated skills was extremely high across the UK.

“Research by the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) demonstrates a nationwide shortage in this area and demand will almost certainly increase in years to come. 

“Locally, the new Celtic Freeport in Port Talbot is planned to be a source of jobs fabricating on and offshore wind turbines and other structures in the drive towards energy efficiency and Net Zero.”

The need to bring younger people into the fabrication sector has been highlighted by ECITB research, which shows that 40% of the workforce is over the age of 50.

“This is very concerning and underlines the need for training so that knowledge is passed onto a new generation,” added Mr Johnson.

JES was founded in 1982 by Justin’s father, Viv in a small workshop in Taibach as a pipework fabricator and installer, and has since grown into a multi-disciplined engineering contractor offering design, drilling, demolition and a range of other services.

The company has been a preferred supplier for 42 years to Tata Steel and its previous owners, as well as to other industries in the area, and now has a workforce of 116 and a turnover of £18 million. 

“The investment will be the platform to expand and we are hoping to add between 50 to 100 roles in years to come as we diversify and develop,” added Mr Johnson.

“This investment by UKSE is a major boost for us and we are very appreciative of their confidence in us by supporting the Academy in the way they are.”

UKSE makes strategic investments in Welsh and UK companies which show the potential to grow and create jobs and prosperity. It provides loan and equity packages up to £1 million and UKSE estimates it has supported 83,000 jobs around the UK since it was established 50 years ago.

Howard Thompson Regional Executive with UKSE in Wales said the need to build a quality, skilled supply chain was paramount.

“There is a UK wide shortage of welders. Almost every document published in connection with economic need and strategic economic planning by the Welsh Government and by Local Authorities across South Wales, highlights the skills shortage in welding and fabrication as an area of concern worthy of attention and investment. 

“Welding is set to be one of energy transitions most prized skills and we are delighted to be supporting JES in their journey and wish them every success.”

[Lead image: JES Group]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/10/12/port-talbot-welding-skills-academy-pledges-to-retrain-300-ex-steelworkers/

#JESSkillsAcademy #TataSteel #UKSE #Welding