“If you don’t have a place at the table then you’re probably on the menu” is a dictum often used by Citizens Cymru.
We’re sat at the table now, Fr Edward and I, which soon fills up with other arrivals. Corrina, Ali and Fiona from Citizens are already there, along with another Ali, the new project officer funded by the Youth Endowment Fund. It’s one of the interventions for an important initiative to help young people in Butetown and Grangetown to flourish, to keep them safe.
We’re at a meeting with other members of the Core Team at Citizens Cymru Action Centre in Loudoun Square.
A number of interventions have already begun. The guys from Foundation for Sports kick off with their updates.
Like Saturday nights at Butetown Pavilion. Sixty or seventy young people aged 13 to 22 years old rolling out sporting opportunities which are accompanied my mentoring groups and workshops dealing with issues which affect young people. The mentoring groups consist of about 9 young people but there are many one-to-ones too.
They’ve had successful Ramadan midnight sessions and for the first time ran sessions where a large number of girls attended, over a hundred.
Waz from Tiger Bay boxing club updates us on the strategy there where extra sessions for learning have been introduced. “No classes, no boxing,” he says.
“How has that been received?” I asked
He laughs. “They don’t like me.”
But it hasn’t reduced the numbers of those who are boxing. It has only served to increase the engagement with education.
Waz is well on his way to establishing a training centre for ‘Tiger Bay Security’ which will increase the chances of winning more contracts, and giving local young people the training and employment opportunities in the security industry.
Ali is engaging with some large companies, like Dwr Cymru, Sustrans and Transport for Wales. He says many local young people have engaged in their recruitment process but none have been employed.
More companies too are signing up to the local Jobs Compact, promising to pay the Real Living Wage, and a website will be launched soon advertising the jobs on offer by employers who have signed up.
This is an impressive group of people with a deep concern and care for those with whom they work.
But there is also a sombre turn of mood as they share some of their concerns and worries, anticipate what could be. We talk about the impact of the recent Section 60 periods introduced by South Wales Police, listen to the experiences of “stop and search.”
This work, funded by the Youth Endowment Fund, has a number of strands. Sports and education, policing, safe streets, mental health to name just a few. It was launched last year at St Mary’s Primary School in the presence of Huw Thomas, the leader of the Council, and Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner.
South Cardiff Ministry Area has been a member of Citizens Cymru for two years now although we’ve been involved in various campaigns for far longer. It’s an alliance of groups and organisations who work together to bring change.
This initiative is a five year project and whilst many of the interventions are funded, other concerns are tackled by engagement with decision makers, and those who have the ability to make the change needed. We engage with issues as varied as drug litter and floodlights.
The meeting is soon over. An hour is not enough but it’s enough to get a taste of what’s important. They’re already dressed for action, their sportswear emblazonedy with their logos. The table is soon empty. They’re off to do what they’ve been talking about.
For more information about Citizens Cymru visit their website
South Cardiff Ministry Area 
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