From stories of selfless acts of charity work to new book swap campaigns, Penarth View is keeping you in the loop with some of the best community stories this season.

Driving 400 Miles for Wales Air Ambulances

Retired Penarth resident, Ed Griffiths drove 400 miles in his MGC GT classic car to all four of the Wales Air Ambulance bases at Llanelli, Caernarfon, Welshpool and Cardiff in 24 hours. Ed is hoping to raise a minimum of £2000.

Penarth’s Food Project

A Food Pod has been set up in Penarth providing residents with a variety of tinned and perishable goods, toiletries and hygiene products on a pay-as-you-can basis. Located in the St Luke’s estate, open on Monday and Fridays between 2pm and 4pm, this project was designed to handle the food waste issue and support a community that has been hit by the pandemic.

Penarth Family Goes the Extra Mile for Alzheimer’s Society

Matt Holland, known to Penarth residents as the owner of Willmore’s 1938 and recently ‘George’ van at Cosmeston. But Matt and his family have gone the extra mile by walking 26 miles across the Salisbury Plains to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society in honour of Matt’s father, George Holland, who passed away in October 2020.

New, Affordable Vet Practice Opened at Cardiff Dogs Home

A new vet practice has officially opened at Cardiff Dogs Home, offering affordable care for dogs. Cardiff Dogs Home partnered with Rescue Hotel to launch the new scheme, with The Rescue Hotel Charity and charity ambassador opened on 21st August. The scheme keeps prices as affordable as possible so customers can get treatment for their canines.

Happy 7th Birthday, Griffin Books!

Happy Birthday Griffin Books! Owner Mel Griffin opened the beloved Penarth independent bookshop in 2014, fulfilling a childhood dream and since then it has done nothing but thrive.

Book Swap at Zero Penarth

In an attempt to tackle ‘throw-away’ culture, Penarth’s zero-waste shop, Zero Penarth, has launched a free book swap service. As the name suggests, anyone can go and select a book and in return you simply have to donate one (or more) in return. It’s the perfect way to get rid of your old books and find your latest read.

RNLI ‘Friendship Bench’

A striking orange and blue bench on Penarth Esplanade, put in place by RNLI Penarth and Vale of Glamorgan Council, is aiming to tackle loneliness and give people the chance to talk about mental health. The bench has been widely popular and gives an opportunity for people to strike up conversations with strangers, whether they are feeling lonely, need somebody to talk to, or simply want a friendly chat.

63-Year-Old Takes on 200 Mile Cycle

Nigel Osborne, a Cowbridge Tennis Member, has cycled from Caernarfon to Cowbridge with the hopes of raising £15,000 for Cowbridge Tennis Club and a contribution to Prostate Cymru. The cycle started on the 17th September and he arrived at the Tennis Club the following day. Nigel covered 15 miles every hour to reach his goal on time. Well done Nigel!

“We Slept on a Balcony for Charity”

Five Penarth residents decided to sleep on the balcony of Penarth Yacht Club to raise money for Action for Children. They swapped their beds for the balcony floor and raised over £1600 for their chosen charity, which helps vulnerable children and their families who were hit hard by the pandemic.

Penarth Resident Publishes her Second Book

Penarth resident, 93 year old Eugene Barter, has lived a busy life and has now poured her story into her second book, titled; ‘The Best of Times’. This exciting read contains stories of her life as a junior reporter, running an auberge in France and working with Sir Edward Heath. A very exciting read, indeed!

Local Business Raises £520 for Charity

A local business has raised £520 for Macmillan Cancer Support with a Barry Bake Off, which saw talented bakers coming together to help make the impressive achievement. The Business Centre, situated on Cardiff Roath, held the bake off on the 24th September with the help of Mel’s Cafe. 17 cakes were assessed by a panel of judges who had a difficult time deciding the winners.