We're getting there thanks to you.

From the very beginning of the St Madoc Centre's long history we have relied upon many different sources for survival; volunteers, our users and donations have all contributed to our continued existence, and our growth as an organisation. In my two years here I've helped put together several different applications for charitable donations, and seen others come and go through the office. These applications aren't always successful, many other organisations are competing for the same money we are, organisations that may well be more deserving of that money (good luck to them!). The applications that have recently been successful, and for which we are extremely grateful, have helped us make several big changes to our site, and will hopefully have a massive impact on our various visitors' stays on site, and their lives after they leave the St Madoc Centre.

The first funding application I had the (I don't know if this is the right word... ) pleasure to help with putting together was to an organisation called GwirVol. We applied for several thousand pounds for a project we dubbed 'Sustain'. Sustain's aim was to create new and more interesting volunteering opportunities for young people (those aged over 16, but under 25). These opportunities would include the creation of cob structures, the construction dry-stone-walls and woodland maintenance (see http://www.stmadoc.co.uk/faq/sustain-project-volunteer-at-st-madoc.php for more information). Sustain has been a long time in the works, having been running at the St Madoc Centre nearly as long as I have and our first cob structure is yet to be completed, although there have been many other successes; we've had around 150 new volunteers attend our various volunteer days, clearing woodland, assembling walls, maintaining our allotment and many other less glamorous activities. The difference these volunteers have made cannot be underestimated. Thankfully we will not have to see what the site is like had they not volunteered over the last year and a half, only what the site looks like thanks to their impact, but if we could see I'm sure the difference would be very dramatic, and not in a good way.

A more recent application was to the Ernest Cook Trust. Ernest Cook are a trust committed to enabling children to learn outside of the classroom and get their hands dirty, experiencing the outdoors. This aim sits brilliantly with those of the St Madoc Centre, the money we received from these very kind people will allow us to make our allotment far more child friendly and increase the educational benefits massively. Our aim is that each child will be able to plant and pick their own supper, collect the eggs they will then cook and eat, and learn about how food reaches their table. This knowledge and experience will go with each child as they grow up, so they don't take this world for granted, and will be more likely to start their own allotment or growing space. We hope to make a big difference in many children's lives in this way.

We have also received a grant from the Swansea Youth Bank, also funded by GwirVol. With this grant we created a separate organisation, known as the St Madoc Sports Improvement Program (SIP). Having noticed the lack of sporting facilities around this area of South Wales we sought to create such facilities. We began with the planning for an outdoor archery area on the grounds of the St Madoc Centre, purchasing the equipment and getting members of the SIP trained to a GNAS Archery Leader's standard. We're working hard on getting our archery set up and ready for our busy Spring season, and all is looking good, at present. The vast majority of the work on the archery area has been done by volunteers, another of the SIP's aims. The SIP plans to use volunteer labour to get our new sporting facilities ready, and, once the work is complete, allow the volunteers to use the facilities at no cost. This cost and reward is working well currently, and we hope it will continue with a new project once the archery location is completed.

Lastly, but not leastly (if that's a word, the spell checker says it isn't, but it can't know everything), we received funds for a whole lot of brand new sports equipment from the James Williams Trust. Whilst this equipment has not seen a huge amount of use over our least busy season, come the Spring and Summer it's durability will be tested by nigh-on constant use, and I'm positive that the children (and adults) who use the equipment will enjoy it immensely.

Charitable donations though, do not only come from large organisations, and they do not only come in the form of money. Volunteers from all walks of life give us their very valuable time and energy. Many times over the past years we have been rescued from situations that would have cost us a whole lot of time and money by the timely intervention of a well-skilled volunteer. Even those volunteers without a trade-skills can be a massive boon, our 76 acres of site needs a lot of looking after!

Anywho, scrolling back up I notice I have waffled on for ages and ages, so I'll leave it there, well, soon.

I'll sign off by saying thank you to all the very many volunteers we've had at the St Madoc Centre over the years, and to all those volunteers who haven't started here yet.

Until next time!