The Space - Transforming the building into ‘The Reef – Coastal Community Centre’ is no small task. As a steering group, we are committed to do all we can to see the neglected building transferred as a community asset and truly restored for the good of the community. We know this will be a multi-year process, but we think the gains are worth it. We’re personally prepared to do the leg work to engage with funders and charitable foundations to see this project take flight. With environmental education and protection at the core of the coastal community collaboration, sustainable construction is key. We’d plan to have a carbon neutral building and already have interest from local university researchers at the forefront of renewable building technologies to come on board as advisors.
A Haven - To restore the building to its former glory, an integral part of our proposition is to provide a fit-
for-purpose space for the tireless work of the Rhondda Lifeguards Club. There for us and our visitors throughout the summer months, we cannot emphasise how vital they are to our coastal community. This provision will also allow for shared facilities such as changing rooms and a first aid training centre for local water user groups as well as the only accessible toilets in the area.
Champions for our blue environment - Another important aspect of our project would be the inclusion of an environmental monitoring station; housing the Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and serving as a technically advanced educational hub designed to foster hands-on experiments and fieldwork exercises. The WCMC will house a state-of-the-art data centre dedicated to monitoring and delivering real-time insights into the changing Welsh coastline. In the face of climate change, this critical information will empower communities and policy makers alike, whilst putting our collaborative space in Barry at the fore.
An inspiring and essential educational space - The education hub aspect of the WCMC proposition will be adaptable and versatile to suit the needs of community groups and educators as well as the scientists at work; it’s an integral plan in its own right. We want a space that will house a full class of children, but also be a desirable space for university students and other educational groups. It will give local educators an indoors facility to greatly enhance their field trips. Arts and culture will be at the fore of the proposition as an important way of engaging with all of our interests.
Diverse and collaborative - The Reef will be a place where people connect to celebrate all aspects of the diverse life on our shoreline. From the Romans who set up a port here, to the wildlife that currently resides in our intertidal zone, and from the ancient geology that shapes our distinctive coastline to the very people using it today, nothing should be excluded from the vision for the space.
- an events hub
- an accessible bathroom facility
- an indoors base with facilities to compliment outdoor activities
- an adaptable classroom available to all ages
- a welcoming space for community groups
- a refuge for appropriate private hire that promotes environment, health and wellbeing
- a secure base for voluntary lifeguards
- a multi-use kitchen facility
- a vector to promote beneficial collaborations for local businesses
- hosting cultural experiences accessible to all members of our town
- Facilities enabling educators, makers, naturalists, environmentalists, artists, therapists to come together and enable people to thrive.
