Llay - Refurbishment of Miners Welfare Building
Llay - Refurbishment of Miners Welfare Building
The Llay Miners Welfare is an imposing grade II listed building which is a hub for community activities and caters for all age groups. Built in 1931 in the coal mining hay day it is well run by the trustees who work in partnership with a steering group which includes representatives from the management committee, Wrexham CBC, Local Councilors and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.
The trustees have commissioned a report to establish the condition of the building and have had advice to build up a reserve fund to meet future maintenance which will help safeguard the future of the facility. Their accounts show that they more or less break even every year.
The building is well used approx 36,000 times per annum and has 1083 members of all age groups. Activities and facilities include the following;
Senior football (2 teams), junior football (10 teams ages 6 – 19), senior cricket (5 teams), junior cricket (2 teams) Llay Miners bowling section (150 members), CHIS (Children with cancer), soaring club, vintage cars club, British Gas training, line dancing, step aerobics, RAOB, stroke club, Llay silver band, Lions Club, women’s art and craft group, line dancing, aerobics, youth dance club, activities for young people, learning, training, keep fit, MUGA, healthy lifestyle activities, IT Suite, community activities inc social and recreational events.
An Activities Co-ordinator has recently been appointed to expand the use of the facility, they will be responsible for encouraging and developing activities and sports including use of IT Suite, Dance Fitness, Quiz Bingo, Indoor Bowls, Table Tennis, Karate and cycling.
They are also developing a ‘one stop shop’ in partnership with local authority which will look into the possibility of providing much needed welfare advice, health surgeries, sporting activities, luncheon club etc. Barriers being addressed will be – lack of affordably childcare, skill shortages, limited transport opportunities, lack of quality services available locally, limited confidence and knowledge in the ability to access available.
They were awarded £35,000 from WREN towards repairs and restoration of the outside of the building.
Above photo shows the Miners Welfare Building in 1936
