Local MPs Chris Evans and Jessica Morden visited the We Connect café today to show support for the work of the Risca Covid-19 Volunteers group.
The We Connect café in Risca is run entirely by volunteers and uses profits from the café to fund their Community Pantry.
Pantry membership costs £2 for 6 months, or 24 baskets, and each basket will then cost £3. This allows people in the community to access food and hygiene products in an affordable way.
Alongside the pantry, the volunteer group runs a School Uniform Recycle Shop, a community bike hub and baby and toddler groups.
The group, who are currently applying for lottery funding to expand their activities, received support from both MPs.
Chris Evans MP for Islwyn said ‘I am absolutely blown away by the scale of work being done to support residents in both Islwyn and Newport. To go from a group set up by two people to a network of over 200 volunteers is a testament to Dawn and Tara’s hard work and determination. Groups like this are the backbone of our communities and I would encourage people to go down and get a coffee at We Connect to support them.’
Jessica Morden MP for Newport East said ‘Wonderful to visit the We Connect Cafe today and here about the work the volunteers are doing to support people in Risca as well as further afield – including constituents of mine in Newport East. Their growing network of volunteers are an inspiration and a great asset to the community in challenging times.’
