Across Cefn Mawr and its neighbouring villages, community spirit continues to show itself in practical, people-focused ways. This manifests itself in the form of cleaner streets, warmer community spaces, and programmes that give young people positive direction.
Everyday Superheroes on the Streets
In Cefn Mawr, Rhosymedre and Newbridge, volunteers recently proved that small teams can make a big visual impact. Hoopy and Jacqueline Palmer led an extensive clean-up across Cefn Mawr and Rhosymedre. They collected 36 bags of litter and removed items, including from tyres, carpets, car parts and a discarded foot spa. They cleared overflowing bins, recycled dumped boxes and tackled tricky areas such as steep banks and an eroded railway bridge. The team did all this in poor weather and on challenging terrain.
In Newbridge, Lucy Gregory of #StayOnSide Cefn Litter Pickers joined forces with Tesco Community Champion David Roden and Community Development Officer Andrew Ruscoe. Together, they collected two full bags of waste. Local residents were extremely grateful, and this underlined how visible community action can lift an area. Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, Keep Wales Tidy and Wrexham County Borough Council’s Low Carbon Project receives support from The National Lottery Community Fund.
Food, Friendship and a Warm Welcome
Every Wednesday at George Edwards Hall, another kind of community effort is quietly changing lives. The Over 50s Warm Spaces sessions, led by Donna Elizabeth Powell Thornley, combine good food with genuine connection. Recent sessions featured bacon and egg butties followed by fully loaded jacket potatoes, earning enthusiastic praise from those attending. Yet the meals are only part of the appeal.
Games, quizzes and friendly competition fill the day, creating a relaxed environment where no one feels on the outside. As Donna explains, “This isn’t just about food. It’s also about bringing people together and giving them a reason to smile. We create a space where everyone feels valued. Seeing that light in their eyes makes every minute worthwhile.”
Cefn East Councillor Derek Wright echoed that sentiment, calling the sessions “a lifeline” for residents. Funded by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Warm Spaces Grant, the project has turned George Edwards Hall into a reliable place of warmth, routine and friendship.
Positive Futures Through #StayOnSide
Cefn Community Council’s #StayOnSide programme continues to address anti-social behaviour by focusing on opportunity rather than punishment. During 2025, more than 300 children across five schools took part in over 100 hours of sport, creative work and wellbeing activities. Alongside football, futsal and basketball, participants debated topical issues, developed Welsh language skills and led 14 community projects, including litter picks and awareness campaigns.
The results are tangible – certificates awarded, posters displayed across Cefn Mawr and local reports showing reduced ASB among primary-age children. As Andrew Ruscoe notes,
“We are thrilled with what the children have achieved through #StayOnSide this year.”
With plans to return in 2026 and growing national interest, the programme is helping young people feel proud of their community – and invested in its future.
Feature image: Andrew Ruscoe (centre) with Jacob and Lili.
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