The Cardiff ward of Roath has come a long way since its Norman roots when it was a farm which fed the residents of Cardiff Castle. It's now a busy, colourful community bursting with events. Last night Roath Grapevine, organised by Voluntary Action Cardiff and Communities First, let locals know just how vibrant the area is.
"People say they don't hear about events going on locally, and the Grapevine is here to help. The name is an umbrella title – we bring together a number of organisations so they can communicate with people,"
said Jeremy Rees, the Communities First Coordinator for Roath.
The first of these meetings, Roath in Pictures, was held in the Gate Arts Centre and was a relaxed and informal gathering. Volunteers manning a variety of stalls chatted to visitors, walls were covered in photos from recent events, and there was a hand-drawn "community active" map in one corner, covered in orange post-it notes showing points of interest.
Photos on display were from the Anti Poverty Network Cymru, RAT Pick – a volunteer litter picking scheme, and images from the Roath Historical Society, which encourages interest in the local area's past.
Malcolm Ranson, of the Historical Society, said:
"Roath was originally part of the land belonging to Cardiff Castle. It used to be a thriving village, separate from the city. Some even say that Cardiff should have been called Roath!"
Also present at the event was Reynette Roberts, who runs Oasis Cardiff, an organisation staffed by volunteers based in the local YMCA. Oasis aims to help refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into their local community, organising different cultural projects to help those in need, as well as providing food.
Roberts said:
"We want people to know that we are here and that asylum seekers do want to get involved in local activities and be part of the community. Events like this one are fantastic because they bring people together to learn about what's happening in the area."
The evening finished with the screening of short, locally-made films. The first was created by a Cardiff support group with help by Dave Evans, who organised video workshops for them. The stories, following the lives of three women dealing with the UK asylum system, were very moving, showing a side of life in Cardiff that most never experience.
The Roath Grapevine will be holding seven more events in the Gate Arts Centre until March of next year. Coordinator Rees said:
"We are telling people about events like ceilidhs, fetes and litter picks, where people can chat and get to know their neighbours. It's really important for creating a community spirit."
Roath Residents Action Group is holding a Ceilidh on Saturday 13 November at Park Conservative Club, 7.30pm, £4.
Siân Lewis is studying journalism at Cardiff University. You can see her blog on walks and outdoor events taking place in Cardiff here.
