The amount of work it takes to manage Resolven Miners’ Welfare is phenomenal and the building is run entirely by volunteers. Reopening has required an incredible community effort and many amazing people have dedicated their time and energy to making this happen.

Our Trustees

Trustees are the custodians of the building, looking after it so it can be enjoyed for generations to come. Much of the work that keeps the building open, compliant and moving forward happens behind the scenes and is not visible day to day. This work is undertaken by our six trustees (volunteers), with Siân Jackson, Robert Sims and Greg Williams taking on a significant proportion, plus many additional roles beyond their core responsibilities as trustees.


Over the past eight years, Robert and Siân have written all the organisation’s grant applications. Over £200,000 has been gained; funding that has quite literally kept the Welfare open. Their most recent triumph is securing £127,925 from the Welsh Government, which will go towards an essential new roof and the refurbishment of the former pool room. This process has taken more than a year’s worth of work.


Writing funding bids is extremely time consuming; some are over 15,000 words long and can take months to research, evidence and complete and are not always successful. To enable this work, trustees attend training, meetings, events and undertake extensive research and administration. 

Here is a list of all the funding applications produced since Sian and Robert became involved with the charity.

2018

  • CISWO – New alarm system – £1,200
  • Ffynnon Oer – Building survey – £2,000
  • Garfield Weston – Building upkeep/restoration – £10,000 Unsuccessful
  • Coalfields Regeneration Trust – £5,000
  • Coalfields Regeneration Trust – Risk assessment & management report / Health & Safety assessment / Asbestos report / Valuation report – £2,000
  • NPTC Community Members Fund – Kitchen installation – £4,000

2020

  • Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund – Extractor fan for kitchen – £4,074

2021

  • Comic Relief Covid Fund (Marquee) – Marquee – £1,324.80
  • NPTCVS ICF Capital Fund – Covid expenses – £3,213.04
  • Coalfields Regeneration Trust – New fire doors – £3,800
  • Ffynnon Oer – Snooker room roof repair – £2,000

2022

  • South Wales Miners Grant – Upkeep of building – £2,750
  • Moondance Foundation – Feasibility study – £5,000
  • UK Community Renewal Fund – Feasibility study – £20,000
  • UK Community Renewal Fund – Staff for The Drift Restaurant – Unsuccessful
  • Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme – New boiler – £9,838

2023

  • Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund (two-stage application) – Feasibility study – £36,177
  • Pen y Cymoedd – Boarding up the building post-closure – Unsuccessful

2024

  • Pen y Cymoedd – Building restoration (£1.2m) – Unsuccessful
  • Ffynnon Oer – Match funding main roof + pool room refurbishment – £2,000
  • Community Ownership Fund – Building restoration – Fund terminated post submission
  • Valleys and Villages Prosperity Fund – Building restoration – Unsuccessful
  • Community Shared Prosperity Fund (NPTCBC) (two-stage application) – Heritage Manager (paid position for the charity) – Unsuccessful

2025

  • Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme – New main roof + pool room refurbishment – £127,295
  • Moondance – Insurance costs – £10,000
  • Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund – Match funding for new roof + pool room refurb – Unsuccessful
  • Garfield Weston – Match funding for new roof + pool room refurb – Pending response
  • Heritage Lottery – Heritage Manager & Assistant (paid positions for the charity) – Currently finalising application


Greg takes on a lot of work relating to compliance and governance and was solely responsible for resolving a complex dispute with our former insurers. After two long years the Financial Ombudsman ruled that the insurance broker was at fault. Without this resolution the building would not have been able to reopen.


Other trustee responsibilities include financial oversight, strategic planning, managing risk, liaising with stakeholders, overseeing building works and maintenance, supporting volunteers and ensuring the organisation remains operational. Much of this work is continuous rather than one-off and requires consistent attention.


Trustee contribution is not limited to strategy and administration; some also carry out hands-on work in the building. For example, a few years ago Siân, Richard Hopkins and Mark Griffiths spent months physically redecorating the lounge, stripping wallpaper, painting and digging up the floor. Many people chipped in to prepare the building for reopening and volunteers continue to carry out vital maintenance work, which is ongoing in a building of this size and age.


Some trustees also step in to cover bar and cleaning shifts when needed and often support bar staff while in the building socially, never really being off duty.


In the last year alone, trustees have donated thousands of hours to do what it takes to keep the building open and have made many personal sacrifices, often putting the Welfare above family, health and their own employment. No expenses are ever claimed for travel and trustees sometimes use their own money to cover minor expenses.


The work of the trustees often goes unnoticed but without their tireless graft and dedication the building would not be open today.

Our Welf Team

We must also acknowledge the wider Welf team and, in particular, the extraordinary contributions made by Lloyd Williams, Richard Hopkins and Cathy Chappell. Reopening the building and keeping it open on a day-to-day basis is demanding, high-responsibility work that often involves responding to issues at very short notice, making last-minute decisions, dropping other commitments and staying late into the night to ensure the building is closed safely and responsibly. This includes managing difficult situations, encouraging people to leave the building when required and stepping in to resolve problems so that the Welfare remains a safe, welcoming space for everyone. 
Much of this work happens quietly, under pressure, outside normal hours and carries a significant personal toll.

We have an incredible team of volunteers who support the bar, cleaning and wider operation of the building, their commitment, resilience and reliability are central to the Welf functioning. Many go above and beyond to ensure a good time is had by all every night. Again, many volunteers are never truly off duty while enjoying a night out themselves, always stepping in to save the day.


This level of dedication is not taken for granted. Every single person and every hour contributed is genuinely valued and deeply appreciated. 

And let’s not forget all the talented performers who’ve entertained us for free!

Thanks to all who’ve stepped in to help in any way, we couldn’t do it without you.

Our Community

Resolven Miners’ Welfare exists because of collective effort, shared responsibility and many different forms of volunteering. Visible roles and behind-the-scenes work are equally vital and it is important that the scale and nature of this contribution is properly understood. It’s endless, and often thankless, but we do it to make our community an even better place to live.


We are committed to creating a welcoming and respectful space for everyone and will not tolerate disrespectful behaviour towards anyone, including volunteers and trustees. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of community and the people that keep the Welfare going.

Get In Touch

If you do have any questions or concerns to raise, our door is always open and we’re happy to chat. Please get in touch at info@resolvenwelfare.org.uk