Assembly Member Vaughan Gething makes smoothies with Cardiff homelessness centre residents

Residents at a Cardiff homelessness centre where people go to rebuild their lives got a boost last week when a special visitor popped in to make fruit smoothies with them.

Cardiff South and Penarth Assembly Member Vaughan Gething was at the Tŷ Gobaith Lifehouse on Bute Street when he joined the session.

It was part of the centre’s Life College skills programme which teaches residents life skills and helps them get qualified so that they can find work when they leave.

Vaughan Gething AM called in to The Salvation-Army run centre to meet and speak to residents and staff and to see the services provided there in action.

It was his third visit to Salvation Army centres in his constituency during September, having already been to lunch clubs in Penarth and Splott earlier in the month. 

“It was good to visit Tŷ Gobaith again and to hear directly how people are rebuilding their lives. The support provided by staff in a variety of ways makes a difference to residents and the wider community”, said Vaughan Gething.

After touring the centre, Vaughan Gething – who is also the Minister for Health and Social Services in Wales, spoke to staff about their work.

They discussed the variety of ways the centre uses - such as the Life College and the Bridge detoxification programme, to address each resident’s individual needs.

Audrey Barnett, who is the service manager at Tŷ Gobaith Lifehouse said:

“I would like to thank Vaughan Gething AM - on behalf of the residents and staff at Tŷ Gobaith, for visiting the centre; taking part in the smoothie session and the overall interest he showed for the work we do here. We enjoyed meeting him very much. 

“At Tŷ Gobaith Lifehouse, we take a tailored approach to supporting people who have experienced homeless to rebuild their lives. We work closely with each individual and give them the support they need to build up their confidence so that they can move away from homelessness”   

Vaughan Gething visited the Tŷ Gobaith Lifehouse on Friday 27 September.

The Salvation Army’s Homelessness Services Unit in Cardiff runs the Crichton House outreach programme and the Bus Project service for rough sleepers and people experiencing homelessness in the capital.

It also operates its Northlands Lifehouse and Tŷ Diogel on North Road and is a partner with Cardiff City Council in the innovative Housing First Cardiff pilot project.