Residents of Neath care home transforms castle for Swansea art trail

Residents of Neath care home transforms castle for Swansea art trail

Residents of a Neath care home have put their artistic talents to work by designing, painting, and decorating a castle that will be featured in the Castles in the Sky art trail in Swansea this summer.  

Neuadd Drymmau Care Home in Skewen is one of 10 community groups to be given grant funding to enable people to express themselves through art.  

The Wales Air Ambulance received The Millennium Stadium Charitable grant to enable community causes like Neuadd Drymmau to engage in artistic endeavours and become involved in the community art trail. 

The Trust aims to improve the quality of life of people who live and work in Wales. It aims to promote education, history, language, culture, music, and folklore, particularly for those who face discrimination or disadvantage. 

The residents of Neuadd Drymmau have embraced this opportunity with enthusiasm, working together to transform their castle sculpture into a masterpiece. Their collective effort reflects their creativity, community spirit, and support for the Wales Air Ambulance. 

Tim Valler, of Neuadd Drymmau Care Home, said: “We were fortunate enough to be sponsored for this project which generated an enormous amount of excitement within our community from the outset.  

“The people living at the home greatly enjoyed the whole experience from the initial preparation and design meetings through to the painting, varnishing, and wrapping of our cherished castle. So much meaningful occupation was felt by the residents at Neuadd Drymmau. 

“People were really inspired and dedicated to be involved because they knew the Wales Air Ambulance is such a good cause and want to help the service raise money and awareness.” 

The Castles in the Sky art trail showcases creatively designed castles by various community groups, businesses, educational establishments, and organisations. The trail, which takes place in Swansea from July 6 to September 15, aims to celebrate local talent and raise the profile of the lifesaving service. 

The completed castle will be displayed alongside other decorated castles and will provide an engaging and interactive experience for visitors. The trail not only highlights the artistic talent within the community but also supports the ongoing work of the Wales Air Ambulance through increased visibility and fundraising opportunities. 

Hannah Mitchell, Grants and Trusts Fundraiser for the Wales Air Ambulance, said: “Wales Air Ambulance received a grant from the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust to deliver the community element of the Castles in the Sky art trail, by giving groups from across the county their own castle sculpture to design, decorate and form part of the trail.  

“Through this grant, we have been able to offer community causes an opportunity to express themselves through art, whether it is celebrating diversity, conveying struggles and hardships, showing appreciation for elders, exploring gender and LGBTQ issues, or raising awareness of mental health.  

“Our aim is to deliver an inclusive and unique visual art trail for Swansea, bringing the community, art, history, culture, and the Welsh language together. Wales Air Ambulance has actively involved the community in creating meaningful art pieces, and we cannot wait to see the castles out and about on the trail in Swansea in the summer.” 

Tim added: “We are so excited to attend the trail and feel so privileged for being able to take part. This experience has not only allowed them to express their artistic abilities but also to contribute to a larger community initiative that supports the vital services of the Wales Air Ambulance. Thank you, air ambulance, for your wonderful work and for inspiring our community.”