Timeline
Learn more about how Ty Banc Canal Group was formed, and the journey Ty Banc Canal Group has taken with schools, universities, third sector groups, and the local community
2025, March 1
St. David’s Night – Festival of Lights
2024, January 13
First Meeting back on the Canal looking forward to another year, happy news of being nominated for King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
2024, January 19
We meet with Briton Ferry doc group, this is a momentous day when #1canal1community feels complete with Neath Canal community groups from north to south the dock agree to join forces… For a shared future
2024, January 24
Wild bird nest boxes being put up by volunteers of Ty Banc Canal Group
2024, February 24
Annual General Meeting
On February 24th, 2024, we held our Annual General Meeting to reflect on a successful year and plan for an exciting future. Key achievements included the 2023 Canal Festival, biodiversity projects, and partnerships with Cardiff University. We launched our website March 2024 in preparation for the canal festival.
2024, March 30
Easter Egg Hunt
Families and friends had a terrific Easter Egg Hunt along the Canal. The gathering was packed with joy, laughing, and plenty of chocolatey goodies.
Participants of all ages loved exploring for hidden treasures and engaging with their community. Everyone, from small adventurers to seasoned egg seekers, left with a smile and some sweets.
2024, April 20
St.Fagans Trips
The Resolven community came together for a wonderful day trip to St. Fagans National Museum of History. It was a journey through time, exploring the rich heritage and culture of Wales in an interactive and inspiring setting.
2024 June 01
NPTCV Volunteer fair
Tybanc was present at the NPTCVs volunteer fair in Neath Victoria Garden.
2024, Aug 10
Cana Saturday activities & l Festival preparation
2024, Aug 11
First aid training
At Tybanc, we take first aid training seriously. In our yearly session, volunteers and community members actively participated in the annual first aid training.
The event concluded with certificate awards for those who successfully completed the program, recognizing their commitment to safety and preparedness.
2024, August 24 & 25
Canal Festival
Two days, one event, countless smiles. The Ty Banc Canal Festival was an enormous success, uniting the community for a fun-filled weekend! The event, held on the August Bank Holiday, offered local music, creative activity stalls, great refreshments, nature walks, and agricultural exhibits, all in a lovely, easily accessible site along the Neath Canal
2024, Sept 28
Malvern Autumn Show
Tybanc canal group joined the Glyneath Gardening Club on a day trip to the Malvern Showground. We toured the space, exploring vegetables, gardens, animals, and plant vendors.
2024, Oct 31
Halloween Night
Halloween Night by the Neath Canal was a frightfully fantastic event! The highlight? A House of Horror, beautifully decorated for the community’s enjoyment. Leading up to the House of Horror, the children from Ynysfach Primary School amazed us all with their spooky and creative projects.
2024, Nov 30
Wreath Making Workshop
People of all ages came together to create personalized wreaths, each adding their unique touch with distinctive styles and decorations. As they crafted their wreaths, participants enjoyed hot coffee, tea, and biscuits, making for a cozy, and inviting atmosphere. It was a wonderful opportunity for creativity and community connection.
2023,
Volunteering now meeting every Saturday 10am at Resolven Basin, continued to improve the canal surrounding for walkers, joggers, and cyclists
2023, January 1
Took on the Lease of Canal Green, field adjacent to canal from Neath and Dulais Angling Club.
2023, February 12
Valentine’s Day Workshop for all, to enjoy a day out on the canal making craft with red dogwood harvested from Neath Canal.
2022, March 30
Mother’s Day to enjoy with loved ones!.
2023, April 8
Easter Egg hunt with the Miner’s Welfare Ladies again.
2023, April 30
Coronation Celebration for voluntary groups in St Thomas Church Neath.
2023 May
NPTCBC Community Heritage Grant secured for engaging and enhancing the QR Code trail with local Historic Societies and support starting a Glynneath Welsh Language Group.
2023 May 6
Canal Coronation BBQ Celebration cancelled due to bad weather.
2023, June 1
Student volunteers work with volunteers to produce an activity pack, free to collect from Ty Banc Cottage.
2023 June 5
Volunteer fair in Victoria Park, Neath Town Centre organised by NPTCVS.
2023, June
Weather getting sunnier and besides all the exciting community events, volunteers are often spotted hard at work.
2023 July 1
Resolven Carnival with budding artists enjoying free crafty activities and badge making with buttercups and wildflowers from the field.
2023 August 8
Waiting for NLHF (National Lottery Heritage Fund) and getting ready the field for Canal Festival.
2023, August
We did it! NLHF funding for 3 Canal Festivals 2023/24/25 showcasing the Canal Community in Neath Valley.
2023, August 18-25
IWA cancelled Canal Camp.
2023, August 26-27
August Bank Holiday – First Canal Festival Funded by NLHF.
2023, September 16
Supporting Neath Abbey Ironworks Open Doors Days.
2023 September 23
Thank you, BBQ event, for all who made the Canal Festival possible; the friendship formed with music, singing, playing ukelele, food and drinks.
2023 October18-23
Ty Banc joined Neath Art Festival, supporting local café and Neath Library with Bilingual Activity Booklets, helped by returning student volunteers now working in London.
2023 November
Heritage and Welsh Learners Group trip to St Fagan postposed to next year.
2023 November 25
Wreath Making workshop cancelled.
2023, December 2
Resolven Christmas Fayre in St David’s Church organised by Ynysfach Primary School PTA.
2023, December 20
Celebrating with Glynneath Welsh Group for successfully completed the Heini Gruffudd Welsh Language first book.
2022
Continue to work along the Resolven to Glynneath stretch of Neath Canal and installing the biodiversity trail posts.
2022, March 30
PBM Wales Ltd – local business helped install the posts.
2022, March 29
Meeting Cardiff University student volunteers in Resolven Welfare Hall after over a year of online meetings for various Neath Canal Projects.
2022, May 14
Installing QR code trail post from Resolven to Glynneath.
2022, June 28
Ty Banc volunteers get muck in with Resolven Beevers to make recycling art.
2022, July 2
Ty Banc win the Award for Best Group at Resolven Carnival. Recycled plastic bottles fishes made by Resolven Scout Group and repurposed sheets from Glynneath Charity Shop and imagination made the ‘walking canal’ recycled art. #biodiversity theme.
2022, August 30
Invitation to Mayor’s High Tea at Margam Orangery in celebration of Queen’s Jubilee making a lush memory for Summer 2022.
2022, September 13
Battle of Britain Touring Exhibition at Aberafan Shopping Centre making friends with friends of Neath Abbey Ironworks and Margam Parc.
2022, October
Pen Y Cymmoed Micro Fund for a series of events, exploring how to engage the community with Wreath Making and various activities along the canal.
2022, October
Mast year for acorns, on School half term week, families engaged in activities along the canal, collecting acorns and finding the what3words location to plant or deposit them in tubs for Ty Banc to plant
2022, November
QR Code 14 out of 16 Trail plaques stolen.
2022, November
Volunteer harvesting from along the canal materials for craft workshops.
2022, November 19
Free Wreath Making with what nature provides along the canal harvested by volunteer in weeks leading up to this event.
2022, November 26
Have another go with festive craft and wreath making for some who missed the first one!
2022, December 8
Ogi from Cardiff enjoying a day volunteering.
2022 December 10
Resolven Christmas Fayre at St David’s Church.
2022, December
Secured £10K Third Sector Grant from NPTCBC for collaborative working to manage the Northern Sector of the Neath Canal and the Field.
2021
Covid Lockdown eased in May.
2021
Welsh Government Coronavirus Recovery Grant for Volunteering secure for strategic partnering, Neath Canal Project provided work-based learning for 30 students from Cardiff University – WSA impacted by Covid scarcity of work experience opportunities.
This 8-week project allows them to continue their degree. Various digital assets and projects for Neath Canal and Resolven (selected to demonstrate the benefit to community), exciting ‘New System’ for volunteering in line with Wellbeing for Future Generation Act 2015.
2021, May
Return to volunteering on Resolven Stretch of Neath Canal. Every Saturday volunteers start at 10am -1/2pm. Now equipment and tools.
2021, June & July
Llangatwg community School Year 8 and Year 10 students clearing reeds and enjoyed volunteering.
2021, July 12
Jeremy Miles and Resolven Scout out on Neath Canal Pond dipping and discovering the canal ecosystem.
2021, July
Student secured NPT LEADER funding for the Biodiversity Trail Project and designed the web interface for the QR Code.
2021, August
VSEF for group First Aid training, outdoor on-site.
2021, Summer
3 Cardiff University students volunteered to continue developing various project ideas for Ty Banc and other community groups from the Neath Canal Projects in Spring.
2021, October 22
Halloween on the Neath Canal joined effort with Resolven Rock Ladies, Resolven Scout group and Ynysfach Primary School PTA.
2021, November
Supported by Resolven Building Block providing the venue, proved popular to harvest from along the canal for wreath making materials.
2021 September 27
Student secured NPT LEADER funding for the Biodiversity Trail Project and designed the web interface for the QR Code.
2021 September 27
Student secured NPT LEADER funding for the Biodiversity Trail Project and designed the web interface for the QR Code.
2020, January
Every Thursday and Saturday when possible, according to Covid Guideline.
2020, January
Canal clean up every week.
Covid Lockdown – working on Abergarwed Stretch of Neath Canal with Fire Breaks.
2020, April
Local Places for Nature – Keep Wales Tidy Development Pack application success. Unable to get landowner and KWT to agree on scope and specification, voted to decline funding.
2020, October
Successfully secured Pen y Cymoedd Micro Fund for equipment and tools.
2020, December
Keep Wales tidy events.
2019, January 12
Keep Wales tidy events.
2019, April 22
Ty Banc Canal Group Constituted, mentored by Swansea Canal Society and get muck in on their Tuesday work party on Swansea Canal.
2019, July
2 Master of Urban Design Student produced Neath Canal research reports on the started working relationship with Cardiff University.
2019, August 31
Starting the weekly canal activities and meet by Ty Banc Cottage, volunteers bring their own tools, litter pickers and equipment from Glynneath Event Panel.
2019, September
Join the Swansea Bay Inland Waterways Partnership with the aim to connect Neath, Tennant and Swansea Canals to make a full 35-mile canal network. (SBIWP)
2019, December 21
Local Support in shops and libraries with generous contributions of artwork donated by local artists and photographers.
2019, December 23
Festive Sponsored Walk.
