Publicans Rhiannon Metters and Jason James are making it their mission to support people in the isolated farming community of Tal-y-coed, Monmouthshire.
Publican Rhiannon Metters with Pub is The Hub regional advisor, Roger Belle
Their pub, The Halfway, is the hub of this rural community, where many people, including farmers, live and work alone, meaning they have little opportunity for social interaction.
The area has a population of around 730 people and limited services, with no local shop or public transport links to nearby more populated areas. The nearest supermarket is over a 20-minute drive away, and the road can be closed in bad weather.
The publicans contacted Pub is The Hub for help and advice, in order to tackle the lack of services and activities for people in the local community. And they were successful in getting a community services grant to help with the opening of a village store and community marquee.
The Halfway has now launched a village store in the pub, which stocks a range of essentials. There are plans to eventually move this into an outbuilding for more space, and to stock more products from local suppliers.
Meanwhile, the marquee is being used as a community hub to support social interaction and community cohesion, and to promote health and wellbeing. It is also the centre of a range of community events, and is being used as the base for a new local produce market.
The marquee and village store will support local businesses and the rural economy by providing an outlet for local farmers, producers, crafters, and other enterprises.
Overcoming social isolation and loneliness
The village shop will be used to create partnerships with schools and youth service providers to ensure young people are given an insight into local produce, reducing carbon footprints, and how the shop can help to support the rural economy.
The Halfway has also been using a craft box, supplied by Pub is The Hub, in partnership with charity Creative Lives, to help engage local people in more creative activities. The boxes feature basic drawing tools, including paper, pens, charcoal, and pastels, watercolour and acrylic paints, as well as origami materials and air-drying clay.
“We are situated in an isolated rural community with the pub being the social hub of the area,” said Rhiannon. “It is so important that we support local people, ensuring they are not feeling isolated and alone. We are very passionate about making sure this is a pub for everyone in the area.
“The village store here in this isolated rural area is such a support for people in the local community, with the marquee enabling us to run more community events supporting both local people and suppliers.”
Pub is The Hub regional advisor, Roger Belle, said: “These publicans are the real heroes of this local community and have made the pub the hub of this rural village.
“Offering these services and activities to support people in this area of Wales is proving to be a lifeline to overcome social isolation and loneliness.”
