Rhondda Cynon Taf Council joined Pontypridd Foodbank to unveil the transformation of the former Riverside Social Centre in Treforest at the end of 2025. This comes after the completion of extensive refurbishment works at the site, made possible through a Community Asset Transfer supported by the Council’s RCT Together Community Development Team.
The building, previously used as a day centre by Adult Services, was severely impacted by Storm Dennis in 2020. At that time, Pontypridd Foodbank (then part of the Church in Wales Pontypridd Ministry Area Council) were supported to use the Council’s Ilan Centre in Rhydyfelin as a temporary venue – as demand had outgrown storage space in local churches. Despite this temporary measure, the group urgently needed a longer-term solution.
Working closely with Council officers from Leisure Centres, Corporate Estates and RCT Together, Pontypridd Foodbank moved into the Riverside building under a temporary ‘Tenancy at Will’ in October 2021. This was supported by the Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Maureen Webber BEM, and ensured the continuity of vital services for local residents.
In June 2022, the group submitted an Expression of Interest for a Community Asset Transfer via a lease, and by July 2023, Pontypridd Foodbank became a registered charity in their own right. Following approval of their business case, the Foodbank (which is part of the UK wide Trussell network) completed a 25-year lease in November 2024, initially benefitting from a six-month rent-free period to carry out essential repairs and energy efficiency upgrades.
Since then, the group has managed to secure over £250,000 in funding to remodel and refurbish the former Riverside Centre. Repairs included PV solar installation, roof repairs, reconfiguration of internal areas to ensure best use of space, decommissioning of the gas supply, and removal and replacement of central gas heating with timed electric heaters.
The completion of the works marks the culmination of a thirteen-year journey of resilience and community partnership. The foodbank began in St Luke’s Church in Rhydyfelin in 2012, and in its first full year of operation provided 1,255 food parcels. In 2025 this figure was 5,318. The transformed venue now houses a full-time Foodbank Manager, two part-time staff, and a dedicated team of 70 volunteers – they are also an active partner of the RCT Sustainable Food Partnership. Clients can access food support, one-to-one advice, and signposting to other services – including Interlink’s Wellbeing Coordinators, Citizens Advice, and Welsh Water.
Pontypridd Foodbank’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration, with support from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Pontypridd Town Council, Citizen’s Advice, Interlink, local supermarkets, and funding bodies including Trussell, the Welsh Church Act Fund, the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, and the National Lottery.
On behalf of Pontypridd Foodbank, Liz Pearce and Manday Haydon-Hall, said: “We want to thank the RCT Together team and our funders for helping us to bring life back into an unused community building. The works we have had carried out means that we are now able to offer a much more welcoming environment to those in our community who find themselves in need of support.”
Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Pontypridd Foodbank’s journey is a genuine community success story and a testament to the power of collaboration.
“Working alongside the Council’s RCT Together Community Development Team, Pontypridd Town Council, and local organisations, the foodbank has transformed Riverside into a modern, welcoming hub where residents can access support quickly and with dignity.
“Their journey from emergency relocation during the pandemic to a long-term home reflects the extraordinary resilience and shared determination to meet local need.
“I extend my thanks to the volunteers, staff, and partners who have worked together to make this possible – especially Liz Pearce, Chair of Trustees, and Mandy Haydon-Hall, Foodbank Manager, for their dedication to supporting vulnerable residents.”
Pontypridd Foodbank is located at Riverside Centre, Nile Street, Treforest, Pontypridd, CF37 1BW. Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 1:45pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 11:45am
- Sunday: Closed.
If you would like to donate to Pontypridd Foodbank, please bring donations during opening hours. Alternatively, please use the following drop-off locations:
- Sainsburys, Brown Lennox Retail Park, Ynysangharad Road, Pontypridd, CF37 4DA (near the tills). Open 7am-10pm (Monday to Saturday), 10am-4pm (Sunday).
- Tesco Extra, Upper Boat, Pontypridd, CF37 5SN (at the exit). Open 6am-10pm (Monday to Saturday), 10am-4pm (Sunday). Please note that Tesco collection points are intended for food that has been purchased by in-store shoppers only. Any food that has been purchased elsewhere should be sealed and clearly labelled as having been purchased elsewhere.
You can check to see which items the foodbank is low on by using the BanktheFood app.
For more information, please visit their website: Pontypridd Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
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Posted on 03/02/2026