The Council has recently completed important further investment in new youth centre and leisure facilities in Hawthorn, for school and community use.
The major investment in a brand new 3-16 school, Ysgol Afon Wen, was completed in time for the 2024/25 academic year – with external improvements completed by May 2025.
The Council has used additional Welsh Government funding through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme and Community Focused Schools capital programme to refurbish the youth centre. It has also secured a contribution from Sports Wales to upgrade the on-site changing rooms.
The new youth centre (pictured in the top and middle rows) has made use of an existing building, which has been remodelled and has benefitted from first-class new facilities. Half of the building is dedicated as an extra dining area for the school, while the other half will be dedicated for community use, managed by the school.
The new external changing rooms (pictured bottom row) will by used by pupils during the school day, and will be available for users of the on-site sports facilities outside of school hours. The site’s astroturf sports pitch was resurfaced as part of the main school investment last year.
The Council and Welsh Government are now focusing on the next tranche of school investment projects across Rhondda Cynon Taf. A joint £414 million funding commitment will progress nine more projects in the years ahead – with the new ALN school in Clydach Vale (Ysgol Cambrian) and the ultra-sustainable school for Glyn-coch (Ysgol Gynradd Glyn-coch) set to open later this year.
Contractors have also been appointed for developments at Penrhys Primary, Ysgol Llanhari and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, while in early February 2026 the community in Ynysybwl had the opportunity to find out more about exciting investment proposals for the Buarth y Capel satellite site of Ysgol Ty Coch at a local event.
Posted on 12/02/2026