Port Talbot Gas Welfare Club, located on Newbridge Road in Port Talbot, Wales, is a long-standing social hub founded in 1948 by the Port Talbot Gas Company to provide recreation and camaraderie for its staff and their families. Over seven decades later, it now continues to serve residents as an inclusive venue offering a bar, lounge, live music events, snooker, darts and function facilities while regularly hosting community activities such as bingo nights, children’s parties and meetings for local clubs and societies. Until recently this was in jeopardy.
The club was facing rising energy costs of between £700 and £900 a month, a serious threat to its very existence. For Peter, the club’s secretary for the last eight years, it was a heartbreaking situation. After applying for grants, the club finally secured funding and investment, allowing them to install a Solar PV system. This has transformed their energy use, protecting the club from crippling bills and ensuring it can continue serving the local community. The money that was being “lost” on energy bills is now being reinvested into PTGWC so it now can provide the community activities mentioned above which has become self perpetuating towards the growth and success of the Club. See below for the numbers.
