Celebrating 10 years of community support and homelessness prevention in Denbighshire  

A vibrant centre providing important services and preventing homelessness in Denbighshire, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

HWB Dinbych is a community hub in Denbigh which includes Yr Hafod supported housing. They are both run by Grŵp Cynefin and launched when the housing association was founded, 10 years ago.

To mark the milestone, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, visited the facility on Thursday 28 November. She met Grŵp Cynefin staff, and heard all about the range of vital services provided and meet those who have benefitted from the services available.

They include some former residents of Yr Hafod homelessness facility whose lives were transformed by the support available.

Yr Hafod is a supported housing project for young people, located within the HWB Dinbych building. The homelessness prevention services come under Gorwel, a unit within Grŵp Cynefin dedicated to supporting those facing homelessness in north Wales.  

Yr Hafod has been offering support to young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness in Denbighshire for the past decade. It offers six high-quality self-contained apartments and 24-hour support, helping residents develop tenancy management skills and access employment opportunities.

HWB Dinbych is a partnership between Grŵp Cynefin, Denbigh Youth Project, Coleg Llandrillo and Denbighshire  Youth Services. It provides educational, employment, and well-being opportunities, including training courses, workshops, and support for self-employment initiatives. It also hosts various community activities, such as fitness classes, youth clubs, and arts and crafts sessions.

Mel Evans, Chief Executive of Grŵp Cynefin, says:

“HWB Dinbych and Yr Hafod have both made a real impact in the local community. HWB Dinbych is a dynamic, vibrant centre that provides support, resources, and education to people of all ages and backgrounds. It offers a welcome, hope, and positive action in a meaningful, long-term way.

“The dedicated and hard-working teams at Yr Hafod and HWB Dinbych are a testament to Grŵp Cynefin’s commitment to creating safe and supportive environments for our tenants and customers. Their success over the past decade highlights the significant positive impact we can achieve in our communities.”

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant said:

 “I’m looking forward to marking the hard work and dedication of everyone involved with these two important services and seeing how Welsh Government funding to end youth homelessness supports young people in Denbighshire to live independently.”