OUR STORY | Ein stori

On average 150-200 individuals come through the centre on a weekly basis. On many occasions the building has literally been the last refuge for those in desperate need of shelter, food provisions, a hot meal or for those looking to make new friends.

Ar gyfartaledd mae 150-200 o unigolion yn dod drwy'r ganolfan yn wythnosol. Ar sawl achlysur bu'r adeilad yn llythrennol yn lloches olaf i'r rhai sydd mewn angen dirfawr am loches, darpariaethau bwyd, pryd poeth neu i'r rhai sy'n dymuno gwneud ffrindiau newydd.

The Trinity Centre's History

Image of Trinity Centre's Sanctuary with light shining through the window

Built in the 19th Century

Built by the United Methodist Church in theNineteenth Century, the Trinity Centre is a Grade II Listed Building, located in one of the most deprived areas not only in Cardiff but also in Wales. When the Methodist Congregation decided that they could no longer maintain the premises, the Methodist Church in Cardiff and Caerphilly stepped in to ensure that the work already being done in the community, especially with refugees and asylum seekers, through a number of agencies continued to have a home and a base for their work.

Wedi’i adeiladu gan yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd Unedig yn y Bedwaredd Ganrif ar Bymtheg, mae Canolfan y Drindod yn Adeilad Rhestredig Gradd II, wedi’i lleoli yn un o’r ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig nid yn unig yng Nghaerdydd ond hefyd yng Nghymru. Pan benderfynodd y Gynulleidfa Fethodistaidd na allent gynnal y safle mwyach, camodd yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd yng Nghaerdydd a Chaerffili i’r adwy i sicrhau bod y gwaith sy’n cael ei wneud eisoes yn y gymuned, yn enwedig gyda ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches, trwy nifer o asiantaethau yn parhau i gael cartref a chanolfan ar gyfer eu gwaith.

Image of people painting welcome sign

The Trinity Project as we know it

From this small beginning in 2013, the then 'Trinity Project’ took on the running of the building on behalf of the Methodist Circuit. Between 2014 and 2017, the centre received revenue funding from a Welsh Government Equality and Diversity Grant, during which time the Project, and the Centre, has gone from strength to strength. At the end of March 2017, this funding came to an end. It only paid for a part of the work that goes on at the Centre.

O’r cychwyn bach hwn yn 2013, ymgymerodd ‘Prosiect y Drindod’ ar y pryd â rhedeg yr adeilad ar ran Cylchdaith y Methodistiaid. Rhwng 2014 a 2017, derbyniodd y ganolfan arian refeniw gan Grant Cydraddoldeb ac Amrywiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, ac yn ystod y cyfnod hwn mae’r Prosiect, a’r Ganolfan, wedi mynd o nerth i nerth. Ar ddiwedd mis Mawrth 2017, daeth y cyllid hwn i ben. Dim ond am ran o'r gwaith sy'n mynd ymlaen yn y Ganolfan y talodd.

Lady wearing mask in a prayer service

Groups at Trinity Centre continue to support throughout pandemic.

March 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic reached Wales, we were told to shut our doors except for essential support. Essential support included Space4U sending out food and clothing packages to asylum seeking and refugee families, WRC playgroup leader Meryl providing activities and toys for families to play with at home, DPIA sending activity kits to families in the post, Aurora Trinity Collective hosting online sewing and art sessions. As a Centre, we continued to support our groups, keep in touch regularly with group leaders and maintain the building so that it can open as soon as legislation allows. Over the next 18 months groups start to trickle back to offer more and more face to face support.

Mawrth 2020 a phandemig y coronafeirws wedi cyrraedd Cymru, dywedwyd wrthym am gau ein drysau heblaw am gymorth hanfodol. Roedd cefnogaeth hanfodol yn cynnwys Space4U yn anfon pecynnau bwyd a dillad at deuluoedd ceiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid, arweinydd cylch chwarae WRC Meryl yn darparu gweithgareddau a theganau i deuluoedd chwarae gyda nhw gartref, DPIA yn anfon pecynnau gweithgaredd i deuluoedd yn y post, Aurora Trinity Collective yn cynnal sesiynnau gwnïo a chelf ar-lein. Fel Canolfan, fe wnaethom barhau i gefnogi ein grwpiau, cadw mewn cysylltiad yn rheolaidd ag arweinwyr grwpiau a chynnal a chadw’r adeilad fel y gall agor cyn gynted ag y bydd deddfwriaeth yn caniatáu. Dros y 18 mis nesaf mae grwpiau’n dechrau ôl yn araf i gynnig mwy a mwy o gymorth wyneb yn wyneb.

hands coming together in a group bond

Where we are now

As a Centre, Trinity works with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community. Helping people address inequality, tackle poverty and empowering them to create and implement plans to achieve positive outcomes for themselves and their families, helping people to take control of their own lives. The Trinity Centre is run under the auspices of the Methodist Church, but is supported by, and is for, people of all faiths and none.Current regular activities, projects and events focus on welcoming and assisting asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom are made destitute by policies that prevent them from working, having their own business, or claiming mainstream benefits.

Fel Canolfan, mae'r Drindod yn gweithio gyda rhai o'r bobl fwyaf difreintiedig a bregus yn ein cymuned. Wrth helpu pobl i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb, trechu tlodi a’u grymuso i greu a gweithredu cynlluniau i gyflawni canlyniadau cadarnhaol iddyn nhw eu hunain a’u teuluoedd, gan helpu pobl i gymryd rheolaeth o’u bywydau eu hunain. Mae Canolfan y Drindod yn cael ei redeg dan adain yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd, ond fe’i cefnogir gan, ac mae ar gyfer, pobl o bob ffydd a dim ffydd. Mae gweithgareddau, prosiectau a digwyddiadau rheolaidd presennol yn canolbwyntio ar groesawu a chynorthwyo ceiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid, y mae llawer ohonynt yn cael eu gwneud yn amddifad oherwydd polisïau sy'n eu hatal rhag gweithio, cael eu busnes eu hunain, neu hawlio buddion prif ffrwd.

What we stand for | Yr hyn yr ydym yn sefyll drosto

Our Purpose
Ein Pwrpas

The Trinity Centre offers a place where the local community can meet, share and learn from their experiences of life in a safe environment.

Mae Canolfan y Drindod yn cynnig man lle gall y gymuned leol gyfarfod, rhannu a dysgu o’u profiadau o fywyd mewn amgylchedd diogel.

Our Mission
Ein Cenhadaeth

To offer a space where people from multiple continents with various faith backgrounds or none, can learn to integrate into their locality through coming together through a variety of programmes and groups which use the Centre’s facilities.

Cynnig gofod lle gall pobl o gyfandiroedd lluosog sydd â chefndir ffydd amrywiol neu ddim o gwbl, ddysgu integreiddio i’w hardal leol trwy ddod at ei gilydd trwy amrywiaeth o raglenni a grwpiau sy’n defnyddio cyfleusterau’r Ganolfan.

Our Vision
Ein Gweledigaeth

To offer sanctuary for all to support the needy in society, including refugees and asylum seekers, and to break down the barriers that separate communities by building mutual understanding respect and trust.

Cynnig noddfa i bawb i gefnogi’r anghenus mewn cymdeithas, gan gynnwys ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches, a chwalu’r rhwystrau sy’n gwahanu cymunedau trwy feithrin cyd-ddealltwriaeth, parch ac ymddiriedaeth.

Get to know us

headshot of fflur angharad
Fflur Angharad

Co-ordinator

Fflur Angharad started working at the Trinity Centre in May 2018. Fflur wanted to work in the third sector in order to fulfil her passion of supporting others and has since been lucky to work with disadvantaged children and young people.

In her spare time, Fflur loves being a mum to her young son, travelling, cooking, and supporting local creative projects.

headshot of daud irfan
Daud Irfan

Co-ordinator

Daud Irfan started working at the Trinity Centre in September 2022. Daud has been involved here at the Trinity Centre for over 16yrs, having first come here as a young child at Trinity Methodist Church. Daud has a passion for working with various communites and people from all walks of life - especially those who are seeking asylum and refuge in the City of Cardiff.

headshot of cathy gale
Cathy Gale

Chair

Originally from Cwmafan, close to Port Talbot, I spent over 20 years living and working in Jamaica before returning to Wales in 2007 to take up an appointment as Methodist Minister in Cwmbran.  I came to Cardiff in 2017 and became Superintendent Minister of the Cardiff Circuit in 2020.  I have a fundamental interest in issues of justice and equality in the church and society.

headshot of alexis mahoney
Alexis Mahoney

Executive Board Member

Alexis has been serving the Cardiff Methodist Circuit since 2018 and is currently the Minister with Pastoral Care for Cathays, Rumney, and Wesley Canton Methodist Churches.

Alexis is an english graduate who loves playing bass guitar, having time with his family, and he loves meeting new people!

Headshot of beth barry
Beth Barry

Executive Board Member

I am a member of Wesley Methodist Church, Canton, and am a member of the Trinity Committee as the appointed Circuit Steward.

I work for Addysg Oedolion Cymru|Adult Learning Wales as an ESOL teacher. I have taught many people who have moved to Cardiff from abroad, some of whom are asylum seekers or refugees. I have a background in voluntary sector project management and community development.

headshot of irfan john
Irfan John

Executive Board Member

Rev Irfan John is a Minister with the Methodist Church with the role of Synod Enabler, Culturally Diverse Congregations, Wales and along with his family was previously a member of Trinity Methodist Church. He is still leading the Cardiff Urdu/Hindi/Punjabi Fellowship at Trinity Centre.

With a Master of Divinity to his accolades, Rev Irfan has been in fulltime ministry for over 26 years and is actively seeking to build bridges of care, support, and peace between communities all over Wales.

Headshot of Heather Cox
Heather Cox

Treasurer

Heather Cox started working with the Trinity Centre in April 2016. She is also a member of Conway Road Methodist Church, in the Cardiff Circuit, where she holds the position of Church Treasurer.

Heather qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Young in 1984 and has subsequently worked in many varied businesses and charities. She currently runs a small accountancy firm in Cardiff with her husband, Stuart.

Headshot of John Powell
John Powell

Executive Board Member

John is a member of the Trinity Centre Executive, a member and currently a Steward of Conway Road Methodist Church. He has worked with young people in a church environment for over 30 years.

He has worked in the Financial Services Sector for 48 years. Has a reputation for taking on underperforming businesses and turning them into secure and profitable organisations with a bright future.

Headshot of Richard Gaunt
Richard Gaunt

Executive Board Member

John is a member of the Trinity Centre Executive, a member and currently a Steward of Conway Road Methodist Church. He has worked with young people in a church environment for over 30 years.

He has worked in the Financial Services Sector for 48 years. Has a reputation for taking on underperforming businesses and turning them into secure and profitable organisations with a bright future.