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Local Housebuilder Funds Wi-Fi Upgrade and Free Internet for Community Hub in St Athan

Good News Post

Jul 14, 2025 — 2 min read

From L-R: Louise Shapcott, Rachael Sherman, Christine Foster, Lewis Allwood, Jane Hutt MS, Monica Barry - Image supplied Equinox

By Community Correspondent

Local housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes South Wales has announced a £14,000 donation from the Barratt Foundation, to The Gathering Place — a Methodist church and community centre in St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan.

The donation will fund a huge Wi-Fi upgrade for the local hub — ensuring the community has access to a shared resource that will not only improve connectivity but foster economic growth and digital inclusion.

The donation also covers Wi-Fi costs for the next three years, ensuring the hub has one less thing to worry about during the ongoing cost of living crisis*— which is causing struggles for many similar centres.

This is the second donation Barratt has made to the community local to its Parc Fferm Wen development.

Indeed, earlier this month, the housebuilder supported the rebuild of St
Athan Primary School, after a roof fire left part of the school closed to pupils.

Charity champion for Barratt Developments, Lewis Allwood, said: “Both St Athan Primary School and The Gathering Place are vital local spaces that cultivate and support people of all ages — from young children in the community to those in more vulnerable situations.

“At Barratt, we are proud to support these essential local bases — helping them continue their invaluable work for the community, for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, added:

“This donation is wonderful news and will make a huge difference to the Gathering Place and all those who use this vital community hub. I would like to thank Barratt Homes for engaging with our roundtable meetings to support the centre and for their ongoing support for the community.”

The Barratt Foundation is the stand-alone charity that represents Barratt Developments across all of its charitable work.

Each year it donates £4m+ to charities alongside its Community Fund — an initiative that offers donations to organisations that work to improve the quality of life for those living in the area local to Barratt developments.

Applications for Barratt’s Community Fund are open to all registered charities operating in South Wales and the West.

To be considered, simply email
bdwswcommfund@barratthomes.co.uk explaining what the funding would be spent on, and how it would benefit the local community.

Just email us at news@goodnewspost.co.uk.

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