Praise for community response after Mayhill Swansea disturbance

Swansea Council is continuing to provide support for communities affected by the incident while the South Wales Police investigation into what happened goes on.

Bethan McGregor, the council’s local area co-ordinator said she’s been really impressed by the way residents and businesses have rallied round since Thursday night.

She said: “The response of the community has been amazing.

“The scenes we saw on Thursday night are not representative of the area but the response that has followed is.

“We have had businesses across Swansea offering support with supermarkets providing toys and vouchers to the families directly affected.

“There have been trades people, a carpet cleaner, food businesses and groups in other parts of Swansea offering to help.

“One elderly resident who was upset that her flower pots were damaged has had replacements – it may seem a little thing but it was important to her and shows how people care.

“Families say they cannot speak highly enough of the support that has been offered by schools.”

On the night and in the morning after Swansea Council deployed extra resources and worked with residents to clean-up and carry out repairs.

But teams from other council services have also been on hand with the Local Area Coordinators making checks on those affected and seeing what help they need.

Schools in the area have been speaking to pupils affected by what occurred and making support available to them and their families.

The council’s Evolve youth service, working with partner agencies Barod Choices, YMCA and the Media Academy, were out and about in Swansea continuing to provide youth support over the weekend.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began the council’s youth service has been carrying out outreach work by visiting places where young people spend time.

The youth workers have visited parks, the beach front and multi-use games areas over the weekend to talk to young people upset by what took place.

Kelli Richards Principal Officer of Early Help services in Swansea including the Council’s Evolve Youth Service said: “The young people that the youth workers have been speaking to about the incident over the weekend are shocked and upset at what took place and say it is a horrible thing to happen.

“As part of our continuing outreach programme we have been letting them know that there is support available and signposting them to services. This will continue in all communities in Swansea in the months to come.”