Young people build memorial bench for those affected by COVID-19

Young people in Llanybydder have built a bench as a memorial to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Youth Support Service have been working with young people in the town on a project about being ‘Welsh and Proud’ and during their discussions they came up with the idea of making a bench and dedicating it to those affected by the pandemic.

The bench has now taken pride of place outside the rugby club with a community day taking place this Saturday (March 12). The young people have asked the local choir to come along and sing, the Archdeacon of Cardigan Canon Eileen Davies will do a prayer of dedication, followed by Welshcakes and tea.

Local member Cllr Ieuan Davies has been heavily involved in the project and has funded a tree to be planted in the centre of the bench.

He said: “As part of the project, we were talking about what being Welsh means to you and your community. We started to discuss the pandemic and how it has affected the community, and the young people thought it would be a nice idea to Incorporate it into the project.

“I spoke about a bench I had seen that had been made by a men’s sheds project for a local community, and the young people thought it was a great idea to build a bench, with the support of the youth support service staff, and dedicate it to the people who had been affected by the pandemic.

“They have done a wonderful job and I am sure the people of Llanybydder will appreciate somewhere to go to sit, think and remember.”

Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services Cllr Glynog Davies was invited to Llanybydder to meet some of the young people involved in the project.

He said: “This is a wonderful project by the young people of Llanybydder and I would like to congratulate all those involved.

“So many communities have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and sadly, many families have lost loved ones.

“This bench will provide a tranquil place for people in Llanybydder to remember and reflect as well as honour those who helped to bring their community closer together by helping those when they needed it.”