A project which helps former prisoners and other vulnerable people rebuilt their lives celebrated a milestone this week with the opening of its new HQ.
Valley of Hope, a Church Army-run project in Aberdare, moved into a new office right in the heart of town and invited the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, and the UK Chief Executive of the Church Army, Mark Russell, to open it.
The new office, funded by the Welsh Assembly, will enable the team to reach more people who need help and to expand their valuable work.
The Valley of Hope project was set up in 2002 by Ralph Upton, a Captain in the Church Army, and his wife Carol. It works with people who have been in prison, are homeless or dependent on alcohol or drugs, showing them how to rebuild their lives and regain their self-confidence. It helps them find accommodation, teaches them day-to-day budgeting skills, gives nutrition advice and helps them access professional agencies. It also runs a community shop in Abercynon to encourage people back to work, holds a weekly creative writing group and a painting and decorating course. The new office is in the Crown Buildings on Greenbach Street.
Dr Morgan, who dedicated the new office, described the project as an inspiring example of the Christian message. He said, “This project opens doors to people who feel shut out, offers friendship to those who hate themselves and gives fresh starts to those who feel they are at a dead end. Lives are changed here due to the care and interest of Ralph and his team. And that is at the basis of the change which people experience through the Valley of Hope: that they are cared about as individuals who matter. Because of this work, people who had seen their lives as worthless are alive today.
“The problems which are endemic for ex-offenders, those suffering physical abuse, substance misuse, homelessness, and mental health issues have undermined their self-worth. Valley of Hope restores their dignity, helps them learn life skills, gives them independence and offers continuing encouragement.
“We hear a lot about the challenges that people face today, whether this is through alcohol or drug abuse, unemployment, struggling lone parents, mental illness, discrimination, or the breakup of relationships. The financial melt down has touched the lives of many of us as costs increase and debt escalates. So most communities these days are places where under the surface, people are struggling in all sorts of ways. I think it is a feature of modern day life for many people to feel a sense of isolation, a sense that we are increasingly disconnected from each other and unable to find the support we need.
“The Church Army has here in Aberdare taken an initiative to try to redress that. It is an inspiring example of the Christian message at work right in the heart of the community. I am delighted to dedicate this new office and I pray it will enable the project to continue to provide us all with hope for a better world.”
Mark Russell said, “The Valley of Hope is an inspiring project reaching broken and vulnerable people and helping them rebuild their lives. The support that Ralph and his fantastic team provide has been key for so many people in enabling them to turn their lives around. We cannot thank the Welsh Assembly enough for their generosity. By funding these offices they are helping this project to provide even greater help to those in need in this community.”
Captain Ralph Upton said, “Archbishop Barry has been a faithful supporter of the work we do through Valley of Hope and as a Christian project we value the compassion he has shown to all our clients on previous visits.
“We are eternally grateful for the funding that has been sourced via the Welsh Assembly. This has not only created a new office space that can be shared by all staff members, it also gives the opportunity for all our clients to be met in a safe and confidential environment.”
Tanya’s story
Eight years ago, Tanya Davies, 32, was living rough in a shed, pregnant and addicted to heroin. Then the Valley of Hope threw her a “lifeline”. This is her story.
“From the age of sixteen, was the first time I can really say I experienced the life of homelessness. I was beginning to feel that vulnerable little girl again! Scared, afraid, but mostly lonely.
“The days grew shorter and the nights much colder, then one day I met a girl and at last I thought I had met a true friend. But this so called friend took me to depths that I could never imagine, a journey taking drugs daily, just any kind of drug we could get hold of at any given time. This was also fuelled by alcohol, I drank so much that my whole life became a haze.
“My life was beginning to spiral quickly out of control, I realised that after about sixteen to eighteen hits of heroin, my veins were no longer those bulging healthy blue lines, they had become lumpy, scarred and disgusting smelling arms.
“The only place I could call my home, was a cold, damp rancid shed, which only had a partial roof to keep out the pending rains. The walls were covered in green putrefied matter that added to the stench, but at least it was situated within the security of my local church yard. By this time I was completely alone, and the only company I had was my baby growing inside me.
“Three days after my child was born, I was suddenly thrown what I had been longing for, a lifeline to a new beginning. I met Ralph Upton and Paul Jones from the Valley of Hope Project, thankfully they both believed in me and offered me a house in the valleys. At last a real home that I could call my own. I have continued to work with the Valley of Hope Team, for seven years and have come to class them as my family. If it wasn’t for them I would be dead.
“Now I’m attending the creative writing group which is led by Paul. It has given me the opportunity to write down my feelings creatively through storytelling and poetry. In the future I would like to be able to help others who have unfortunately been travelling the same road as I did. I want to thank Valley of Hope for believing in me.”
For more information about Valley of Hope visit http://www.valleyofhope.co.uk/index.html
