As we move into summer in Splott, there’s a whole host of lovely things coming up in our part of Cardiff.
Tuesday 11th June – Stargarallot Community Garden Volunteer Session
If you would like to find out more about growing flowers, fruit & veg, and would like to get involved with your local community garden, pop to the back of the STAR Hub (Splott Park) on Tuesday 11th June between 11am and 1pm to meat the team of green fingered volunteers (check out the poster below for regular opening hours and other special sessions this month):
15th June – Pollinator Party and Car Boot Sale
From 9am to 1pm there will be a car boot sale and plant giveaway at the back of the STAR Centre off Splott Road on Saturday the 15th June.
Splott Community Volunteers has received grant funding from WWF Cymru to hold a pollinator party giving away plants that are good for bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators.
Coupled with a car boot sale, there will be live music, food and family friendly green activities.
Find Splott Community Volunteers at the back of the STAR Centre, off Splott road, opposite A1 Tyres.
Sunday 16th June – Eco Market
On Sunday 16th June at Railway Gardens (top of Adeline Street) there will be an Eco Market between 1pm and 5pm.
Find out more here.
Monday 17th June – Oscar Nominated Film Screening
The week of the 17th June is Refugee Week and Oasis has a great line-up of cultural activities on offer.
On Monday 17th June they will be showing a screening of the IO Capitano film at 7pm in their small hall. Doors open at 6pm and tickets cost £3 or £5 (tickets are priced on a sliding scale. Please for you to pay what you can).
Matteo Garrone’s Oscar nominated IO CAPITANO is the tale of two Senegalese teenagers who, dreaming for a brighter future, embark on a journey from West Africa to Italy. However, between their dreams and reality lies a labyrinth of checkpoints, the Sahara Desert, and the vast waters of the Mediterranean. An unflinching look at the dark and brutal reality of refugee exploitation, the film gives a much needed human voice to the desperate journeys people make to seek sanctuary and a better life.
Join Oasis for a one-time screening of this brilliant film. All profits will go towards ongoing work welcoming people seeking sanctuary through their doors.
Book tickets here.
Wednesday 19th June – Summer Late Market
There’s another summer social evening on offer from the lovely folk at Splo-Down. On June 19th from 6pm – 8:30pm they will have a special extended stall with delicious food from Mabin Eatery sold on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale and live music from jazz band The Dail Trio. They will also be selling a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and the main veg stall will be open as usual.
Find them at the back of the old STAR Leisure Centre, entry via Marion Street.
Thursday 20th June – Oasis Cultural Cabaret
Continuing the Refugee Week activities, this cultural cabaret looks to be something special.
Lineup*:
Not Fit State – Hula Hoop Spectacular
Fiery Jacks Circus Troupe
Gareth Bonello – Welsh folk musician
Ayoub Boukhalfa – Singer
Arash Javadi – Oud performer
*may be subject to change
This family-friendly event will showcase the incredible talents of our diverse community with captivating circus acts from No Fit State & Fiery Jacks, music from local artists, and delicious street food.
Come and celebrate as Oasis honours the rich cultural heritage and resilience of our community, providing a space for joy, connection, and cultural exchange. Food and drink will be available from our Global Eats food truck so don’t miss the opportunity to spend a wonderful summer evening enjoying good food and entertainment in the heart of Splott.
All profits will go towards ongoing work welcoming people seeking sanctuary through our doors.
20th June, 7-8:30 pm
Doors and food truck open from 6 pm
Tickets: £5, £10
Tickets are priced on a sliding scale. Please pay what you can.
Book tickets here.
Friday 21st June – Get Together Lunch at Oasis
Oasis wants their centre to be a welcoming and safe space for all regardless of their background. This year’s theme for Refugee Week invites us all to celebrate ‘Home’ and extend our hospitality and warmth to others. This could be simply having a chat, taking a walk with someone or sending a message of welcome.
To act in solidarity with people seeking sanctuary, Oasis will be opening their doors to our community to share a meal together and have meaningful conversation. The Get Together lunch is open to all with free entry and will be attended by various community groups, including a performance by Oasis One World Choir.
21st June, 12 pm
If you would like to attend, please reserve a space so they can gauge numbers. Reserve a space here.
Saturday 29th June – Keep Splott Tidy Litter Pick
Now, some peole may say that this isn’t a ‘nice thing’, picking up litter and tidying up other people’s mess. ‘The council should do it’, people may say. ‘It gives people jobs’, others may profess.
But Keep Splott Tidy is much more than that. It’s a chance to meet new people, make friends, socialise and have a laugh, all while doing something to improve the physical environment around us.
Run by four very enthusiastic Splott residents, the group meets each month in a different part of Splott on the last weekend of the month to make a difference.
On Saturday 29th June, join the Wombles of Splott outside St Albans church on Carlisle Street at 10am to litter pick the surrounding streets. All equipment is provided and time credits are on offer.
Weekly activities
Let’s have a gander at the regular list of things going on…
Mondays
Join Splott Community Volunteers from 10am to 12 noon for a cuppa and a cake on Memory Mondays. Residents get together to share memories of old Splott (who knew that Rolfe’s the Florist used to be a pet food store with bird seed being served iin paper bags from a wooden drawer in a cabinet? Well it was!)
Tuesdays
Every Tuesday morning in term time, a community group at St Philip’s Church on Tweedsmuir Road in Tremorfa provides free coffee and cake and the chance to chat.
At 1.30 on Tuesdays at Railway Gardens there’s Baby & Parent Support Group for free. Pop along and meet other parents and other babies! Find them at the top of Adeline Street off Railway Street.
Do you have a handy skill to share? Pop along to the GoodShed at Railway Gardens between 2pm and 4pm to build stuff and drink tea!
Wednesdays
Join Splott Community Volunteers for Knit and Natter between 10am and 12 noon for a cuppa and a cake and learn some new knitting skills while having a chat. Refreshments provided for free. Also, once a month, there will be a mobile wool and embroidery shop, Wool on Wheels, joining them.
Forces of Nature after school nature club for children runs at Railway Gardens from 3.15pm to 4.30pm. Find out more here. No need to book though -just pop along (and there’s a free snack for kids).
Splo-Down, a food cooperative operating from a container at the back of the old STAR Leisure Centre on Splott Road offer great quality and value for money bags of fresh veg for affordable prices between 5pm and 7pm. Pay what you can. More information here.
You can also pop along to Railway Gardens for Natter with Neighbours at 10.30am.
Thursdays
For £4 at the Splott Community Volunteers’ Breakfast Club you can get a hot cooked breakfast and a bag of 10 items from their food pantry, including a fridge item, freezer item and tinned goods, fried goods and fresh fruit & veg. Find them at the back of the old STAR Leisure Centre on Splott Road, entry opposite A1 Tyres on Railway Street.
Breakfast Club runs from 8.30am to 10.30am. Find out more here.
There are two coll activities at Railway Gardens on a Thursday morning: Tai Chi at 10am and Creative Writing at 10.30am. Find out more here.
Fridays
Digital skills at Splott Community Volunteers runs from 10am to 12 noon and is open to all, regardless of abilities. Come in for a cuppa and a cake and get help from the Cardiff Council digital skills team.
If I’ve missed anything, do let me know. I’d love to update this article with other cool stuff going on.