The Connecting Talgarth community event took place on 7 June 2026 at Ysgol y Mynydd Du in Talgarth, bringing together local volunteers, community groups, councillors and community leaders to explore the strengths, assets and future opportunities within the town. The event formed part of the Connecting Talgarth project, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by PAVO, with the aim of strengthening relationships across the community and voluntary sector, increasing awareness of existing activities, celebrating local contributions, and identifying opportunities for future community-led action.
Using an asset-based approach, the event focused on recognising and building upon Talgarth’s existing strengths. Forty-eight participants representing thirty-one community and voluntary organisations took part in facilitated discussions, networking activities and creative exercises designed to encourage dialogue, learning and relationship-building. A mapping exercise revealed a vibrant community landscape, identifying seventy-seven formal and informal community groups operating within the town.
Several key reflections emerged. First, Talgarth possesses significant social capital, volunteer commitment and community leadership, demonstrating remarkable levels of civic participation relative to its size. Second, while the community is highly active, many groups operate independently, highlighting opportunities to improve communication, visibility and collaboration. Third, participants emphasised the importance of trust, relationships and social connections as essential community assets. The discussions also highlighted a strong sense of place, pride in local heritage and environment, and a desire to create more inclusive opportunities for younger people and under-represented voices. Finally, there was a growing aspiration for a shared sense of direction that builds upon existing strengths while supporting collective action. Overall, the event demonstrated that Talgarth’s future development is likely to depend not on creating new capacity, but on strengthening connections between the considerable assets and activities that already exist.
The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4), working in partnership with Black Mountains College, is building on the momentum generated by the event through further community conversations and the development of community-led research projects focused on local priorities. Additional information about C4 and upcoming activities will be available through the Black Mountains College website. In the meantime, enquiries can be directed to C4’s Action Research Fellow, based in Talgarth. Email: vita@blackmountainscollege.uk.
Connecting Care Final Report
ConnectingTalgarth Artwork