AN OPEN day at a community centre for adults with disabilities in Torfaen drew a large crowd of councillors, schoolchildren and service users to help celebrate new initiatives on offer at the centre.

Cwmbran’s Scope offers a range of services to the entire Gwent area, from sensory rooms and hub sessions aiming at helping those with cerebral palsy and other physical or learning impairments.

The organisation has worked with the town’s branch of Asda for almost one year, to help with fundraising and other ventures to highlight the importance of the charity’s work for its service users.

“It is fabulous to see the local community come and support our resource within Torfaen and from so many different organisations - it’s a humbling moment,” said centre manager Kath O’Dwyer.

“Our aim is to not only raise our profile in Cwmbran but also to showcase the great work that Scope does too.”

A choir from New Inn Primary School performed a selection of Christmas classics for the guests at the open day, which was attended by a range of businesses and representatives from across the borough.

The centre has worked in partnership with Torfaen Communities First to help champion adult disability needs in the borough, as well as Asda.

Rachel Riordan has worked with centre since January and has helped to raise over £650 in which has all gone towards the Cwmbran-based centre.

“It is a great contrast to my role at Asda,” she said, who works as Asda’s Community Life Colleague for the Cwmbran store.

“I come here once a week and I try to come here as often as I can, but it’s the sense of achievement felt by coming to Scope and helping with the service users that is the most rewarding.”

Through her work, over £400 was raised to allow the blind service users access to the sensory room, with a further £260 spend on sewing machines to allow participants to make craft items to sell to friends and family.

“It is a huge support for us to have companies like Asda behind us as we are one of the charities in Cwmbran,” added the Scope centre manager.

“To have the support of our community officer allows us to let people know we are here, which is so important to us.”