Paolo Piana, Nia Griffith MP and other volunteers at Tyisha Food Bank

Race Council Cymru were delighted to receive funding from the Carmarthenshire Covid-19 Community Response Fund specifically to support Llanelli’s Polish community. 

Llanelli became the main destination for Polish citizens after many agencies recruited workers to undertake “undesirable” and “difficult” jobs. These types of jobs often meant unstable contracts for agency workers. During Covid-19 many Polish families have been disproportionately hit, many of whom were agency workers, so didn’t qualify for furlough and were laid off.

Race Council Cymru’s, regional coordinator, Paolo Piana said “we will be able to use the funding to buy essential food items for those individuals and families affected. With the help of Llanelli’s Multicultural Network and their wonderful Polish volunteers we have been selecting suitable items many of Polish origin. We are working with our trusted partners, including the Tyisha Foodbank and Tŷ Gwyn Community Church, to get the food to those in need.”

The food at the Tŷ Gwyn Community Church

Paolo added, “we are so pleased to see the community come together during these challenging times and support those in need. A huge thank you to our funders and all the amazing volunteers.” 

Nia Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, is one of the key volunteers at Trisha Food Bank who learns Polish to support Polish communities living in Llanelli.

(Left) Joanna from the Polish Community, helping with the shopping. (Right) Joanna and Ann from the Llanelli Multicultural Network (LMCN).

We would like to thank all the volunteers, partners and funding organisations who made this project possible. Especially, Zabka Mini Supermarket in Llanelli who offered a substantial discount to make the money go further.

Zabka Mini Supermarket in Llanelli

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