Falklands War veteran Simon Weston OBE, who was born at the historic former hospital building, called The Beeches, in Caerphilly, officially launched the '8' campaign which has been started by the Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Group. He joined Group members, local Assembly Member and Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community chair Jeff Cuthbert, schoolgirl Lauren Cripps and representatives of United Welsh and Lovell to release red balloons – representing the 25,000 babies born at the hospital – outside The Beeches.
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Lovell is working with United Welsh to redevelop the rest of the former hospital site creating The Beeches Village, which will provide much-needed, high-quality affordable housing.
In order to bring the Beeches building back to full use as a community facility the Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Group is looking to raise £1 million. The hospital was founded in 1923 with donations from local miners who put aside 6d of their 12s 6d weekly wages. Inspired by this, the '8' campaign is asking local people each to contribute £8 – the equivalent in today’s money. Appropriately, fundraising activities at the weekend launch raised more than £880.
Lovell regional director David Gough said: "To see the '8' campaign get off to such a positive start underlines how important the Beeches building is locally and the strong desire for it to become a new community facility for the future. As a company which is committed to community involvement, we're delighted to be supporting the campaign."
(CD/MH)
