Torfaen Member of Parliament Nick Thomas-Symonds has this week paid tribute to the several community organisations within Torfaen that have gone above and beyond for local residents throughout this difficult year.

Mr Thomas-Symonds visited two of the many volunteer-led organisations in Torfaen this week, the CoStar Partnership, and Eastern Valley Foodbank. The Torfaen MP discussed the challenges they have faced throughout the pandemic, and thanked them for the tireless work they do for their communities.

CoStar is a local charity based in the Threepenny Bit Community Centre in Greenmeadow which runs a Community Foodshare Project, providing those most in need with emergency food parcels. Alongside this, CoStar provide community breakfast and lunch clubs, and a variety of classes and activities for the community. The Eastern Valley Foodbank is a part of the nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, providing emergency food and support to local people from a number of centres throughout Torfaen.

On visiting the two organisations, the Torfaen MP said: “I was delighted to visit volunteers at the CoStar Partnership and the Eastern Valley Foodbank to discuss the wonderful work they do for our communities. The Coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the tremendous sense of community spirit we have here in Torfaen, and I would like to thank all the voluntary organisations who help the most vulnerable during these most difficult of times.”