On Thursday, December 5, the L’Arche community in Brecon got together at the Foundry to celebrate their significant milestone of 35 years in the town.

Founded in 1989, L’Arche Brecon began in a small house in Cradoc Close and is now based at Glasfryn House in Llanfaes. The community was established through the efforts of the late Thomas Dunn, then headmaster of Penmaes School, who recognised the concerns that parents had about the future of their children with learning disabilities.

Today, L'Arche Brecon includes around 20 staff members; six core members with learning disabilities, who they support at home and at their workshop; as well as volunteers, committee members, and many local friends and neighbors.

Since its opening, the community has developed strong connections with its neighbours, local churches and other community groups, which its core members attend.

As the core members are mostly from local families, L'Arche has strong local support and many long-term friends.

One of the most unique aspects of L’Arche Brecon is its international presence. L'Arche is joined - for one year - by people from all over the world, who live-in at the house as assistants, alongside the long-term residents. This gives the core members the opportunity to engage with individuals from a variety of cultures, broadening their perspectives and enhancing their sense of connection with the wider world. Other assistants live in the community, further strengthening local ties.

In addition to their residential work, L'Arche Brecon runs a workshop called Rebound Books, based at the Muse in Brecon. This is a project where they repurpose used books and turn them into beautiful diaries and notebooks. In 2023, Rebound Books received a sustainability award at the world-renowned Hay Festival. L'Arche also attends local markets throughout the year and sells online.

This past June, the community hosted a successful Summer Fayre at the Alderman Thomas Williams playing field (Llanfaes Park). The event, which was attended by many local families, was a joyous afternoon of music, stalls, refreshments and children’s entertainment. L'Arche received donations from many local businesses, whom they try to support. They also had donations and time given by local churches, choirs and community groups, making it a real community event. The fayre was such a big success that there are already plans to hold another in June of next year.

Jill Farmer, Community Leader at L’Arche, told the Brecon & Radnor Express: "We would like to say a very big thank you to all staff, assistants, volunteers, committee members, friends and neighbours past and present who have shared this wonderful journey with us and for their support over the past 35 years.

"Thank you also to the Foundry, Brecon for their amazing hospitality on the day and for providing the venue and a wonderful buffet.”

"Thank you also to Caitlin Ward of Cakeylooloo’s for the delicious celebration cake,” she said.

For more information on L’Arche Brecon and the work they do, please visit the website, which can be found at: www.larche.org.uk/pages/category/larche-brecon