Community Story: Rough to Smooth

For our latest feature, we’re heading to Pentre in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, to meet a recent recipient of a grant from  National Grid and their Community Matters Fund (Green Spaces 2026). We caught up with Rough to Smooth CIC to discover how a small woodworking workshop has grown into a thriving community venue — and how the group is now transforming a disused school yard into an accessible green space for everyone to enjoy. Luke Upton chatted with Jayne Lewis about the journey so far, the impact the project is having on the local community, and their plans to turn a once-neglected space into a welcoming garden where people can connect, learn and grow.

Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for your time today, Jayne. To start, could you tell us a little about Rough to Smooth and the community you are a part of?

Jayne Lewis (JL): Rough to Smooth began when two of our volunteers started a small workshop, making and selling wooden and electrical items such as novelty Christmas trees and lamps from reclaimed wood and recycled materials. They soon needed more space and were joined by others who wanted to expand into traditional crafts and upcycling furniture.

We became a constituted group, rented larger premises at the Old Boys School and carried out a community consultation to find out what activities people in Pentre and the surrounding areas would like. The Rhondda is a great valley, but it is a deprived area. It's a former mining community that depended on coal for employment, and the Old Boys School itself sits above a former pithead. Now our wealth lies in our community spirit and our wonderful mountain environment.

LU: What are you currently focusing on, and what are the main priorities for the organisation at the moment?

JL: We're focusing on growing our volunteer base, establishing ourselves as a multi-purpose community venue and taking our first steps towards turning the old school yard into a community garden. We've spoken with various community groups and non-profit organisations, and we all agree that collaboration is key to real community benefit. The garden isn't for us, it's for everyone.

We've been collecting, de-nailing and cutting reclaimed and discarded wood, building wood stores and starting to build planters, all while teaching and learning new skills together. Some things have been a challenge, but we've learned lessons and had fun along the way.

LU: You've recently received funding through National Grid and Localgiving's Community Matters Fund (Green Spaces) 2026. Could you tell us more about the project, what the funding will support and what you hope to achieve?

JL: The funding allows us to transform the school's disused play yard into a fully accessible community garden. It will have raised planters and seating areas, and it will support nature with a bee bank, bird tables, nesting boxes and wildflower beds.

We hope the garden will bring the community together. There aren't many facilities or venues in Pentre with such a variety of uses, where families and individuals can come together to do some woodwork, crafting or gardening, or simply relax. The garden will benefit people's physical and mental health and provide a healthy source of vegetables and herbs, helping to ease some of the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.

LU: How important is grant funding like this to Rough to Smooth, and what difference does it make to the work you're able to deliver in the community?

JL: Without this funding, we wouldn't have been able to make nearly as much of an impact. We need funds for soil, seeds, planter liners and fixings to build the planters, as well as gazebos and seating so community groups can use the garden. Most importantly, the funding allows us to make access to the yard safe by removing dangerous flooring and improving the walkway. So, a very big thank you to National Grid and Localgiving for making it possible.

LU: We always like to ask our interviewees. Beyond financial support, what do you think would make the biggest difference to your organisation and the communities you support?

JL: We're all in it together. Volunteer support from the community will let us develop the garden and open it for community use far more quickly than we could as a small group. Genuine, lasting collaboration means forming meaningful connections and helping people who feel isolated feel less alone. With local organisations and individuals working with us and alongside us, our presence will grow, and together we'll create a self-sustaining community in a way no grant funding can.

LU: And finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers, such as upcoming projects, events, achievements or other ways people can get involved?

JL: We'd love our diverse group to grow and keep learning from each other. We're looking to get more community members involved, and not just gardeners. Woodworkers and crafters are very welcome too! People can join us for an hour a week or four days a week. We're grateful for any support people can offer, and there's always a warm welcome and a cuppa waiting.

LU: Fantastic, thanks for sharing these details of your work and community.

You may also be interested in: 

• Community Story: In the Mix Project
• Community Story: Camborne Cluster of Churches
• Are you ready for the Christmas fundraising rush?
• Community Story: Stonebridge City Farm 

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