Thanks to the generosity of Welsh firm Safeguard Electrical, Fire & Security and lighting manufacturers Ovia – part of Scolmore Group, a Cardiff community has two new flood-lit indoor sports pitches. For the young people of Tremorfa this is a lifeline. Vaughn Gething will formally open the new pitches on 14 March at 09:30am.
Based in a warehouse in a former industrial area of Cardiff, the charity Pay it Forward (PiF) provides indoor sports facilities and food for children and young people aged 3 and up. PiF’s healthy activities offer an alternative to computer screens or roaming the streets. The charity has so far transformed the lives of hundreds of families.
Founder of PiF, Paul Gwilym, knows all about paying it forward. After losing his home and sleeping in his car, he learned the kindness of friends as he sofa-surfed his way to a new life. This was an epiphany which led to the setting up of the community hub.
It is not easy, or cheap, to run the venue, but Paul’s tenacity works wonders. Donations of food and sports kit flow in. But finding a good electrician required a different kind of ask.
Paul approached Michelle Morgan-Loughman, Regional Manager at ECA, the trade association for electrical businesses. Through her networks she matched ECA Member firm, Safeguard Electrical, Fire & Security, and ECA Commercial Associate, Scolmore Group – Ovia Lighting with PiF and made the lights go on.
Safeguard Electrical, a Cardiff-based firm, gifted two days’ work to PiF to install the lights for free. A donation of the 34 eco-friendly U-Lite LED light fittings needed to illuminate the pitches came from lighting manufacturer, Ovia.
Simon Cooper representing Ovia said:
“As soon as I met Paul, I got sucked in by his enthusiasm and passion for what he was doing, and I knew straight away that Ovia would try and assist”.
Frazer Hawtin, whose team gave up part of their Christmas holiday to install the lights, said:
“I love spending time with my kids over the Christmas break, but I wanted to give something back to kids who have so much less.”
ECA is proud to have brokered a deal between Pif, Ovia Lighting and Safeguard Electrical, Fire & Security.
The trade association champions a fairer electrical market, cleaner energy and safe installation to bring peace of mind to all who use electricity.
Last updated 24 February 22