EVI Repair Café
Monday 19th August | 2pm - 4pm
We’ve fixed & repaired over 180 items since EVI Repair Cafe launched in Feb 2023! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers 🙂
At EVI Repair Cafe, volunteers will do their best to breathe new life into your damaged and broken items—for FREE! Join us next on Monday 19th August, 2 – 4pm.
Bring along your;
Save your money and reduce waste going to landfill – or just pop in for a cuppa & chat in a friendly space. We’re excited to see you there 🙂
Can’t make it? EVI Repair CafĂ© runs on the third Monday of every month. Scroll down for a list of upcoming dates and our photo gallery!
If you have the skills to fix items or would like to support us by helping coordinate our monthly meet / greet visitors – we would love to hear from you. We’re especially in need of sewing volunteers! Get in touch: Email info@evi.cymru, ring 01495708022 or pop in.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OUR 2023 SUCCESS STORIES!
Please note: Our volunteers will do everything they can to help fix your item, but unfortunately some items are either too expensive to repair or are not repairable. Our experienced fixers will advise you on what’s best to do. We are also unable to repair microwaves or white goods (refrigerators, washing machines etc) due to safety reasons.Â
Those items that are not repairable following a visit to one of our Repair Cafes can be recycled at the Authority’s household waste and recycling centres (below)… or there may be a local business who can help in your area! Click here to search.
New Vale Recycling Centre—- Closed every Thursday.
Waun-y-Pound Industrial Estate,
Ebbw Vale,
NP23 6PL
Roseheyworth Recycling Centre—- Closed every Tuesday
Roseheyworth Business Park,
Roseheyworth Road,
Abertillery,
NP13 1SP
Both sites are open 6 days a week from 9am to 5:30pm.The last entry to the sites is at 5:20pm.
2024 Repair Café Dates for the diary:
Monday 20th May
Monday 17th June
Monday 15th July
Monday 19th August
Monday 16th September
Monday 21st October
Monday 18th November
Monday 16th December
Part of the Repair Café Wales network.
EVI is currently funded by the UK Gov through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Click here to find out more.Â
Card Making & Craft Workshops
Every Wednesday | 2 - 4pm
Get creative at EVI and learn how to craft your very own personalized cards, decorations & pieces for a variety of occasions, including embroidery, 3D styles & more. Add that heartfelt touch to your gifts and make them all the more meaningful. A great chance to meet new people and support a great local cause every Wednesday 2 – 4pm.
Only ÂŁ3, all proceeds go to EVI Pantry. Add teas / coffees and cake for an extra ÂŁ1!
Pop in to reception or ring 01495708022 to put your name down. Limited spaces available!
A massive thanks to Sue for organizing these fabulous classes and for her invaluable and continued support for EVI Pantry.
EVI is currently funded by the UK Gov through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Click here to find out more.Â
FREE Info, Advice & Guidance
Mondays 10am - 4pm
Our friendly advice and guidance officer can sit down over a cuppa and help you with:
Benefit Checks – Are you getting all the benefits you’re entitled to? We can check for you and help you navigate the paperwork. Let’s find out together!
Cost of Living – If living costs are impacting you, we can help with advice on reducing or getting support for monthly expenses and bills, budgeting, accessing financial assistance, and more.
Support and Wellbeing – EVI has a range of support services, wellbeing initiatives, and opportunities waiting for you to access. We can point you in the right direction!
Form Filling
Blue Badges, and more!
Drop by on Mondays, or email info@evi.cymru to arrange an informal meeting.
EQUANIMITY Mindfulness Meditation & Relaxation
Mondays 10.30-11.30am & Wednesdays 5.30 - 6.30pm
Please note that Mindfulness class is taking a brief break. Sessions will recommence Wednesday 5th June. Thank you!
Join Mindfulness Meditation & Relaxation sessions with Dr Andrew Lewis at EVI and learn techniques to help ease feelings of anxiety, distress and unhappiness in mind and body. The sessions will help you to;
– Come home to awareness
– Calm the body and mind
– Discover peace and tranquillity
– Cultivate contentment
– Manage time, productivity and purpose
Mindfulness techniques and understanding can help you deal more confidently with your problems, worries & fears, make better decisions, enjoy more positive relationships with others, and work effectively with negative emotions rather than become overwhelmed by them.
Andrew is a Registered Meditation Teacher and has delivered Mindfulness courses and Relaxation/Meditation sessions for established service providers and charities, GP practices, hospitals and day centres, private groups, individual clients, schools, colleges, evening classes, and in the workplace/corporate environment. Find out more here www.equanimity.wales.
Take some important time for yourself and join us at EVI. No advance booking required. Email equanimity.org@gmail.com with any queries.
EVI is currently funded by the UK Gov through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Click here to find out more.Â
ChiChi Fit with Nia
Tuesdays | 6.30 - 7.30pm
ChiChi Fit is a Musical Theatre inspired, professional dance fitness program, designed to suit everyone, of all ages and abilities. Feel like a Broadway star as you dance along to cleverly choreographed routines from musical shows – Chicago, Hairspray, Mamma Mia & Grease to name a few. Experience the energy in this heart pounding, non-stop, theatrical dance workout; the perfect exercise to shift excess pounds, increase your strength, stamina, and flexibility whilst learning new skills. Let the rhythm and lyrics be your guide as you shimmy, sweat and unleash your dancer within!
To find out more and for any queries, contact Nia via her Facebook page, email nia@chichi-fit.co.uk, or ring 07896874088. These sessions are for those aged 16+.
You can also book via Gymcatch (click the link or download the Gymcatch app).
See you there!
EVI Pantry
Open every Monday (10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm)
For just £4 per visit, you can choose 10 – 12 quality grocery items (sometimes more), which would normally total up to £20 in the supermarket. The Pantry is open to all – anyone who lives in Blaenau Gwent can join.
EVI Pantry stocks a wide range of top-quality food including fresh fruit and veg, frozen and chilled food, meat and dairy, and long-life tinned and packaged food. The Pantry is just like a shop, in that you choose the food you want from the shelves, and is run by uniformed staff and volunteers.
 You can join us for as long as you want, visiting every week or just occasionally – it’s up to you! You can have a maximum of one member per household. (You must have been accepted as a member to shop at EVI Pantry).
Communities for Work Plus
Communities for Work Plus Blaenau Gwent are based here at EVI, helping local people to find work. We offer free one to one mentoring support to individuals to help them overcome barriers they have finding work, for example job searching, CV writing, interview skills, sourcing and securing training opportunities, building confidence, childcare, transport, Â and much more.
Get in touch on 01495 355355, PM through Facebook, or pop in to find out more about our opportunities.
Cyfannol Women's Aid Blaenau Gwent
Cyfannol offers a domestic abuse drop-in service at Ebbw Vale Institute (EVI) for anyone who has experienced any form of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. The service, available Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, includes face-to-face crisis support and a helpline for anyone experiencing domestic abuse in Blaenau Gwent.
Cyfannol Women’s Aid supports individuals and families affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence and can provide information about how to stay safe, access to safe accommodation or support to stay at home.
The 12-week Own My Life Course, delivered in the Institute, supports women to regain ownership of their lives through a groupwork programme. The Ar Trac project provides individual and group-based support options for children and young people aged 5-16 who have been affected by domestic abuse.
EVI also hosts a safe and welcoming space for individuals accessing Cyfannol’s community-based domestic abuse and Horizon sexual violence support services to meet with staff.
For more information visit Cyfannol Women’s Aid’s website. To book an appointment or talk to someone in confidence please call 03300 564456, email BlaenauGwent@cyfannol.org.uk or visit EVI offices.
Blaenau Gwent CBC Youth Services
YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Blaenau Gwent Youth Service offers information, guidance and support to young people aged 11 to 25yrs. Youth Service offices are based here at EVI.
Counselling | Education | Training | Employment | Anti-Social Behaviour prevention | Youth Clubs | Health & Well Being