September 15, 2025 - 449 views
Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin recently visited the Tŷ Enfys project in Colwyn Bay, funded by seized money from criminals, to support vulnerable individuals.
The purpose was to see how this money is helping create a much-need support hub for vulnerable people in the Colwyn Bay area.
The Sanctuary Trust applied for Your Community, Your Choice funding for their Tŷ Enfys project and were successful in the public vote that decides who wins a grant. Your Community, Your Choice is supported by the PCC, North Wales Police, and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and the funding comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the remainder provided by the PCC.
The Sanctuary Trust’s community coffee shop in Colwyn Bay is a supportive environment where individuals can connect, access resources, and work towards recovery. The aim is to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, and help people rebuild their lives.
While at Tŷ Enfys, the PCC and Kelsey Reed, PACT Project Manager at North Wales Police met Callum Hewitt, Area Manager North Wales for the Trust, along with colleagues Jody Rowley, Head of Operations and Kelly Lawrence, Tŷ Enfys Co-ordinator.
PCC Dunbobbin heard about the Trust’s work and its plans for the hub and how the café has become a centre of the community for the various groups who meet there.
The team sought funding for the Tŷ Enfys project to sustain and expand their core activities, such as recovery groups offering peer support, mentorship, and a structured pathway to recovery attended by around 20 people.
Another key activity is the community space they provide by offering the café as a free meeting space for local groups, charities, and organisations, thereby encouraging community engagement and collaboration.
The team also signposts to support services and connect people with local services that can meet their specific needs. They also offer workshops and skills training, by providing CV writing sessions, job searching support as well as being able to link into with partners who can provide further job skills.
Callum Hewitt, Area Manager – North Wales for the Sanctuary Trust said: “We’d like to thank Your Community, Your Choice for the generous funding support for our community café and space.
“This funding is absolutely integral in helping us continue to provide a welcoming place where people can connect, access support, and take part in activities. Our space is used by a wide range of local groups, from support networks to social clubs, and this funding helps us keep the doors open for everyone.”
Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I was delighted to visit the Tŷ Enfys project and learn about the Sanctuary Trust’s very worthwhile mission to help vulnerable adults and support them on the road to recovery.
“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I have made supporting communities a key priority in my Plan for the region to fight crime and projects like this help give people the fellowship and assistance that’s sometimes needed when people take the step towards living a life free from substance misuse or overcoming the pain of homelessness and social isolation."
PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers said: "Your Community, Your Choice is all about local people deciding where money should be invested for the good of their neighbourhood. Organisations like the Sanctuary Trust do incredible work to help people across our society and I am delighted we have been able to support them in their work."
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans added: "It is only right that money seized from criminals should be reinvested to do good in the community. That’s why I am delighted that money from the Your Community, Your Choice fund has gone to help the Sanctuary Trust and its focus on supporting people with recovering from social exclusion society."
Over the past twelve years, Your Community, Your Choice has awarded almost £660,000 to 214 projects working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods and support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan.
To learn more about PACT, visit www.pactnorthwales.co.uk and to learn more about the work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk.
To find out more about the Sanctuary Trust and Tŷ Enfys visit: www.sanctuarytrust.org.uk/3089-2/
