Once upon a time we were a simple, very informal rock painting group! Times have changed, our communities have changed and Taff Rocks is growing to meet the needs for our community members.
We started, like so many, on social media, then moved to providing community workshops, with the help of Invest Local Ynysowen, to enable our community members to participate in the global "rocking" phenomenon without the expense, and it can be expensive!
Some people can feel overwhelmed by the problems they face, by the pressures they feel to succeed and by the hectic world that exists around them. Art and being creative can give you the opportunity to pause and work.
For decades, art therapy has been used by mental health practitioners for patients ranging from the very young, the elderly, veterans and those with a mental health diagnosis. The Taff Rocks facilitators are not art therapists but understand that each and every person can benefit from using the services we provide as a 'tool' in their own mental health self-care tool kit.
Taff Rocks has its birthplace in the former Welsh mining villages of Aberfan and Merthyr Vale, based on the banks of the River Taff and alongside the Taff Trail.
Our Mission is: to improve people's lives and strengthen community bonds through freestyle workshops and structured tuition that promotes fun, inspiration, creativity, and self-expression. By offering activities that can connect generations, incorporate therapeutic art, and spread love and joy, we hope to make a positive impact on individuals and communities, one step at a time.
Charitable Objects: the advancement of education for the public benefit in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in particular but not exclusively in Aberfan, Merthyr Vale and surrounding areas by fostering and promoting understanding and appreciation of the arts, including but not exclusively by the provision of classes, seminars and training courses and in such other ways as the trustees see fit.
You don't need to be based along the river or any of its tributaries, you are welcome to join us from anywhere in the world and even hide your rocks anywhere in the world too.
Starting in the south in Cardiff Bay and traveling north, through the Brecon Beacons and up to the Brecon Theatre. The route, along the Taff Trail follows National Cycle Route 8.
The painted rocks craze has mushroomed across the UK with artists, sometimes known as "Rockers" and is helping bring families together by way of a wholesome, family activity and away from the sofa and computer games.
Even though we are expanding from painting and decorating rocks, this activity offers the following benefits...
In addition, as previously mentioned, being creative is a valuable form of mental health self care.
You don't need to be a Van Gogh, any suitable image on a rock will work just fine, from stick people to flowers, from works of art to doodles, they're all rock-worthy works of wonder! And sure to bring a smile to someone's face.
If you have family, friends or a pen pal abroad or further afield in the UK, why not ask them to get involved by painting a rock for Taff Rocks and sharing it in their area, why not see if it can come home to this area.
If you're reading this, then creating or hunting / finding works of rock art is for you. The person next to you? It's for them too. In fact, it's for anyone, any age, any gender, the sky is the limit! The world is your oyster!
Autumnal Rocks
From April 2019 until December 2020, Taff Rocks was a non-profit organisation with a constitution, bank account in its own name and a management committee.
In December 2020, Taff Rocks registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We still maintain our non-profit status. All of the money earned by or donated to Taff Rocks is used in pursuing the objectives and to keep it running.
Original 'launch rocks'
Taff Rocks was originally founded by a Mother and Daughter team. It happened one summer afternoon, in 2018, whilst sitting out in the garden enjoying every little ray of rare sunshine that Wales was gifted that summer. Both, with caring responsibilities, needed something to do when chilling. One had the idea, the other, the name. The Facebook group was founded shortly after.
In 2019, they invested in a group of like-minded people to help run the public side of the venture. These people then became the founding trustees.
The 'Dynamic Duo' are the public face of Taff Rocks, 'Ambassadors' if you like, and represent the group as often as possible when out in public or online.
The Facebook Group is administrated by the 'Dynamic Duo' and moderated by Trustees who make up the social media group's members.
The Facebook Page is administrated by the 'Dynamic Duo' and is used for sharing information publicly.
The Instagram, Twitter, TikTok accounts and YouTube Channel are administrated and moderated by the co-founders.
Google reviews can be a game-changer for a small charity such as ours.
By actively seeking customer feedback we can build trust with our beneficiaries or future beneficiaries.
You can leave us a review by following this link or by clicking the Google image.
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