A GRASSROOTS organisation in Wrexham is to mark a forthcoming milestone.

TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities) is celebrating its 25th anniversary, making it the UK's oldest community organising charity.

Established in 1995, and with a car acting as its first office, the Wrexham-based charity has been training and working with adults and young people across North East Wales ever since, to create positive change on local and national issues. 

On October 1 its history will be celebrated at an online event with attendance from First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Made up of a diverse alliance of community groups, TCC members work together to run effective campaigns and meet directly with decision makers on the issues which affect communities.

Throughout its 25 year history members have achieved success on many issues facing local communities including getting a night shelter set up in Wrexham, ensuring employers pay the real Living Wage, and most recently committing the Welsh Government to funding breakfasts in secondary schools for Wales' poorest pupils.

At the event community leaders will be sharing stories of how ordinary people have achieved huge changes for themselves and their communities, and what they are planning for the future.

First Minister Mark Drakeford, local politicians and decision makers have been invited to hear first-hand from the people involved about the issues their communities are currently facing such as housing and climate change.

The First Minister will address the Welsh Government’s commitment to an additional £1 to the free school meal allowance as a pilot from January 2021, as a result of a TCC campaign led by school staff and the community from Ysgol y Grango and Penycae Church of the Nazarene.

Staff at the school noticed children going hungry at lunchtime having spent their allowance on breakfast because they had no food at home, which TCC found was a national issue affecting children across Wales.

The chair of TCC, Dr Farookh Jishi, said: “25 years ago we were told that community organising wouldn’t work in North East Wales, but TCC has gone from strength to strength.

"At our launch in 1995 we said we wanted a new politics – one that comes from the people and not down from the politicians. 

"Now we bring people together of all faiths and none, people of all ages, and of all backgrounds, working together for justice and equality.”

TCC has thanked funders The National Lottery Community Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Tudor Trust, The Presbyterian Church of Wales and The People’s Postcode Trust.

Anyone interested in knowing more about building power and community organising is welcome to join the online event on Thursday, October 1 at 7pm.

Free tickets can be booked by searching for TCC via Eventbrite.