Powered by People: How FAN Builds Community

In the heart of a housing estate in eastern Neath, next to a local park, sits a small community centre that at first glance might not catch your eye. But look a little closer, and you’ll see it’s not a typical 1970s identikit building; it’s something far more special, with bright colours on the walls, flourishing planters in the yard, and solar panels on the roof – this is the home of FAN Community Alliance – a vibrant, welcoming hub run by the community, for the community.

I’m lucky enough to visit FAN regularly through my work, and each time, I’m struck by the same thing: how alive the place feels. It buzzes with activity, with the warmest of welcomes, and a sense of belonging that’s hard to put into words – although their use of the term ‘FAN Family’ is probably the closest approximation.

FAN began back in 2008 with a simple idea – a Halloween party organised by neighbours and, for a while, it was focused on a small surrounding area of 40 houses, with the aim to organise social activities to provide entertainment and fun for local people, and bring them together to help make neighbours into friends. That small spark lit the way for what would become a growing movement of people working together to make life better in their part of town.

Since moving into the community centre in 2016, FAN has grown significantly and so has the range of activities they can now offer. Inside, you’ll find everything from bingo and keep fit classes, to children’s activities (led by the children themselves), weekly shared meals, a food pantry, and a book exchange. The centre also hosts a regular series of family focused events throughout the year as well as advice on green living. Outside, they tend planters and manage a nearby community garden. They also run a minibus to help people get to medical appointments and social events. All of this happens because local people make it happen.

What makes FAN truly stand out is how they do things. There are no paid staff, everything is led by residents who pitch in because they know how much this place matters and means to people. First-timers often find themselves helping out by their second or third visit. That sense of shared ownership is key. As one member with limited mobility put it: “I feel accepted for what I can do, not judged for what I can’t.” She added that she arrived “as a stranger and left as a friend” – a perfect summary of FAN’s ethos.

FAN has around 200 regular users, including 50 formal members and other volunteers. Ages range from 5-93, and young people take the lead in shaping and running their own activities, with just enough support to let them grow in confidence.

In recent years, their work has evolved, from responding to Covid-19 (when they organised all local volunteering efforts) to running food initiatives and affordable social trips during the cost-of-living crisis, they’ve adapted to meet real need.

They’ve also embraced an environmental approach - caring for local green spaces and offering advice on sustainability. But at the core of it all remains the same goal: making the community stronger through connection, care, and shared effort.

That’s why FAN also invests in its people, by making sure volunteers feel supported, trained, and never overwhelmed. The model works because it’s people-powered, but only if that power is shared fairly. At a time when many large organisations are struggling to attract volunteers, FAN shows what is possible when people feel truly included, valued, and needed.

At a time when a lot of larger organisations are talking about declining volunteer numbers The UK’s Volunteering Decline: Causes and Solutions - Community First, the approach used by FAN succeeds in stimulating, supporting and inspiring a lot of people to make their corner of Neath both a more enjoyable and supportive community.

As the Welsh Government develops its new volunteering framework, FAN’s success offers a powerful case study. This kind of community-led model - where neighbours shape their own future - deserves a bigger place in shaping policy. Because if every town had a FAN, Wales would be a warmer, more connected place to live.