Covid 19 & Pias

Nearly everything that would normally happen on a daily basis was now forbidden!

So, was it a time to sit down and do nothing? Of course not!

Having recently moved into new office premises in Pentre a lot of our stock was in need of some serious organization, sorting out all the historic and recent donations was a mammoth task in itself.

Preparing a ‘quarantine zone’ for donated items was also at the top of the list.  This designated area allows items to be left alone, in a separate space for at least 72 hours before they are moved to the next phase of processing.

Getting our stockroom sorted was an overdue task, that had been postponed far too many times!  It means that when business is back on track, replenishing the shopfloor will be a much smoother operation, and the stock will be managed carefully so that by the time the items are put for sale, it will be safe for them to be sold.  There is plenty of stock ready and waiting to find a new lease of life.

Much as our back of house needed sorting, so did our front of house, a website had been planned for a long time, but had always been put on the backburner.  Ethan Jones, from People & Work designed and built our fabulous new website (which you will now be visiting if you’re reading this blog!).  Here, you can find out everything you would ever want to know about Play It Again Sport; where you can donate your items, how you can buy them, and what happens with the money that is raised.  Future plans include a webshop so you can buy directly from us.

Supporting our community is at the heart of Play It Again Sport, so finding ways to still do this was really important to us.  There had been plans to deliver sporting activities at Ynys y Werin St Anne’s Community Group in Ynyshir, which had to be put on hold due to lockdown, but the amazing work of the group meant that In lieu of sporting activities, other activities were delivered.

Easter Craft Packs, Easter Eggs, VE Craft Packs and Packs of Joy all had to be distributed in the local area, and what a pleasure it has been to lift people’s spirits by providing these.

There have been so many fantastic local groups working so hard to help in the Rhondda, and as our usual method of support was rendered impossible, instead we have pledged money to The Play Yard and Rhondda Foodbank who have been ensuring that people who need food at this critical time do not go without, have a look at their pages to see the work they have been doing.  Play It Again Sport is so proud to have supported these fabulous organisations, if you know of any other community projects that need assistance, please call or email us.

And if you have any ideas of future projects that can be delivered, don’t hesitate to share them with us, and hopefully Play It Again Sport will be back as you know it sooner rather than later!