Thirty Years and Counting

Seventy years ago this month, in May 1956, the Gower Peninsula was named Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s no surprise that this coastal jewel draws so much attention, often at the expense of other areas of Swansea. Many people think of Gowerton as the gateway to Gower. To the people who live and work there, binding the community together, it’s far more than that.

Just ask Linda and Steve Bolchover.

Linda and Steve are familiar and respected faces in Swansea. Known for positive environmental action - Steve sits on the board of directors of the Environment Centre - and for championing inclusiveness, they take particular pride in their work at Gowerton’s Rechabite Hall Community Centre. 

That work began in 1996. A different time. A different millennium. In the thirty years since Linda and Steve threw open the doors of Rechabite Hall, Gowerton has evolved from a post-industrial village into a residential suburb. Residents still want to feel like a part of a wider community, though, and every time they walk through the doors of the community centre on Church Street, they do.

Over the years, the volunteer-run hall has hosted children’s parties, gatherings of retired ex-servicemen, local historical societies, exercise sessions for over-50s and martial arts classes for all ages. Linda and Steve are proud of the standards they’ve maintained, year in year out, and the certificates of recognition awarded by Swansea Council are a reminder of their achievement. They’re also proud of the spirit of welcome and inclusion they’ve fostered at the hall, and the latest organisation to feel the benefit is Unity in Diversity.

As part of our 2026 Outreach Programme, we’re holding a drop-in session at Rechabite Hall on the second Thursday of each month. UiD support is now available on the doorsteps of service users in Gowerton, Manselton and Morriston, as well as at our long-standing city centre base at York Street. At last Thursday’s first Rechabite Hall drop-in, visitors were offered English language coaching, advice on navigating the immigration system and the opportunity to join in with UiD’s gardening projects. They also had the opportunity to meet the two people whose hard work and generosity has helped to make this part of Swansea a place of welcome for the past three decades. Linda and Steve were particularly pleased to meet project manager Jayden, one of the leaders of UiD’s website development project. 

In Linda’s own words:

“Nothing gives us greater pleasure than meeting talented young people who help to connect different parts of the community. It’s lovely to meet Jayden and we’re very happy to have this new connection with Unity in Diversity. These drop-in sessions are just what Gowerton needs.”

We couldn’t ask for a better partner for the UiD Outreach Programme. Linda and Steve have been the heartbeat of Gowerton community activity for thirty years and counting, and we’re looking forward to seeing them again very soon.