A Legacy of Compassion and Community
Sandville Self Help Foundation began with a vision, one rooted in compassion, dedication, and a deep understanding of the human spirit.
Sister Gwyneth Poacher MBE, one of the first Macmillan cancer nurses in the local area, spent her life caring for those facing life limiting and life changing illnesses. Through her years of experience in nursing, Gwyneth recognised a profound need: beyond medical treatment, patients and their families needed emotional support, connection, and understanding.
Gwyneth, supported by her friend Ruth Foster, set out to create a space where people could come together, share their experiences, and support one another in times of great uncertainty. What began as an idea quickly became a movement.
With the generous support of Danny Jones, owner of the Sandville Hotel in Porthcawl, the first support group meeting took place on 5th February 1983. From that moment, The Sandville Self Help Foundation was born, named in honour of its first home.
As word spread and the community’s need grew, the Foundation on the 15th August 1986 became a registered charity, Charity Number: 517899, supported by a dedicated team of trustees and volunteers. It was clear that this was more than a support group; it was becoming a lifeline.
Meetings soon moved to the Court Colman Hotel in Pen-y-Fai, a place familiar to Gwyneth through past events. Weekly gatherings replaced monthly ones, and with them came a wave of fundraising efforts and community involvement. In 1990, thanks to incredible generosity and tireless work, the Foundation acquired its own permanent home: Pen-y-Mynydd House in Kenfig. The new site was renamed Sandville Court, a heartfelt tribute to the two places where its journey began.
From there, the Foundation went from strength to strength. In 1992, it was featured in the heartfelt television documentary Who Cares Wins, bringing its mission to a wider audience. That same year, Gwyneth was honoured with the "Heart of Gold" award by broadcaster Esther Rantzen, helping to fund a dream project: a hydrotherapy pool. The following year, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the centre to officially open the pool, leaving her signature in the visitors’ book: “Katherine 1993.”
In June 1993, Sister Gwyneth Poacher was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, presented during the first-ever Welsh Investiture at Cardiff Castle, a well-deserved recognition of a lifetime devoted to others.
As the years passed, the Foundation continued to evolve and expand, thanks to generous donations from local businesses and unwavering community support. New additions followed: a treatment and relaxation suite, a tranquil chapel, and expanded therapeutic facilities, each space designed to provide peace, comfort, and healing.
After nearly four decades of service, Gwyneth Poacher MBE retired in April 2022, leaving behind a lasting legacy of love, dignity, and hope. Today, Sandville Self Help Foundation Charity Number: 1208408 is under new leadership, but its mission remains unchanged: to provide a sanctuary of support, empathy, and care for all those facing life limiting and life changing conditions.
From humble beginnings to a thriving centre of community and compassion, Sandville Self Help Foundation stands as a beacon of what’s possible when people come together with purpose and heart.
