Struggles 2 Smiles is a vibrant grassroots organisation based in Barry. They are committed to addressing food insecurity and facilitate hands-on training opportunities for young people from disadvantaged and multicultural backgrounds. Through community meal provision, food hampers, and a focus on outdoor catering, the charity not only supports over 100 individuals every week but also empowers young people with practical skills that lead to greater independence and future employment.
The group became part of the Egin programme to receive tailored mentoring and support to take their sustainability goals to the next level – specifically through a pioneering aquaponics project.
How it Started
Established in 2020, Struggles 2 Smiles have contributed positively to their community through a range of activities, for example, delivering 100–150 hot meals a week to homeless individuals and families in supported accommodation, and 30–40 fresh hampers to those facing food insecurity. They also organise youth training in food preparation, butchery, and catering at public events to help sustain the charity and build real-world skills. Currently, they’re supporting five young people through structured training programmes.
The group were linked up with Egin facilitator Lisa Williams, and together, they came up with a tailored action plan. This included:
- Local Networking: Strengthening links with likeminded charities in the Vale of Glamorgan.
- Mentorship: Strategic guidance, particularly in aquaponics design and educational delivery.
- Knowledge Sharing: Development of workshops, resources, and volunteer training programmes.
The main priority was launching an aquaponics initiative – a sustainable food production method combining fish farming and hydroponic vegetable growing. This closed-loop system reduces water use, minimises the need for chemicals, and significantly lowers the carbon footprint of food production.
“I was delighted to help Jason come up with an action plan for this ambitious and innovative aquaponics project and then connect him with one of our most experienced Mentors in this area, Derek Cashmore,” said Lisa.
The project was also set up to become an educational platform for urban farming, sustainability, biodiversity and climate resilience – helping shift behaviours toward environmentally friendly food systems.
As Jason Stephens from Struggles 2 Smiles explains, “This project promotes local food production, reduces transport emissions, and empowers our community with knowledge and practical skills to live more sustainably.”
Making Connections
Having the dedicated time to focus on the charity’s vision enabled Jason to reach out to other organisations to see if they could join forces. Swansea University responded with interest to their project as it was in line with current initiatives on their student campus, and said they’d like to help develop pilot testing with students. He also contacted local organisations with community gardens, offering to share knowledge around more sustainable and eco-friendly farming methods.
As part of their action plan, Derek, their assigned Egin mentor organised a site visit to The Glascoed Hwb, who he had also supported through Egin in the past. In Spring 2025, Derek took Jason to their site near Usk. Through a day of discussions and learning, Jason was able to gather valuable insights to take back home, supporting his development of practical, sustainable cropping plans.
Derek recalls, “Both Carl at Glascoed and Jason at Struggles 2 Smiles are larger than life characters with bags of energy, ambitious ideas and a strong desire to be successful. They had very similar ideas in regards to aquaponics and how to use that for the benefit of the environment and to help others who may have difficulties in their lives.”
Both groups even began conversations about forming a partnership in the near future and discussed collaborative models which would involve potential land and resource sharing opportunities. There were exciting parallels between Struggles 2 Smiles’ youth training and Glascoed’s support work with veterans, paving the way for a strong alliance that would greatly benefit people in need.
Looking Ahead
With support from Egin, Struggles 2 Smiles is building a future where food security, climate resilience, and youth empowerment go hand in hand. Their aquaponics project is not only an environmental solution but a model for how grassroots organisations can lead transformational change in their communities.
Their connection with Glascoed demonstrates the power of working with Egin mentors who know their local areas well and can bring people together to make lasting change.
“Egin has provided the mechanism to bring these two organisations together, enabling the formation of a working collaborative partnership,” said Derek. “Their ability to transform scribbled ideas into a concrete plan will potentially benefit so many in the sector we serve.”
Lisa was also able to positively reflect on the experience: “Struggles 2 Smiles is doing some great work tackling food insecurity and working with young people to provide training opportunities. Jason has done a lot of research and built up an excellent knowledge of aquaculture and how it can not only produce food in a sustainable way but also provide valuable opportunities for learning and education. I’m excited to see how this project develops!”
You can visit Struggles 2 Smiles’ website and Facebook page to find out more.
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