A Day with Purpose: Volunteering at Xcel Project and Xcel Furniture
To mark volunteers week, Business Growth and Marketing Officer Gwenllian Thomas wrote about her experience volunteering.
As part of Cwmpas’s fantastic employee volunteering policy, we’re each encouraged to take two days a year to volunteer for a cause close to our hearts. After being involved in the Boosting the Social Economy project in Carmarthenshire, I knew I wanted to spend one of those days supporting a local social enterprise that’s making a real difference in the community.
That’s how I ended up at the inspiring Xcel Project and its offshoot, Xcel Furniture—a social enterprise that breathes new life into pre-loved furniture while creating opportunities and support for those who need it most.
The day started with a tour of the project and an introduction to the team of volunteers and staff who keep things moving behind the scenes. I was immediately struck by the energy and passion in the room. Their “Wearhouse” (yes, with a ‘W’!) is a treasure trove of donated furniture—everything from retro sideboards to quirky chairs—that’s either cleaned, restored, or repurposed for resale.
Armed with cloths, brushes, and a good dose of elbow grease, a friend and I spent the day prepping around 20 pieces of furniture for an upcoming photo shoot. Each item had its own character and story—some were already snapped up and sold shortly after, bringing valuable income back into the project.
What surprised me most wasn’t just how rewarding it was to help a fantastic local initiative, but how refreshed and grounded I felt by the end of the day. Doing something hands-on, creative, and completely different from my normal routine gave me a new kind of headspace—one filled with purpose and positivity.
Volunteering with Xcel was a brilliant reminder of the power of community enterprise and the small but meaningful ways we can all support the social economy. I left not only with a few splinters but with a full heart—and a deep respect for the people working every day to make Carmarthenshire a more sustainable and supportive place to live.
