Mayhill and Townhill Community Rejects 'War Zone' Label Five Years After Swansea Riot
Five years ago, on 20 May 2021, the Swansea communities of Mayhill and Townhill experienced significant violent disorder, leading to torched cars, vandalised homes, and attacks on residents and police. This event prompted then-Home Secretary Priti Patel to condemn the actions, and the area was widely depicted as a “war zone” by external observers. Eighteen individuals were subsequently jailed for their involvement in the unrest.
However, residents like Leanne Dower, who has lived in Townhill her entire life and now runs The Phoenix Centre, strongly reject this portrayal. Dower emphasises the positive and supportive nature of the community, known affectionately as “the hill,” stating, “I love it, absolutely love Townhill. There’s good and bad everywhere and definitely here the good outweighs the bad. This is a positive community.”
The Phoenix Centre: A Community Anchor
The Phoenix Centre, a social enterprise that reinvests profits into the community, has served as a vital focal point for 25 years. Established to address poverty and promote regeneration, it offers various services and fosters a strong sense of collective responsibility. Dr Ceri Phelps, principal lecturer in applied psychology at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), whose late father was instrumental in the centre’s founding, notes, “It gives me a sense of hope and wellbeing every time I come here. This place has the ability to change people’s lives.”
Zoe Murphy, born and raised in Townhill, now helps run the weekly youth club at the Phoenix. She highlights the community’s working-class strength, asserting, “There’s a wide variety of people here and not just what people tend to think might go on in a council estate in terms of employment and socio-economic factors.” Mike Durke, the centre’s first manager and now a local councillor, attributes a steady decrease in crime and antisocial behaviour to its influence, calling it “a model that could apply to every community with higher levels of socioeconomic issues.”
The community’s resilience was evident in the immediate aftermath of the 2021 disorder, with many residents mobilising to help clean up and support those affected. Leanne Dower recalled feeling “never prouder of the way the community here pulled together that day.” This ethos of mutual care extends to everyday life, with residents routinely checking on neighbours. Sandra Hayden, who runs a local grieving group at the Phoenix, described the centre and community as her “lifeline,” particularly after her son’s suicide, underscoring the profound support network available. This community-led model is now being examined by the Wales Centre for Public Policy for potential replication across Wales, recognising its “people-based” approach and inherent “heart.”
