Pontypridd, Wales — Legendary singer Sir Tom Jones has once again proven that his heart is as powerful as his voice.
In a move that is already being hailed as one of the most heartfelt acts of generosity in Welsh public life, Sir Tom has invested £2.8 million to convert a historic Georgian house in Pontypridd — the coal town where he was born and raised — into a shelter for homeless and at-risk youth.
Named “Linden House”, in memory of his late wife Linda, the shelter will open its doors this winter. It will provide emergency accommodation, meals, emotional support, and life-skills training for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 across the South Wales Valleys.
A Full-Circle Moment for a Local Hero
“There’s a piece of Pontypridd in every song I’ve ever sung,” Jones said at the announcement, voice thick with emotion.
“This town gave me everything — my voice, my spirit, my start. What I’m giving now is only a fraction of what it’s given me. If this place can give young people even half the chance it gave me, then it’s worth every note, every pound. My music, and my heart, are theirs now.”
Tom Jones, born Thomas John Woodward in 1940, grew up on the working-class streets of Treforest, a district within Pontypridd. His early life, like many in post-war Wales, was marked by hardship. His father was a coal miner, and the family lived modestly. He started singing at local pubs and clubs in the 1950s before becoming one of the most recognizable voices in British music history.
With over 100 million records sold worldwide, knighthood from the Queen, and decades of global stardom, Tom Jones remains unwaveringly loyal to his roots.
A Safe Haven for the Forgotten
Linden House will operate under a partnership between Tom Jones’s charitable trust and a local housing nonprofit. The goal is to offer a warm bed, a hot meal, and a path forward to young people caught in cycles of poverty, abuse, or displacement.
Facilities at the shelter will include:
-
24/7 supervised accommodation for up to 30 youths
-
A commercial kitchen and daily meals
-
Counselling and trauma support
-
Educational workshops, job training, and digital literacy classes
-
Music and creative therapy sessions — inspired by Jones’s own story
The idea, the team says, is not just to shelter, but to empower.
“We don’t just want to house these young people — we want to launch them,” said Carys Evans, program director for the project. “The fact that someone like Sir Tom Jones — someone from this very town — is behind it, sends a message that they matter. That they belong.”
A Quiet Legacy of Giving
While Sir Tom has never been one to boast about his charitable work, those close to him say this project has been in the making for years.
“After Linda passed away in 2016, Tom began looking for a way to honor her in a way that would mean something to their community,” said a representative. “Linda never liked the spotlight, but she believed in helping quietly, in dignity. This is Tom’s way of continuing that.”
Locals are calling Linden House a “gift of hope” for the younger generation — especially in a time when homelessness among youth in Wales is rising at alarming rates.
A Town Responds
Outside the site on Taff Street, handwritten notes have begun appearing on the gates:
“Thank you, Tom — for not forgetting us.”
“You gave the world your voice. Thank you for giving our kids a chance.”
“From Treforest to the world — and back.”
In the local high school where Jones once studied, music students say they now feel inspired by more than just his success.
“He came from where we come from,” said 17-year-old Gwen Hughes. “It makes you believe that you can survive anything — and maybe even do something good.”
Final Encore, Endless Impact
At 84, Tom Jones continues to tour, perform, and mentor new generations of artists. But with Linden House, he may have delivered the most powerful encore of his career.
“We rise when we remember where we came from,” Jones said quietly at the end of his statement.
“Pontypridd made me. It’s only right I help make the next chapter for someone else.”
