Carmarthenshire Connect Closes / Cyswllt Sir Gaerfyrddin yn Cau

Due to our funding from the Communities @One scheme coming to an end, the Carmarthenshire Connect project closes at the end of March 2009.

Over the past 18 months, Carmarthenshire Connect has worked with 56 community groups from Communities First areas helping them to take photos and make videos of their activities and publish them to the Carmarthenshire Connect blog. In that time, over 300 stories about the community have been published, with the blog attracting up to 6000 unique visitors every month.

The Carmarthenshire Connect blog will remain online as an archive of all the wonderful activity taking place in Carmarthenshire’s Communities First areas. We believe the extent and range of activity represented on these pages will act as a testament to the hard work, creativity, commitment and community spirit of those communities. We hope it will continue to inspire readers as much as it has inspired us.

The team would like to thank everyone who has supported and helped us over the life of the project and without whom it wouldn’t have been possible.

We’d also like to say how much we’ve enjoyed working with all the community groups and individuals who’ve contributed to the blog. We hope you’ve enjoyed the experience too, and we hope you’ll continue to find ways to use technology to support and promote the work you do.

Should funding allow, CAVS hopes to continue the Carmarthenshire Connect service in the future.

All the best.

Ran, Karlis, Chris

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Mae ein nawdd gan y cynllun Cymunedau @Ei Gilydd wedi dod i ben, ac felly fe fydd prosiect Cyswllt Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cau ddiwedd mis Mawrth 2009.

Dros y 18 mis diwethaf, mae Cyswllt Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi gweithio gyda 56 o grwpiau cymunedol o ardaloedd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf, i’w helpu i gymryd ffotograffau a recordio fideos o’u gweithgareddau, a’u cyhoeddi ar flog Cyswllt Sir Gaerfyrddin. Yn ystod y cyfnod yma, mae dros 300 o straeon am y gymuned wedi cael eu cyhoeddi, gyda’r blog yn denu hyd at 6000 o ymwelwyr unigryw bob mis.

Fe fydd blog Cyswllt Sir Gaerfyrddin yn parhau i fod ar-lein, fel archif o’r holl weithgareddau gwych sy’n cymryd lle yn ardaloedd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Sir Gaerfyrddin. Rydyn ni’n credu y bydd amrediad y gweithgareddau a gynrychiolir ar y tudalennau hyn, a’u hehangder, yn dyst i waith caled, creadigedd, ymrwymiad ac ysbryd cymunedol y cymunedau hynny. Gobeithiwn y bydd yn parhau i ysbrydoli darllenwyr gymaint ag y mae wedi’n ysbrydoli ni.

Hoffai’r tîm ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi ein cefnogi a’n helpu ni yn ystod oes y prosiect - hebddyn nhw ni fyddai wedi bod yn bosib.

Hoffwn ddweud, hefyd, gymaint yr ydyn ni wedi mwynhau gweithio gyda’r holl grwpiau cymunedol ac unigolion sydd wedi cyfrannu at y blog. Gobeithiwn eich bod chi wedi mwynhau’r profiad hefyd, a gobeithiwn y byddwch yn parhau i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd o ddefnyddio technoleg i gefnogi a hyrwyddo eich gwaith.

Os bydd nawdd yn caniatáu, mae CAVS yn gobeithio parhau gyda gwasanaeth Cyswllt Sir Gaerfyrddin yn y dyfodol.

Pob hwyl.

Ran, Karlis, Chris

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Here's some of the feedback we've had over the last few days. Comments have anonymized.

"A very big thank you to you all, for the fantastic support you have given to Communities First"

"Can't thank you enough for all your help and support"

"[Two community groups...] have come on leaps and bounds as a direct result from the help and support [Carmarthenshire Connect] showed these groups which has resulted in an increase of skills and knowledge and confidence in the community"

"It has been a pleasure to work with Carmarthenshire Connect, you have been an immense help to us with all the projects you have worked on"

"I would like to thank [Chris], Karlis and Ran for all your help and support... you've provided fantastic help and support that has really enabled us to better document our project"

"You have linked so many groups in the county its a shame it has to come to an end"

"Thank you very much for all of the support from the project we have really appreciated the input at our events from the Carmarthenshire Connect Team"

"Thank you for everything and hopefully will see you if more funding is available"

Pantyffynnon DVD Premier

Tuesday night saw the eagerly awaited premier of two films completed by the young people of Pantyffynnon.

Carmarthenshire Connect has worked with two youth groups in Pantyffynnon over the past year to help them create their own community videos.

The Ffynnon Las Youth group completed their video last September which highlighted how their were perceived in the local community and the Parcyrhun Youth group completed a video about the different perceptions between youth people and older residents.

Following the success of both these project, Pantyffynnon Communities First organised a DVD premier to launch both films and showcase them to the local community.

The evening was a great success with residents from all over the local community turning out to see what the youth had achieved, as well as a visit from the Children Commissioner for Wales - Keith Towler!

(Terry taking some photos)

After the screen, everyone had a chance to chat to the young people about the project and have some food and drink.

All the young people (and the featuring adults) in the film were then recognised with an award, including a trophy for their hard work and commitment to the project.

(A Comment from Keith Towler)

(Comments from a local residents)

(Comments from film star - Jonathan)

(Comment from Sian at Communities First)

Carmarthenshire Connect, Communities First Pantyffynnon and Mess up the Mess Theatre Company would like to that everyone involved in the project and all the hard work they put in - WELL DONE!

Tyisha and Dock Mixed OAP Branch

Tyisha & Dock Mixed OAP Branch has been successful in applying for an Awards For All grant for a heritage appreciation tour of Cornwall and Devon.

The group will be researching the Cornish tin-mining industry that once supplied Llanelli's tinplate works. In the late 19th and first part of the 20th century, Llanelli was known as Tinopolis and was once the tinplate centre of the world.

Those on the trip will be able to discover how the tin was produced and transported. The trip is set for the beginning of May and included in the itinerary are visits to two world heritage sites: the Geevor tin mine near Penzance, Cornwall and Morwellham Bay in Tavistock, Devon.

The group will give a presentation about their tour when they've returned to Llanelli. Pupils of Copperworks School will be amongst the audience.

Carmarthenshire Connect joined the group during their weekly meeting today. Group members used Carmarthenshire Connect's five Busbi digital camcorders to record interviews between themselves about the upcoming heritage appreciation tour.

One of Carmarthenshire Connect's Busbi camcorders - great for recording videos for the web

Three questions were set for the group:

1. Is the legacy of Llanelli's tinplate industry still visible today?


2. Which part of the Cornwall tour are you looking forward to the most?


3. Were you or any members of your family involved in Llanelli's tinplate industry?

Here are some of the videos the group recorded

An answer to question 1...



Answers to question 2...





(and also the demonstration question)



This will be a special trip indeed for Phyllis - she's going back to her family roots

Answers to question 3...





An answer to questions 2 and 3...



An answer to all the questions...



Communities First Development Officer Faye Davies interviews group Treasurer Benita

There were a few minutes spare at the end of the interviewing session, so group members tried out the camera on Carmarthenshire Connect's mobile phone. Some of their photos...

Tyisha & Dock Mixed OAP Branch is supported by Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First. Thanks to Faye Davies at Communities First for assisting Carmarthenshire Connect to engage the group in the project.

Environmental Awareness Day

From Felinfoel and Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First:

Felinfoel Communities First teamed up with Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First to hold an Environmental Awareness day on 22 January 09. Residents from both areas including pupils from Bryngwyn School enjoyed a fun and informative day.

There was a slight change of plan last minute when Johnstown Recycling Centre cancelled due to staff having to travel to France to purchase new machinery! Thankfully the day was saved from being cancelled, when Neath/Port Talbot County Council agreed that we could visit one of their Recycling Centres in Briton Ferry.

The staff at the plant were very welcoming and provided us with an excellent tour of the Centre and an informative talk about what takes place at the Centre. The Centre collects and recycles a huge array of different materials including electrical, wood, metal, paper, tin, glass and cooking oil amongst many more.

The afternoon was held in Trinity Chapel in New Dock Road, Llanelli where residents were offered a free buffet lunch which was followed by several discussions/presentations on Environmental issues and projects.

As the day was such a success, a trip to Johnstown Recycling Centre will be re organised in the future if there is enough interest between the wards. If you are interested in attending please contact Communities First on 01554 784847.

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Wrth Cymunedau Yn Gyntaf Felinfoel a Glanymor a Thyisha:

Ymunodd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Felin-foel â Chymunedau yn Gyntaf Glan-y-môr a Thŷ-isha i gynnal diwrnod Ymwybyddiaeth Amgylcheddol ar 22 Ionawr 09. Bu trigolion o’r ddwy ardal, yn cynnwys disgyblion o Ysgol Bryngwyn, yn mwynhau diwrnod difyr, llawn gwybodaeth.

Cafwyd newid bach i’r cynlluniau ar y funud olaf pan ganslodd Canolfan Ailgylchu Tre Ioan y trefniadau oherwydd bod rhaid i’r staff deithio i Ffrainc i brynu peiriannau newydd! Diolch byth, daeth Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot i’r adwy, a chytuno y gallem ymweld ag un o’u Canolfannau Ailgylchu nhw yn Llansawel.

Roedd y staff yn y ganolfan yn groesawgar iawn, a chawsom daith wych o amgylch y safle a llawer o wybodaeth am yr hyn sy’n digwydd yno. Mae’r Ganolfan yn casglu ac yn ailgylchu amrywiaeth anferth o wahanol ddeunyddiau, sy’n cynnwys eitemau trydanol, pren, metel, papur, tun, gwydr ac olew coginio, ymhlith llawer mwy.

Cynhaliwyd y prynhawn yng Nghapel y Trinity, Heol Doc Newydd, Llanelli, lle cafodd y trigolion ginio bwffe am ddim, ac wedyn nifer o drafodaethau/gyflwyniadau ar faterion a phrosiectau Amgylcheddol.

Gan fod y diwrnod wedi llwyddo cystal, byddwn yn ail-drefnu ymweliad â Chanolfan Ailgylchu Tre Ioan yn y dyfodol os bydd digon o ddiddordeb yn y wardiau. Os hoffech ymuno, cysylltwch â Chymunedau yn Gyntaf ar 01554 784847.

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Carmarthenshire Connect attended the trip to loan out our set of ten digital cameras to attendees and provide assistance to attendees in using them.

A few of Carmarthenshire Connect's digital cameras

These are some of the 250+ photos taken by those who had one of the cameras:

The Briton Ferry Recycling Centre

Centre staff provide an informative talk

Touring the facilities

Ruth and Roy

The vegetable oil recycling point

A mountain of recycling bins stored near the M4

Briton Ferry Recycling Centre's achievements

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Members of the Bryngwyn School Eco Council were on the trip to learn how the recycling centre at Briton ferry works.

Bryngwyn school Eco Council pose with their teacher, Dr Oliver, for Carmarthenshire County Council's photographer

Later on in the day, at Trinity Chapel in Llanelli, Bryngwyn pupils interviewed each other using Carmarthenshire Connect's Busbi digital camcorders. Here are a couple of the videos:

New Llanelli South Road Racing Pigeon Club

The New Llanelli South Road Racing Pigeon Club has been established for 12 years and is a member of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.

The club is based in Felinfoel and members meet at The White Lion. The pigeon racing season runs from April to September and divided into two, with races for older birds set for the first few months and younger birds during the last few months. This year the club will race pigeons from start points in England (e.g. Wincanton, Salisbury and Littlehampton) and France (e.g. Lessay, Pau and Cholet).

Races start on Fridays. Club Chairman Allan Follows explains more about the races work in this video recorded by club Secretary Ann Follows

Group members took some photos with Carmarthenshire Connect's mobile phone camera. Here are some of them...

Club Chairman Allan Follows

Left to right: Allan; Dylan Williams; Neville Jenkins; John Willock

Left to right: Ann Follows; Dylan; Neville; John

One of the 'T3 Junior' clocks that the group uses

F5 Event

From Glanymor & Tysiha Communities First:

Glanymor and Tyisha Communities First held the F-5 Event (Faith, Food, Fashion and Fun Festival) sponsored by the Social Justice & Regeneration Department of the Welsh Assembly Government, on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the Antioch Centre from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

The Event was the first of its kind that included workshops by Dyfed Powys Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade, Carmarthenshire Local Health Board and Carmarthenshire County Council’s Environment Department with interpretation available in Polish, Urdu, Bengali and Nepalese. Different ethnic minorities were able to understand how the agencies work, the services provided by them and how and when to approach them. Booklets in different languages were also given to people attending the workshops.

The aims of the event were to give equality to diverse groups, enable ethnic minorities’ access to local services, raise awareness of their rights and entitlements, tackle intolerance and discrimination in the labour market, enhance economic activity as well as remove barriers between the ethnic minority groups and the Welsh community.

Phil Watts, the Senior Co-ordinator of Felinfoel, Glanymor and Tyisha Communities First opened the Event followed by a speech given by Ms Nia Griffiths MP. The Loughor Brass Band starting with Wales, played seven national anthems, representing all of the various community members attending.

A talk was given by representatives of the Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist community’s on faith, culture and traditions. A variety of foods from Korea, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Poland and Wales was served allowing everybody to sample and enjoy each others food. A variety show included a drumming display, dance performances and workshops by groups representing Punjabi, African, Thai, Pilipino, Korean, Latin-American, Arabian and Indian communities was held together with a fashion show presenting dresses from India, Thailand, Nepal, Philippines, Egypt, Korea and Africa - all showing the diversity of our Welsh community.

Activities for children included flag making, face painting, Henna painting, XL Wales- Design and making models from challenges using Lego & K-Nex. Children also enjoyed a bouncy castle and Crazy Mazies.

The event was very well attended and included special guests; the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Mrs. Claire Mansel Lewis, Nia Griffiths MP, Mayor Hubert Hitchman with consort Councillor Linda Steadman and Deputy Mayor Councillor John Jones with his wife Mrs Angela Jones.

This very informative event proved that we live in a very colourful world and people everywhere should spend more time getting to know and appreciate one another.

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Wrth Cymunedau Yn Gyntaf Glanymor a Thyisha:

Bu i Gymunedau yn Gyntaf Glanymôr a Thŷ-isha gynnal digwyddiad y 5D (Difyrrwch, Dathliadau, Dillad, Daliadau a Danteithion) ddydd Sadwrn, Chwefror 21, 2009, yng Nghanolfan Antioch o 10.00am tan 7.00pm. Noddwyd yr achlysur gan Adran Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ac Adfywio Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.

Y digwyddiad hwn oedd y cyntaf o'i fath, ac roedd yn cynnwys gweithdai gan Heddlu Dyfed-Powys, Gwasanaeth Erlyn y Goron, Brigâd Dân Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Sir Gaerfyrddin, a'r Adran o Gyngor Sir Caerfyrddin sy'n gyfrifol am yr Amgylchedd. Roedd cyfieithwyr Pwyleg, Wrdw, Bengaleg a Nepaleg yn bresennol yn y gweithdai. O ganlyniad, gallai'r trigolion o wahanol gefndiroedd ethnig ddeall sut mae'r asiantaethau'n gweithio, pa wasanaethau y maent yn eu darparu, a sut a phryd i gysylltu â hwy. Hefyd, cafodd llyfrynnau mewn gwahanol ieithoedd eu rhoi i'r bobl a gymerodd ran yn y gweithdai.

Nod y digwyddiad hwn oedd rhoi cyfleoedd cyfartal i grwpiau amrywiol, galluogi lleiafrifoedd ethnig i gael mynediad i wasanaethau lleol, cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o'u hawliau, mynd i'r afael ag anoddefgarwch a gwahaniaethu yn y farchnad lafur, gwella gweithgarwch economaidd, a gwaredu'r rhwystrau sydd rhwng grwpiau o leiafrifoedd ethnig a'r gymuned Gymreig.

Agorwyd y diwrnod gan Phil Watts, Uwch-gydgysylltydd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Felin-foel, Glanymôr a Thŷ-isha, ac wedyn cafwyd araith gan Ms. Nia Griffiths AS. Gan ddechrau â Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, bu i Fand Pres Casllwchwr chwarae saith anthem genedlaethol er mwyn sicrhau bod holl aelodau'r gwahanol gymunedau a oedd yno yn cael eu cynrychioli.

Rhoddwyd sgwrs ynghylch ffydd, diwylliant, a thraddodiadau gan gynrychiolwyr o gymunedau Cristnogol, Sikhaidd, Mwslimaidd, Hindŵaidd, a Bwdhaidd. Roedd amrywiaeth o fwydydd ar gael o Korea, Gwlad Thai, Nepal, Pacistan, India, Bangladesh, Ynysoedd y Philipinau, Gwlad Pwyl, a Chymru, felly roedd cyfle i bawb fwynhau a chael blas ar fwydydd ei gilydd.

Cynhaliwyd sioe amrywiol a oedd yn cynnwys drymio, dawnsio, a gweithdai gan grwpiau a oedd yn cynrychioli cymunedau Pwnjabaidd, Affricanaidd, Thai, Philipinaidd, Koreaidd, Lladin-Americanaidd, Arabaidd, ac Indiaidd, ynghyd â sioe ffasiynau lle roedd ffrogiau o India, Gwlad Thai, Nepal, Ynysoedd y Philipinau, yr Aifft, Korea, ac Affrica. Roedd y cyfan yn dyst i ba mor amrywiol yw ein cymuned Gymreig.

Ymhlith y gweithgareddau i'r plant roedd gwneud baneri, peintio wynebau, peintio henna, XL Wales, a dylunio a gwneud modelau ar gyfer heriau gan ddefnyddio Lego a K-Nex. Hefyd bu'r plant yn mwynhau ar y castell sboncio ac yn Crazy Mazies.

Daeth llawer o bobl i'r digwyddiad gan gynnwys gwesteion arbennig, sef Uchel-Siryf Dyfed, Mrs. Claire Mansel Lewis, Nia Griffiths AS, y Maer Hubert Hitchman gyda'i gymar, y Cynghorydd Linda Steadman, a'r Dirprwy Faer, y Cynghorydd John Jones a'i wraig, Mrs Angela Jones.

Profodd y digwyddiad hynod ddiddorol hwn ein bod yn byw mewn byd amrywiol iawn ac y dylai pawb ymhob man dreulio rhagor o amser yn dod i adnabod ei gilydd ac yn dysgu sut y mae gwerthfawrogi ei gilydd.

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Carmarthenshire Connect attended the event to encourage attendees to take photos of the activities using a mobile phone camera. Here are some of the photos:

Loughor Brass Band perform seven national anthems

Sher-e Punjab cultural performance

Polish culture stand

Salsa dancing

Indian cultural performance

Bollywood dancing workshop

Sari fitting

African cultural performance

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Carmarthenshire Connect also facilitated event attendees to record footage for a DVD about F5.

The footage has been edited into a half-hour DVD for Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First. Here are some extracts from the DVD:

Compere for the event Uzo Iwobi (Chair of the African Community Centre in Wales) introduces F5



Delicious food from around the world - an interview with one of the food-makers by Joanne



Some of the inspiring cultural performances (no audio)



Some of the fashion show (no audio)

A sample of the interpreted workshops with public service providers

Attendees give feedback on the event