Upper Amman Valley Christmas Experience

On December 20^th, Upper Amman Valley Communities First Partnership hosted a Christmas Experience at Cwm Gors Rugby Club. This was a chance for the community to look back at the history of Communities First in the area, look forward to developments in the future and celebrate all the good work community groups are doing in the area.

Tom Williams, Communities First Co-Ordinator, told the crowd about his personal highlights from working with Communities First from the very beginning. Adele Evans, Voluntary Sector Communities First Liaison Officer explained the future development of the Communities First programme.

Alex, Peter and Peri of Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company

The evening was also an opportunity for many of the community groups of Upper Amman Valley to meet up and let each other know about what they are doing for their communities. There were presentations from the Gwaun Cae Gurwen Happy Wanderers walking group, BASE (Brynamman Street Elite) and the Amman Valley Trotting Club. Mess Up The Mess Youth Theatre Company spoke about their recent Play In A Day project and their forthcoming production, Strangers, a collaboration with groups in Slough and New Zealand. ABSO (All Skateboarding Outcasts), explained how they had adopted the Ynys Dawela Nature Reserve as a project and were committed to carrying out 3 jobs a year to enhance the environment. Cwm Gors Village Forum presented an update on their plans to restore a local park as a community heritage garden.

Other local groups brought along displays and were happy to discuss their work over a seasonal mince pie and glass of mulled wine.