Bigyn 4 Communities First Launch

The Bigyn 4 Communities First Ward was officially launched at 2pm on the 24th of July by the minister for social justice Dr. Brian Gibbons on the Penyfan playing fields.

The event was a great success with a good turn out from the local community. After the official launch the afternoon was used a consultation with the local residents to outline areas of the community that could be improved or developed.

Please watch the videos below to hear the residents (and Dr. Brian Gibbons) comments about the day and the local community:

(Brian Gibbons - Minister for social justice)

(David Skivington - Local PLTRA member)

If you have any comments or suggestions if you are a resident in Bigyn 4 or would like more information then please contact the Bigyn 4 communities first team, Jeremy or Sarah on 01554 778601.

Amman Valley Trotting Club's Sponsored Walk

Members of Amman Valley Trotting Club held a sponsored walk on Saturday 26 July. The walk was held at Amman Valley Trotting Track and was one mile long - two circuits of the track. Sponsorship for the walk will be donated to the charity Breast Cancer Campaign (http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/)

There's lots of information, news and photos from Amman Valley Trotting Club on their website at http://www.ammanvalley-trotting.co.uk/ and a link to Tairgwaith Residents' Association's website at http://www.tairgwaith.co.uk/, where more photos of the sponsored walk can be seen.

Upper Amman Valley Health & Well-being Event

A Health and Well-being Event was held on Saturday at Gwaun Cae Gurwen Community Centre. This was the last of a three day programme of events that were The Summer Experience, organised by Upper Amman Valley Communities First.

Juliana, Ffion and Laura from Communities First welcomed event attendees.

There were a variety of organisations at the event with information for attendees on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Some of Gwaun Cae Gurwen Happy Wanderers promoting their walking group. The group meet twice a week. Click on the GCG Happy Wanders label in the category menu to see photos from some of the group's walks.

Neath Port Talbot Youth Service with plenty of goodies.

Safer Neath Port Talbot Community Safety Partnership.

Neath Port Talbot Carers Service, part of Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service (http://www.nptcvs.org.uk/)

Kathryn from Keep Wales Tidy (http://www.keepwalestidy.org/) demonstrates a poop scoop as part of the campaign to encourage dog owners to clear up after their pets, so children can play safely and healthily in public spaces.

Keep Wales Tidy has also launched the Red Elastic Band Challenge. The challenge invites young people from across Wales to collect and record the red elastic bands that are discarded by postal workers. Beaver Scouts in Port Talbot recently collected 1000 in two weeks. Winners of the challenge will receive £50 in Premium Bonds. Read this KWT press release to find out more.

Shaw Trust (http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/)

Diabetes UK (http://www.diabetes.org.uk/)

St John Ambulance (http://www.sja.org.uk/)

Carmarthenshire Connect Field Officer Ran having his blood pressure checked, courtesy of St John Ambulance.

Organised Kaos was at the event, holding circus workshops.

Dorothy from GCG Happy Wanders tries out kangaroo stilts with the help of Nicola.

Martyn from Organised Kaos and Peri from Mess Up The Mess using diablos.

Playing with the hula hoops

Laura from Communities First on the kangaroo stilts.

A video of Ffion, from Communities First, learning how to walk on (and fall from!) the kangaroo stilts.

Brynaman Swimming Pool Association was promoting the Brynaman open air swimming pool and painting face and body art.

Cllr. Lynda Williams having her arm painted by Tracy Davies from Brynaman Swimming Pool Association.

Dorothy and Georgina from GCG Happy Wanderers with their painted arms. Dorothy (left) has a butterfly and Georgina (right) has a dolphin.

Peri Thomas from Mess Up The Mess ran physical theatre workshops at the event. The games played were called 'Zip Zap Boing', 'Splat', and 'Look Down, Look Up'.

Playing 'Splat'. Martyn (in the middle) is the Splat Master!

Congratulations to Pearce (middle right) on winning Splat and Look Down, Look Up.

At the event, there was also free complementary therapy workshops, including Indian head massage, a buffet lunch with plenty of healthy fruit and a raffle.

Small Grant Scheme for Youth Volunteering

Russell Commission Youth Led Grant
Acting on the recommendations of the Russell Commission to make volunteering truly youth-led, CAVS Volunteer Centre has set up a small grant scheme. The grant will support a range of small volunteering projects and activities, led and carried out by young people.

Groups who work primarily with 16-25 year olds with an idea that involves youth volunteering can apply for the grant. These can be school groups, youth groups and constituted groups. Projects can be one-off events or ongoing activities, but must benefit the local community in some way. If a group isn’t constituted, the panel will consider paying the grant to an eligible organisation that will support them. Priority will be given to groups from Communities First areas, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities and young people with disabilities.

CAVS Volunteer Centre has put together a panel of young people, representatives from Carmarthenshire Youth Council, who will be responsible for assessing project applications and deciding which projects get funding, and how much they get!

The total fund available is £4,000, with a maximum of £400 per grant. The closing date for applications is Monday 15th September 2008. Application packs can be obtained by contacting CAVS on 01267 236367 or visit the website www.cavs.org.uk

Grant Dan Arweiniad Pobl Ifanc Comisiwn Russell
Gan weithredu ar argymhellion Comisiwn Russell i wneud gwirfoddoli yn rhywbeth sydd o ddifrif yn cael ei arwain gan bobl ifanc, mae Canolfan Gwirfoddoli CAVS wedi sefydlu cynllun grantiau bychain. Bydd y grant yn cynnal a chefnogi nifer o brosiectau a gweithgareddau bychain, sy’n cael eu harwain a’u cynnal gan bobl ifanc.

Gall grwpiau sy’n gweithio’n bennaf gyda phobl ifanc 16-25 oed sydd â syniad sy’n cynnwys gwirfoddoli gan bobl ifanc wneud cais am y grant. Gallai’r rhain fod yn grwpiau ysgol, grwpiau ieuenctid a grwpiau cyfansoddedig. Gall prosiectau fod yn ddigwyddiadau unwaith-ac-am-byth neu’n weithgareddau rheolaidd, ond rhaid iddynt elwa’r gymuned mewn rhyw ffordd. Os nad yw grwp yn un cyfansoddedig, bydd y panel yn ystyried talu’r grant i fudiad cymwys fydd yn eu cynnal a’u cefnogi. Rhoddir blaenoriaeth i grwpiau o ardaloedd Cymunedau’n Gyntaf, Cymunedau Du, Asiaidd a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig a phobl ifanc ag anableddau.

Mae Canolfan Gwirfoddoli CAVS wedi trefnu panel o bobl ifanc, cynrychiolwyr o Gyngor Ieuenctid Sir Gaerfyrddin, a fydd yn gyfrifol am asesu ceisiadau prosiect a phenderfynu pa brosiectau sy’n cael arian, a faint maen nhw’n gael!

Cyfanswm y gronfa yw £4,000, gydag uchafswm o £400 y grant. Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau yws Dydd Llun 15fed Medi 2008. Gellir cael pecynnau cais trwy gysylltu â CAVS ar 01267 236367 neu ewch i’r wefan www.cavs.org.uk

Llwynhendy Carnival!

Once again it was that time of year for Llwynhendy Carnival! Organised and coordinated by Communities First Llwynhendy with lots of support for local groups, organisations and volunteers the day was a brilliant success!

With the sun shining, hundreds of Llwynhendy residents took to the street for the largest parade the community has yet to see, followed by a packed out afternoon of FUN at Trallwm Hall.

With stalls, displays, face painting, pottery workshops, circus skills workshops, a full fun fair, bouncy castles, and fair games there was plenty to entertain all throughout the day.

(Pottery Workshops)

(Twistypix Stall)

The days displays included The Llwynhendy Samba Band, Circusdayze fire display and a Karate display.

(Sianne from Circusdayze)

As if you couldn't get more into one day there was a raffle/Prize Draw and the judging of the parade groups and the best fancy dressed.

The results were:

Group parade:

1st place went to ICC Butterflies & Pink Ladies (pictured below)

2nd place went to Ty Enfys Wild West (pictured below)

3rd place went to Back to basic Clowns

Best fancy dressed:

1st Laura Batty from Last of the Summer Wine
2nd The Skeleton Kid

3rd Hannah the Winged Princess

(The carnivals Glamorous Gran Christine)

(Some more fancy dress!)

(Our on-duty policeman for the afternoon)

(Lloyd the compere for the day)

(A fluffy stall with raffle)

Aled and the rest of the team at Communities First wishes to send a BIG thank you to all the residents who turned out and support the event and looks forward to next years carnival!

Upper Amman Valley Young Enterprise Day

As previously advertised on the Carmarthenshire Connect website. Upper Amman Valley Communities First held a youth Enterprise Day today to help local young people from the ages of 11-19 understand and learn new skills about business.

16 young people (including members from local groups BASE and MESS UP THE MESS)attended the day to participate in some very interesting workshops aimed at teaching young people various business skills.

The day long workshop had three main stages followed by each group pitching a 5 minute business idea to three individuals from local businesses.

The three stage where:

Stage 1 : Their business Idea

Stage 2 : Business Finances

Stage 3 : Marketing and Design

(above - One of the groups marketing and design plans)

The day also included team building exercises (bridge building) as well as an awards presentation to all participating young people.

Carmarthenshire Connect were on hand in the afternoon to capture their experience through photos and videos and to consult on day long event.

The first group's idea (age 11-13) was to open a local tuck shop called 'SNAX ON TRAX' that would sell fruit, cakes, sweets, crisps and lollipops at local carnivals, schools, events and to the community.

The second group, ages 13-19 (Happy Birthday Alex, 19 today) came up with a brilliant idea of starting a public relations and event management company called 'Presents Events Ltd' that would be take the stress and strain out of organising any community event, carnival, summer fares and so on.

Both groups thoroughly thought out their plans and learnt lots of new skills about business through support from Communities First, local volunteers, Enterprise Learning through Doing and Dove workshops from Cwmavon.

(above - The winning group with there awards and prizes)

The judges for the afternoon business pitches (something similar to Dragon's Den) were Adele Dumas from Brynamman Community Centre, Dai Cressy from Cressy's Cafe and Carl Launchbury from a local building firm.

Please view the video below to find out the reactions from the judges on the groups pitches:

New Scribes R Us Video Project

Brynaman based writing group Scribes R Us have started on a new video project and we're happy to say, here at Carmarthenshire Connect, that we'll be assisting the group with the project.

Scribes R Us meeting in one of the newly built meeting rooms in Brynaman Community Centre.

The video will be a part of the 'Tinman's Row' project - the next anthology that Scribes R Us are currently working on. Tinman's Row will be a collection of stories about the residents of Tinman's Row. The video will feature abridged versions of, and extracts from, these stories.

The video is still in the planning stage - the current plan is that the stories will be read by their authors, who will be in the costume of their characters.

We'll keep you updated on the project's progress on this blog.

Brynaman Swimming Pool

NOW OPEN!

Following the the swimming pools voluntary clean up earlier this year (which can be found under the Brynaman Swimming Pool Association category on this website), we are pleased to announce that the pool is fully filled and ready for a dive!

If you fancy going for a swim over the next six weeks then please have a look below at the opening times.

OPENING TIMES:

Monday - Friday : 11am - 3pm and 4pm - 7pm

Saturday : 11am - 2pm and 3pm - 6pm

Sunday : 11am - 2pm

Penymorfa Community Garden Project

Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First, in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and the Community Safety Partnership, have been successful in securing £50,000 for the community to improve the land behind Penymorfa Library, Llanelli.

The money is for the community to spend - Communities First need residents in the Penymorfa area to tell them what is wanted by the local community.

To start off the process, Communities First has arranged a free trip on Monday 28 July for residents living the Penymorfa area to visit good examples of community garden projects in the Gwendraeth/Amman Valley areas. Children are welcome and lunch will be provided. The bus will leave Penymorfa Library at 10am and return at 4.30/5pm.

The trip will visit Pontyates Community Garden, Pontyberem Hall & Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, Penygroes Community Garden and Nant Y Bedol Community Garden.

To book your place on the trip, please contact Faye Davies, Communities First on 01554 777850.

Carmarthenhsire Connect Field Officers Karlis Ozolins and Ran Foster-Mason will be on the trip with ten digital cameras for use by residents. They will be there to show you how to use the cameras. Residents will be able to take photos of garden features that they like or dislike - the photos will then be used later on in the decision making process.

The land near Penymorfa Library that will be improved. The first stage will be to clear the area.

Back to Basics - Inbetweenies Club

Every Monday, parents and their children get together at the Trallwm Hall, Llwynhendy for the Inbetweenies parents group.

The group was set up to give parents an opportunity to meet up with other parents and their children with support from Back to Basics.

Yesterday the children were taken down to the local play area to meet Auntie Batty (pictured above). All the kids thoroughly enjoyed the session in the lovely sunshine and after went back to the hall for biscuits, cakes music and some more fun!

The group has now finished for the summer term but will be back again in October. The group is open to all parents and children and in a great chance to meet others in your community.

BACK TO BASICS HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE CLUB AGAIN IN OCTOBER!

Keeping It Real Opens This Week

Mess Up The Mess Youth Theatre's latest production, Keeping It Real / Cadw'r Gywir opens at Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon on Wednesday 23rd July and continues at Ammanford Miners' Theatre on Thursday 24th July. The Brynaman based youth theatre have been working with 3 professional actors and a director to create a bilingual play from scratch over the last 3 weeks. The actors and director have been gathering young people's ideas from schools and youth groups across Carmarthenshire and Powys and feeding them back to Mess Up The Mess members on a regular basis.

Keeping It Real actor, Sian, tells members of the youth theatre what it's been like working on the project

Lots of ideas from young people across Carmarthenshire and Powys have made into the play, ensuring it will be an exciting theatrical experience designed by young people for young people.

You can catch the play on Wednesday 23rd July at Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon and Thursday 24th July at Ammanford Miners' Theatre. Both shows start at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Brynaman Community Centre or the theatre box offices (Theatr Brycheiniog: Tel - 01874 611622; Ammanford Miners' Theatre: Tel - 0845 226 3510.)

Mess Up The Mess Youth Theatre to Represent Wales at UK Impetus Awards

Brynaman based youth theatre Mess Up The Mess have been selected to represent Wales in the prestigious UK Impetus Awards Showcase.

The Impetus awards, organised by the Institute for Global Ethics UK Trust, celebrate the work of young people in bringing to life human rights and the shared ethical values that underpin them.

At yesterday’s ceremony at the National Botanic Gardens, groups from across Wales shared their work with each other and were congratulated by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales. Mess Up The Mess Youth Theatre’s recent “Strangers” project was one of two projects seen as demonstrating best practice and will go forward to represent Wales at the Impetus Awards’ UK Showcase event held in London in September.

Members of Mess Up The Mess Youth Theatre with the Children's Commissioner for Wales

Alex from Mess Up The Mess recorded some reactions from the group after they had heard of their success.

Mess Up The Mess’s latest production, Keeping It Real / Cadw’r Gywir will be performed at Theatre Brycheiniog, Brecon on Wednesday 23rd July and Ammanford Miners’ Theatre on Thursday 24th July.

More information about Mess Up The Mess and the Strangers project can be found at their website: http://www.messupthemess.co.uk/. More information about the UK Impetus awards can be found at: http://www.impetusawards.org.uk/.

Brynaman Community Centre

Brynaman Community Centre are proud to announce the new facilities are available following receiving over £800,000 worth of grant funding from a number of sources including the WAG to build an extension onto the existing Centre building. The building was once the village infant’s school and a group of local residents set about purchasing the old building and forming a Community Centre, which came to fruition in 2003. Following its success, this new development was funded and this new state of the art facility is considered a Centre of Excellence and now comprises of:-

50 cover café/ restaurant with fully equipped catering kitchen, which will serve as a community café and provide catering for training and events.

50 seated fully equipped conference room – ideal for AGM’s, conferences, seminars and training.

Offices – appropriate for small businesses or branches of larger organisations wanting to deliver services in the community.

Multi purpose rooms – that will cater from large meetings and IT courses to small meetings, advice/advocacy services and interviews.

The Centre has successfully hosted seminars and training for over four years and is fully equipped for events and training with on-site administrative services and ample car park facilities. The Brecon Beacons National Park state ‘The Centre is an excellent facility and can be used as a shining example of what can be achieved by local groups working together.’ This year Carmarthenshire County Council awarded ‘Best Community Facility’ to the Centre.

If you would like more information about the Centre and the facilities on offer please visit the website http://www.brynaman.org.uk/ or phone 01269 823400.

Keeping It Real

Brynaman based young people's theatre group Mess Up The Mess's latest production opens at Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon on Wednesday 23rd July and Ammanford Miners' Theatre on Thursday 24th July. Keeping It Real / Cadw'r Gywir is an ambitious and innovative play that has been created by local young people for young people and will create bilingual theatre that is inclusive and accessible for a diverse youth audience.

Mess Up The Mess have been working with a group of professional actors to hold drama workshops in schools and youth groups across Carmarthenshire and Powys to develop ideas for the play. Twice a week these ideas are fed back to a panel composed of young people from the Aman Valley who oversee the play's development. Carmarthenshire Connect have been helping Mess Up The Mess record their views on the project as it happens.

Peter explains his hopes and fears for the project, filmed by Laura


Alex interviews Owain, filmed by Polly


Owain interviews Alex, filmed by Polly

We asked members of the youth panel to think of one word which describes how they feel about the play so far:

India explains her chosen word

There are two performances of the play on Wednesday 23rd July at Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon and Thursday 24th July at Ammanford Miners' Theatre. Both shows start at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Brynaman Coomunity Centre or the theatre box offices (Theatr Brycheiniog: Tel - 01874 611622; Ammanford Miners' Theatre: Tel - 0845 226 3510.)

Silver Surfer of the Year Award 2008

Please help us find the Silver Surfer of the Year 2008!

Nominations close: Thursday 31st July

What makes an exemplary Silver Surfer? We're on the hunt again this year and want as many nominees as possible from over-50s resident in the UK who are using Internet and email.

A winner could come from any background, and may (or may not) be relatively inexperienced with modern information technology. The important qualities are to do with how they've used their knowledge and how it has helped them to connect with others: friends, family, colleagues, social groups, self-help groups, community groups, etc.

Nomination is via a simple form: http://www.digitalunite.net/ssd/?page=ssy

The overall winner will receive a high-spec laptop and two runners-up receive £250 of Amazon vouchers. They'll be awarded on October 23 at the Houses of Parliament by MP Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Black Mountain Produce & Craft Market

The Black Mountain Produce & Craft Market is held every third Saturday of each month in Brynaman. It gives you a chance to meet with other residents in the community and to buy locally produced food and crafts directy from the producers.

Please see the Carmarthenshire Connect Events Calendar for the information on the next market.

ASBO Video Update

With continued help from Carmarthenshire Connect. ASBO (All Skate Boarding Outcasts) have been editing more of their short video to help them work towards some new facilities in Brynamman.

This has so far been an exciting project with the group learning lots of new skills and techniques using digital video cameras and video editing on their recently acquired Macbook. They are now looking forward to completed the video in the next couple of months and to premier it to the local community.

(above - Will and Jordan preparing video clips for their film)