Celebrating Success in Llwynhendy

Llwynhendy Communities First held a Celebration Evening last Thursday at the Bryn & Trallwm Sports & Social Club.

The event recognised and celebrated the achievements and successes of community groups and their members in the Llwynhendy.

Local volunteers and young people were presented with Certificates of Achievement to an audience of group members, residents, councillors and representatives of local organisations.

The following groups were recognised:

• Back to Basics
  Llwynhendy Events Committee
• Llwynhendy Youth Group for their work on the Llwyn yr Ynys residential complex Garden Project and the Llwyn yr Ynys Christmas Dinner event
• The Subway Project, which worked closely with Parc y Scarlets

Chair of Llanelli Rural Council Mari Davis and her consort, Leader of Llanelli Rural Council Jim Jones

Llwynhendy community group members

Llwynhendy Communities First Development Officer Lindy Butler with local police who have supported community groups

Some residents of Llwyn yr Ynys with the complex's Warden, Lynette Williams (right)

Volunteers with the Back to Basics group holding their Certificates of Achievement with Chairman of the Llwynhendy Communities First Partnership, Eunydd Thomas

Members of Llwynhendy Events Committee receiving their certificates from Eunydd

The Llwyn yr Ynys Christmas Dinner Team with Lynette Williams, Warden of the complex

Lynette with members of the Youth Group who worked on the Llwyn yr Ynys Garden Project

Last year Llwynhendy Communities First undertook a project with the Social Risk Fund for the older members of Llwynhendy Youth Group. This involved 12 young people gaining construction site cards, enabling them to gain employment. The project was included in the Communities First Making a Difference booklet published by the Welsh Assembly Government (which can be found here).

Following the success of the first project, funding for a second one was secured, which resulted in two young men being qualified to drive LGV Class 2 lorries and a young lady passing her LGV theory test.

Alex Butler, who is now qualified to drive an LGV Class 2 lorry

A Subway Project member receives his certificate and a gift voucher from Head of Regional Development & Recruitment for the Scarlets, Gareth Jenkins

Dedicated volunteer Tina Miles with Eunydd

The dedication of local volunteer Tina Miles was highlighted. Tina volunteers with almost all of the community groups in Llwynhendy and has recently set up a coffee morning at the Llwyn yr Ynys complex. Tina was Highly Commended for the WCVA Volunteer of The Year Award at the CAVS Volunteer Centre Awards Evening 2008.

The final achievement that was celebrated during the evening was Llwynhendy Youth Group's successful grant application to the Big Lottery Fund for a new multi-use games area (or a MUGA). So strong was the grant application that the Big Lottery Fund awarded the group £28,000 more than they'd applied for!

Member of the Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee Mike Theodoulou presents the cheque for £134,000 to Youth Group members. The four young people pictured collected 500 signatures in support of a petition for a MUGA.

Carmarthenshire Connect attended the Celebration Evening to play back a compilation of the videos recorded by Subway Project members using our Busbi camcorders. The projector was also used to display photos of group activity collected by Communities First staff and through the Carmarthenshire Connect project.