Autumn / Winter 2004 Newsletter
21st Oct 2004
Autumn / Winter 2004 Newsletter
Bro Ddyfi celebrates!
A Community Celebration Day was held at Machynlleth on the 16th October in order to highlight the work that is being developed in the area and to bring the community together through a fun day.
The event was organised and funded through Communities First and the Inequalities in Health Programme (Powys Health Promotion) working in partnership, with the purpose of the day being to raise the awareness and profile of these two programmes as well as others, in the Dyfi Valley, to look forward to the future and to encourage more community participation.
Some unlikely characters enjoying themselves at the Bro Ddyfi Community Celebration.
Myra Francis of CAMAD, who is a member of the Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership, presents copies of both the Housing and Transport Needs assessment reports to Meirion Jones (Llanbrynmair Community Council Clerk) and Cllr Michael Williams (Representing Machynlleth Town Council).
Cyril Evans, Bro Ddyfi Communities First Co-ordinator said:
"Local organisations were invited to exhibit examples of their work within the community and some of those present included the Royal British Legion (Mach and District), Cambrian Arts Society, Montgomeryshire Crossroads, National Assembly for Wales, PAVO, Welsh Language Board, and Twf, Ecodyfi, CAMAD, Toy Library, Play Montgomeryshire, Fair Trade, Communities First, Inequalities in Health and Gwerin y Coed.
As well as the above, there was also a Puppet Show by Vagabondi Puppets and Welsh Language entertainment by Alun Tanlan and others, organised by Llinos Jones Williams, Development Officer of the Welsh Language Board."
Cerys Humphreys, Health Promotion Officer for Bro Ddyfi added: 'In addition to the exhibits which were shown on the Plas Grounds, there was also a good range of activities provided free of charge for children and families in the Leisure Centre, which included Face Painting, Smoothie Making, Bouncy Castle, Puppet Workshop, Circus Skills, Crafts and Working with Video, as well as a yoga taster session.'
Myra Francis of CAMAD officially opened the day and also presented copies of the recent Housing and Transport Needs Assessment carried out by Communities First in partnership with CAMAD, Eco Dyfi, Powys County Council, Machynlleth Town Council and Glantwymyn Community Council, with the support of Llanbrynmair and Cadfarch Community Councils, to representatives of the local councils.
Myra also presented prizes to the draw winners held for those who completed and returned the questionnaires for both Needs Assessments.
Both Cyril and Cerys would like to thank the Community Groups who exhibited and held workshops, as well as all those who generously gave up their time to plan and help out on the day, including members of the Communities First Partnership.
Bro Ddyfi Action Plan
Following consultation by various means at locations throughout the valley, including recent action planning events held jointly by Communities First and The Local Community Forum, as well as a follow-up all day event on the 3rd November, the coordinator and partnership are now working on an Action Plan for the area that should be available at least in draft form by early 2005.
Website updated
The Bro Ddyfi section of the Powys Community First website has recently been up-dated, and now includes the report on the Participatory Appraisal that was carried out in the area by 'Insight Social Research Ltd', following the Bro Ddyfi Communities First area being selected by the Communities First Support Network as one of only five pilot scheme areas throughout Wales.
The site now also includes the report and summary of the Transport Needs Assessment that was carried out in the area earlier this year, as well as a copy of the Partnership Agreement.
We are currently waiting for the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment report to be translated, prior to inclusion.
The Powys Communities First website covers all three Communities First areas in Powys, and is well worth a visit at www.commfirstpowys.org.uk
All information is also available by contacting the Bro Ddyfi Communities First office (see below).
New partnership members
We would like to offer a warm welcome to four new members of the partnership, with Helen Hughes and Ceris Rees, both being community representatives for Llanbrynmair, whilst Martin Ashby replaces Eric Hughes as one of the Machynlleth community representatives, and finally, Llinos Jones-Williams, who is the development worker in the Machynlleth area with the Welsh Language Board.
Unfortunately however, as soon as we get used to seeing Llinos around the area, she is leaving again to take up a new post nearer to her home at Bala, and we would like to wish her well in her new post, whilst it is hoped that her successor, when appointed, will replace her on the partnership.
And room for more!
Do you have a couple of hours per month to spare?
If you do, this is your opportunity to make a real and lasting difference to the area - so join us now!
The Bro Ddyfi Communities First Coordinator, Cyril Evans said: "There must be quite a few people in the area that have very strong feelings regarding something that either is, or should be happening in Bro Ddyfi at the moment, but have not previously felt the need to, or perhaps never had the confidence, or indeed been given the opportunity to voice their opinion.
"Well here is a real opportunity to do something about it, and to make a lasting impact and improvement to this beautiful valley of ours".
There is still room on the newly formed Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership for people who live or work in the Powys area of Bro Ddyfi.
New Administrator appointed
Sian Britland, who was recently appointed as the new Administrator for Communities First Bro Ddyfi, is a fluent Welsh speaker who is from Dolgellau and was educated at Ysgol y Gader, prior to recently completing a Business Administration Course at Coleg Meirion Dwyfor.
Sian Britland the new Communities First Administrator.
The 'Funding scheme of the quarter' section will return in the next Newsletter.
For further information on any aspects of the Communities First programme, please contact us at:
Communities First Bro Ddyfi, Ty Bro Ddyfi, 52 Maengwyn Street, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8DT.
Tel: 01654 700315 or e-mail cyril@powys.gov.uk or sianb@powys.gov.uk
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