Rhydyfelin News
Here's the ten most recent stories from Rhydyfelin.
Volunteer Will Cycle Lands End to John O'Groats to Raise Money for Valleys Kids
Tuesday 22 June 2010
William Denny, Valleys Kids volunteer and very own Lance Armstrong, will cycle an amazing 900 miles in under a week.
Read more about Volunteer Will Cycle Lands End to John O'Groats to Raise Money for Valleys Kids
On Sunday 4th July William will set off from Lands End, at the very southern tip of England. Within less than a week he will have got himself to John O'Groats, the most northerly point of Scotland. He will cover the 900 miles in between on just a bicycle and all this in aid of Valleys Kids. Read more about his adventure and please support him in any way you can ....
Click here to see William's Just Giving site to learn more or sponsor him on his epic journey.
Those of you who visit the Ilan project may recognise William as a volunteer but who would have known that we had our very own Lance Armstrong in the Rhondda. Lets give him as much encouragement and support as we can, its going to be a tough journey!
Communities First Trust Fund - It is Your Community - Make a Difference!!!!
Tuesday 01 June 2010
The Communities First Trust Fund, through small community organisations, in Communities First areas, aims to support any type of activity that involves local people of all ages, to help them make a real difference to the community they live in.
Read more about Communities First Trust Fund - It is Your Community - Make a Difference!!!!
Supporting you to support your community…..
Grants can be awarded up to £5,000 to build on existing activities or to initiate new ones.
These activities must provide some measure of economic, environmental or cultural benefit.
Projects will aim to encourage more community involvement and the restoration of community spirit and pride in making a Communities First area a better place to live.
Making a difference to your community…..
Applications are welcome from a wide range of community projects and activities including music and the arts.
Your group can apply if you:
• are a small community led organisation and /or are a not-for-profit group with an annual income under £150,000;
• are working in and involving people from a Communities First area, or if you are based outside the area, the beneficiaries must be living in a Communities First area.
For an application pack, advice and information contact Communities First Helpline 0800 587 8898 / help@wcva.org.uk
www.wcva.org.uk
Skilling Time
Friday 28 May 2010
It all began as far back as March 19th now after two and a half months the Pink Ladies have completed their course of instruction in construction!
Read more about Skilling Time
The Pink Ladies Course is run by the Construction Youth Trust. It aims to remove potential barriers that young women may face when trying to enter the construction industry by staging taster sessions, offering career advice and guidance and arranging site visits and work placements.
The training looks at a variety of different skills including plumbing, tiling, bricklaying, painting & decorating and home maintenance. Ellen Davies, pictured right with her complimentary tool kit, said “that without this course I never would have picked up a screwdriver! Now I’ve learnt so many new skills I’d have a go at anything!”
If you’d like to find out more about the course or are interested in registering please phone 01443 491 848.
Rhydyfelin AFC
Friday 14 May 2010
Rhydyfelin AFC are on the look-out for new players to join the local football team.
Read more about Rhydyfelin AFC
Boys and girls aged 5 – 16 yrs are welcome to come to training every Wednesday between 6pm and 7pm at Hawthorn High School Astro Turf Pitch.
For more information please visit the website - www.clubwebsite.co.uk/rhydyfelinafc or phone Lee Purnell on 07527 839 450.
Glyntaff Celebration
Wednesday 21 April 2010
Glyntaff Tenants and Residents Association is 30 this year! To mark the occasion a two-day spectacular has been planned on May 14th / 15th.
Read more about Glyntaff Celebration
A special mystery guest will open the event where the history and identity of the estate will be celebrated through music, art and drama and guest speakers will hold centre stage!
GTRA are collecting mementos, photos or stories about the estate from residents past and present – if you’ve anything that you’d like to add to the growing collection please contact Lyn or Alyson on 01443 402 650.
The second day will be a Fun Day, which is also open to all of Rhydyfelin, where games, activities and multi-media displays will take place, alongside refreshments and a performance by the Ilan Diamonds Jazz Band.
“We hope this event will showcase the fantastic community spirit on the estate,” said Lyn from GTRA before adding “the commitment shown over the years by volunteers and residents has allowed GTRA to give something back to the community – here’s to another 30 years!”
GTRA’s Credit Union also celebrates a birthday this year – “it’s been going for 21 years and continues to go from strength to strength,” said a proud Alyson Davies.
A Credit Union is a community-based financial co-operative that provides straightforward, affordable financial services anyone can access.
There are three Credit Unions in Rhydyfelin, all run by Dragonsavers, whose members are encouraged to save for their future and in return, can access affordable loans (after a qualifying period), free life cover, budgeting advice and even discounted electrical items.
Each member makes regular payments into a range of savings accounts and this fund then provides the basis for preferential rate loans.
Anyone can join if they live, work or study within RCT and can take advantage of the services provided – including Standing Order, Internet and PayPoint services.
If you want more information about Dragonsavers and their services call 01443 777043 or visit our Website www.dragonsavers.org
GTRA’s Credit Union is open on Monday and Friday at the Ilan Centre between 10am and 12pm.
Hafod’s Credit Union is open on Thursdays at the Hafod Community Flat between 10am and 12pm.
Rhydyfelin Community Centre’s Credit Union is open on Wednesdays between 10am and 12pm.
Detached Youth Workers
Monday 08 March 2010
The Partnership would like to welcome NEW Detached Youth Workers Stacey Oliver and Lee Taylor to Rhydyfelin. They aim to deliver support, information and guidance to young people through street- based youth work.
Read more about Detached Youth Workers
They will offer support to young people in Rhydyfelin between the ages of 11-19. Lee told the Partnership “we’d like to change things for the better for young people in Rhydyfelin and if we do not know the answers, we will find someone who does.”
“We’re always up for a chat and you can talk to us about anything, including things going on at home, with friends, interesting stuff going on with you as well as more serious stuff like housing issues, sexual health and education / training. It doesn’t always have to be serious though. We’ll also organise trips and activities.” Added Stacey.
If you’d like to contact Stacey or Lee with questions or just for a chat, then email stacey.oliver@rctcbc.gov.uk or lee.taylor@rctcbc.gov.uk
New Sergeant
Monday 15 February 2010
Ben Rowe has been appointed as the new sergeant for Rhydyfelin / Central Ilan, replacing the recently retired Andy Rogers.
Read more about New Sergeant
Sergeant Rowe has spent seven years within the Police service including a three-year spell as a CID officer. Before starting on January 11th he had been employed as the sergeant for an emergency response team.
Ben is very keen to reclaim the Operational Team of the Year Award last won in 2008 and to maintain a fully staffed station at 33 Elm Street.
PCSO Lisa Banfield said that she is “really looking forward to introducing Ben to the local community” and that she “is sure that he’ll be made to feel at home in Rhydyfelin.” Whilst PCSO Juliet Payne “would like to encourage everyone to have a ‘cuppa with a coppa’ every Thursday at the Ilan Centre or Hafod Community flat between 10am and 12pm.”
The PCSOs will also be popping into Rhydyfelin Library on February 26th and Ben will join them – so come along to meet our new sergeant.
BEAT THE LOAN SHARKS – BITE BACK!
Friday 05 February 2010
As the credit crunch hits harder, money problems are affecting more and more of us. Who do you turn to when the rent’s overdue, the gas bill’s higher than you expected, or the washing machine breaks down? The Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit (IMLU) is warning Rhydyfelin residents not to make the mistake of turning to illegal lenders.
Read more about BEAT THE LOAN SHARKS – BITE BACK!
IMLU was set up by the government in 2007 to investigate and prosecute loan sharks and operates as part of Trading Standards, since loan sharks operate without a consumer credit licence.
Loan sharks prey on people who are vulnerable – whether because of long term poverty or debt, or difficulties in their lives such as addiction or health problems. Like doorstep lenders, illegal lenders charge extortionate interest rates - IMLU say that 150,000% APR is not unheard of! They may also use threats or violence to ensure that their victims keep paying.
“Sharks don’t give you paperwork explaining the terms of the loan, and you have to keep paying them back until they decide you can stop. They may appear friendly when they offer the loan, and when you pay - it’s when you can’t pay that you see the other side of them”, explains Steve Tooby, IMLU manager.
Over recent months, IMLU has uncovered shocking examples of illegal lending in Wales:
Two brothers were imprisoned, for two years and nineteen months respectively, at Cardiff Crown Court for illegal money lending and money laundering. Charges of false imprisonment and blackmail remain on file. Their victims had to sell their home, and most of their possessions to pay the loan sharks.
A victim became so desperate, as her finances were hollowed out by the loan shark each week, that she asked her social worker to take her five children into care, as she could not feed them.
If you have information about suspected loan shark activity, you can phone IMLU on the 24 hour hotline: 0300 123 3311 or 0300 555 2222. You can phone anonymously if you want. IMLU has specialist client liaison officers, who will advise on debt and other problems.
Children in Need Success
Friday 20 November 2009
Congratulations to all those who attended the Children in Need Coffee Mornings held on the 16th and 20th of November. Over £200 was raised between the events held at Hawthorn Leisure Centre and Rhydyfelin Children’s Centre.
Read more about Children in Need Success
Children in Need is one of the highs of the BBC calendar and plenty of activity takes place all across the UK around this time to help raise those crucial pennies to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
Rhydyfelin Family Fun Day
Wednesday 28 October 2009
The Rhydyfelin Regeneration Partnership Family Fun Day returned during October half-term and once again it was a huge success.
Read more about Rhydyfelin Family Fun Day
The event is growing every year. Last year we had 300 people through the doors; this year 365!
This year the activities included a snowboarding simulator, a football game called speed mark that measures the power of your shot and a gym taster courtesy of Hawthorn Leisure centre.
Dr. Bike was in attendance to repair bikes before Sustrans led numerous bike-rides on the Taff trail. There were also Street dance and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, a Nintendo Wii room and a Rhydyfelin Athletic FC skills session.
It was a real Family day for the half term and we’d like to thank everyone for coming and of course those who gave their time to help.
Many thanks to our funders - The Physical Activities Hub and Fresh Beginnings - without whom the day would not have been possible.