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Autumn / Winter 2005 Newsletter

28th Nov 2005

Inside this issue:

Llanwrin Affordable Housing Event

The Communities First Bro Ddyfi Housing Group held a very well attended event (over 25 people present), at Llanwrin Church on the 20th of September 2005.

The event was held in order to consult with the local community and to enable discussion on the Affordable Housing options available in and around the village of Llanwrin, and also to inform people of the Social Housing Grant, as well as MWHA proposals.

County Councillor Gwilym Fychan welcomed those present and gave a brief introduction to the format of the event, before introducing David Thomlinson, Powys County Council Rural Housing Strategy Development Officer, who provided those present with background information including proof of need, the Social Housing Grant, and current proposals for the existing serviced site owned by PCC. This was followed by an information sharing presentation by Richard Grant and John Green of MWHA explaining what had been done elsewhere regarding the provision of affordable housing, with Guilsfield being used as an example.

John Green of Mid Wales Housing Association addressing the recent Affordable Housing event at Llanwrin ChurchThere followed a very useful general discussion and question and answer session, with many interesting and relevant points being raised.

Should Powys County Councils' application for Social Housing Grant in respect to the Llanwrin Serviced site be successful, then a further meeting will be held. Further information on Affordable Housing.

Should you have a website of your own, you are welcome to include a link into this site.

[caption] John Green of Mid Wales Housing Association addressing the recent Affordable Housing event at Llanwrin Church

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New Website for Young People

A new website, created by Save the Children and British Gas has been launched dedicated to giving children and young people the chance to speak out on local issues that affect them and develop projects that make a real difference to where they live.

Visit the site at: www.helpyourselves.org.uk.

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cash iconFunding schemes of the quarter

Millennium Volunteers

Funding is available for organisations in Wales running projects which expand volunteering among young people aged 16-24.

Grants of between £500 and £7,000 are offered to registered delivery partners and youth-led projects to support expenses, subsistence and training of Millennium Volunteers.

The next deadline for applications is 9 December 2005.

Details are available from: www.wcva.org.uk.

J Paul Getty Jnr General Charitable Trust

The trust funds projects which help relieve poverty and favours small community and local projects which make good use of volunteers, and where the emphasis is on self-help, building esteem, and enabling people to reach their potential. The categories of funding are: social welfare, offenders, communities, homelessness, job creation, ethnic minorities (including refugees), arts, conservation and the environment. Grants are usually in the £5,000 - £15,000 range, capital and revenue, and those for salaries or running costs can be made per year for a maximum of three years.

The decision meetings are held in March, June, September and December each year.

Guidelines are available from the website at: www.jpgettytrust.org.uk.

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Shan Parker Communities First Bro Ddyfi Administrator on the Communities First Stand at the Hafal EventMental Health consultation event

As a result of funding received from The Communities First Trust Fund, two local charity projects, Hafal Family Support and Rekindle, recently held a Growing Together mental health day at Machynlleth Community Centre.

The event is part of a research project looking at the needs and wishes of families in the Bro Ddyfi area who are coping with severe mental illness.

The organisers were able to gather the views of Bro Ddyfi residents on the Mental Health Service provision available in the area, through various means of consultation, including that of a 'Wish Tree', on which people were able to put their needs and ideas on indiJulie Cannon Hafal Team Leader with Artist Desmond Harrison and his carer Pat CookThere were also information stands, various stalls and an art workshop.

[caption] Shân Parker Communities First Bro Ddyfi Administrator on the Communities First Stand at the Hafal Event

[caption] Julie Cannon Hafal Team Leader with Artist Desmond Harrison and his carer Pat Cook.

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Visit by Welsh Assembly Government officers

WAG officers being welcomed by Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership members, advisors and staffWelsh Assembly Government officers Alyn Owen, Carys Thomas and Iwan Jones visited the area recently and were able to discuss various aspects of the Communities First programme in Bro Ddyfi with some of the Partnership members, advisors, and staff.

They were also taken on a tour of the area so as to gain a better understanding of the difficulties experienced by the partnership in trying to be as inclusive as possible in such a large and rural area as Bro Ddyfi.

As a result of the visit, as well as the Seminar held at Celtica earlier in the year on 'Rurality and Language in Community First', both the Bro Ddyfi and Pen Llyn Co-ordinators are to meet with WAG officers to put forward their views on how communities First should work in rural areas.

[caption] WAG officers being welcomed by Bro Ddyfi Communities First Partnership members, advisors and staff.

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December deadline for Old School Canteen Building

The Old School Canteen building on the Ysgol Bro Ddyfi site is in a state of disrepair, and has been for years. PCC aren't able to spend any money on it as it is surplus to their requirements and also due to the fact that it is owned by the Montgomeryshire Intermediate Education Trust, and any future use would have to be for Educational Purposes.

In order to get a feeling of what people want and what options are available to the community regarding the building, Communities First organised a meeting between those who had expressed an interest in the building and it's future use, and Rob Shelton (Powys County Council Corporate Property Manager), in order to ascertain the possible repair costs and other possible options that PCC have regarding this building.

Following considerable discussion, it was decided that any group or groups wishing to rent or lease the site should be made aware of the following:

  • The deadline to put forward viable plans to PCC is the end of December 2005. If none are forthcoming then the probability is that the site will be placed on the open market.

  • PCC have to look after the needs of the Montgomeryshire Intermediate Education Trust who own the building and site, with the Council being the only Trustee.

  • It could cost more to repair the building than to demolish it and erect a new building.

  • The building had survived beyond its expected life span, but should it be demolished then the land might be able to be used for other uses.

  • Whilst accurate figures weren't available, the repair cost would be at least £200,000 and possibly as much as £400,000.

  • Anyone taking over the building will need to find the full amount, as no part funding would be available from PCC.

  • Anyone with a genuine interest will need to come forward with a good robust business plan for future funding, in order to convince PCC and any possible funders (and the proposers themselves), and that this should include probably £15,000 per annum to cover electricity, gas, general upkeep, cleaning etc.

*A full copy of the notes taken at this meeting is available upon request

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Machynlleth to Newtown 522 busNew 522 Bus Service

The New Machynlleth to Newtown 522 bus service was launched at The Plas on Friday 29th of July.

Following the expiry of the Arriva contract, Powys County Council re-tendered this service to local company Lloyds Coaches.

This new service that makes use of low floor buses will provide a regular and reliable service that will enable local people with mobility difficulties to have better access to public transport.

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Cyclists at y PlasLaunch of new shared use path

The launch on Wednesday 27th of June of a new shared use cycle path saw well over 50 people, including representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government, Powys and Ceredigion County Councils, Sustrans and members of the community, both walking and cycling between Machynlleth and Derwenlas.

People living in this part of Bro Ddyfi are now able to make use of the path that not only provides a choice of how to travel, but also a much needed, safe link between the two communities.

The path was funded by the Assembly Government's Transport Wales through the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency.

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Machynlleth welcomes 'Welsh - give it a go' campaign

During the week commencing Monday 17th of October the Welsh - Give it a go campaign was launched in 15 areas across Wales, including Machynlleth, with the purpose of the campaign being to encourage more people to use Welsh in their everyday lives. 'Welsh -Give it a go! ', is aimed mainly at people who can speak Welsh, and to get them to try to use their Welsh before English.

Machynlleth is one of 15 areas in Wales that has been included as part of the campaign.

Several local events and activities were organised by the Welsh Language Board and the 'Mentrau Iaith' (Language Initiatives) in order to encourage and enable people to take part in this campaign, that offers a chance for everyone to use their Welsh in every aspect of their life - at work, socially and in the community.

The campaign is an opportunity for people to become aware of how much Welsh is in the area so that they then have more confidence to start a conversation in Welsh in the future, with the simple message being - Welsh - Give it a go!

If you would like further information regarding the campaign in general, do not hesitate to contact

Siwan Hywel, Development Officer Machynlleth by e-mail or on any of the following number(s):

Development Officer - Machynlleth +44 (0)7887 996188 or +44 (0)1654 703944

siwan.hywel@welsh-language-board.org.uk or www.welsh-language-board.org.uk

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Partnership meetings

For dates and venues of Partnership meetings please contact the Communities First office.
Tel: 01654 700315
E-mail: cyril@powys.gov.uk

Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings as an observer to find out more about the Communities First programme in the Bro Ddyfi area.

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