News

Fitness and fun with the Friendly Walkers group

LOOKING for an excuse to step out this summer? Then the Friendly Walkers group might be what you’re looking for.

The 3Gs group have been in existence for more than a year and have self-funded walks to local historical areas through raffles and sponsorship. They meet twice weekly for two-hourly walks.

The group has qualified leaders who have trained within the group and organise walks in the area.

Following a walk, the group usually end up in a local cafe for an informal chat, where they discuss their health improvements following the exercise and changes in their lifestyle and arrange social activities for the group to take part in.

The 3Gs’ Michelle Llewellyn said: “The aim of the project is to develop, increase and improve leisure exercise and activity provision for ladies in the 3Gs and Dowlais areas.

“We want to raise the awareness of the benefits of taking part in activities and a healthy lifestyle in general.”

The Friendly Walkers were successful in gaining funding from the Communities First Trust Fund for a project called A Walk For All Seasons.

They recently completed stage one of the project – the Spring Walk to the Devil’s Pulpit and Brockweir from Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley.

If you would like to join the group, please contact Michelle at the 3Gs Development Trust on 01685 385303 for more information.

*******************************************

Volunteer groups win royal accolade

FOUR voluntary organisations from across Wales have been named winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The national award recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.

The Welsh winners were Cardiff Conservation Volunteers; Buddies, who provide support for vulnerable children; 3G’s Music & Arts Group, who help hard-to- reach youngsters; and Filipino Community Wales, which provides access to services and training for the Filipino community.

They were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work.

They will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and a commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants at special ceremonies.

Groups have also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

“Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together,” said committee chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis.

For details of all this year’s award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov .uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice, where a nomination form can be downloaded.

*******************************************

Clothes recycled for eco-fashion show

Young people from around south Wales have joined forces to recycle and spruce up unwanted clothes for a fashion show.

The EcoChic project has involved months of workshops by 160 teenagers from Torfaen, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Newport.

The idea originated with the NEON Community Youth Club in Blaenavon.

Participants in EcoChic will be showing what they've created at Blaenavon Workmen's Hall on Saturday.

Volunteer Maria Jones said the idea emerged from a discussion about the cost of keeping up to date with fashion.

"This evolved into how the older generation would make do and mend - skills that have largely disappeared - along with recycling and the green agenda," she said.

"They wanted to refashion clothes with the ultimate aim of putting on a show of what they had achieved."

An appeal went out for clothes and sewing machines, and a grant was won from BBC Children in Need.

The show has come together following months of workshops and rehearsals involving around 160 young people from the four counties and beyond.

The youngsters have also received an email of support from Merthyr-born fashion designer Julien Macdonald.

*******************************************

Unwanted items can be swapped

IS YOUR attic filled with items you don’t really want but are too good to throw away?

If so a new Community Swap Shop, run by the 3Gs Trust could be just the solution

The 3Gs wants to help the community to move to a lower carbon, more sustainable lifestyle and believe reducing waste is the way to achieve this.

Michelle Llewellyn, Community Development Worker, said: “While recycling and composting offer a great way to deal with much of the rubbish that used to end up in landfill, the question remains as to what to do with other unwanted items which are simply too good to throw away. Charity shops are one solution – but there may not always be a convenient one locally; online auction sites offer another, but they’re not for everyone.”

For a growing number of communities, the swap shop has increasingly become the answer.

The idea is simple – allowing household items to be passed on to new owners in return for something they want.

If you have something to advertise, contact Michelle on 01685 385303.

*******************************************

Create a ‘new you’ at free pamper day

RESOLUTIONS made at midnight on December 31 often revolve around a new year, new you and with that in mind the 3Gs Development Trust are holding a free pamper and health day.

The aptly named New Year New You event is being held at the Penydarren Club and is targeting people in the community to help them create a ‘new you’ in areas concerning, health and well-being, the family, training and adult community learning, money matters, work employability, the home, the environment and much more.

There will be various tasters on January 29 including aromatherapy, reflexology, digital photography, cookery demonstrations, jewellery making and gardening.

Various organisations will be offering learning and training opportunities, volunteering advice, as well as money information and debt advice.

Attendees will be treated to makeovers from the Body Shop, manicures from Beautylicious, waxing from Leanne Saunders and hand massages from Fairtrade Wales.

Miller Argent is supporting this event, that runs from 9.30am to 3pm, by providing free transport for the whole day. Free refreshments and a buffet will be available throughout the day.

To book your place call the 3Gs on 01685 385303.

*******************************************

3G’s Communities First Iron and Steel Project

Highlighted as an example of Best Practice at Wales – Arts Council Wales, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sports Council Wales Event

Report prepared by Lee Davies, 3 G’s Communities First Development Team.

On the 8th Dec 2009 the Lottery staged an event at the Senydd, Cardiff to celebrate 15 years of the lottery. In this anniversary year they also passed a significant milestone - over one billion pounds has now been awarded to projects in Wales since 1994. The event’s purpose was to:

• Mark the occasion and the good causes to highlight the positive difference to Wales’s communities over a generation.
• Reflect on 15 years of funding and what the challenges and opportunities might be for the next 15 years.
• Increase awareness of Lottery funding – its breadth, impact and its evolution and development over the life of the National Lottery.
• Demonstrate the real difference Lottery funding has made throughout society, for people from all walks of life.

The event was organised by the four lottery distributing organisations in Wales – Arts Council Wales, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sports Council Wales.

Background information

Politicians, stakeholders and project representatives were invited from across Wales.

The 3G’s Communities First project ‘Iron & Steal’ was chosen to represent the Heritage Lottery as good practice project. At the event AMs and MPs were given information about projects and money awarded in their constituencies over 15 years. All guests also received a report that assesses the impact of lottery funding across the UK together with 15th anniversary publications from the four lottery distributors.

Janice Gregory AM, Chair of the Assembly Communities and Culture Committee, hosted the event.

Speakers were…

• Janice Gregory AM, Chair of the Assembly Communities and Culture Committee
• Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage – key note speech
• Ceri Doyle, Chair of Wales Lottery Forum and Director of BIG Lottery Fund

Key messages for the event

Lottery funding has made a lasting difference to the lives of people and communities across Wales.

Lottery funding is reaching every community. With more than 25,000 projects, large and small, funded across Wales, we all live within a stone’s throw of a project that has received an award of Lottery money.

Lottery distributors work together and with partners to raise awareness about lottery funding in communities and communities of interest across Wales.

Lottery funding supports good causes in the areas of arts, heritage, sport, charities, and to projects that improve health, education and the environment.

*******************************************

Estonia Visit to 3G’s Development Trust Forsythia Youth Centre

Report Prepared by Sam Gerrard

On Friday 4th December 2009, the 3G’s Forsythia Youth Centre, a youth project primarily funded by Communities First, Gwirvol, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, opened its doors and gave a warm welcome to a group of 15 visitors from Estonia. Forsythia Youth is one of the key projects of 3 G’s Development Trust which is the host organization of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Communities First programme in Gurnos and Penydarren. The group were a mix of social professionals, and educators from the Estonian Youth Service and a range of Estonian Universities and training provisions. The visit was arranged and escorted by the University of Wales, Newport, who chose 3G’s Forsythia Youth Centre as Best Practise to visit in the Merthyr Borough. The Estonian group also visited projects in Ebbw Vale and Newport.

The group were welcomed by members of The Youth Team which included Sam Gerrard, Ashley Evans and young person volunteer, Ashley Gray. The Estonian Group commented very highly on the wonderful facilities and the wide range of activities on offer to the young people that attend the centre. One thing in particular that impressed the visitors was the volunteer and employment opportunities that the 3G’s Youth Team offers its members, for example both Ashley Gray and Ashley Evans were previous members of the Youth since a young age. The Forsythia Youth Team prides itself on nurturing its members and try whenever possible to offer volunteer, and employment opportunities to the local community of which Ashley Evans and Ashley Gray are prime examples.

The Estonian visitors also took a walking tour of part of the Gurnos estate, where they stopped off at The Clinic to meet with Carol Adams, the 3G’s Development Trust Lead Officer and Communities First Co-ordinator. Carol gave the visitors an oversight of the 3G’s as an organisation and informed them of the wider activities and opportunities the 3G’s has on offer outside of The Forsythia Youth Team. The visitors were impressed with the variety of the programme and the notable impact that The 3G’s Development Trust has had on the community in its ten years of service. Originally developed from the resident’s board, The 3G’s Development Trust’s ethos of working from the grassroots up, developing activities and projects by the community, for the community was a subject of great interest to the visitors.

The Estonian group also visited the Info Shop, where they met Peter Price, who informed them of all the services they have to offer, for example Credit Union, Citizen Advice, Shelter Cymru and Job Match. For lunch the visitors enjoyed fish and chips in the newly refurbished Gurnos fish shop. This was an opportunity for the visitors to met with the public and community members of The Gurnos.

To finalise a very successful visit, the group came back to Forsythia Centre where they were presented with gifts made by the young people of The Youth.

To follow up this visit a report by the University of Wales Newport will be produced as well as looking into the possibility of an exchange visit for staff and young people to Estonia.

*******************************************

Tenovus is working with Children in Merthyr

Tenovus recently linked up wth the 3gs development trust, a community regeneration organisation that serves Gurnos, Galon Uchaf and Penydarren in Merthyr Tydfil, to conduct a health awareness afternoon. 15 children between the ages of 5 and 12 came onto the Mobile Cancer Support Unit in Merthyr and took part in a healthy eating/lifestyle workshop. Take a look at the photos below!

We'd like to say a big thank you to the children who took part and to Pam Khan of 3gs. We hope this is the start of a long-lasting partnership with the 3gs Development Trust.

*******************************************

Artists bring our history to life

Dec 10 2009 by Samantha Mendez, Merthyr Express.

ARTISTS from Merthyr Tydfil have brought old black and white photos back to life after recreating them as colourful paintings.

The 3Gs’ arts exhibition at Cyfarthfa Castle was created entirely by Cefn Coed and Galon Uchaf classes, and the exhibition, which ran throughout November, turned out to be one of the best historical art exhibitions to be created in Merthyr for several years.

A total of 37 paintings were created for the display, and they were all copied from old photos from the Alan George Old Merthyr Tydfil website.

The artists created paintings that related to their own history and changed them from black and white into colour.

Some of the topics covered included the Ivor Works Dowlais, The Hoover factory in Abercanaid, Cyfarthfa Ironworks and local historical places like Cyfarthfa Castle, the County School and Vaynor Church.

They also reach further afield to Tredegar and Pontypridd, with memories of those places written down in books alongside the exhibition.

Tutor Peter Price, said: “In creating the exhibition I wanted the students to provide memory editorials of their experiences of those times and places, creating much more than just an exhibition.

“We had a wide interest in the exhibition with many people visiting Cyfarthfa Castle in November to see it, including many schools and S4C Wedi 7 came to film the exhibition for their weekly programme.

“All in all it was a very big success, not only for the 3Gs Trust and Cyfarthfa Castle but also for all those artists who contributed their time to the project.”

All the artwork has been made into a calendar so you have the pieces in your home for just £2.

Call into the 3Gs Info Centre or the Gurnos Clinic to pick one up.

If you wish to join a class contact Peter on 01685 352980.

*******************************************

Voters secure cash for new media suite

December 03 2009, Merthyr Express

VOTERS called in their thousands to ensure that a portable media suite would be winging its way to Merthyr Tydfil.

The 3G’s Development Trust went head-to-head with a Prestatyn and Meliden Community Action Group project to compete for funding through Big Lottery’s – People’s Millions.

A big promotion campaign saw to 3Gs coming out on top and winning £49,965 to develop a portable media suite in the borough – they received more than 2,500 votes.

Their win was announced live on ITV Wales on Friday evening, when the Lottery and news crews visited Bishop Hedley High School to hand over the giant cheque.

The man behind the project – 3Gs’ Lee Davies – said the children “went nuts” when they found out the Merthyr project had won.

“I’m over the moon and the kids went nuts when they walked in with the cheque,” he said.

“The ITV presenter Carl Edwards wound them up by saying he had some bad news, and told them he didn’t have a cheque for £50,000.

“But instead Mike from the Lottery did!

“It’s a hard thing going head-to-head for money with another community project, but we did a lot of promoting.”

Now the cash in the bag the equipment for the project that will provide media training for young people to increase their skills and raise self-confidence, can be bought.

The portable media centre will enable 3Gs to hold and deliver classes to the community, schools and adult centres.

And the equipment will enable them to deliver structured learning which will involve community members making their own works such as films, music, graphic design and animation.

Dai Havard MP, said: “Winning the People’s Millions Lottery is great news for the 3Gs Trust.

The consistent determined commitment to make a difference over a long period from all those associated with the 3Gs Trust shines through their work.

The money will mean a lot for the media project and those it will help but mean even more as it comes from the people with the support of the people and I wish the project well.”

*******************************************

Merthyr impresses in talent contest

Nov 19 2009
by Samantha Mendez, Merthyr Express. Click here for the pdf file.

MERTHYR proved that it’s bursting with talent as budding stars took to the stage.

More than 200 people crowded into the hall at Merthyr College for the sell-out final of Merthyr’s Got Talent.

Lee Davies, a community development worker for 3Gs, said he was bowled over by the amount of talent he saw at auditions and the live final.

A variety of acts were showcased including choirs, solo singers, dancers and even an accordion player.

Hundreds of hopefuls auditioned at Bishop Hedley High School, and the talented bunch were whittled down to 35 finalists for the night.

Performers as young as 11 took home awards, and an up-and-coming dance troupe from Cardiff – Jukebox Juniors – made a guest appearance.

Winners on the night were: category 11 to 13 – Tyler Mahoney, who sang Hallelujah; category 14 to 15 – Rhio Jones, who also sang Hallelujah; category 16 to 25 – Zoe Sears, who sang On My Own from Les Miserables; dance group – Kyle and Ozza’ dance solo – Siwan Clifford; group category – XL Club Beatbox; overseas category – accordion-playing Evs; choir – 3Gs Community Choir.

The talent show was part of Merthyr Youth Service’s week of activities.