OUR CHILDREN’S SERVICES UNDER THREAT
Every month I list our numerous Children’s Services clubs which include 4 Playschemes in Rhydfelen, Llanhari, Abercynon and Bronllwyn. Some of you will recall the quite successful Playschemes held in Y Cymer and Llynyforwyn which closed some years ago now. We also have a number of after school clubs in Abercynon, Aberdare, Bronllwyn, Bodringallt, Castellau, Dolau, Evan James, Garth Olwg, Heol y Celyn, Pontsionorton, Llantrisant, Llynyforwyn, Llwyncelyn, Llanharan, Tonyrefail, Talbot Green, Twynyrodyn, Rhydygrug and Ynyswen. The Clwb Carco in Gwaelod y Garth and Penyrenglyn closed some years ago. It seems that Talbot Green will be running a club of their own accord from September. You could write reams about the successes / failures of these clubs in addition to their value to the Welsh language which is the centre of our work at Menter Iaith.

The threat of closure looms over every one of these services due to a lack of financial support from the Welsh Assembly, which turned down two direct applications for funding, and RCT Council which not only refused to give us financial support but, also, prevented us from applying for support from the Assembly by providing ‘Open Access’ playschemes in the area. As a result of the failure to gain sufficient financial support, the Playschemes will close a week earlier than planned in an attempt to avoid impracticable and unfair debts for Menter Iaith.

I would like to apologise to all parents for the situation and would ask them to contact their local councillor, Assembly Member or MP asking them to support our applications and to try to use their influence. To all councillors and politicians reading this, please listen to the opinions of your electorate and try to lend your support to us in any way you can.


POLITICS & THE WELSH LANGUAGE
Many already know that I frequently argue that members of all political parties can support the Welsh language and that we need to strive to include everyone and welcome all reasonable political views though, at present, there are some who are testing this goodwill. Russell Roberts, Leader of RCT Council, has yet to respond to an e-mail and fax sent to him over the summer concerning our Playschemes – what can you say or do? It appears that First Minister Rhodri Morgan considers calls to safeguard the future of the Welsh language through legislation ‘boring’ – what can you say? Co-operation and partnerships work both ways and it’s important that people on both sides are willing to listen, work in partnership and make an effort to ensure that the Welsh language isn’t a party political issue. I don’t believe that this is the case at all and I don’t believe that the behaviour of Russell and Rhodri of late is a fair reflection of the views held by their party but they make hard work of the situation and create an unstable future for Menter Iaith and the Welsh language.

LINGUISTIC PROFILE
Following the publication of WAW – a catalogue of Welsh language events held regularly throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf – we are now working on a linguistic profile of the area connecting details in WAW with those of the last census.

E-ACHLYSUR
We’re moving away from paper and embracing new technology with our new e-achlysur system which we hope will be up and running within the next few months. This will mean that people will be able to receive an e-mail informing them of events taking place in the area which may be of interest to them. This system is already used by Menter Caerdydd and Menter Abertawe and, with the support of Bwrdd yr Iaith, it is now developing throughout Wales.

BWRDD YR IAITH & OUR AGM
Meri Huws, Chair of Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg, has been invited to speak in the Menter Iaith AGM, which will be held in the Muni Arts Centre on 20th October 2005, and we hope that she will accept this invitation. We’ve invited her to talk about the future of Bwrdd yr Iaith within the Assembly and also the future relationship between the Mentrau Iaith, Bwrdd yr Iaith and the Assembly. Some of you will already know that changes are afoot. Rhodri Morgan was also invited to attend but, according to his secretary, he isn’t available ‘on any day or at any time between September and December’. In all fairness to Rhodri, who has attended in the past, I don’t believe this to be true but there is a danger that a pattern of indifference is beginning to emerge.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
Many thanks to everyone who sponsored me during my recent walk up Penyfan – well, in the rain on 6th August to be exact. Hundreds of pounds were raised which is a great help to Menter Iaith. There were some interesting responses to this personal effort. Some said that the Assembly should support Menter Iaith and others that the Council should be responsible – yes, but they don’t or what they do provide falls a long way short so what can we do? Some say that Menter Iaith isn’t a charity – well, as it happens, yes, we are a charity and are able to reclaim the tax on any contributions made to us. There will be many fundraising efforts so please support as many as you can. Also, the Menter Iaith Playschemes raised hundreds of pounds towards this year’s S4C Make Poverty History Appeal, at least as much as was raised towards sustaining Menter Iaith.

COFFEE MORNINGS / SADWRN SIARAD / WELSH VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM / COMMUNITY TRANSLATION & MUCH MORE
Despite our financial troubles, life goes on in Menter Iaith with every one of these services open for business as usual. For more information contact 01443 226386

VALLEYS WELSH LANGUAGE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
We welcome a new member of staff, part-time of course due to our financial troubles, Rhys James of Aberdare who will be redeveloping our Valleys Welsh Language Business Association, hopefully with the practical support of RCT Council but, as another member of their staff has yet to respond to a letter sent to them we can’t be sure of this either! A meeting of the Valleys Welsh Language Business Association will be held at the beginning of October and we hope that you will all attend.

Also, please attend our AGM – tell us what you would like to see us doing and how you would pay for it! We are looking for new members to join our Executive Committee, especially those of you who have financial expertise in order to help us in this field. We are very aware that we need to attract more people from the Rhondda to join our Committee so if you’re a Welsh speaking bank manager in the Rhondda we would be very pleased to meet you.

Steffan Webb
Chief Executive
Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf