NEW COMMITTEE & NEW IDEAS

A new Executive Committee was elected during the Menter Iaith AGM held in October with the first meeting taking place in the very near future. I hope to meet all the new members if not the committee as a whole in order to discuss our hopes for the year to come and their contribution to the work of Menter Iaith. Some will take an interest in our work with children, others in our youth unit, translation, community development, Welsh learners, business or volunteers. There’s plenty to choose from and everyone will have an opportunity to contribute to the unit which is of interest to them. Dawn Williams has moved from vice chair to become the first female chairperson of Menter Iaith with Siân Blake taking the role of vice chair. Both have worked with Menter Iaith for many years in one way or another. Our great thanks to Eric Jones who stood down as Chair following three very successful years.

A host of new ideas have been received from the hundreds of people who attended our Open Sessions in Llantrisant, Abercynon, Llwynypia and Hirwaun in addition to the AGM in Church Village, Pontypridd. A number of people thanked us for visiting them and listening to their needs. Amongst the ideas were – holding more Sadwrn Siarad, a weekend or week long residential course, trips to see plays, more communication work with non Welsh speakers in the county, more sports for young people. A number of interesting ideas were received by the surrounding Mentrau Iaith and our sponsors, Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg in relation to promoting Welsh medium education such as visiting local factories, being present at sporting occasions e.g. football, rugby and striving to ensure that young parents receive information about Welsh medium education early enough in order that they can send their child to a cylch meithrin.

OUR THANKS & FOND FAREWELL TO RHIAN JAMES
& WELCOME CATH CRAVEN



Our AGM held in the Lifelong Learning Centre, Garth Olwg marked Rhian James’ last day with Menter Iaith and her first day with her new employers as this is where she will be based promoting their provision. Our best wishes to her in her new post. Taking her place will be Cath Craven following a successful period with TWF who will now job share with Lindsay Jones our other Welsh Language Participation Officer Communities First. This team is very busy arranging a Christmas Fayre in Aberdare and a Carol Service in Hirwaun in addition to a series of sessions for Welsh learners including a trip to socialise with Welsh learners from the Neath Port Talbot area on 30/11/2006 in Alltwen with the opportunity to play Welsh Scrabble or not. We also have a Sadwrn Siarad in the pipeline to be held at the University of Glamorgan on 27/01/2006. For further details contact Leah Coles on 01685 877183. Use the same number to register to receive e-mail alerts from Menter Iaith informing you of all kinds of Welsh medium activities taking place in the area. May I take this opportunity to welcome other Welsh language organisations in the county to make use of this facility. It’s available to promote all Welsh medium activities taking place not just those organised by Menter Iaith.
YOUNG PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM CIC & SBARDUN PROJECTS

After years of mentioning the youth unit CIC we now have a new name and new project in the pipeline for the year to come namely Sbardun which is based within Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydywaun. Nicola Evans is on secondment from her role with CIC in order to develop the European project Sbardun or Welsh “Regenr8” under the leadership of the CIC partnership, funded by Europe and facilitated by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. It’s an opportunity to develop work with young people who are at risk of losing interest in education, leaving school without any qualifications, being expelled, losing touch with formal education or in need of support for some other reason. Nicola has already developed promising partnerships with a number of agencies such as South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in order to fulfil the role.

Leonie Horton has been appointed to CIC in Nicola’s place and has already made her mark by running a trip to see the drama ‘Bitsh’ and continues to develop the Welsh soap opera project with GTFM. We’re still awaiting news on funding but we hope that two series will be broadcast on GTFM during the coming year. Helen Cotter and Vicki Pugh have also been busy arranging half term trips to watch the Ospreys versus Australia and a Ghost Hunt in Llancaiach Fawr.

TRANSLATING FOR THE WORLD OF SPORT
We’ve also experienced great success with Cardiff Blues as our community translation service translates a Welsh page for their home match programmes. The translation service has also benefited from the support of Coalfields Regeneration Trust to help us develop our work, buy more simultaneous translation equipment and promote the work via pamphlets and advertisements but perhaps the most valuable support will be their advice with regards to turning a promising project into a successful social venture with enough funds received via fees to make it self-sufficient. If local business people would like to assist us with this we’d be glad to hear from you.

12 CLWB CARCO PROVIDING A SERVICE TO OVER 200 CHILDREN PER NIGHT 5 TIMES A WEEK



I sometimes think that we take the Menter Iaith Children’s Services for granted not realising the contribution made to primary school pupils within the county. It can sometimes be difficult to measure the effect of Menter Iaith on the use of the Welsh language in the area but one way we try doing this is counting the hours our customers have with the Welsh language and by multiplying 200 children by the two and a half hours they spend in club and then multiplying by a further 5 for the days per week it’s possible to see that Menter Iaith creates 2,500 contact hours with the Welsh language on a weekly basis. It’s a significant contribution and our thanks to Helen Davies and her staff for their hard work under difficult conditions with a lack of funding and the great pressure of looking after children and so many staff. If you’d like to join this large crew of staff with a good rate of pay, regular training and valuable work which supports the future of the Welsh language contact Helen on 01443 226386 or 01685 877183.
WEEKLY COFFEE MORNINGS THROUGHOUT RhCT
Contact Leah Coles on 01685 877183 if you’d like information regarding venues and times. These coffee mornings are for both fluent Welsh speakers and learners but it appears that some fluent speakers fear the correct Welsh spoken by the learners!
Steffan Webb
Chief Executive Menter Iaith