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Ian Saunders, Lis McLean, Cynghorydd
Ernie Gallsworthy, Richard Harrington, Mansel Jones a Dyfrig Morgan
in the Official Launch of Menter Gymraeg Merthyr Tudful 30 January
2004
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The First Hectic Year 2003 - 2004
At the beginning of thenew academic year 04-05
it’s natural to look back at the successes of the previous
year. The Canolfan a Menter Gymraeg Merthyr Tudful workers,
with the support of the Menter’s partners and volunteers,
have succeeded in providing weekly and occasional activities
for every sector of the ever widening community of Welsh speakers
and learners within the County of Merthyr Tudful.
A variety of activities are held within the Ganolfan Building
in Pontmorlais at Merthyr Town Centre. These include regularly
held activities such as : a mother and toddler group and Nursery
for pre-school children, Intensive Welsh Classes for Adults,
Merched y Wawr meetings, weekly coffee mornings, Youth Club
and Côr Y Ganolfan practice. The Menter also holds occasional
activities out in the Community. These range from visits to
Welsh for Adults Classes and schools to trips to London and
Euro Disney!
During the first year the Menter concentrated on broadening
the provision of activities for the children and young people
of the community. We saw a large increase in our provision
for children and a good start in our provision for young people.
The Menter worked alongside the Welsh primary schools of the
area to produce a short film about the history of Dic Penderyn.
A youth club for young people was stared in Merthyr ( Y Ganolfan)
and as a result of its success a second youth club was set
up at the bottom of the valley in Treharris (Community Centre).
The Menter also started on the important work of including
young Welsh learners into the fold with visits to the English
medium primary and high schools of the area.
All of this was made possible as well as a visit from the
Riff Drama, Welsh day schools, Dining evenings, the regional
round of the battle of the bands, a Carol Evening, a Celtic
Evening and of course St David’s day celebrations!
A tremendous first year! Thank you to everyone
that supported and contributed to last years successes. We
hope that we can count on your support for the duration of
this year.
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Menter Gymraeg
Merthyr Tudful (Merthyr Tydfil Welsh Venture) was established
on 1st May 2003. The Venture operates under the umbrella of
Canolfan a Menter Gymraeg Merthyr Tudful - Merthyr Tydfil
Welsh Centre and Venture and is therefore situated within
the Welsh Centre's building in Merthyr.
The Ganolfan Gymraeg (Welsh
Centre) was opened during 1992. The organisation has worked
towards providing social and educational opportunities to
the community of Merthyr Tydfil for over ten years. The establishment
of a Welsh Venture in Merthyr has enabled us to take advantage
of the resources, situation and links that have already been
made by the Centre. We are fully aware that the Centre has
already been a home for Welsh resources and events, but also
that it needn't be the only focus of the language's activities
in the Merthyr area. We now have the opportunity to take the
message and principles of the `Ganolfan' out into the Community.
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The
aim of `Menter Merthyr' is:
· To broaden and strengthen Welsh services for
the Welsh speakers and learners of Merthyr Tudful County Borough.
We intend to reach our aim by fulfilling
the following objectives:
1. Provide a service to the young people of the community by
providing opportunities for them to socialise through the medium
of Welsh.
2. Provide opportunities for the Welsh speakers and learners
of the area to meet and socialise through the medium of Welsh.
3. Promote an increase in the number of those who attend Welsh
activities so that the use of Welsh may be broadened in the
community.
4. Strengthen links with other organisations in the community.
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new development officers have been appointed in order to fulfull
the aim of the Venture, Lisbeth McLean and Ian Saunders. Both
officers work towards creating social and educational opportunities
for the Welsh community throughout the Borough of Merthyr Tudful.
Many activities
have already got off the ground: Activities for Children aged
8-11 throughout the summer holidays; Youth Club for young
people aged 11-18; Coffee Mornings every Tuesday at 11.30
a.m. at the Canolfan; Choir every Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. at
the Ganolfan; Ysgol Santes Tudful Drama Group; Dining Club;
Training Course for Youth Club Leaders; Concert to celebrate
the life and work of Joseph Parry – with contributions
from the Welsh Community; Drama/music workshops for young
people; Literature workshops for children and adults and much
more!
The
first six months have been very successful; we look forward
to the developments that are to be made in Merthyr Tudful
with excitement.
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Lisbeth,
the Development Officer of the Venture, speaks of the consistent
support of the Welsh Community in establishing and seeking funding
for the new Welsh Venture: “ I feel that everything is
starting to come together at last. With the support of the Welsh
medium schools, the local Welsh newspaper and especially the
Management Committee at the Canolfan Gymraeg we have succeeded!
A new challenge has begun for Merthyr’s Welsh Community
with new opportunities to ensure the future and use of the Welsh
Language throughout the borough”. |
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