LLYNFI VALLEY

ideas and ways of working or understand the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations

Act. Further support is available from a mentor - specific adviser/expert (equivalent to 2 daysworth of time) to help with more detail .

Margaret Minhinnick would be willing to come to one of your meetings and join staff, trustees and/or volunteers who will all be able to contribute in an informal way.

You will also be able to promote yourselves on the Renew Wales website action plans and evaluate what you have achieved. Contact Margaret Minhinnick at www. renewwales.org.uk,

Cancer Research

Porthcawl Branch: Regrettably because of the present situation with regard to the coronavirus the Spring Lunch scheduled for Saturday, April 18 has had to be postponed and I will keep you informed as to the revised date.

Porthcawl Col Canto - Flower Festival: For your diary. Col Canto have organised a Flower and Music Festival for Saturday, June 6 in All Saint’s Church in Victoria Avenue.

The Flower and Music Festival is Free to enter and the Maesteg Male Voice Choir and Col

Canto will be there during the day along with other Porthcawl Choirs and Groups so look out for Posters and Programmes nearer the time.

Send Your News To: llyngazmvr@hotmail.co.uk

Llynfi Valley Voluntary Aid: Are you a society/ group that puts on events in Maesteg or the surrounding area?

With the Town

Hall being closed for renovation, don’t forget that if you want first aid cover at your events you now need to arrange it yourselves.

We are a voluntary group and do not charge to attend your events.

Just drop us a message with the details and we will do all we can to be there with our equipment.

Meeting: At the March meeting president

Alexis James welcomed members and after the business meeting members grouped together to form teams and there then followed a quiz.

Members enjoyed refreshments that had been made by committee members.

Rotary Maesteg: Maesteg Rotary President Gwynfor Phillips handed over a cheque for £1,500 for the purchase and installation of an (AED) defibrillator in Maesteg town centre to Nikki Dart of Maesteg Community First Responders. Also at the Cross Inn in Cwmfelin was PCSO Julie Banks of South Wales Police who also donated £600 from the Police Station tuck shop fund.

PCSO Banks said: “There have been a number of medical emergencies in and around Maesteg town centre in recent week, and the availability of an AED can mean the difference between life and death in these situations.”

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the lifethreatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electricity which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. With simple audio and visual commands, AEDs are designed to be simple to use for the layperson, and the use of AEDs is taught in many first aid, certified first responder, and basic life support level CPR classes.

Automated external defibrillators are generally either kept where health professionals and first responders can use them (health facilities and ambulances) as well as public access units which can be found in public places including corporate and government offices, shopping centres, restaurants, public transport, and any other location where people may congregate. There are a number of AED’s sited throughout the Llynfi Valley, and access to them is dependent on where and how they situated.

It is intended to site the new AED in the centre of Maesteg for maximum usefulness. Another issue is having access to an electricity supply to ensure that the batteries are fully charged when called upon, and that the container is heated to ensure performance.

Nik Dart of Maesteg Community First Responders said: “Having access to an AED within a crucial timeframe is essential to respond to life threatening situations”.

Nik is also compiling a register of all the AED’s within the valley for the public’s information. Maesteg Community

First Responders also provide First Aid lessons including the use of the AED’s, which are intended to be as easy to use as possible with audible and visual instructions.

Maesteg Rotary President Gwynfor Phillips added:

“Following Maesteg Rotary’s donation to

Llynfi Valley Voluntary

Aid (who provide first aid cover at local events) in November for a defibrillator, this donation is part of our continuing commitment to serving the community locally as well as our national and international charitable work”.

Maesteg Rotary has also made donations to other organisations and clubs within the Llynfi Valley over the past few years. The new AED will be installed in the old

New Theatre doorway of the Sawyers Arms in Commercial Street, and electricity will be supplied by J.D. Wetherspoon.

Even though AED’s are a relatively new phenomenon, the portable version of the defibrillator was invented as far back as the mid1960s by Frank Pantridge in Belfast, Northern Ireland, since when countless lives have been saved.

Caerau Mens Shed:

The Caerau Mens shed is going form strength to strength, with 33 members. We are community space for men to connect, and converse. The fundraising group are planning a gala concert at the St Cynfelins Church in Caerau featuring the Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir, The Maesteg Children’s Choir and guest soloist Rhydian Jenkins on Saturday, September 26. A Winter Craft and Food fayre is also being planned for Saturday, November 28 at Maesteg Rugby Club ideal opportunity to buy presents for Christmas and support local organisations. For further information on these please contact Rob Doyle 07969203251.

Uniform Swap Shop: A school uniform swap shop will be opening soon in Central Church Maesteg. The more school uniforms that are donated to us when they are no longer in use, the better. If your child has outgrown any school items, and they are in reasonable condition, please donate it to us, hopefully in a clean and reasonable condition to be then made available to another family. We will also accept games kit, bags, coats and jackets, shoes, togs etc, all associated with school-based needs. Nonbadged items will also be accepted in the school’s colours. The swap shop will initially be open on a Monday afternoon 1pm – 5pm and dependent on a needs-based system will increase its hours of opening accordingly. For more information please call 07811339988

Gleemen: The Maesteg Gleemen had the busiest Christmas in their long history raising money for worthy charities Ty Hafan childrens hospice and Prostrate Cymry included in their many engagements over the festive period.

Maesteg Harlequins: Next season we are looking to restart our youth team! If you are currently in year 11, 12 or 12 in school and are looking to get into rugby or would like a fresh challenge then Maesteg Harlequins RFC is the place for you. All our youth coaches are fully qualified, plus there will be a strong working relationship with our senior squad including joint sessions. If you are interested then please contact us.

Noteworthy: The choir have a busy year ahead of them and here are some dates for your diary:

Friday, June

26 – Concert at St

Mary’s Church, Garth (fundraising concert for the church).

Sunday, September 6– Concert with Loud Applause Rising Stars at Margam Orangery.

Saturday, September 12 – Memorial Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK at St Michael & All Angels Church, Maesteg.

Friday, December

11 – Annual Christmas Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK at St Michael & All Angels Church, Maesteg.

News: Do you have any stories, pictures, history, old programmes/tickets/ posters or fond memories of Maesteg Town Hall?

We’re compiling as many stories and as much information from the past that we can, in order to preserve our history and better shape our future!

Please send anything you have to memories@ maestegtownhall.com

Day Trip: Anyone fancy a daytrip in the spring to Windsor on Thursday, May 28? Cost £15pp. For more details contact Suzanne Talbot or Claire Bailey on 01656733312

Events Diary: This is for organisations of the valley, asking them to check at the Council Office’s Diary before arranging an event, so that you won’t clash with anyone else.

The diary is in the office purely for that purpose.

Special Dates: Do you have a 100th birthday coming up, or a Golden or Diamond Wedding and live in the Maesteg Town Council area?

You, or your relatives, can inform the council.

Then you can expect a special visit from the Mayor and consort bearing gifts or even a card from the Queen.

If you live in the Llangynwyd Middle Council area, then you contact their clerk of the council.

Therapy Dogs: Therapy Dogs Nationwide have a South Wales representative in Ben the Poochon. TDN is a national charity.

Our volunteers have their own pet dog, temperament tested, and always focused on caring for people in the community, so our volunteers will go to nursing homes, schools, special needs schools, hospitals, hospices, care centres and prisons, or local groups plus we offer help by working with the professional medical sector.

For more information on joining TDN or the programmes we offer please contact claregriffiths@aol.com

Clwb Maesteg: Mae rhagor o fanylion ar gael gan Lloyd Evans 07856 553 777 e-bost: Psycho1283@hotmail. com.

Further details are available from Lloyd Evans on 07856 553 777; or email: Psycho1283@ hotmail.com

River Care: There are two groups, who sometimes work separately and sometimes together.

One group is responsible for the community garden in Garth, the other with Resources Wales, the three-year plan to get rid of Japanese knotweed.

Both work to clear the rubbish still being dumped along the banks of our River Llynfi and planting bulbs.

The Maesteg Community First Responder (CFR): Team comprises volunteers who respond to high priority emergency

999 calls in our valley, on behalf of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

This can range from cardiac arrests, to strokes, choking infants or major bleeding, along with many other emergency situations.

Please check our website www.maestegcfr. comor find us on Facebook or Twitter @ maestegcfr to follow our volunteer work, saving lives in your area!

Doggy Bags: Maesteg Council Offices on Monday to Friday between 10am-1pm have free doggy bags for dog owners to clear up the mess their animals make.

Credit Union: Llynfi Valley Credit Union is open for business for just £1 membership joining fee.

You’ll find it at 15a Talbot Street from 9am-1pm, Monday to Saturday, call 731 392; or 177 Caerau Road, also from 9am-1pm, Monday to Friday.

For more information, please call 736 267.

Food Bank: The service is kept stocked by generous people and stores in the community.

You can deliver items to Noddfa in Caerau, Peniel in Maesteg, or Caerau Development Trust via Dr Jill.

Check if you’re entitled to use the foodbank – you need a note from your doctor, the Social Services, the Job Centre or Citizens’ Advice Bureau, then take it with you and hand it in.

Carers Link Worker: Sarah Jarvis is the new Carers Link Worker for Bridgend Carers Centre covering Maesteg, Caerau and the surrounding area.

She will be supporting people who are caring for their loved one.

Call on 07876 872 236 or 01656 658 479.