£150,000 over three years to create a ‘time exchange network’ for the unsung hero’s of Glyncoch!
The Welsh Assembly Government has learned about the outstanding levels of volunteering that takes place in Glyncoch and is seeking to find a way to give recognition to the impact that volunteering has in a community. A Time Network Co-ordinator will soon be joining us to work with you to create ways in which volunteers can benefit more from volunteering and get the recognition they deserve.
Glyncoch to have a currency of its own? What?!!!!
Volunteers could benefit from volunteering by gaining time credits for each hour of volunteering, so…
1 Hour Volunteering = 1 Hour Time Credits
Time Credits…what are they?
In other words, in exchange for seven hours of volunteering you could go on a seven hour trip…or in exchange for three hours of volunteering, you could watch a three hour show or you could give your time credits for to someone you care about to enjoy a show / trip.
FIND OUT MORE, CALL US ON 01443 486496
Volunteer – and get rewarded!
Not only will we soon have timebanking in Glyncoch, but from having three of our volunteers in Glyncoch successfully gaining employment over the past year, it is now evident that volunteering can also lead to full-time employment.
We are now looking for more volunteers to assist with numerous projects coming soon to Glyncoch. There’s no pressure - you can volunteer as little or as much as you want and you choose what activities are of a particular interest to you – whether it’s assisting with youth activities, helping produce marketing material, helping at events… ….anything really!
Volunteering can help you:-
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Build on existing skills
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Learn new skills
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Build confidence
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Help you gain employment
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Make friends
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Have fun!
EVERYONE has the ability and ANYONE can become a volunteer. Becoming a volunteer need not affect any potential benefits that you may be receiving. If you would like to get involved please call us (01443 486496) or call into the Glyncoch Communities First Office at 56 Garth Avenue.
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Following the complete success of the DIY project ‘Changing Rooms’, the participants were so motivated that they have since decided to form in a similar project, but this time concentrating on improving eachother’s gardens. As no project like this is currently in existence, Glyncoch Communities First are supporting the group by providing courses that will cover each aspect of gardening. The group have already attended an edible gardening/garden design course and a fencing course and are soon to acquire further skills such as decking and strimming, ready to yet again work productively as a team to improve eachother’s gardens.
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 In our previous newsletter, we reported on the flagship gardening project that had just been opened by Jane Davidson AM and Christine Chapman AM at Cefn Primary. Following a frosty and therefore quite unproductive spell during the winter (Although this didn’t stop the pupils growing their own vegetables and water cress in class), the project is now in full flow with two polytunnels structures now erected, one already being used as a learning base for the pupils where the children themselves are now growing their own vegetables to be used in their school diners.
In addition, a constituted group (Glyncoch Greenfingers) has now also been formed in order that funding can be sought to make the project even bigger and better.
This project has received an incredible amount of interest where other community groups have requested visits from as far as Swansea and Paul of Communities First was recently asked to explain the project at a national conference for Sustainable Food Procurement on behalf of the school.
Paul stated “The project has been incredibly successful. The pupils are learning about gardening, food and are choosing to eat healthier. Parents and other residents from the area are now getting more and more involved and the support from the teachers and external partners has been exceptional. This is a fantastic bonus for the community of Glyncoch where all generations from both inside and outside Glyncoch, are coming together to support a worthwhile project that not only provides a large number of benefits for our local children, but also for the wider community.”
Glyncoch Greenfingers / Cefn Primary would like to thank all those involved that has made this such a successful project; the enthusiasm of the pupils and parents, the companies that have donated materials and time to the project and the partner organisations for all of their support.
The polytunnels have also recently been host to adult education classes in gardening and DIY, hosted by Groundwork Rhondda Cynon Taf annd Merthyr.
If there is anyone who would like to become involved in this project, regardless of gardening experience or age, please contact either Cefn Primary on 01443 486826 or Paul at the Communities First Office on 01443 486496. So, if you’re a keen gardener, or would like to find out more about gardening and get some hands-on experience, please give us a call!
UPDATE.........
Unfortunately, before Christmas 2007, bad weather destroyed both tunnels but we are currently trying to get them up and running as soon as possible. If anyone can help us with this, please call either Cefn Primary or Paul on the numbers above.
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 During February and March, eight local residents participated in the now annual ‘Changing Rooms’ Project. The project involved a two-day intensive DIY training course and a one-day course of interior design, followed by the participants then receiving £100 each to go on a shopping trip to purchase materials to improve one room of their home. All participants then took it in turn to work as a team to ‘change’ a room in each of their homes. The project was a complete success, as you can see from some of the photographs, and all attendees were extremely please with the results, all gaining an Open College Network Accreditation for all of their hard work.
Paul of Communities First, who overlooked the project said “This year’s Changing Room Project was absolutely fantastic, everyone got involved and showed enthusiasm throughout and it was excellent to have the support from one of the previous year’s team. The project was completed in double-quick time and to an amazing high standard – some of our ‘after’ shots look like they’ve been taken out of a magazine!”.
The participants are now due to receive their OCN qualifications at a special awards ceremony very soon, where evidence of their work will be on display at a large RCT event.
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On Tuesday 20th February, during the half term break, 16 of our youths demonstrated their culinary skills on a Get Cooking course organised by Glyncoch Youth Action Team, Communities First and Health Promotion, funded by a Welsh Assembly Food and Fitness Grant.
The course was led by local resident Margaret Duncan who passed on her cooking expertise to our younger residents between 12-25 years. Curries were the dish of the day and pancakes were also made with it being Shrove Tuesday.
One of the attendees, Kyle Talbot, said ‘It was an enjoyable experience and the food tasted good too!”
Hopefully, this will now lead onto some of our new younger chef’s being able to pass on their skills to others and a similar project is soon to be launched specifically for adults.
If you are interested in either teaching or learning new cooking skills, then please do not hesitate to contact the communities First Office on 01443 486496.
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GlyncochYouth Beat Cardiff Cityto Football Finals!!
On Wednesday 21st February, seven young people from Glyncoch represented the Glyncoch Community Partnership and Young Wales in a football tournament in Pontllanfraith, organised by Fast Forward. Eight teams took part including teams from RCT, Caerphilly and a team made up of ex-Cardiff City players. Our seven players, Kyle Talbot, Stacey Jones, Jamie Lewis, Jason Davies, Michael Tucker, Josh Mitchell and Titch, were an absolute credit to Glyncoch by finishing 2nd with Jason also picking up the award for ‘fastest shot’. Not bad, considering that the team was only put together 9am that morning! Well done! A big 'thank you' must also go out to Fast Forward for organising this event.
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WANTED! Following the success of this tournament and demand from numerous people, we are now looking for anyone interested in training to be a football coach and maybe next year we can go on to win this thing! The talent is obviously here in Glyncoch, all we need now is someone to manage and coach a team. Glyncoch Communities First are already investigating various coaching courses and are willing to support costs. If interested, please contact the Communities First Office on 01443 486496.
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Each resident of Glyncoch will soon receive a FREE 2007 calendar, courtesy of the Glyncoch Communities First Partnership. In an exercise to publicise the extremely talented artists within the area, competitions were held in November 2006 to create a calendar for the community, by the community.
With both Craig Yr Hesg and Cefn Primary Schools having 6 classes each, a competition was held within each class to provide the artwork for the 12 months of the year and although the standard was exceptionally high, 12 winners aged between 4 and 10 years old where finally selected.
In order to involve all generations of the community, a poetry competition was also set where three of our local poets provided their input into the calendar by providing a piece of work that would represent the on-goings within Glyncoch for each month.
The whole project has been a major success with the calendars already being in great demand. “This has been a fantastic opportunity for our local artists, its great that their talents can now be demonstrated to the whole community. Hopefully, this will inspire them to take their skills further and enthuse others to participate in the future” said Paul, Community Development Worker for Glyncoch.
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sml.JPG) The BIG Clean Up
Glyncoch’s 50 Eco Warriors Litter Pick Three Tons of Rubbish!
‘We had a fantastic clean up day! Adults, young people and children all came together to clean up key areas around Glyncoch. The weather was beautiful and the atmosphere was fab! I just want to thank everyone who took part’
(Hannah Gulwell, Chair of Glyncoch Green and Friendly Action Group GAFA)
On the clear frosty morning of 3rd November, people from all over Glyncoch gathered at the community centre to prepare for a long day of litter picking and bulb planting. Our local community police officer, PC Colin Ridout, Keep Wales Tidy, Rhondda Cynon Taff Council and Groundwork, all came along to help and support. The day was also sponsored by Barclays Bank plc via CVS Make a Difference Day Campaign as well as the Welsh Assembly’s Arson Small Grants programme.
The woods, the rugby club grounds and the old park grounds, were all subject to a blitz. The amount of rubbish was phenomenal. ‘ I really do hope local people support our efforts to clean up Glyncoch. We all need to work together on this and stop dumping rubbish and throwing litter. Glyncoch has some potentially beautiful green areas, which all the community could enjoy, especially our children who have little in the way of play areas facilities’ said one volunteer.
%20sml.JPG) A Host of Golden Daffodils
Whilst most volunteers picked litter with the council and Keep Wales Tidy, some helped plant daffodil bulbs with Groundwork. The bulbs have been planted along Cefn Lane and other green patches around the village. ‘We just hope they come up in the spring. They should look fantastic!’ Said one green fingered eleven year old.
Hard Work Rewarded!
A long day of hard physical work was rewarded by a buffet, beautifully prepared by the Community Centre Committee. In addition, everyone had free t-shirts with the GAFA logo, along with certificates from CVS and GAFA.
Youth Time Bankers Go Quaser and Bowling Mad
Youth Time Bankers saved up their volunteering hours time credits to go to Cardiff’s Mega Bowl and Quazar facility on Sunday 5th November. Kyle Talbot won the Quazar event by shooting the most people! Callam however, sought revenge by scoring 129 points at bowling and beating everyone hands down!
‘AWESOME!’ ‘AWESOME!’ ‘AWESOME!’ was the general response when everyone was asked if they enjoyed themselves.
Congratulations to Sean Barlow – GAFA Logo Design Winner
Sean Barlow was presented with a certificate and a prise for winning the GAFA logo competition. Competition was tough, but Sean’s design was chosen by Chief Superintendent Farrar for being attractive and cleverly portraying the essence of the GAFA group!
Sean was in Cefn Primary School when his logo was chosen. He is now in Coed y Lan honing his artistic skills! Well done Sean!
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A number of our Youth members put on two excellent shows throughout the summer. The “Glync Factor” 1 and 2 took place in Glyncoch Community Centre on Friday 7th July and Friday 22nd September. They performed various chart hits and also be showcased their own pop videos. This is following two twelve-week project organized and funded by a Welsh Assembly Arson Grant, Glyncoch Communities First Partnership, Young Music Wales and Timebanking UK.
Both events were a complete success where the center was full to capacity on both occasions to be entertained at the highest quality.
  
Below, one of the participants, Paul Tucker, ‘G-Five’ member-turned-journalist, reports on the events leading up to the boy’s show on the 22nd September:-
“ In July 2006 we started a project with Young Music Wales, which was funded by a Welsh Assembly Arson Grant.
A group of youths from Glyncoch were taken to Caerphilly, to a professional music producer with the intention of recording and singing a variety of songs.
At the beginning, as all youths are, everybody was embarrassed of singing in front of eachother.
However, as time went by, everyone started to enjoy themselves, we all relaxed and had fun singing, dancing and making fools of ourselves.
After a couple of sessions, everyone had a big shock; The producer had decided that we were ready to perform live! Even though everyone had a shock, we all decided to go along with it by getting a show ready.
So, as the days went on, all the youth were getting more nervous as the show was getting nearer and before long, there show was here!
On the night, the nerves kicked in, everyone was worried that they would mess up the words or freeze up on stage but when the time came, everyone got up and poured their hearts into it.
In the end, and after every song, everyone applauded as if we were all superstars, absolutely loving the show.
After the show, all the youth came out with presents for all the people that helped us do the show; The producer for helping non-stop putting the show together, and the Community Centre Committee for opening the center every time we needed it, even on days it wasn’t supposed to open.
After the presents it was then time for the disco to kick in.
Even though all the youth went to Caerphilly to learn to sing, I think they left with a lot more; They did learn to sing amazingly but they also left with confidence they never realized they had.
There is also a Christmas concert going on this year, which I think we will all be participating in and if any of the youth had the opportunity to do it again, I honestly believe the would!”
Paul Tucker
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Following the successful gardening project between the pupils of Cefn Primary and Fernhill Landscape Improvement and Nature Team, Cefn Primary is now privileged to be the very first school in Wales to have its own allotment within the school grounds that will be utilised to grow produce for the school dinners.
The project was officially opened on Monday 11th September by Christine Chapman AM and Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Lifelong Learning and Education.
The children, along with the staff, will decide on what is going to be grown and the children will tend to this allotment with the assistance of FLINT on a daily/weekly basis.
From this project will stem a number of positive outcomes and possibilities for future developments:-
· The pupils are beginning to get an understanding of where their food actually comes from.
· The pupils are learning new skills in gardening and being educated on food origins and its nutrition.
· As the children are now seeing the process and growing their own food, they feel more inclined to eat it and therefore it's supporting healthy eating.
· The pupils will be responsible for the maintenance of the allotment therefore there will be an element of undertaking physical exercise.
· The vegetables grown will hopefully be used within the school dinners, therefore cutting costs and ensuring that organic and healthy food is on the menu.
· There is scope for local volunteers to undertake gardening as a hobby via maintenance of the school garden.
· There is scope for the garden to support the community via selling the excess produce in order to create a social enterprise.
· The garden could also possibly be used to assist training in horticulture activities.
· There are also plans for the local community artist to work with the pupils to design the garden and insert features.
The project will now continue in a 3 phase development. Phase 1 has now already been completed and the planting of numerous vegetables has already taken place. This was undertaken with FLINT volunteers and a number of the Youth Club members during their school holidays. Phase 2 is now due to take place where the pupils themselves will be involved in the cultivation and planting of vegetables and a polytunnel for the school has just been kindly donated by The Arts Factory in Ferndale.
A massive thankyou must go to Mel Parry and the volunteers of FLINT for all their hard work and initiative to bring this project to life, and amazingly, at no cost. The staff and pupils at Cefn Primary have also worked exceptionally hard and if it wasn’t for the enthusiasm and excellent behaviour and of the pupils, this project may have never happened.
This project has now evolved into a flagship project for Wales and credit must go to Glyncoch and the volunteers of FLINT.
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Where ART thou, Glyncoch?
We are proud to announce that Glyncoch now has its very own Community Artist. With the assistance of Glyncoch Communities First and Creative Communities, Richard Oliver has recently established his own business (ROA Arts), in providing his artistic talents to community projects within Rhondda Cynon Taff. Already, he has assisted a junior school in Cwmaman with providing masks and the backdrop for their ‘Jungle Book’ themed school play, helped design a logo for another Communities First area and is currently in the process of designing a new play area for a local school.
The Glyncoch Communities First team are now in the process of including Richard in a number of art projects that have been planned over the past few months. If anyone would like to contact Richard regarding any future artistic ideas or projects, then please contact the Glyncoch Communities First Team who will pass on your details.
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A proposal is currently being put together to provide Glyncoch with its own Youth Support Centre. This will be effectively used to tackle the local problems of education and employment and health issues that currently reside within the area.
Proposal - Daytime
To establish a youth support centre providing information to young people aged 16-24yrs on various agencies, programmes and services related to employment and health issues.
Below are just some of the proposed services, both activities that the centre itself will provide, and also information/services that will be proposed as external referrals.
The facility will have one full-time member of staff supplied by Communities First and will invite guest agencies to visit the centre on a regular/weekly basis to provide and guidance on numerous issues.
Proposal – Evening
The facility will be a base to further the current youth and play projects. The proposed Youth Support Centre will have a youth committee to be fully involved in key decisions and funding activities with regards to the use of the building and for the provision of future activities such as Duke Of Edinburgh activities and information workshops (e.g. sexual health, alcohol awareness, employment advice etc.).
As the facility will also be position on the site of a large play area, this will also be used for outdoor activities for all ages and will hopefully reduce the use of the field for off-road vehicles.
Proposed Location
In the previous Partnership meeting (8/5/2006), it was unanimously decided that the facility would be best located on Cefn Lane field, next to the electricity building.
This area was selected due to the following positive factors:-
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The facility will be out of immediate view of residents not to cause any disruption but it in a location close enough to visibly seen for security purposes.
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The site is on a large playing field that could be used for outdoor activities.
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Youths already congregate in this area due to the large paying field and park opposite.
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The proposed facility is believed to be close to utilities.
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The positioning of this facility could possibly lead to future positive developments for the use of the field by the local youth.
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The area is currently used for a meeting place for ATB users. Hopefully, by putting a facility in this location, this use will be reduced.
Current Update
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The Glyncoch Communities First Partnership have been kindly donated a portacabin to be used as a facility.
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RCT Planning have unofficially stated that proposal is favourable.
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The communities First Team are currently investigating costs.
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Following costing, a public consultation will take place before applying for planning permission.
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Our youth members have recently had a busy few weeks over the Summer holidays. Funded by a grant to tackle arson within the area, a film written and starring our youth is currently being made. More on this will follow shortly, once the film is completed and hopefully, it will be available to view on this site.
Alongside the film project, the youth have also undertaken a survival course over the past few weeks that has proved highly enjoyable and successful.
The project began with a ‘team building’ day, using fun activities to entice the youth to work as a team and to learn how to share eachother’s skills and abilities.
On week two, a ‘survival skills’ training event took place where the groups were taught how to make shelters and cook food by only using the natural surroundings.
Week three involved an orienteering day in Garwn Nant Park (Brecon) in preparation for the ‘big event’ the following day.
On the morning of Wednesday 16th August (A day of serious rain!), the youth were split into three groups and told to find the location using their newly-acquired orienteering skills (Unknown to them at the time was on the mountain between Cilfynydd and Llanfabon). At the site, they then had to set up their own camp using only the resources around them and cook a roast dinner a-la-camp fire. Throughout the day, various fun activities took place and challenges were set to obtain better equipment or food; one of our group members, not to be mention any names, ate a fish eye (Yes, a REAL FISH EYE!!), to obtain a parachute as a shelter for his group.
The shelters were then used for an overnight stay before getting up at 6am to cook food, remove all evidence of camping, and orienteering their way home.
The following and final week had another two-day event. The first involved the youths on another orienteering exercise on the Brecon mountains, involving bridge making, wading through knee-high rivers and going through pitch black tunnels under mountains. The second day was the ‘fun’ day to reward the youth for their participation and enthusiasm which involved an afternoon gorge walking where yet again, everyone got soaked, but this time there were no complaints.
A big thankyou must go out to Breakspear Adventure Training and all our youth that were involved, in what resulted in an excellent project.
A film of this project will hopefully be available on this site soon and may also be showcased at a forthcoming event in the Community Centre on 22nd September.
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As everyone in Glyncoch knows by now, the festival that took place on Saturday 15th July turned out to be an amazing success and a credit to everyone from Glyncoch. With the weather 100% on our side, residents of all ages enjoyed activities such a sumo wrestling, jousting, go-carting and archery amongst other things. Numerous activities from groups from both inside and outside of the area also entertained the crowds as they enjoyed displays by a whole range of displays by cheerleaders, police dogs, karate clubs and of course, our very own homegrown, exceptionally-talented, local singers.
The event was based on a multi-cultural theme that began with a precession from Cefn Primary, led by a Chinese dragon and an African elephant, made by the pupils of Cefn Primary and Craig Yr Hesg pupils respectively. African and Indian dancers, singers, displays and stalls all made the event even more a success and was enjoyed by all.
A big thankyou must go out to all of those involved and special thankyou must go out to all of the local groups and people of Glyncoch who made the event possible and such a success.
So, the standard is now set! Soon, it’ll be time to start planning for next year’s event. If it is actually possible, we could make it bigger and better? If you would like to be part of the planning for next year’s event, then contact the Communities First office on 01443 486496 and we’ll keep you informed of any forthcoming meetings.
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MORE GREEN FINGERS IN GLYNCOCH!
In addition to the recent gardening project with Craig Yr Hesg Primary, Cefn Primary have recently started a very similar project thanks to assistance from the Glyncoch Communities First Partnership and an excellent opportunity provided by the volunteers that run the Fernhill polytunnel project. For the next 6 weeks, groups of year 6 pupils are travelling up to the polytunnel in Fernhill to learn more about gardening and returning to the school with their newly-found skills and plants to improve the current school gardens. Fernhill have also kindly donated, not only their time, but also numerous fruit and vegetables seeds to the school in order that they can grow they’re own. So far, the project has been a complete success with both the young pupils and volunteers thoroughly enjoying the experience.
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Glyncoch Community Centre volunteers have won the Interlink Volunteer Award for their services to children and young people.
A unique group of dedicated people of different ages have one thing in common, they are all passionate about creating opportunities for children and young people. They work six days / evenings per week, such is their dedication and commitment. ‘Without them, we would have nowhere to go and nothing to do. They do so much for us, we all really appreciate and respect them’ said 17 year old Emily Duncan of Glyncoch Youth Club. The volunteers, run youth club, play club, Tae Kwon Do, not to mention a range of sessional music, dance, drama and arts activities. In addition the volunteers organise an ever-expanding range of classes for adults and have recently developed a fruit and vegetable co-operative.
Presented with the award by Kim Howells MP at the Awards ceremony in the University of Glamorgan, Jackie Mansfield Chair of the Community Centre Committee said ‘ I don’t feel we deserve this, we just do our bests… but it is lovely to be appreciated, we are over the moon. I just hope we are helping the children of Glyncoch.’
Joy Bishop, a consultant who has worked with hundreds of community groups in Scotland and Wales, nominated the group because ‘they are a credit to Glyncoch, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales and the UK as a whole. The commitment and the quality of the service they provide is outstanding’. The Communities First Play and Youth worker Donna Morgan stated that ‘they do what ever it takes to makes to make play and youth projects a success, they are an incredible group of people.’
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