Newsletter September 2001

Dear Friends,

This is the first in a series of circulars full of news and events about the Caerphilly Borough Welsh Language Initiative (Menter Iaith Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili). At the beginning of the autumn we have a number of activities to be noted in your diaries. I have enclosed a calendar highlighting events, which may be of interest to you during the coming months. A number of them have developed as a result of the relationship established between the Initiative and The Miners' Institute, Blackwood. In the past, activities and socialising opportunities through the medium of Welsh have very been limited; therefore support the programme available to you over the coming months. A visit from Ar Log is set to be the high point of the programme, so be sure to purchase your tickets as soon as possible! And be sure not to miss the Initiative's Carol Service at St Martin's Church in December or our St David's Day Dinner at Caerphilly Castle.

There is a feast of activities open to you!!!

The summer has been a busy preparation time for the Initiative. Childcare Clubs began at Ysgol y Castell and Ysgol Bro Allta on September the lOth and the Welsh Language Initiative has been at the forefront of the planning and development of both clubs, and we will continue to monitor their progress over the next year. At the moment there are still some vacancies at both clubs, if you intend to use the club sporadically or on a permanent basis then please contact us at Menter Iaith Sirol Caerffili. We have recently completed an application for a grant from the New Opportunities Fund in order to start similar clubs at Ysgol Ifor Bach and Ysgol Gilfach, which we hope to have off the ground by Christmas.

Our work with Welsh learners has been very important and successful. During the month of October we will be re-launching our HSBC Grants Scheme for Learners. Application forms will be available from the Menter Iaith soon, so contact us if you are interested.

Caerphilly Language Initiative/ Menter Iaith Caerffili is on now on the web, for more information get online and check it out at

www.mentercaerffili.org or email us at menter@caerffili.org

Remember to join us at The Council Chambers, Tredomen, for the Initiative's Annual General Meeting on November l5th, 6:30pm and hear more about the

development of Menter Caerffili over the last year.

Development Officer : Lowri Catrin Pugh

Bargoed YMCA, Aeron Place, Gilfach Fargod, Bargod, CF81 8QE

e-mail: menter@caerffili.org

Tel: 01443 820913