The Community Empowerment Committee agreed to publish the Winter 2024 Newsletter (Cylchlythyr Gaeaf 2024) at their meeting on December 9th 2024. This is the fifth edition of the Council newsletter.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Storm Bert, and we thank all those who have volunteered and supported the community. We encourage grant applications from groups working to assist during this challenging time. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Remembrance Day
Our Town in Bloom contractor, TAFY, filled the tubs around the War Memorial with red flowers in November. Our staff also added poppies to the fencing and helped Abertillery Knit ‘n’ Natter hang their poppy cascade.
The Chair of Council attended the service at Abertillery War Memorial to lay a wreath. Other councillors laid wreaths at Llanhilleth, Swffryd, Bournville, Aberbeeg and Blaenau Gwent Village.
We also supported the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Concert by making programmes and advertising the event.
Recent actions
- We got accepted into an Energy Learning Network for councils to learn about community energy.
- We published our 2024 Biodiversity and 2024 Wellbeing Reports, highlighting our actions towards these goals.
- In September, Council agreed to formally support Abertillery Aspirations.
- We advertised tenders for grounds maintenance of the War Memorial and for a new Council website.
Bridges Car Scheme
In June, the PlaCE Committee gave £1,000 to Bridges Car Scheme to subsidise journeys for passengers in the Council area. This has saved passengers £336 on journeys to medical appointments from June to October.
Senedd ALC
In September, we continued our work with Abertillery Learning Community by hosting another Senedd ALC meeting and supporting the new student clerks, Chair and Vice Chair.
Youth Representatives
In October, Council welcomed Sophie Townsend and Jackson Powell as its new Youth Representatives. They are aged 15 to 25 and will represent the views of young people in the area to the Council.
Scare in Jubilee Square
We helped fund Ffrindiau Tyleri’s Scare in Jubilee Square again this Halloween. Thank you to everyone that joined in!
Co-options
In November, Council co-opted Cllr Frankie Baker to the Cwmtillery Ward and Cllr Ivor Beynon to the Aberbeeg Ward.
Grants awarded
- £300 to AADMS towards their show ‘Shout!’
- £1,000 to Abertillery Bluebirds FC towards a sporting facility for youth teams.
- £250 to Ebenezer Baptist Church for their free ‘Messy Christmas’ event.
- £1,000 to The Mitre to host groups and workshops.
- £500 sponsorship for a Hospice of the Valleys Christmas Concert at The Met.
- £200 Cwmtillery Ward grant to Abertillery Belles FC.
- £1,000 to Abertillery Piranhas for swim equipment.
- £300 Aberbeeg Ward grant to Ebbw Fach Community Group.
Solar Farm Grants
Each year, we distribute funding from Hafod-Y-Dafal Solar Farm as community grants. This year, Council awarded the following grants:
- Friends of Blaenau Gwent Village and Roseheyworth Park: £29,506 for play equipment at Roseheyworth Park.
- St. Michael’s Church: £25,000 to install a sustainable heating system.
- Abertillery Learning Community: £7,180 for gates and rugby posts.
- Abertillery Town Band: £7,300 to refurbish instruments for the Academy.
The remaining £1,014 was given towards a new roof for Abertillery Bowls and Cricket Club.
Llanhilleth RFC
A new all-weather pergola has recently been installed for community use at Llanhilleth RFC. This project was funded by one of last year’s Solar Farm Grants!
Contact us
Email: clerk@abertilleryandllanhilleth-wcc.gov.uk
Download the newsletter
Winter 2024 Newsletter – Cylchlythyr Gaeaf 2024 (PDF, 2.8 MB)