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Theme: Communities

Hwb Beics Pen Llŷn Bike Hub

GwyrddNi has been collaborating with Discover Llŷn (a local private bicycle company), O Ddrws i Drws, The National Trust, Canolfan Menter Congl Meinciau, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor (Staff and Students), Ecoamgueddfa, Canolfan Pen y Graig and Sustrans to establish the Llŷn Bike Hub in Congl Meinciau, Botwnnog.

For £20 a month, you can become a member of the Hub and borrow an electric bike. This video shows some of the feedback we’ve already received!

Want to know more or borrow a bike? Contact dafydd.rhys@ynnillyn.cymru

(Biking footage taken by Discover Llŷn)

Datblygu Cymunedol Drwy Fentro’n Gymdeithasol

Mae’r fideo hwn yn amlygu’r cydweithio rhwng Addysg Oedolion Cymru, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, a Raymond Williams Foundation. Gyda’i gilydd, maent wedi bod yn cynnal trafodaethau am y dyfodol berthynas rhwng Datblygu Cymunedol ac Addysg Oedolion yng Nghymru.

This video highlights the collaboration between Adult Learning Wales, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, and The Raymond Williams Foundation. Together, they have been engaging in discussions about the future relationship between Community Development and adult education in Wales.

Beach of Dreams

TAPE is currently part of an exciting project called Beach of Dreams; we are part of a network of organisations, artists, and communities in a shared mission to explore and respond to the pressing climate challenges facing the UK’s coastal regions. 

We have been working with Jason Singh, an artist, nature beatboxer, producer, DJ, curator, facilitator and performer. He has worked with the likes of the BBC, Tate Britain, and the National Trust to name a few! 

TAPE Sound will work alongside Jason to capture sound from various sources in Colwyn Bay and the surrounding areas to be part of an immersive sonic experience. He will also be looking to capture stories and perspectives from the local community. 

TAPE is proud to be part of this coastal celebration alongside commissioned artists and local communities across the UK!

Lumiere Project

The Lumiere project is part of the Festival of Light in collaboration with the Colwyn Bay Town Council, Creu Conwy and a range of other partners. Tape is working with several local community groups, including our regular media club and art club, to create installations that will be placed in shop windows in Colwyn Bay and illuminated. Contact us to learn how you can get involved, or join us on the 28th of November for the big reveal of the installations! 

Ela: Representing Bethesda’s children

At the same time as the Community Assemblies on the Climate were happening in 2022-23, our education programme included:

*Sessions about climate change;
*Visits to local climate solutions;
*Assemblies for children and young people;
*Presentations by the children and young people to the community assemblies; and
*Practical action sessions.

Here’s Ela from Dyffryn Ogwen sharing what it was like to be part of the schools’ climate assemblies, and how it was representing the children of Bethesda to the adults and having some of their ideas added into the Community Climate Action Plan.

We are now starting to roll out our education offering for the Community Action Phase of GwyrddNi – which means schools will get to take part in specific projects and take action – stay tuned!

www.gwyrddni.cymru

Helping Pen Llŷn’s residents with fuel poverty and retrofit (blog by Jon Bethell)

Jon Bethell moved to Anelog, near Aberdaron six years ago having lived in Coventry for many years working in the aerospace and automotive industries. Prior to going to University in Coventry, he lived in Rhydycroesau, near Oswestry. He is a committed Welsh learner and now regrets not paying more attention to Welsh classes at his primary school in Llansilin! He is currently on the board of directors at Ynni Llŷn and is also standing-in as office manager at the company.

Connecting Dyffryn Peris: Gwennan

This is Gwennan, who was part of the GwyrddNi Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Peris, talking about her experience and her excitement about the idea of estvalishing a ​​Dyffryn Peris Partnership.

A number of organisations and individuals are continuing with the work of establishing the Dyffryn Peris Partnership. The Partnership will be a community development network that will bring practical support, local expertise, resources, additional projects and events to the area.

Residents of the area are warmly welcomed to the next community talk on the 18th of September at 18:00 at Caban, Brynrefail – email lowri@deg.cymru for more information

Cofio’r Cynulliadau Hinsawdd / Remembering the Climate Assemblies – Roger & Ronwen

In 2022 and 2023, a series of Community Assemblies on the Climate were held in five parts of north west Gwynedd to answer the question: How can we in (this area) respond locally to Climate Change?

Learn more

Earlier this year, we interviewed members of the community about their experiences of the assemblies. Here are Roger and Ronwen reminiscing about their memories of taking part in the Bro Ffestiniog assemblies.

Gardening and Growing: Aisha

Here’s Aisha, who’s lived in Bethesda for 15 years, talking about the vegetables she grows and the way GwyrddNi’s climate assemblies have changed her.

“It’s given me confidence, it’s raised my spirits… I can’t believe the opportunity I have with Ysgol Abercaseg, it’s amazing!” she says about her recent role teaching local school children about seeds.

Find out more about GwyrddNi and how you can get involved at www.gwyrddni.cymru

If you’re in Bethesda and want to get involved with growing food in the community, contact chris@ogwen.org

Stori’r Tir (Story of the Land) Dyffryn Peris – Lindsey

Here’s Lindsey, with Lowri, talking a little about Stori’r Tir (Story of the Land), a project that came from the children’s ideas in the Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Peris.

Stori’r Tir is a creative project gathering and sharing stories of our relationship to land in Dyffryn Peris.

“We are bringing the community together to capture the wisdom of previous generations, promote identity and connection to the land, creativity and the Welsh language” – see a list of the projects and events here.

Upgrading Buildings: Yr Aelwyd, Blaenau Ffestiniog – Elfed Lewis

In north west Wales, we have some of the highest energy costs and some of the lowest salaries in the UK- not a great combination with the number of old, stone buildings we have here that are hard to heat!

It’s no wonder that one of the items on every area’s Community Climate Action Plan involves bringing homes and buildings up to higher standards of energy efficiency.

Elfed Lewis is an expert on retrofit, energy efficiency and Passivhaus. He’s currently working alongside Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog to upgrade Yr Aelwyd, the old Urdd building in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The aim is to be able to show people what’s possible – and to show them that it is possible to have warm, cosy homes that are cheap to run.

Go to www.gwyrddni.cymru or email post@gwyrddni.cymru to connect, learn more or be part of this!

Cycling to Work: Margot a Pete

Margot and Pete talk about how they commute to work by bicycle in Dyffryn Ogwen.

Interested in trying out cycling, but don’t want to commit to buying a bike? Beics Ogwen, in Dyffryn Ogwen, have regular and e-bikes available for hire.

Meanwhile, if you’re in Pen Llŷn, GwyrddNi is currently supporting a new Bicycle Hub in Congl Meinciau, Botwnnog. By joining for £20 a month you can borrow one of the bikes there – contact llyn@gwyrddni.cymru to find out more!

Cwt Piclo (Pickling Shed) Dyffryn Nantlle – Trey

This is Trey, who joined the GwyrddNi Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Nantlle, talking about how the idea for the Cwt Piclo (Pickling Shed) was born.

Trey moved to Wales 8 years ago from Mississippi, and as you can see, he has learned Welsh fluently! He has been enjoying the community gardening that takes place in Penygroes, e.g. Yr Ardd Wyllt (the Wild Garden) and Gardd Eden.

The Cwt Piclo idea grew out of conversations about what to do with excess produce, and the Cwt Piclo group has already met several times (and started pickling things!). Read Trey’r blog about it here:.

The Shed itself is currently being prepared, and more activities will be happening in the coming coming weeks – contact sion.yrorsaf@gmail.com if you want to be part of this!

Ffrindiau Pwllheli: Rachel a James

Formed in 2023 by a group of passionate community members who connected at GwyrddNi’s climate assemblies, @FfrindiauPwllheli is dedicated to preserving and enhancing Pwllheli’s natural beauty. They work closely with the community and local partners to improve accessibility to nature and promote biodiversity and climate resilience.

Their mission is to ensure a secure and prosperous future for the town’s environment, benefiting both current residents and generations to come.

In this video, Rachel and James share a little of their journey so far.

www.ffrindiaupwllheli.cymru

Moss Mapping in Dyffryn Ogwen – Alys

Alys, who joined GwyrddNi’s Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Ogwen, talks about her passion for mosses.

Officially launched on October 21st, 2023, National Moss Day, the Mapio Mwsog project not only aims to encourage people to slow down and notice the natural world around them, but to record and store information about mosses and liverworts in Dyffryn Ogwen. This will help provide a baseline for future monitoring and to track changes over time, providing valuable insights into the ecosystem’s health and resilience.

Following the project’s launch, the Mapio Mwsog team (Emily Meillieur, Alys Wardle and Emily Farrell) have been taking people on regular moss walks to study the mosses in the valley, as well as organising art days where both adults and children collect moss samples and use them to inspire poetry and art based on what they see and feel. Click here to read more about the project, or email chris@ogwen.org to get involved.

Plas Glyn y Weddw

Organisation logo

A Vibrant arts centre and museum in a Gothic Victorian building showcasing some of the best contemporary Welsh art and crafts.

Ymysg Y Tonnau – Ysgol Bod Alaw

Over the last five weeks of the school term Tape has been working with pupils from years five and six to make a collage and a short film based on TAPE’s third feature film Below the Waves. 

Working with two classes, the first making a collage above the Waves and the second focusing on below the waves. Working in groups to experiment with different methods and materials. 

The digital council worked with TAPE to create a short documentary on the process of making the collage.

Llais y Lle 2024

Llais y Lle was launched in 2023 to support creative individuals in developing use and ownership of the Welsh Language by working with communities. Last year’s projects were varied, including a festival to celebrate wild ponies in Carneddau, to a study of the language’s role in Butetown, to creative workshops for young people in Montgomeryshire. 

Some of the Llais y Lle 2023 work can be viewed on the project’s channel on AM. Einir Sion, Welsh Language Enabler for Arts Council of Wales, noted that she’s pleased to be able to share the stories here: “The Llais y Lle 2023 projects were wonderful, and have had a substantial effect on the Welsh language in communities across all of Wales. These stories deserved to be heard, and AM is the perfect platform to do this.” 

More applications than ever were received this year, and Cyngor y Celfyddydau are proud to announce the Llais y Lle 2024. Upon their announcement, Einir said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome 16 special individuals to the Llais y Lle 2024 family. The first year was extraordinary, but we’ve also learned from it and ensured that its second year targets different communities and artforms, and provides more opportunities to develop Welsh language creative practice, whilst continuing to work in a supportive and collaborative way. It’s all available to enjoy on AM this year, right from the very start. I’m very excited for what’s to come.”

Hedydd Ioan – Penygroes

Byw ‘Ma is a project in which I, Hedydd Ioan, will develop my relationship as an individual and as an artist with my community, the Dyffryn Nantlle area. My main aim is to understand the daily creative needs of individuals within my community. 

Partner – Yr Orsaf. Penygroes

Frances Higginson – Y Fenni, Powys

Welsh language/ floorwork laboratory with community dancers to develop vocabulary, unearth metaphor and create a shared poetry of material kinetic connection between our moving bodies and the ground. Taking this onto the land where we live and work.

Making a film of the process in Welsh with non-Welsh speaking neurodiverse artist-film-maker. Welsh becomes an active tool for understanding and intimacy.

Partner – Dance Blast

Paul Eastwood – Wrecsam, Dinbych a Conwy

Siarad i greu, creu i siarad is a project that focuses on developing community creativity via the medium of the Welsh language. The project will include a number of activities and events that explore different techniques and applications, and support discussion and learning in the Welsh language. Inspiring people from all backgrounds to become part of an artistic experience.

Partners – Menter Iaith Wrecsam, Dinbych a Conwy, Oriel Mostyn, StudioMade and Perilco

Eadyth Crawford – Merthyr

“Y KandE Collective” is a year-long project engaging Merthyr through music, arts, and performance to promote Welsh language learning. Workshops, collaborative music creation, live performances, and a public art installation foster a vibrant language experience.

There will be a chance to get a taste of Llais y Lle in a special event during the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol in Pontypridd. We extend a warm welcome for all to join in in YMa, Pontypridd between 10 – 1, Wednesday August 7th.


Partner – Canolfan a Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful

Bridie Doyle-Roberts – Rhondda Cynon Taf

Rêf Celf is a creative laboratory for artists which embraces Pop, Rave and Festival culture to explore contemporary Welsh identity whilst creating new work. South Wales artists from all artistic disciplines, especially ones who identify as Deaf, disabled or neurodiverse, are invited to play, experiment, create and collaborate in social and participatory experiences. 

Partners– Valleys Kids, Theatrau RhCT, Soar, Artis Cymuned

Marc Roberts – Pontyberem, Gwendraeth Valley

The Y Draenen Wen project offers an opportunity for the community to establish a network of Welsh and Welsh language activity in the village of Pontyberem and the Cwm Gwendraeth area by hosting various sessions/workshops/activities. The emphasis will be on creating opportunities on a grassroots level which are accessible to all, and will include folk/community singing/dance/film/creative writing and visual arts.

Partners – Pontyberem Rugby Club, the Valley’s local paper, Gwendraeth Valley Library, Fforwm Iaith Cwm Gwendraeth

Angharad Owen – Dyffryn Peris

Historical/artistic and linguistic study of the identity of Dyffryn Peris, working with the Stori’r Tir group to build on an experiment to bring people together in the valley to collaborate and recreate our lost and anonymous tales. We will work with discussion and grief methods, in order to make sense of our loss and rewrite our narrative towards the future. 

Partners – GwyrddNi, Dyffryn Peris Climate Assembly

Myfanwy Alexander – Sir Drefaldwyn

Cae/Agor: Ambitious film with YFC. Using field maps, members will create performances filmed by Robbie Meade, discovering hidden Welsh in the landscapes. Codi Cân: Identify & engage local musicians, exploring barriers to using Welsh, leading to encounter sessions and co-creation. 

Partner – Ffermwyr ifanc

Sian Parri – Penrhyn Llŷn

The project’s aim is to increase the use of the Welsh language in Llangwnnadl
and the wider area by sharing and celebrating the language and its culture, increasing Welsh opportunities and co-discovering art and creative ways to welcome everyone into the Welsh language.

Llangwnnadl is based in the north of Llŷn, and inspiring and increasing use of the Welsh language as an active language in this stronghold is vital to its continued use in the future. 

Partners – Cymdeithas Pen-y-graig, Cyfeillion Llŷn, Cynghorau Cymuned Llŷn a thu hwnt, Menter Iaith Gwynedd and Cymunedoli.cyf.

Mymuna Soleman – Caerdydd a Chaernarfon

Dathlu Cymraeg y Cofi drwy lens Somali gan anelu i ddathlu Cymraeg y Cofi drwy weithdai ysgrifennu creadigol yng Nghaernarfon. Bydd y sesiynau creadigol yma yn canolbwyntio ar groestoriadedd Cymreigrwydd a hil gyda chefnogaeth y Mudiad Meithein a’r adnoddau gwych y maent wedi eu paratoi ar wrth-hiliaeth.

Ciaran Fitzgerald – Castell Nedd, Port Talbot

The intention of this project is to bring together two groups of young people who would normally have limited contact with each other despite living in the same geographical area. I intend to work with two schools, Ysgol Gyfun Bro Dur, a mainstream Welsh school in Port Talbot, and Ysgol Maes y Coed, a Special School in Neath, which has pupils with a variety of learning and communication difficulties as well as physical disabilities . My intention is to make a piece of street theater that reflects the community these young people are a part of, and display it at the Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Margam 2025. This project gives young people from different backgrounds, but from the same community, the chance to work together, and develop mutual understanding between them.

Rhiannon Mair – Pontyates, Sir Gaerfyrddin

A project based in the village of Pontyates, Carmarthenshire, which will use the fabled path of the Twrch Trwyth through the village, as well as the train track path that used to carry the coal from the pit to the port, as a basis for the Welsh language creative activity there. 


Partner –Llangyndeyrn community council and Nazareth Chapel.

Elin Mannion – Abertawe/Swansea

Cornel Cymraeg: An opportunity for the dedicated staff of the NHS Swansea Bay Health Board who currently speak or are learning the Welsh language to wade into the arts and learning, use and live the Welsh language beyond just medical terminology and Courtesy Welsh, but in creative, inspiring and exciting situations and workshops with various Welsh language artists. 

Partners- NHS Swansea Bay Health Board, Welsh Learners (staff)

Colin Daimond – Ynys Mon/Anglesey

Cwtch is an intergenerational Music, Dance, Carnival and community-led Welsh Language arts project. Cwtch will empower individuals and create community cohesion through a broad and flexible participatory program for people with all levels of Welsh fluency. All ages will co-create a contemporary Carnival performance choosing themes from the legends, images, landscapes and folk music of Wales. There will also be creative opportunities to work with digital media and recycled modelling materials.

Partneriaid – The EHE community network, Wispy Willow Creations, Plas Llwynnon

Richard Huw Morgan – Trefforest, Pontypridd

Exploring the Welsh language knowledge, attitudes and confidence of a temporal community – bus passengers in south Wales coalfield communities through one-to-one conversations. Encouraging confidence in whatever ability we have, and acknowledging that we are all on a spectrum of ability in whatever languages we speak. Documented as audio recordings for possible future sound art assemblage. 

Partner – Citrus Arts

Rufus Mufasa – Blaenau Gwent

A mixed-media multidisciplinary programme giving marginalised voices the opportunity to reimagine language & the arts, making visible the dexterity & diversity of our nation, making our nation arms wide open to all. Making the tongue of the territory accessible to all in ways that will strengthen every framework, every policy, for all of our people, today & for future generations.

Partner – Celf ar Y Blaen

Kirsti Davies – Machynlleth, Powys

Gwreiddio is an artist-led project, that aims to amplify the Welsh voice in the Dyfi Valley by celebrating its long-standing relationship and advocacy of the natural world. The project will initiate a peer-supported creative enquiry, to foster linguistic pride and ownership within the nature narrative. This process will also produce new artistic work, collaborative workshops, culminating in a celebration event. 

Partner – Ennyn, Eco Dyfi

Below the Waves

Below the Waves will be TAPE’s 3rd feature film, but our first to be animated! 

TAPE is currently in the ‘pre-production and R&D phase’ for Below the Waves. This means that we’re doing lots of experimenting. We will be holding a Below the Waves touring exhibition in early 2025. The exhibition will travel to different places in North Wales. It will show you all the different creative work that has gone into Below the Waves so far. 

Cymdeithasu gyda’r Mentrau Gymdeithasol – Antur Stiniog

Croeso i’r gyfres newydd gyffrous sy’n ymchwilio i waith dylanwadol mentrau cymunedol Ffestiniog. Yn y gyfres hon, byddwn yn trafod brosiectau ac ymdrechion gymuned Ffestiniog i sicrhau newid cadarnhaol i’r gymuned. Ymunwch â ni wrth i ni ddarganfod y straeon y tu ôl i’r mentrau hyn a’u heffaith ddofn ar y gymuned leol.

Gig Huw aye Rebals

3.00pm

25/08/2024

Gwyl Banc / Bank Holiday

Mynediad am ddim / Free entry

Stori’r Tir: Projects

Stori’r Tir is a creative project gathering and sharing stories of our relationship to land in Dyffryn Peris.

We are bringing the community together to capture the wisdom of previous generations, promote identity and connection to the land, creativity and the Welsh language.

14 Stori’r Tir projects have started! Yn gynnwys, including:

Deall Cymuned (Understanding Community) • Chwedlau’r Tir (Legends of the Land) • Dehongli’r Dyffryn: Llwybrau’r Merched (Interpreting the Valley: Women’s pathways) • Enwau Caeau Nantperis Field Names • Priodedbau Pridd (Story of Soil) • Gwasanaeth Bws S2 Bus Service • Autochtonnau – Ensemble Stori’r Tir • Traed Bach Tÿ Gwyn (The Tales of Tÿ Gwyn) • Tirweddau Coll – Lost Landscapes • Bws i Lanbabo • Cerrig a Dŵr (Stones and Water – living beside a holy well) • Ysgol Brynrefail

More information about the projects.