Urdd Gobaith Cymru Annual Review 2005 / 2006 1 Urdd Gobaith Cymru Annual Review 2005 / 2006 2 urdd.org A message from our President - Gavin Ashcroft Words cannot express my pride at being elected as President of the Urdd 2005-2006. I never thought the little boy from Rhydyfelin would one day be the President of this organisation! This year has been an eye opener for I would like to take this opportunity to me. As a keen eisteddfodwr over the publicly thank the Urdd for this opportunity, years, it is easy to forgive someone for and I would also like to give thanks on It is a great pleasure to submit this review. In all of our activities, It is hard to believe that another year has flown by since not seeing beyond the maes and the behalf of the children and young people of our main aim is to give the children and young people of Wales submitting the last annual review. It is a sign of old age (so pavilion. Indeed, I was amazed during Wales who benefit daily from the untiring the opportunity to enjoy life through the medium of Welsh, they say) when time seems to pass you by more quickly than the year by all the outstanding work that commitment of the organisation and its developing confidence and respect for each other. before! The Urdd, like all of us, is getting older, but it is certainly this special organisation carries out, be friends. To the future! not getting old. This report shows that Urdd Gobaith Cymru is it humanitarian or patriotic, and for that It is fantastic to look back at the Urdd’s successes over the past as young and fresh as ever, attracting more and more children I have great respect for it. As President, I twelve months, including holding the eisteddfod in a magnificent and young people to the various activities. Certainly, one of the have many fond memories. Indeed, the location in Denbighshire, developing facilities including a high big secrets of the Urdd’s success over the years is listening to Denbighshire Eisteddfod of 2006 and its ropes course at Glan-llyn, increasing the range and quality of the members and working with them in order to ensure that magnificent location will stay in my mind the community activities we offer, and continuing our tradition of what we provide is relevant to their lives. It is good to hear and heart for ever. enabling the Urdd’s members to experience humanitarian work about the new adrannau (junior youth clubs) and aelwydydd overseas, including forging new links with Romania. (senior youth clubs) and the youth forums that meet in a number of regions, that are not only important with regard Urdd Gobaith Cymru Without doubt, one of the highlights of our foreign adventures to the organisation’s activities, but also with regard to the last year was winning the under-19 seven-a-side rugby development of members and ensuring future leaders. Officers 2006 tournament in Dubai – quite an achievement for the enthusiastic team, and a sign of our development as providers Since it is now autumn, it is good to have the opportunity to President: Gavin Ashcroft of sporting opportunities and training. Our advances in the look back at the successful eisteddfod in Denbighshire, and Vice-presidents: field of sport, and the further development of our arts provision, remember not only the hot weather but also the warmth of the Andrea Parry, Carol Davies demonstrate that we are an organisation that makes an welcome, the excellent arrangements and the amazing standard important contribution to the cultural life of Wales. of the competitions. The sports activities organised throughout Honorary Presidents: Wales attract more competitors than ever, and the residential Prys Edwards, Wynne Melville Jones, In submitting the review, it is my privilege to thank the Urdd centres still draw tens of thousands of visitors every year. Bob Roberts volunteers and staff throughout Wales, who have ensured that the work we do is exciting and can enrich the lives of children Once again this year members carried out humanitarian Interesting Statistics Honorary Vice-presidents: and young people who value the Welsh language. Long may it activities locally and also on the continent, but certainly one of Eurig Davies, Alun Edwards, Janet Evans • Wales’ main youth movement – and the Urdd – continue to thrive. the highlights of the year for me personally was being present Chairperson: Rhiannon Lewis at the Senedd as members of Urdd Gobaith Cymru presented • Membership of 50,334 and an increase of 10% Efa Gruffudd Jones the Peace and Goodwill Message on behalf of the youth of in the 16-25 age group this year Vice-chair: Tudur Dylan Jones Chief Executive Wales, not only to Assembly members but also to the youth of • 1 of every 3 Welsh speakers aged between 8-18 are members Treasurer: Rheon Tomos the world. • 25% of all children aged 10 in Wales are members Secretary: Andrea Parry Urdd Gobaith Cymru as an organisation is very important, not • Wales’ foremost sports provider – 250,000 sports sessions a year and only to the over 50,000 members but to the whole of Wales. It is 60 referees working in the National Rugby Festival an organisation that makes a difference and one that should be treasured. It is not growing old – but learning from experience, • 94,000 Welsh language magazines sold annually Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Llanbadarn Road developing and maturing. May it continue to do so. Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 1EY • 180 members of staff and an annual financial turnover of £6 million Rhiannon Lewis • 10,000 volunteers in 950 branches Telephone: 01970 613100 Chairperson E-mail: [email protected] • Over 930,000 visits to our website Website: urdd.org Registered Charity Number: 524481 design elfen.co.uk Company Number: 263310 4 urdd.org Urdd Gobaith Cymru Annual Review 2005 / 2006 5 • Services were provided to 50,334 • With funding from Children in • Five of our Urddaholics went • Regional sports competitions and • The golf scheme which coaches Contact members by our development Need we continued to support on a special trip to Auschwitz. Sport Festivals were held in Cardiff, young people in the Llanelli, Aman Dyfrig Morgan officers, our assistant development young people who are in danger In January they prepared and Aberystwyth, Bangor and Llanelli. Valley and Gwendraeth Valley area Director of South Wales Region officers and our sports officers in of being excluded from schools performed a piece in the grand to take part in golf sessions as well Telephone: 029 2063 5682 over 950 adrannau and aelwydydd in Gwynedd and Anglesey by Remembrance concert held in the • 136 teams competed in the as developing new coaches, won E-mail: [email protected] (Junior and Senior Urdd Clubs). offering a programme of outdoor Wales Millennium Centre in front of National Secondary Rugby Festival the prestigious Critchley Award activities and opportunities to leaders from Britain and beyond. in Llanelli, and 121 teams competed from the British Golf Foundation Dafydd Carrington • There was an increase in our gain qualifications. in the National Netball Festival for the organisation’s contribution Director of Mid Wales Region provision for the 12-15 age group, • Over 1,000 members went on in Cardiff. to developing golf as a sport for Phone: 01686 614036 and new community adrannau • The Peace and Goodwill Message residential trips in Wales and children and young people. E-mail: [email protected] were established in twelve regions. was composed and presented abroad during the year. • The Urdd’s rugby team succeeded this year by pupils of Ysgol Maes in winning the I.R.B.’s International • Six sports courses were held at the Mari Pritchard • The Bendigeidfran exchange Garmon, Mold, and they had the • Forty five Urddaholics succeeded Youth Sevens Tournament in Dubai. Urdd residential centres. Director of North Wales Region programme proved popular opportunity to present it to the First in completing the Millennium Phone: 01248 672106 • For the first time the Urdd’s amongst Urdd and Ogras Minister in the Senedd. Volunteers scheme by completing • Twenty four new clubs have been E-mail: [email protected] members with more than a over a hundred hours of voluntary National Swimming Gala was held established to provide sports in the Olympic Pool in Swansea. It hundred young people benefiting • Over a hundred of our members work in the community. coaching to volunteers. Website: urdd.org from training and opportunities to performed in the gallery of the was attended by an audience of socialise in Wales and Ireland. Assembly on the opening day of • Over 165 leisure activities for young 1,400 and 986 competitors • An exhibition and discussion the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on people were held during the session was held with Lord • For the first time, the Urdd’s • Three Urddaholics trips to Poland St David’s Day. summer holidays. Sebastian Coe regarding the and Romania to support and assist National Aquathlon competition organisation’s role in the activities disadvantaged children were • We collaborated with many was held in Aberystwyth, with 400 leading up to and during the 2012 all successful. other bodies such as the Welsh athletes taking part. Olympic and Paralympic games. Language Board, Mentrau Iaith (Welsh Language Initiatives), • Over 100 new sports leaders were BBC Cymru and S4C. trained during the year. Urdd Gobaith Cymru Annual Review 2005 / 2006 7 Residential Centres Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog • In another successful year 51,159 • Pentre Ifan, in a magical corner of • It was another busy year, and the Over 7,000 have stayed in the centre • The centre holds weekly performing Gwersyll yr Urdd have stayed in the centre for a day.