Menter newsletter 26/5/06 2:31 pm Page 1

Ysgubor y Coed Tre’r Ddol Taliesin Talybont

Llandre

Bow Penrhyncoch Street Pen-bont Aberystwyth Rhydybeddau Newsletter

Llanfarian Issue 1

Llanilar

Llangwyryfon Welsh Lady Fun Run Overview - Background Menter Aberystwyth was officially established and registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in March 2003. There are currently 13 Board Members, who are involved on an entirely voluntary basis, and who each have a commitment to developing and promoting Aberystwyth. Menter Aberystwyth covers not only the town of Aberystwyth but also surrounding villages as far as to the North and Llanrhystud to the south. This area contains 13 Councils and Menter Aberystwyth hopes to work in partnership On March the 1st this year Menter with all of them. A representative of the Community Councils became a Menter Aberystwyth held the first Welsh Lady Fun Aberystwyth Director. Run along the promenade in Aberystwyth, an event which it is hoped will grow from year to Spring 2006 Menter Aberystwyth can undertake a wide range of regeneration activities within the town year. The 5km run along the town’s promenade and its surrounding area. It is a priority to act as an advocate and a facilitator for the takes place on March 1st with all the town and its wider area. A Business Plan has been developed and adopted by Menter contestants dressed up in traditional welsh Aberystwyth and priorities and projects from this are currently being implemented. lady dress. This year’s event was an enormous success despite the extreme For more information on the work of Menter Aberystwyth please log onto weather – proving that welsh ladies are made www.menteraberystwyth.org.uk or contact the Development Officer on 01970 624912 of stronger stuff. Over thirty welsh ladies braved the extreme conditions on the prom Aberystwyth and Area Master Plan and raised over £1000 which will be shared A company called LDA Consultants have been tasked with developing an Aberystwyth between two local charities – The Beacon of Hope and Bronglais Hospital’s Children’s Ward. and Area Master Plan. The Masterplan, a consultancy which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and County Council, is looking at all kinds of Aled Davies, former Mayor of Aberystwyth and important issues which affect Aberystwyth such as town planning, future Menter Aberystwyth Board Member said: “I developments, tourism, transport and parking. hope that the whole community, including residents, schools, businesses, sporting teams LDA have recently held consultative workshops with business people and other key and students will all get involved in this new stakeholders which Menter Aberystwyth has taken part in. It is anticipated that a draft event. It’s a bit of fun that can put document will be ready in June which will then be used to consult with the wider Aberystwyth on the map and show everyone community. The final document will shape and influence regeneration and investment that the heart of Welsh culture is here in activity in Aberystwyth for the next 20 years and needs to challenge existing views Aberystwyth” and persuade people to raise their aspirations for the town. Plans are now underway for the 2007 Welsh Lady Run, it is anticipated that many more For further information on how you can get involved with the Master Plan please Welsh Ladies will participate and raise money contact the Development Officer on 01970 624912. for local charities.

Communities to go online with their own websites through Menter Aberystwyth A new web based project is currently being the project. Menter Aberystwyth is able to which is already online and can be found developed and implemented by Menter fund 100% of the costs for the individual by logging on to visitaberystwyth.com and Aberystwyth. The project will develop a websites, and the support of each following the links. separate community website for each area, Community Council will be vital in driving It is anticipated that sites will be enabling the community to access the projects forward and collecting the developed in partnership with other information. It is hoped that all 13 information for the sites. A pilot site is Community Councils on a first come first Community Councils in Menter currently being developed for Borth in served basis. For more information contact Aberystwyth’s area of coverage will support partnership with Borth Community Council, the Development Officer on 01970 624912.

Menter Aberystwyth is a regeneration partnership for Aberystwyth town and surrounding area and is funded by Aberystwyth Town Council, The University of Aberystwyth, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth Business Club and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Office B6, The Cambria Building, Marine Terrace, www.menter-aberystwyth.org.uk Aberystwyth, SY23 2AZ Tel: 01970 624912 the regeneration partnership for Aberystwyth Town and surrounding area [email protected] Menter Aberystwyth newsletter 26/5/06 2:31 pm Page 2

2006 Summer New visitaberystwyth.com website launched Entertainment One of the first projects implemented by Menter Aberystwyth was the brand new website for the town Programme for the and surrounding area www.visitaberystwyth.com. Promenade and Town The website, which is designed to market Aberystwyth as a quality destination, is a fantastic Last year’s successful Summer tool and resource for visitors and locals. The site Entertainment Project on the Bandstand has pages which provide useful information on the and in the centre of town included a town and surrounding area. These include an wide array of events. The project, useful entertainment listing which is regularly developed in partnership by Menter updated, an attractions listing which covers the Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth Town wider area and an accommodation listing which Council, received funding from Tourism details all graded establishments. Partnership Mid Wales, The Welsh If you would like to know more about this project, or include details of your business/ Assembly Government and Communities event please contact the Development Officer by emailing eluned.lewis@menter- First. The programme used the best of aberystwyth.org.uk or telephoning 01970 624912. The website is an evolving project Welsh Culture here in Aberystwyth by and further work such as feature pages on walking in the Aberystwyth area plus a using local choirs including the comprehensive online business directory are in the pipeline. Aberystwyth Male Voice Choir, Côr ABC, Côr Ger y Lli and Côr Cardigan. Arad Who’s who in Menter? Goch developed a street theatre style The Board of Directors is made up of the following individuals, some representing our core show for children which was an partners and others who bring specific expertise and experience: adaptation of their show ‘Lleuad yn Cllr Ray Quant – Chairman Olau’. Several jazz groups performed Gareth Rowlands – Vice Chairman and Business Club Representative and local musical group Showtime Huw Bates – Company Secretary and legal expertise Singers produced a show celebrating the Louise Amery – Aberystwyth Arts Centre 40th anniversary of VE Day. Jim Wallace – University of Wales Aberystwyth It is hoped that this year’s programme, Ann Ffrancon – The National Library of Wales despite having a smaller budget will go Beverley Shann – Aberystwyth Town Council from strength to strength, ensuring that Richard Griffiths – Tourism Business Representative Dylan Raw Rees – Community Council’s Representative locals and visitors benefit from Cyril Baker – Aberystwyth Chamber of Trade Representative performances by local groups, musicians Aled Davies – Business Sector Representative and choirs. The details of the Lis Owen-Jones – Business Sector Representative programme will be available soon, and John Fitzpatrick – Voluntary Sector Representative will be online on www.visitaberystwyth.com and also Our full time Development Officer is Eluned Lewis. Eluned is a local girl who was promoted through the Cambrian News educated at Penweddig Comprehensive before going on to study Geography at the University in Aberystwyth. She has worked in the field of Community Regeneration and Aber Diary. since graduating in 2001 having working for Pentir Pumlumon, a regeneration group in North Ceredigion for three years before joining the Menter Aberystwyth team. Communities @One Communities @One is a new initiative to communication technologies). Marc Davies Office. It is administered by the Wales Co- tackle the digital divide in Wales. is the local broker for Aberystwyth and can operative Centre and funding is available It aims to reach out to people who are help groups wondering how new until March 2008. most excluded from new technologies and technologies could help them by advising For further information please contact Marc ensure they can access the opportunities on how to make best use of existing Davies on they offer. equipment, assist groups plan a project 01267 242349/ 07766 501904, email and apply to a fund. A team of Community Brokers are based in [email protected] or visit Communities First areas across Wales and The initiative is funded by the Welsh www.walescoop.com/communities@one will work with community groups to help Assembly Government and the European engage people with ICT (information and Union through the Welsh European Funding

For updated news visit.... www.menter-aberystwyth.org.uk