Ask the Expert: Brexit – what’s going on?

Wales TUC have organised a "Ask the Expert Brexit" event on Wednesday 20 June in Merthyr Tydfil.

The event is a chance for you to ask any questions you have on Brexit to experts from The UK in a Changing Europe – a non-partisan and impartial academic think tank on Brexit.

Speakers include:

• Professor Anand Menon- Director, The UK in a Changing Europe 
• Professor Catherine Barnard – Senior fellow, The UK in a Changing Europe 
• Dr Jo Hunt – Senior fellow, The UK in a Changing Europe 
• Chair (TBC) 

Location: Plymouth Courtyard Room, Redhouse, Old Town Hall, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AE.

Time and date: Registration is from 6pm. Event starts at 6:30pm and ends at 8pm.

Register here: https://bit.ly/2wQU2Lt

If you have any questions or comments please contact Navjyot Lehl at The UK in a Changing Europe at Navjyot.lehl@kcl.ac.uk or phone 020 7848 8597.

Inform June 2018

Would you like to contribute to the June 2018 edition of Inform, VAMT's hard copy magazine.  If you'd like to share successes, new activities or just let other people know what your group is up to, this is your opportunity.  There's also the Focus on slot available which allows you to showcase the activities of your group.  Email hilary.edwards@vamt.net by 4th June please.

Tackling Poverty Strategy Workshop

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council are developing a Tackling Poverty Strategy and are keen to involve third sector organisations and community groups in its development and implementation.

A workshop will be held at 2pm on Monday 18th June in the Voluntary Action Centre. If you are interested in attending, please let Ian Davy know and reserve the date. 

Further details will be sent out in due course.

WCVA host Twitter Q and A Session on GDPR / CGGC yn cynnal sesiwn Holi ac Ateb ar Twitter

Twitter Holi ac Ateb ar GDPR

Daw’r Rheoliad Diogelu Data Cyffredinol (GDPR)  i rym ar 25 Mai 2018 a bydd yn effeithio ar yr holl fudiadau trydydd sector sy'n cadw ac yn prosesu data personol buddiolwyr, rhoddwyr ariannol, staff a gwirfoddolwyr.

Bydd Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru (WCVA) yn cynnal sesiwn Holi ac Ateb fyw ar Twitter i ateb eich cwestiynau a thrafod unrhyw drafferthion y mae mudiadau trydydd sector yn eu cael wrth baratoi at y GDPR.

Dilynwch y sgwrs a gofyn eich cwestiynau gan ddefnyddio #GDPRsk, yn fyw ar Twitter ddydd Mercher 23 Mai 2018, 12-1pm

Twitter Q&A on GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on 25 May 2018 and will affect all third sector organisations that store and process the personal data of beneficiaries, financial donors, staff and volunteers.

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) will be hosting a live Twitter Q&A to answer your questions and discuss any issues third sector organisations are experiencing preparing for GDPR.

Follow the conversation and ask your questions using #GDPRsk, live on Twitter on Wednesday 23 May 2018, 12-1pm

Funding Information Day 15 June

Gerald Jones MP and Dawn Bowden AM host a Funding Information Day at Merthyr Town Football Club on Friday 15 June.  For further information and how to book, please click here

Organisations from across Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf join forces to launch first Well-being Plan for future generations

A five year plan to develop more job and training opportunities; give babies a better start in life, and improve the mental health of young people has been launched by a collective of public sector and voluntary organisations across Cwm Taf.

The ‘Cwm Taf Public Services Board’ is made up of organisations right across Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf including health board, local authorities, police, fire service, voluntary sector, Natural Resources Wales and probation service.

The Board was set up after the Well-being of Future Generations Act was passed by the National Assembly, and is a revolution in the way local public services are being planned and delivered for the future.

The aim is to shift the focus from simply reacting as individual organisations to complex social problems, to addressing them together.

The Well-being Plan which will be published today (May 3rd) uses a ‘place-based approach’ where all partners will work together more effectively with residents to identify issues, priorities and potential solutions in targeted areas.

Ferndale/Tylorstown in Rhondda and Gurnos in Merthyr Tydfil have been identified as two pilot areas for the plan and if the approach is successful it will be rolled out to other communities across Cwm Taf.

Growing the workforce of the future is a key part of the Well-being Plan, specifically the provision of more education, job and training opportunities within the public sector organisations involved, to help develop a skilled and sustainable workforce locally.

Another key objective is to focus on a baby’s first 1000 days – from pregnancy through to 2 years of age. There will be a review of existing services to find out what changes need to be made to provide better support for new parents and babies.

The Well-being Plan will also seek to focus on prevention and early intervention to reduce the need for child and adolescent services, including mental health, and develop more integrated services involving health, social services and schools in the area.

Behaviour change campaigns encouraging healthier lifestyles and offering support will also begin with the organisations themselves by cross-promoting positive messaging among thousands of local staff.

Chair of the Public Services Board Professor Marcus Longley – who is also chair of Cwm Taf University Health Board – said, “This plan is all about how we improve things for future generations and make sure that the decisions we take today take a longer term view for their benefit. Although there is already lots of working together across our organisations, this collective approach will become really embedded in how we find solutions to some of the really challenging issues in our communities that each of us can’t address alone. I’m excited about the publication of the Well-being Plan today but I am under no illusion that the real work in getting tangible improvements that people can point to, is only just starting.”

South Wales Police Superintendent Phillip Ashby, said: “Community issues can be wide ranging and are rarely tackled effectively by one agency alone. This plan paves the way for a collaborative approach to problem solving which will help to ensure that solutions have a lasting impact and actually improve the quality of life and future prospects for people living across the Cwm Taf region.”

The Chairs of Interlink and Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil – Pauline Richards and Anne Roberts respectively – said, “We welcome the intention to make our communities a better place to live. We know that more people than ever feel lonely and are more isolated and this is a major cause of poor health both physically and emotionally. We can do this by strengthening the support for people in our communities and increasing volunteering”

Chief Executive of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Chris Bradshaw said: “We are looking forward to improving the way in which we plan and deliver public services with our partners so that we make a real difference to the lives of people in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.”

Leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Councillor Kevin O’Neill said: “Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has been a key partner since the implementation of the Board; working in partnership is central to everything we do. We are fully committed to making life better for all our communities and this Plan will ensure this is aim is achieved.“

A website called ‘Our Cwm Taf’ has been developed which provides information about the work of the Public Services Board and all the organisations that are part of it, showing the work they undertake together, as well as key information about the areas that are part of Cwm Taf.

New Funding Opportunity - Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme

The first round of the Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme is now open for applications. Grant funding will be available to projects benefitting their local community and environment which operate within 5 miles of certain waste transfer or treatment stations or landfill sites and qualify under one of the three fund themes.

The flyer can be viewed here 

Mae gan SNAP Cymru rif newydd ar gyfer ei Linell Gymorth

0808 801 0608

Mae galwadau am ddim yn golygu bod pawb yn gallu defnyddio ein gwasanaeth ni, heb ystyried incwm ariannol na modd yr unigolyn. Mae ein Swyddogion a’n Gwirfoddolwyr Teuluoedd a Phobl Ifanc yn darparu gwybodaeth gyfrinachol a diduedd ar bob agwedd ar anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, yn ogystal â sicrhau bod barn rhieni a gofalwyr yn cael ei chlywed a’i deall a’u bod yn deall eu hawliau, eu rôl a’u cyfrifoldebau.
  

Gall teuluoedd a gweithwyr proffesiynol gael gwybodaeth a chyngor
drwy gyfrwng ein llinell gwybodaeth a chyngor o
ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener, 9.30 am – 4.30 pm.

Mae ein Llinell Gymorth yn eithriadol brysur ac rydym yn derbyn mwy na 7,000 o alwadau am gefnogaeth bob blwyddyn. I gefnogi’r galw, rydym yn recriwtio ac yn hyfforddi gwirfoddolwyr yn barhaus a hefyd rydym wedi cyflwyno ffurflen gyfeirio a holi ddiogel ar ein gwefan

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o deuluoedd a phobl ifanc yn gweld ei bod yn gallu datrys problemau penodol ar ôl cael y cyngor. Gall pobl ddychwelyd fel y mynnant i holi am broblem benodol neu broblemau eraill fel maent yn codi.

SNAP Cymru have a new helpline number

0808 801 0608

Free calls make our service accessible to all, irrespective of an individual’s financial income or means. Our Family and Young Peoples Officers and Volunteers provide confidential and impartial advice, on all aspects of additional learning needs as well as ensuring that parents and carers’ views are heard and understood and that they understand their rights, roles and responsibilities.
  

Families and professionals can access information and advice
through our free helpline
Monday – Friday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm.

Our Helpline is exceptionally busy, we receive in excess of 7,000 calls for support every year. To support the demand we continually look to recruit and train volunteers and have also introduced a secure referral and enquiry form on our website

Most families and young people find they can sort out particular issues following the advice given. People can return as many times as they like about a particular issue or any others that arise.