Consultation on Blaenavon World Heritage site

A six-week consultation has begun in Blaenavon, asking residents' views on studies relating to the World Heritage Site.

The studies include design guidance for development and conservation area appraisals of Blaenavon and Cwmavon conservation areas and it is proposed the documents will eventually be adopted as supplementary planning guidance.

The executive member for housing, planning and public protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, said: "We urge residents to contact us and let us know their views on these studies, as they will assist in ensuring the continued protection and enhancement of the historic character of the World Heritage Site.

"The guide provides design and maintenance advice for buildings within the Torfaen boundaries of the site, including advice for the construction of new buildings, and guidance on alterations, repairs or extensions to existing buildings.

"The Blaenavon and Cwmavon conservation area appraisals identify the key assets, issues and outline recommendations for the management and enhancement of the areas in the future.

"They recommend extensions to the Blaenavon conservation area, and consider the potential designation of conservation areas at Forgeside and Glantorfaen."

The public consultation runs until Wednesday 30 December and a public drop-in session will be held on December 9 at the World Heritage Centre.

All documents and full details of the consultation are available to view in the Environment and Planning| area of the council website.

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Rural grants on offer from Torfaen council

A local charity is the second Torfaen organisation to benefit from the Branching Out Fund.

All Creatures Great and Small Animal Sanctuary in Llanfrechfa has received a grant through the Torfaen Rural Development Plan (RDP) - a project delivered through a strategic partnership and a local action group, creaTe.

Val Taylor, a trustee of All Creatures Great and Small Animal Sanctuary, said: "We specialise in the care of unwanted and often abandoned or abused animals, with the aim of providing a caring service of the highest quality to help all animals in need.

"We are delighted to receive this funding as it will help us restore an old barn into a training and visitor facility. This new facility will eventually enable us to become more sustainable and will improve the standard of care we provide."

Local farmers, businesses and community groups can apply to creaTe for grants up to £5,000 to help develop enterprise through diversification activities.

In addition to the grant, the RDP team will work with All Creatures Great and Small Animal Sanctuary to help it through the planning process and access additional external funding to make the project a reality.

The RDP, which runs until 2013, is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and aims to:

• Improve the quality of life in rural communities
• Strengthen the farming and forestry industries
• Safeguard and enhance Torfaen's environment and rural heritage
• Foster competitive, sustainable businesses and thriving rural communities.

There are seven wards in Torfaen classed as rural and rural-based business in these areas could be eligible for grant from the Branching Out Fund. The wards are Llanyrafon South, Blaenavon, Abersychan, Cwmynyscoy, Llantarnam, Two Locks and Wainfelin.

For more information on the RDP, contact 01495 742146.

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Dog owners urged to act responsibly

Dog owners in Torfaen are being reminded they must clean-up after their pets.

While the majority of dog owners are responsible, there is still a significant minority who let their dogs foul the borough's streets and green areas.

An area of particular concern is Blaenavon, especially around Blaenavon rugby ground.

The executive member for housing, planning and public protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, said: "This is a big problem, with serious health implications. Members of Blaenavon RFC regularly have to pick up faeces from all over the pitch before they can train or play.

"There is absolutely no excuse for failing to pick up dog mess and we strongly urge dog owners to depose of dog faeces responsibly."

Regular surveillance visits in Blaenavon have increased and 13 fixed penalty notices of £75 have been issued to dog walkers in the last few months.

A local man, David Giles, was also prosecuted at Abergavenny magistrates, where he was fined £100, ordered to pay £50 towards prosecution costs and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

Councillor Clark added: "Dog owners are encouraged to carry a bag when out with their dogs so they can clean up after them.

"Any plastic bag can be used and the waste can be disposed of in any bin, as long as the bag is securely tied."

To report a dog fouling problem, contact 01633 647621/22.

Photograph: A vey nice dog who is a friend of the editor. She does not live in Torfaen and would never dream of 'doing a whoopsie' in the street

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Open event for Torfaen farmers and food and drink businesses

Torfaen's Rural Development partnership (CREATE) is hosting an open event for farmers and food and drink businesses across Torfaen to find out about opportunities for diversification and development.

A drop in session will take place on Tuesday, 24 November from 4pm - 8pm at Pontypool Active Living Centre where you can find out more about the following:

• Torfaen's Rural Development program
• Farming Connect Services and support
• Sustainable supply chains - support for food and drink businesses
• Renewable energy opportunities for farmers - there will be a formal presentation on this issue at 6pm
• Alternative Land use
• General planning guidance from Torfaen's planning team

For more information please contact Emma Davies, Rural Diversification Officer on 01495 742146 or email emma.davies3@torfaen.gov.uk

There will be a number of different groups attending to give help and advice including the Rural Development Team, Farming Connect, Sustainable Supply Chains, Processing and Marketing and Supply Chain Efficiencies Grant Schemes, Renewable Energy Consultancy, Centre for Alternative Land use and Torfaen's Planning Team.

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Recycling centre closing for one afternoon

The Household Waste Recycling Centre in New Inn will be closed from noon on Wednesday November 25.

It will be closed for the remainder of the day for health and safety reasons, while a new compactor is installed.

The site will re-open as normal the following day (7.30am to 6pm).

A Council spokesman said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused whilst these essential works are carried out."

For more information phone 01495 766608.

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£1.3 million spent on improving Torfaen roads

A £300,000 package of road resurfacing works in Torfaen is set to begin next week.

Garn Road, Blaenavon, Varteg Road, Varteg, and Foundry Road in Abersychan will benefit from the Welsh Assembly cash which will take the total 12 month spend on roads in the county borough past the £1.3 million mark.

Work, which is being carried out by Torfaen Council, will begin on Garn Road on Monday with the rest of the improvements scheduled later this month.

The latest round of spending comes after the £447,000 spent on resurfacing earlier this year with roads including stretches of Thornhill Road, Greenmeadow Way and Llantarnam Road in Cwmbran benefiting.

And in autumn 2008 some £650,000 was spent on other roads including The Highway, Croesyceiliog; Newport Road, Cwmbran; Grange Road, Cwmbran and the A472.

Councillor John Cunningham, Executive Member for Operational Services, said: "Spending £1.3 million on our roads shows we are committed to improving their condition. In an ideal world we would love to spend more but there is simply not enough money in our budget to do this."

Whilst acknowledging the current condition of some roads in the County Borough, Councillor Cunningham said the local authority was doing its best to maintain 437 km of road it is responsible for.

Currently, Torfaen County Borough Council, like all authorities in England and Wales, has a maintenance backlog.

Councillor Cunningham said: "There is a public expectation that we should be able to repair or fix problems quickly, but, because of limited resources, this is not always possible unless it is a safety issue."

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Artist's commission to create wooden sculpture in Cwmbran

The Ancient Cwmbran and the Cistercians Partnership are commissioning an artist to create a wooden sculpture of the well loved and infamous 6th century Celtic Church Warrior Saint, Derfel.

The project is part of a Heritage Lottery Funded project which will research the Ancient history of Cwmbran and aims to encourage local communities to become engaged with the history and culture surrounding them. The sculpture will be used to raise awareness of Cwmbran's early medieval history and to celebrate this local Celtic Saint commemorated in early April of each year on St Derfels Day.

The following historical content of this commission needs to be observed by the commissioned Artist:

Derfel is celebrated within Early Medieval Welsh poetry as a follower of the famous King Arthur and one of only seven survivors of King Arthur's 6th century, last battle at Camlan, the poem describes that Derfel survived through the strength of his spear.

Derfel is said to of retired into the church after the said battle and to of built two churches in Wales one in North Wales at what is now Llanderfel village and the other here in Cwmbran within what was the Lordship of Caerleon and finally he became the bishop of Bardsey Island (the island of 20,000 saints).

Both churches became sites of pilgrimage in the medieval period and thousands of pilgrims every year within the pilgrim season visited these shrines to pray to St Derfel, as it appears to of been a tradition that Derfel could enter Hell and retrieve the lost soul of a relative of the praying pilgrim.

Later Medieval Tudor history records and describes a wooden stature of St Derfel with a legend attached to it that if it burnt it would burn down a forest was taken from Wales under the orders of King Henry V111 Bishop of London who described the Welsh devotion to such statures as the "idol worship of gargoyles" to be used as the part of the funeral pyre at the public burning of a Franciscan Friar the confessor of Catherine of Aragon a one John Forest for refusing to except King Henry V111 as the supreme head of the Church of England.

The artist will be required to liaise with community volunteers in the project's Art Group and the project officer and attend some of the workshops aimed at examining local Iron Age design, use of wood in figurative work, and the use of religious idols in the past. It is anticipated that the ideas and artwork created in the workshops could be used to influence the design a sculpture of St Derfel, made from wood. The public should be allowed access to the working process of the sculptor as part of the project.

The sculpture should be transportable and will be displayed across several sites within the Cwmbran area as part of the St Derfel celebrations and educational aspects of the project. The sculpture will then have a permanent home in Thornhill Community Centre.

A total of £4,000 is available to include all artists fees, expenses, materials and installation costs*. Fees will be payable on the completion of this phases of the project, to be set out in an agreement with the Ancient Cwmbran and the Cistercians Partnership.

The brief will be sent to suitably qualified artists from whom three will be selected for interview by members of The Ancient Cwmbran and The Cistercians Partnership Board and volunteers from the project's Art Group. The successful artist will be expected to develop ideas for the project in workshop sessions with the volunteers of the Art Group. These ideas will then need to be approved by the Board before the final sculpture is created.

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There will be a Local Producers Market taking place on Saturday, November 7 from 10am until 2pm in Market Square, Blaenavon.

At the Market there will be a wide range of Local Producers selling eggs, cakes, fruit and vegetables, meat, chutneys and preserves, flower, plants, books and cider. Entertainment will be provided throughout the day by the local bands.

Blaenavon Heritage Town has a wide variety of traditional and specialist shops, which visitors to the market should take some time to visit, and maybe have lunch in one of the cafes.

Further information on the market can be found at www.visitblaenavon.co.uk, or telephone the Blaenavon Tourist Information Centre on 01495 742333.

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Beat the crunch at Torfaen Christmas fairs

Stallholders are being invited to sell goods at Credit Crunch Christmas fairs in Torfaen.

The fairs, organised by Torfaen Council's waste department, are being held at Blaenavon Workmen's Hall on November 23, Thornhill Community Centre on November 24 and Trevethin Community Centre on November 25.

Stallholders can set up for free.

There will also be a big swap event where unwanted good conditions items like clothing, toys, CDs, bric-a-brac and books can be exchanged for something else.

Other attractions will include free refreshments, free Christmas raffle and reduced cost dog micro-chipping.

The events will run between 10am and 6.30pm. Stallholders are asked to set up from 9.30am.

If you are interested in running a stall, phone Michelle Meredith on 01495 762200.

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Valleys people called upon to help shape positive future

A marketing campaign has been launched to position The Valleys as the Heart and Soul of Wales, building on the investment in the region to date and helping shape future plans to boost the local economy for years to come. For the first time The Valleys will be marketed through a campaign that will focus on promoting their attractions to local people and visitors.

Research carried out has shown The Valleys are seen by many people as the Heart and Soul of Wales, reflecting the warmth of Valleys people, strong sense of community and the area’s unique industrial past, turning rural Wales into the world’s first industrialised nation.

The first phase of the campaign urges the one million people that live in the 540 square miles that make up The Valleys, to have their say on what makes them most proud of the area in which they live. They are being invited to ‘Go on, do us proud’ and explain why they love The Valleys. Their views will feature in follow-up marketing campaigns and help shape future spend in the area. Feedback will be featured on the campaign website www.heartandsoulofwales.co.uk.

Using the brand ‘The Valleys - Heart and Soul of Wales’, the local authorities, which cover the former South Wales coalfield, have joined in partnership with many other statutory bodies and third sector organisations that make up The Valleys Partnership, working in collaboration with the Heads of the Valleys and the Western Valleys Strategic Regeneration Programmes. Together they are promoting positive perceptions of the area encouraging more visitors and attracting potential inward investors, as part of a wider integrated environmental programme. It is an important strand of the Welsh Assembly Government’s regeneration strategy.

Initial research has revealed that Valleys residents already think very positively about the areas in which they live and are now being urged to spread the word.

"The natural beauty of the area is unparalleled, and the mountains are stunning," says one of the campaign’s ‘ambassadors’, Mavis Ashford of Ton Pentre. "Some people have an idea that the Valleys are unsightly and full of slag heaps, but they couldn’t be more wrong. When they come up here they are surprised by just how lovely it is." She added, "Lots of people have the wrong idea about life here. But we aren’t only about greenness, scenery and interesting places to visit – we’ve also got great communities. There is something special about Valleys people."

The Heart and Soul branding will be seen across The Valleys and anyone with a business, pub, club or community group is being asked to get involved and join the campaign to put The Valleys firmly on the map. Arriva Trains Wales has also climbed on board and are using their trains and platforms to promote the message.

The Heart and Soul of Wales campaign covers local authority areas of Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend, northern areas of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and eastern Valleys of Carmarthenshire.

Welsh Assembly Government Deputy Minister for Regeneration Leighton Andrews said: "The Valleys have changed beyond recognition in just a generation. The area has become a great place to live, with an excellent environment, lots to do and plenty to be proud of. We know that’s what many people think. The ‘Heart and Soul of Wales’ campaign is a way of taking that message to a wider audience, to attract more people to come and see for themselves."

He added, "The Valleys have good transport links and they are easily accessible to visitors. Coupled with large scale investment by the Welsh Assembly Government’s regeneration strategy, local people can play a part in changing old fashioned perceptions about what they feel is the Heart and Soul of Wales."

Valleys people are being urged to share their views and say why they love The Valleys. Comments can be submitted through www.heartandsoulofwales.co.uk or by texting ‘VALLEYS’ followed by your name, town and message to 60777.

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New recycling banks in Blaenavon

New recycling banks have been placed in Blaenavon but the Council has warned they will be removed if they are abused.

Earlier this year, Torfaen Council say they were left with no choice but to remove banks for glass bottles and jars, paper, textiles and Tetra Paks from the Rifleman's car park after they were frequently damaged and set alight.

But now because of demand for new facilities, two can banks and a glass bank can now be found in the car park adjacent to St Paul's Hall, Ton Mawr Road.

The Tetra Pak bank has been relocated to Union Street in Abersychan where there are also facilities for other recyclables.

Banks can also be found nearby at Talywain Rugby Club.

Christina Harrhy, Head of Technical Services and Performance, said: "Unfortunately, earlier this year, the reckless actions of vandals denied Blaenavon residents of the recycling facilities but we have now placed new facilities because of local demand.

"We will closely monitor the site and if there are any further problems we will be left with no choice but to remove them again."

For more information about recycling and the location of banks visit the Rubbish, Waste & Recycling area of the Torfaen County Borough website.

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Blaenavon Local Producers Market

There will be a Local Producers Market taking place on Saturday 7 November from 10am until 2pm in Market Square, Blaenavon.

At the Market there will be a wide range of Local Producers selling eggs, cakes, fruit and vegetables, meat, chutneys and preserves, flower, plants, books and cider. Entertainment will be provided throughout the day by the local bands.

Blaenavon Heritage Town has a wide variety of traditional and specialist shops, which visitors to the market should take some time to visit, and maybe have lunch in one of the cafes.

Further information on the market can be found at www.visitblaenavon.co.uk, or telephone the Blaenavon Tourist Information Centre on 01495 742333.

This market will take place on a rotational basis between the Greenmeadow Community Farm, Pontypool Market and Blaenavon Heritage Town Centre on the 2nd Saturday of every month.

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Fight to save fish at Boating Lake

Torfaen Council officers and the local community scrambled to save the lives of fish at Cwmbran Boating Lake after more than 100 were discovered dead yesterday morning.

Using nets, officers and residents transferred some of the surviving fish to a nearby pond and removed dead ones.

Water was then sprayed onto the lake in a bid to oxygenate the water.

The Environment Agency was called out and is now investigating the cause.

The lake has been cordoned off while tests are carried out and will remain closed until oxygen levels have returned to normal.

Christina Harrhy, the Council's Head of Technical Services and Performance, said: "A Council officer discovered the dead fish first thing this morning and then there was a desperate scramble to save as many as possible.

"It was distressing to see the fish struggling but we are hoping the problem can be resolved quickly.

"I would like to thank the band of officers and local residents for doing everything they could to help.

"We are now working closely with the Environment Agency to determine the cause so we can resolve the problem and stop any further suffering."

Fisherman Gareth Swithin, 43, of Coed Lee, Cwmbran, was one of the volunteers.

"I was shocked to see the dead fish while out walking my dog and I just wanted to do something to help," he said.

"I've been fishing for eight years - it's distressing to see the fish struggling."

Tests results revealing the cause are expected in a few days.

Fish including Bream, Carp and Roach can be found in the lake.

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Paul Samuel Morrissey arrested

26 year old Paul Samuel Morrisey who police were looking for after he failed to appear at Cwmbran Magistrates on September 4th has now been arrested.

He has been charged with assault, threat to kill and harrassment and has been remanded in police custody to appear at Newport Magistrates this morning, Wednesday 21st October.

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Sowing seeds for sustainability

Cwmbran pupils were joined by the leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, for special native bulb planting sessions during Torfaen Sustainability Week.

The aim of the first ever Torfaen Sustainability Week (10-16 October) is to encourage people to live their lives in a more sustainable fashion.

The motto of the week is 'Changing by Degrees', which shows how, by making minor adjustments to the way people live, everyone can help reduce consumption of the earth's resources and atmospheric emissions.

The message - help us create a cleaner, greener future for everyone

Pupils from Woodlands and Blenheim community primary schools were out in force for the planting on Thursday 15 October, when five types of flowers were planted.

The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: "It is essential that we educate our school pupils about the importance of sustainability.

"Bulb planting is a fun, informal way of learning about nature and I am sure everyone will notice the difference the flowers will make to the grounds of both schools.

"As they bloom in the summer months, they will add colour to the flower beds and remind pupils of the important role flowers and trees play in our environment.

"The pupils' hard work and determination was a credit to their schools and I hope the bulb planting inspires them to learn more about horticulture. It is a wonderful hobby that is relaxing, challenging and extremely rewarding."

More information about Torfaen Sustainability Week and a programme events is included in October's Torfaen Talks and is available online in the Torfaen Sustainability area of their website.

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Take a first step to greener travel with Torfaen Sustainability Week

The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: "We want to encourage as many people as possible to leave their car at home and bus, bike or walk to work or school. It helps to improve health and well-being, while also reducing carbon emissions.

"Road transport accounts for more than 80 per cent of total fuel consumption and this is increasing. We all need to help address this and choosing a more sustainable method of transport is an easy first step in tackling the problem.

"Road vehicles are a major source of many pollutants in urban areas and air pollution can worsen the symptoms of heart or lung disease in some people.

"Torfaen Sustainability Week is the perfect reason to kick start a new sustainable habit, like walking or cycling to work, and living a healthier, more active life."

Health and nutrition advice will also be available at Gwent Square, as members of Health Challenge Torfaen and the council's health development team will be speaking to shoppers. The sports development team will be operating a climbing wall for anyone with a head for heights. All the events in Gwent Square run 10am-3pm.

Meanwhile, pupils at Griffithstown Primary School will help clean their local environment with a litter pick at 10.25am.

Councillor Wellington said: "Tackling litter and fly-tipping is not simply about cleaning up, it is about educating people about the harm it does to nature and an area's appearance.

"Pupils across Torfaen are being taught the importance of a clean environment. Events such as this litter pick at Griffithstown Primary School play a key role in increasing civic pride and encouraging people to take an active role in preserving the environment in which they live and work."

A range of events has been planned for Torfaen Sustainability Week, with a sustainability conference at Greenmeadow Community Farm on 12 October taking centre-stage.

Each of the seven days has a sustainability theme, from biodiversity to green travel. The week was launched on Saturday 10 October, Keep It Local Day, with a local producer market at Greenmeadow Community Farm, and ends on Friday 16 October, Green Travel Day.

More information and a programme events is included in October's Torfaen Talks and is available online in the Torfaen Sustainability| area of the website.

The following websites may also be useful for people interested in green travel:

• Sewta - find out how car sharing can save you money and help the environment - www.sewtacarshare.com
• Cycling - find out more about cycling and cycle routes across Wales - www.sustrans.org.uk
• Walking - Find out how you can walk your way to health - www.ww2h.org.uk

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Torfaen Sustainability Week officially launched with conference

Torfaen council's first ever sustainability conference has been hailed a success.

Held on Monday 12 October at Greenmeadow Community Farm, the conference was hosted by council leader Bob Wellington, in his role as sustainable development champion, and was the key event of Torfaen Sustainability Week.

The aim of the first ever Torfaen Sustainability Week (10-16 October) is to encourage people to live their lives in a more sustainable fashion.

The motto of the week is 'Changing by Degrees', which shows how, by making minor adjustments to the way people live, everyone can help reduce consumption of the earth's resources and atmospheric emissions.

The message - help us create a cleaner, greener future for everyone.

Entitled Changing by Degrees, the conference featured talks from councillor Bob Wellington, Jane Davidson AM, Nic Marks (New Economics Foundation) and Dr Alan Netherwood (WLGA).

Councillor Wellington said: "Torfaen's first ever sustainability conference was a massive success and it is hoped that it will now become an annual event.

"The attendees enjoyed a series of entertaining, thought-provoking and educational talks about the environment, which I hope inspired them to promote sustainable living to everyone they know.

"By changing our lifestyles by small degrees, we can make a substantial impact on our sustainability and help protect the environment for generations to come."

The conference had four themes - schools, business, public and council staff - and initiatives for each were announced by councillor Wellington.

The first of these was an appeal for sustainability champions throughout Torfaen to come forward and help promote the message of sustainable living.

Councillor Wellington stated: "Some champions may want to organise community clear-ups and environmental projects in their area, while others may want to talk to community groups and encourage others to volunteer locally. Other champions may want to lobby for changes to national and international policy. The role is what you make it. The only restriction is your ambition.

"The champions will play a crucial role in the council's commitment to helping combat unsustainable living. If we increase awareness of the need to reduce consumption and atmospheric emissions, we can improve people's unsustainable habits."

Initially, champions are invited to apply for 12 months' of championing, which will either end or be renewed in November 2010. Contact 01495 766230 or lyn.cadwallader@torfaen.gov.uk for more information.

The second major announcement was the launch of a new website - the Torfaen Sustainability Index - that allows Torfaen residents to measure their progress towards sustainable well-being and offers advice on how they can improve this.

Created in conjunction with the New Economics Foundation, the index can be viewed at www.torfaensustainability.co.uk

Councillor Wellington said: "Rating systems such as the Torfaen Sustainability Index have proved incredibly popular in other areas and I am delighted we are launching our own site.

"The questionnaire is easy to fill in and, because it is available online, it can be completed at any convenient time. The index shows visitors how sustainable they are, how happy and healthy they are, and how much of the earth's resources they use.

"It also allows people to measure their ecological footprint, a figure based on the amount of productive land and sea that is required to support all of the resources they use in their lives each day, including water, food, energy and raw materials. Ecological footprints can also be calculated for whole regions or even countries.

"Torfaen currently has an ecological footprint of 5.1 global hectares per person. If everyone in the world lived as we do in Torfaen then we would need 2.8 planets to support us all."

More information about Torfaen Sustainability Week and a programme events is included in October's Torfaen Talks and is available online in the Torfaen Sustainability area of their website.

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Hard-working young person is praised by charity

A sixteen-year old girl from Torfaen who gave up her half-term holiday to do work experience at Cancer Research Wales has been praised by the charity.

Kirsty Brookes, 16, split her time between two charity shops in Cardiff and the research laboratory at Velindre Hospital where she helped with administrative tasks like counting cash, photocopying and answering the phone.

"It was awesome," Kirsty said. "I particularly enjoyed going into the labs and doing the protein experiments with the lab technician."

Assistant director, Coleen Watkins, assistant director, said: "Kirsty is a smashing girl and interacted well with our staff and volunteers. She is very hard-working, polite and courteous and just a delight to work with. She was very quick to learn and wasn't afraid to have a go - we only had to tell her how to do something once and she did it."

Torfaen's After Care Employment (ACE) Co-ordinator, Gail Clarke, offers support to both the young person and the employer during all work experience placements.

"It's a great experience for young people to see what volunteers actually do. It just gives them an insight into the way of working and to also see what others give back to the community," added Ms Watkins.

Kirsty has this advice for other young people who are considering work experience.

"Do something you'll enjoy and participate in everything you're asked to do, even if you don't initially want to do it - you might find you enjoy it."

Kirsty is now studying for a BTEC First Diploma in Health and Social Care and is also a volunteer mentor for the ACE Employability Scheme and the Care Leavers Mentoring Scheme.

Long-term, she wants to become a midwife and is looking forward to doing more work experience, this time within a hospital setting.

For Kirsty, the future is looking bright; however there are always other young people looking for local work experience placements.

If you are an employer who is interested in offering work experience to a young person, please contact Gail Clarke, Employment and Training Co-ordinator at Torfaen's Young People's Support Service, on 01633 647532 or email gail.clarke@torfaen.gov.uk

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New membership offer for young people at Torfaen health and fitness suites

Torfaen council is officially launching a new fitness membership offer for young people aged 16-18 years during Torfaen Sustainability Week.

For a special monthly price of only £25, approximately 35 per cent less than the monthly price of a full membership, young people can access full membership benefits.

These benefits include access to Cwmbran Stadium and PALC Fitness Suites, free pool use during advertised public swim hours, unrestricted access to a wide range of exercise classes, and free use of spa facilities including jacuzzi and saunas.

The executive member for regeneration, councillor Richard Clark said: "We have recognised the growing interest in gym memberships from young people in this age range. Some are looking to improve their general fitness, others in strengthening their stamina and endurance for competitive sport.

"However, we also recognise that there are a growing number of young people interested in the social aspect of fitness training. Many enjoy meeting other like minded young people and others appear to benefit from socialising with people from other age groups and walks of life."

The new offer aimed at 16-18 year olds is being launched as part of Torfaen Sustainability Week during Health and Wellbeing Day on Sunday 11 October. An open day at PALC will also take place on the day.

Free inductions are being included as part of the offer when a young person purchases their first monthly card.

Staying active is proven to help young people keep healthy and there are many different ways they can get active such as walking, running, dancing, skiing, playing a team sport or swimming.

For further information about the 16-18 Monthly Fitness Membership, contact Cwmbran Stadium Fitness Suite on 01633 627109 or Pontypool Active Living Centre Fitness Suite on 01495 742230.

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RDP grant helps local business to branch out

A Blaenavon bed and breakfast has become the first business to benefit from a Torfaen Rural Development Plan (RDP) support grant.

Fostering competitive, sustainable businesses and thriving rural communities is one of the main aims of the recently launched RDP, which is run by a partnership board and a local action group, creaTe.

Local farmers, businesses and community groups can apply to creaTe for grants up to £5,000 to help develop social enterprises, including new business start-ups and tourism enterprises.

The first of these grants has been awarded to Paul Williams, owner of Edlogan Bed and Breakfast in Blaenavon, who received £4,800.

He said: "I underestimated how much money would be needed to turn the dream into reality and this is where the RDP grant came in. We were delighted to find out that we were eligible for the scheme as Blaenavon is classified as a rural ward.

"The money has enabled us to complete the repairs and upgrades required to apply for four-star accreditation with Visit Wales. Without the council's free help and advice, the whole thing would have been a lot more difficult to achieve."

The RDP runs until 2013, with the aim of:

• Improving the quality of life in rural communities
• Strengthening the farming and forestry industries
• Safeguarding and enhancing Torfaen's environment and rural heritage
• Fostering competitive, sustainable businesses and thriving rural communities.

The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: "Through this plan, we can help transform the lives of people living and working in our rural communities, through improving diversity and supporting the development of new businesses.

"We are continually working with the farming community to identify and develop the use of land throughout the borough to help their businesses thrive, while also offering training to those involved."

There are seven wards in Torfaen classed as rural and rural-based business in these areas could be eligible for grant from the Branching Out Fund. The wards are Llanyrafon South, Blaenavon, Abersychan, Cwmynyscoy, Llantarnam, Two Locks and Wainfelin.

This programme is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

For more information on the Branching Out Fund, contact Emma Davies on 01495 742146 or email emma.davies3@torfaen.gov.uk

For more information about the RDP, contact Nikki Davies on 01495 742147 or email nicola.davies@torfaen.gov.uk

read more... “RDP grant helps local business to branch out”