Young People from Twinned Towns Visit Civic Centre

On Wednesday 26 August, the leader of Torfaen Council, councillor Bob Wellington welcomed 40 young people from Germany, Portugal and France to the council chamber in Civic Centre, Pontypool, to help them learn more about the lives of young people in Torfaen and the role of the council.

The visit was arranged by Pontypool Community Council through the twinning relationship with its twin towns in Bretten, Germany, Condeixa in Portugal and Longjumeau in France.

Ten young people from each country arrived in Torfaen and they were joined in the civic centre by 10 young people from Pontypool Youth Council.

The young people took part in a range of activities organised by the community council which is hoped may develop into a collaborative youth festival in Torfaen.

Councillor Wellington joined a discussion in the council chamber on the benefits of twinning, how to engage young people in democracy and what it is to be European.

The young people then took part in a computer game tournament organised by University of Wales, Newport and GameStation in Cwmbran. The university provided equipment and GameStation provided 10 Xbox consoles with students from the games designing degree helping organise and support the competition.

In the evening, Pontypool Active Living Centre became the venue for a youth music and dance festival organised by the award-winning Urban Circle organisation.

The young people took part in street and break-dancing workshops, radio, DJ and MC master classes and the night ended with music provided by two local bands.