CAN YOU HELP?: Rogerstone AFC are looking for sponsorship. 

The team, who had a good season last year, regularly attract spectators to their home games from Rogerstone and the surrounding areas and is one of the oldest sport teams in South Wales with three teams. 

The sponsorship will help support these teams with kit, training equipment and pitch costs. 

Rogerstone councillor Chris Evans, who visited the team, said ‘this is a great opportunity to get your businesses name on Rogerstone’s favourite shirts, and to get your businesses name out there to a captive audience’. 

For details of opportunities e-mail RogerstoneAFC@gmail.com. 

ROGERSTONE REBEL: its official! There is a date for opening of  the new Rogerstone headquarters of Tiny Rebel Brewing Co. The venue opens up to the public from Sunday July 2. 

Neighbours and visitors with a passion for beer will be able to pre-book tours (to be held every Saturday), hire the bar for private parties and enjoy family-friendly Sunday lunches, served every weekend. 

The opening of the new purpose-built brewery and event space also includes a Tiny Rebel shop and fully-stocked bar. 

More news on the launch - including job vacancies - is being revealed every week, with announcements on Tiny Rebel’s Facebook and Twitter pages and the Tiny Rebel website. 

Tinyrebel.co.uk is also going to list the new brewery bar’s opening hours and special events.

The family-run company, led by Bradley Cummings and Gareth Williams, has gone from strength to strength since launching in early 2012 and just 5 years later the brothers-in-law are celebrating this major £2.7m expansion at their new brewing facility. 

Tiny Rebel supports a number of local causes, including St David’s Hospice, and the space will be available for charities and community groups to hire. 

Keep an eye on Tiny Rebel’s social media updates for more information on their launch party, taking place on Saturday July 1. 

You can email: brewerybar@tinyrebel.co.uk with any questions.

SUMMER BAKE OFF: The annual High Cross Primary School Summer Fair takes place on Saturday July 1. 

Every year they try to have different experiences and this year they’ll be having our own bake off event. 

Participants are invited to create their own cake and come along to be part of the competition. 

There are four different age categories. These are nursery to year 2, year 3 to year 6, high school and over 16 years of age. 

Cakes must be presented in the School Hall at 12.30pm and judging will commence at 1pm. Entry is £2 per cake with one cake entry allowed per person. 

Every participant will receive a certificate for entering and there will be prizes for 1st and 2nd place in each category. The only stipulation is that each cake must only be 1 tier tall. 

So far there are two of the four judges. These are myself councillor Chris Evans and Miss Wales Inspiration 2017, and we’re both extremely excited to be part of the event and to see, and, the best bit, taste what’s been created. 

If you would like to be part of this fun and exciting opportunity then pop along on the day and show us what you’ve done. For more information please see our High Cross Primary School PTA Facebook page or contact the school directly.

MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN: Solas Cymru, Newport’s local homeless and vulnerable people’s charity are campaigning! 

Their Back On My Feet campaign aims to take huge strides in stamping out homelessness and provide practical training and employment resources for achieving independence; an environment that promotes accountability and a community that offers compassion and hope. 

Their message is simple, “By putting one foot in front of another we can leave homelessness behind. 

Through the power of exercise, they can restore confidence, strength and determination.

They’re fundraising to provide opportunities to inspire and challenge people to change their lives. 

With new found self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to master the road ahead and move on towards employment, having a home they can call their own and restarting a healthy new life with positive relationships.

One of the supporting programmes, ‘Moving Mountains’, works with homeless individuals living in hostels and vulnerable young people. 
Participants commit to a 10 week programme that includes three weekly training sessions and a mountain walk every other week. 

The course culminates with The Fan Dance, a grueling 24km non-navigational race over two sides of Pen Y Fan. 

This infamous route has long been a part of SAS (Special Air Service) selection and is considered the yardstick of a candidate’s potential to ultimately pass the special forces selection programme. 

Show your support by Tweeting your feet to @SolasCymru #BackOnMyFeet and donating £3 by texting FEET17 £3 to 70070. Your support and donations provide opportunities to inspire and challenge people to change their lives. 

This is a great initiative which I’m sure we’ll all do our best to support.

I’ve long felt that with will and determination we can end homelessness in our city and, by working together, we can ‘move any mountain’.

CONFIDENCE AND FITNESS: If you are thinking of taking up Taekwon-Do or would like to simply keep fit then pop along to Taekwon-do-Wales training sessions in Rogerstone on a Wednesday and Friday evening at Rogerstone Primary School. 

Mr John Tovey (III Dan) instructs ‘little leaders’ from 5pm to 6pm and junior/adults from 6pm to 7pm. 

The club is part of Taekwon-Do-Wales.Com (one of the largest schools in the UK, based in the South Wales valleys) with nearly 600 students in total and are affiliated with the International Taekwon-Do Federation. 

As a local TKD school, the club helps every student gain a variety skills including developing confidence and fitness whilst at the same time learning how to deal with bullies by honing self-defence skills. 

The club also encourages the thrill of competition and the school has had great success - they have had pupils train in the National Welsh Squad and compete at international levels throughout Europe. 

If you are thinking of taking up Taekwon-Do, or are looking for a great activity to get your children into, then this is the place to be! 

First two lessons are free of charge, and a discounted payment plan is available for families, so you have nothing to lose! 

For more information visit Mr John Tovey Facebook Page (Taekwon-do-Wales Abercarn and Rogerstone) or phone 07812715889. 

RECYCLING OUTCRY: there’s been a big outcry on social media after a huge amount of builders waste and other items were dumped at the recycle bay on Tregwilym Rd, all credit to Newport City Councils ‘Pride in Newport’ team who quickly cleared up the mess early last Monday. 

However after a few short hours more bags were dumped. Having visited the site several times over the past week its clear the recycling bins need to be emptied more often, and, I’ve raised this with the cabinet member and officers, also requesting cctv (temporary if cost is an issue). 

I also asked that we look at the feasibility of extra units and called for the city central dump to be opened at more accessible times, particularly on bank holidays, however none of the above excuses the fly tipping. 

A petition has been set up by neighbours to remove the recycling station, whilst I’m not convinced that this is the right move at this stage, as promised, I’ll be guided by your views. 

What did really impress me was the way our community came together, with several neighbours volunteering to monitor the site over the coming weeks, this has already lead to several people being deterred from dumping at the site. 

If you witness anyone fly tipping at the recycling station, or anywhere else in Rogerstone, please, take a few minutes to report the offenders, you can do this confidentially by calling 07973 698582 or by visiting newport.gov.uk search ‘fly tipping’. 

STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Work is well under way on the Risca Road to Rivermead Way steps, a public ‘right of way’ was granted after lobbying from  city and community councillors over a number of years. 

Well done to all who completed forms verifying the steps have been in use by the public and to my fellow city councillor Yvonne who took the time to gather the forms.

Special thanks also to local Darren Parker, who, when he was a community councillor did a great deal of work on this project, thank you Darren. 

This initiative is a great example of councillors and our community working together, putting difference to one side in pursuit of a common goal, the steps will be opened in a few short weeks providing a safe well lite route for all to enjoy. 

HAVE YOUR SAY: Dates have been agreed for the next Rogerstone ward meetings, they are Wednesday July 12 at  7pm at Mount Pleasant Primary School (pending booking confirmation),  Wednesday October 11 at 7pm at new school Jubilee Park (pending agreement) and Wednesday February 7 2018 at Rivermead Centre Afon Village.

If you’d like an item or issue on the agenda for the meeting on the July 12 get in touch on the contacts above, and, I’ll try my best to get it included. 

Ward meetings are a great opportunity for Rogerstone neighbours to ask police, council officers, Newport City Homes etc. questions direct, and are non-political so, very much an opportunity for you to ‘have your say’ and get answers to the issues that matter to you and our community. 

It’s been great meeting with so many neighbours over the last few months and I’ll be continuing to hold my personal  ‘pop up’ request surgeries throughout the coming months, which means, regular surgeries, will be held by myself, any place, any time, convenient to you. 

All you have to do, is get in touch, and, suggest a location, and, I’ll be happy to turn up. 

It could be at your church group, or OAP meeting, sports club or mothers and toddlers group, or, a one to one, in the comfort of your own home, as ever, if you prefer a quick chat, you can call me anytime on 07778279235.

SUMMER, TIME TO GET CRAFTY: The Afon Village Summer Food and Craft Fair was born following the success of the Christmas Fair and the desire to keep the momentum going with the many community events that take place in and around Afon Village. 

This year the fair will take place at the Rivermead Centre on Father’s Day, June 18 starting at 1pm and finishing at 3pm.

There will be plenty to do to keep the family entertained ranging from craft stalls selling a variety of homemade bespoke items through to a bouncy castle and face painting for the children (and young at heart).

A number of local bakers will be in attendance with their delicious cakes and sweets along with Rogerstone restaurant favourites, The Spicy Aroma and Mamma Lina’s. 

In addition, Risca Rugby Club will be manning the BBQ so there will be something to suit all tastes. 

Everybody is welcome, and there is no entry fee, so please do pop along with your friends and neighbours and make the most of what is guaranteed to be a great day for our wonderful local community.

Rogerstone
Chris Evans
chrispevans1@mac.com
07778 279235
www.chrispevans.co.uk