Youth crime prevention initiatives

Nigel Collins co-ordinator of Communities First Abertillery Ward gave a presentation on projects which aim to provide opportunities for training and learning new skills for local youths.

These youth initiatives aim to involve and enthuse the youth of Abertillery and the wider community:
* Tools for Future project where 10 pupils of Abertillery Comprehensive School leave the school for two days a week to undertake vocational training in the Automotive, Construction and Environmental routes. It is in its second year with more schools interested in its delivery.

* Free running training (Jumps) which is run out of the Stute and is open to 11 - 25 year olds and consists of two coaches providing essential guidance and training in how to safely negotiate any obstacles by means of diving, jumping, rolling and creative manoeuvring. It has been running for six weeks on a Tuesday between pm6-7.30pm, admittance is free.

* Tillery TT, which is also run out of the Stute on a Tuesday and Thursday between 4pm-6pm. It is open to over 14 year olds and is free. There is a Wii, a PS3, lads mags, girls mags, refreshments all for you to try your hand at.

Anyone over 17 that attends more than four sessions will have the chance to take the Pass Plus training for free.

This will enable successful participants to obtain substantial discounts on their car insurance.

Anyone who attends will be offered support in looking for volunteering, training, education or employment if they wish with numerous agencies such as Careers Wales, Jobmatch and Working Links there to offer the support.

The Crime Prevention Partnership has undertaken to give financial support to these projects.

50+ MEETING: The next Abertillery takes place on Thursday 13 December and will deal with healthcare concerns. If you have questions or are worried about GP surgeries, hospitals or nursing care, this will be your opportunity to put them to Sheila Kanniford Head of Intermediate care Blaenau Gwent Local Health Board.

There will also be
* Health checks
* Information about exercise for the over 50s
* LIFE cards
If all takes place at Ebenezer Baptist Church from 10.30am along with mince pies, tea and coffee.

If you need help with transport, please contact Ruth Iles on (01495) 309951 or 353874 GUARDIAN ANGELS AND CANDLES: St Paul's Church Candles and St John's Church Guardian Angels are now on sale at a £1 each and will be displayed in church to commemorate family and friends who are sadly no longer with us.

CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Abertillery Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society will bring you A Christmas Cracker - an evening of festive fun to celebrate Christmas on December 12 and 13 at The Met starting at 7pm.

Doors open at 6.30pm.Tickets cost £7 and are available from The Met on (01495) 322510.

CHOIR NEWS: I have received the following report from Malcolm Williams, Press Officer of Abertillery Orpheus Male Voice Choir: "The last month of 2007 and what a month it's going to be! We started with four concerts - one a week.

The First of December started it at Llangynidr with The Rhree Welsh Tenors.

It was well attended - all tickets had sold three weeks before. The choir started with four numbers then The Tenors sang a medley of both Welsh and English songs.

The last spot of the first half was back to the choir.After a short break, the second half took on a Christmas flavour both acts singing Christmas carols, first the Orpheus, then The Three Tenors and back to the Orpheus for the final spot.

That done it was on to Tuesday and two concerts at sheltered housing.

We do this every year and hope to entertain the residents.

On Saturday 8, we will be part of the mass choirs in memory of Peter Law in Ebbw Vale.No time off, Friday sees us at Llanhilleth for the reopening of the Workmans Hall.

No time to take a breath because Saturday we are off again to Mardy for another concert.

Still no end - yet two more to come. On December 23 the Carol Concert at St Michael's Abertillery, a day to do Christmas shoppjng and then the last of the year at the Celtic Manor for a Chrismas Eve Concert.

I'm sure every one would like to thank the choir for the hard work they have put in on a very full year's concerts. Thank you all.

COMPETITION: If you live in Arael View and decorate the outside of your house every year, then this competition is made for you! The Arael View Christmas House Competition is open to all who live in Arael View and decorate the outside of their house.

Just fill in the questionnaire which will soon be delivered to your door by the Communities First team and return it to the office in the Arcade by Tuesday, December 18.

Judging will take place on Wednesday, December 19.

There will be a range of Christmas vouchers and gifts for the winning home.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Tabernacle will be holding their Christmas service on December 16 at 6pm and Zion will be on December 23.

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE: An invitation and a warm welcome is extended to you all to attend the Abertillery Independent Baptist Church for a Christmas service at 3pm on Sunday, December 23.The service will take place in the Learning Centre in Abertillery Comprehensive School. Pastor Richard Holst of Cardiff will lead the service and they look forward to seeing you.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this year's appeal. In total, 600 shoe boxes and over 500 knitted/crochet blankets have now been sent to children in war torn/deprived areas.

Many thanks to PC Kevin Gullick and to the PCSO for all their help in carrying the boxes and bags to the awaiting vehicle.

Senior Schools Choral Festival 2007:Sponsored by Cwmbran Community Council, the Senior Schools Choral Festival 2007 was hosted by Croesyceiliog School.

The hosts opened the Festival and included in their programme the Duke Ellington arrangement of It Don't Mean A Thing and the Barry Manilow classic One Voice.

Rougemont School followed this with a programme which included Look at the World and The Gospel Train arrangement by Alex L'Estrange.

The interval allowed the appreciative audience a few minutes to relax.

The second half allowed Caerleon Comprehensive School to open the proceedings with a varied programme including Gloria in Excelsis,Tears in Heaven and the Elton John/Tim Rice arrangement of Can you Feel the Love Tonight.

Finally Fairwater High School entertained the packed audience with the ever popular Bohemian Rhapsody, You Raise Me Up and a grand finale rendering of a Miss Saigon medley.

The choirs and soloists are to be congratulated on a superb evening of entertainment and a special mention to the School's musical Directors for an expansive repertoire and imaginative arrangements.

Contact the Elderly: Contact the Elderly has a CONTACT group in Newport that meet once a month on a Sunday for afternoon tea.

Volunteer drivers collect one or two elderly people in their cars and take them to meet the rest of the group at that month's host, who provides a warm welcome and afternoon tea. These occasions offer fun and friendship to elderly people and volunteers alike!

Our Newport group would very much welcome new drivers and hosts. Can you invite the group to your home for Sunday afternoon tea just once a year? Or could you join the group as a driver giving a few hours of your time just one Sunday afternoon a month? If so, please contact Vanessa Powell on 02920193767.

The group also has vacancies for elderly guests. If you are an elderly person, or if you know an elderly person, who may like to join the Newport CONTACT group, please contact Vanessa Powell on 02920193767.

This is a free service. Volunteer drivers are CRB checked. Contact the Elderly is a registered charity - 244681.