Helping the community

As well as being one of the key organisers of last year's carnival, he has supported a variety of local and national charities and groups over the years.

Most recently over the last nine months he has co-ordinated various events in Risca in support of the Joshua Foundation.

Our regular readers may also recall Jeff's aim to identify a local group or charity as part of his Community Q Challenge.

Mr McCue can now confirm that over the next 15 months he has agreed to adopt the a Risca Sting Rays.

No doubt Jeff will be knocking on a few doors over the next few months.

This group is primarily a special needs swimming club providing a range of one-to-one support for clients and their families.

Disabilities can range from severe mobility and physical difficulties to general communication and lifestyle issues.

The group was established in 2003 with a nominal membership of six clients.

Today, with the determination and support of the organisers and many specialist volunteers and parents, it can now boast of providing essential support to more than 25 clients in Risca and the surrounding areas.

The Risca Sting Rays meet every Wednesday evening between 5pm and 6pm at Risca Leisure Centre.

If you would like more information on how this group may benefit you or a family member call Paul Taylor on 01443 863225 in the first instance.

By adopting this group Mr McCue is hoping firstly to raise its profile and secondly to establish some local funding opportunities to support pool hire, lifeguard training, special equipment needs and specialist training costs for volunteers.

Pool hire and administration alone can cost £1,000 a year.

At time of going to press Mr McCue is already stirring up support.

More details to follow, in the meantime if anyone would like to make a donation to Mr McCue's community challenge they can call him on 08455 846833 or 07767005904.

Brownies Wanted: The second Risca Brownies have vacancies for girls aged between seven and ten-years-old to join the pack.

The group meets at Ty-Sign Junior School Hall on Mondays between 5.45pm and 7pm.

Anyone interested can contact Mary Bush on 01633 615328.

The pack started meeting on Monday, September 10, so get in touch now if you are interested.

Clean Up Of Park: A group of local business employees joined forces with Caerphilly County Borough Council park staff to give a tidy up to the Waunfawr Park in Crosskeys.

The international finance firm JP Morgan got involved to help improve facilities at the park and in the process helped build raised flowerbeds, new seating and a BBQ area as well as a wildlife pond.

Well done to all who took part - it is hoped that folk in the area will help by placing their rubbish in the bins provided.

Barclays Helps School: Information has come to hand that Rhiannon Jones, an employee at the Risca branch of Barclays Bank recently took part in a fundraising event a Llanyafon Primary School helping with face painting and selling refreshments.

As a result - and with the assistance of a Barclays scheme where the firm agreed to match the funds raised - a total of £500 was raised to help the school improve facilities for the children. Well done Rhiannon.

Charity Gentlemen's Dinner: International cricket umpire David Shepherd - who took charge of 92 test matches - will be the guest speaker at a charity gentlemen's evening at Abercarn and Newbridge Rotary Club.

The event will be held at Newbridge RFC club house on Friday, October 5, starting at 7.30pm with tickets priced £20.

All proceeds are for charity and organisers say anyone attending is assured of an enjoyable evening.

Tickets can be bought from rotarian Terry Powell on 01495 243218 or any rotary club member.

Risca Male choir News: This year's annual concert will be held at Risca Leisure Centre on Saturday, October 22, commencing at 7pm.

This year's guest artist will be Robert Anderson (bass) who appears by permission of the Welsh National Orchestra and will be accompanied by a guest pianist.

The compere and musical director will be Martin Hodson with guest accompanist Chris Knott. Julie Bevan is the choir's rehearsal accompanist.

Tickets are £10 and £8 with unreserved seating and can be bought by calling Keith Davies on 01633 896015 or Alan Davis on 01495 272664 as well as any chorister.

Seating plans can be found on flier posters available at Risca Library, Risca Post Office or Risca Choir HQ, St Mary's Street Risca.

Also Risca Male Choir announce a newly-released two-track CD - Risca Male Choir Sings For The BBC Children In Need Appeal.

It is priced at only £3 (minimum donation) and is available from choir members.

The two pieces recorded are Prayer Of The Children and The Voice Of The Child.

Every penny donated to Children In Need goes towards helping disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Children In Need is delighted to benefit from the fundraising.

Please buy a CD and help the choir in its effort to support the appeal.

Autumn Celebration: Hope Baptist Church Crosskeys will continue its celebration of 125 years existence when a special evening will be held on Saturday, September 22, at 7pm.

It is due to feature Mynydd Islwyn male voice choir and Trinant Primary School choir.

A collection will be made and the proceeds of this will go to the Children's Hospital in Cardiff - a very needy charity in view of recent views in the Press.

Please give this event your support.

Programme of walks: Islwyn Ramblers' September programme is as follows: Saturday, September 15.

Black Rock - leaves Blackvein at 9am - moderate five to six miles - contact Doreen Ford 01633 761849.

Sunday, September 23.

Abersychan - meet at Blackvein at 9.30am or Victoria Village Hall, Abersychan (grid ref 270044) at 10am. Choice of seven miles or ten miles. Contact Mike Williams on 01495 753040.

Saturday, September 29.

Sponsored walks in aid of the Gwent Association for the Blind.

Cwmcarn Scenic Drive - four-and-a-half miles, eight miles or ten miles.

Contact Maggie Thomas 01495 273057 for details and sponsorship forms.

Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club: On Friday, September 21, live at Crosskeys Hotel, Crosskeys, the club presents Keith Christmas in concert.

Keith is a seminal 1970's british singer, songwriter, blues man and acoustic guitarist who has recently returned to top form with several re-releases and a new critically acclaimed solo album of his worl.

He was also a top session musician in the late 1960s and played acoustic guitar on David Bowie's Space Oddity.

Tickets are £5 (members £4). Contact 01495 270078 for more information.

Crosskeys and Pontywaun Residents' Association (CAPRA): CAPRA started roughly six years ago when a small group of residents met informally to discuss the community and to work together to plan events.

Since that time CAPRA's memebership numbers have grown and the association has had significant success.

Its growth necessitated a change in meeting place.

Meeting in a member's front room became impossible as it was unable to accommodate all the members.

Despite falling numbers in the last 18 months CAPRA is still going strong, with an almost all-new committee.

All past committee members have worked hard and the present committee wish to thank everyone who has contributed.

Copies of the draft constitution can be obtained from the secretary Rhiannon Price 01495 273187.

If anyone wishes to make amendments they must inform Rhiannon in writing before the meeting.

All residents of Crosskeys and Pontywaun are welcome to attend CAPRA meetings whether they have a grievance they wish to discuss or whether they think they can contribute to the regeneration of the community.

The next meeting is at the Crosskeys Hotel, on Monday, October 1, at 7pm.

Crosskeys Community Group: Tea/coffee mornings are held every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12pm.

Organisers send their thanks to a local kind resident who kindly donated books, flowerpots etc for our weekly bring and buy sale.

Bingo sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons.

Doors open at 2pm for a 2.30pm start. The snowball will stand at £27.

The number of bingo players are increasing so that pushes the prize money up! Admission is £1.

The group also holds a bring and buy sale.

The next tabletop sale will be on Saturday, September 22, from 11am-1pm.

Tables are £3 each inside or out, weather permitting.

To book a table please call Lynne on 01495 271947.

Refreshments will be served. Admission costs £1 to include a raffle ticket.

The community hall is available for hire - for bookings and information please telephone Rebecca 07900 519381 or Lynne 01495 271947.

Answer phone available and all calls returned.

Jumble sale: Moose International will be holding a jumble sale in the St John's Ambulance Hall, Risca from 10am on Saturday, September 22.

All proceeds from the event will go to charity.