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There are bi-monthly PACT meetings in your area where you have the opportunity to highlight any community issues that may be having an impact on your quality of life. Those who attend the meetings help in identifying 3 priorities for the police, partners and community to address. Those who attend are reassured by witnessing the police and their partners dealing with the issues that matter most to you. The meetings also give you the opportunity to get to know your local Community Police Officer and the rest of the team. PACT meetings are your meetings. This process needs your voice to ensure we concentrate on the issues relevant to you and your community. If you don’t say, we can’t listen! For more information about PACT, set priorities and meeting details please visit www.ourbobby.com

To find out the dates of the PACT meetings for 2010 in Sketty Park please visit www.ourbobby.com

Fred would like to extend his thanks to the Youth Partnership in Sketty who assisted him with their recent ‘Fish’ N Chips Supper’. “This event was a joint partnership held on Halloween. It was deemed a great success around eighteen local children attended Parklands Primary school. They hired external flood lighting and played football and cricket with the children. As well as having fun Sumo Wrestling demonstrated below. The evening was rounded off with fish and chips for all”.

Throughout this year, many organisations, including South Wales Police, the Youth Service, local County Councillors, Communities First, Olchfa and Bishop Gore Schools, City and County of Swansea Council, Parklands Church and others, have met on a regular basis to work towards developing provision and facilities for children and young people in some areas within Swansea. Sketty Park has been the focus for a number of potential projects which include youth club provision, a multi use games area, outdoor adventure activities, local sports and training. Some consultation work has been done with young people from Bishop Gore and Olchfa Schools and a forum group is being developed locally where young people can play a key role in informing and directing future work. If you are aged between 11 and 25 and live in Sketty Park, please get in touch with us on 284740 or call in to the office at 134 Clyne Court. We really need your opinions and ideas.

One Saturday early in December; the sun, slowly waking, climbed out from under its duvet of clouds to the jingle of sleigh bells. No it wasn’t Christmas Day but you could be forgiven for thinking Christmas had come early. Why? Santa Claus had come to Sketty Park! The community centre saw its annual Christmas Fair with stalls selling bric-a-brac, knitted wonders, chocolates and cakes. Raffles galore, arts and crafts; and of course Father Christmas. The children and some grown ups, all arriving with a gleeful smile, patiently waited their turn to see him for their free photograph and gift. A wonderful day was had by all. Lots of local groups were involved in organising and running the event. Food, the cup and saucer ride and the visit to Santa were all provided free.

Thank you so much, to all those who volunteered tirelessly throughout the day. Your hard work helped make the day the success it was. Of course; thank you to Father Christmas for coming to Sketty Park during his busiest time of year.

During the month of November a group of local residents have taken part in a 4 week taster session that was delivered in partnership between Sketty Park Communities First and Sustainable Swansea. The sessions were free and open for anyone to join that had an interest in learning digital camera skills and raise their awareness of local environmental issues. Throughout the 4 sessions residents learnt how to use the basic functions of a digital camera, how to use flash and micro settings and lots more.

The group also learnt how to download their photographs to computer and some basic photo editing. Sessions happened in a number of places; visits were made to Swansea’s sustainability trail, and the group took photos in different areas of Sketty Park itself. Residents were able to identify local resources we have as a community, these included many community buildings, green spaces, recycling areas, art and culture groups, wildlife areas and facilities/ groups that encourage and offer local volunteering opportunities. Many of the photographs taken will later be added to the online interactive green map of Swansea. Links for this can be found at www.sustainableswansea.net

Following these initial taster sessions, all 9 residents that took part are very keen to continue their learning. The group will now continue to meet in the New Year and are interested in learning more abouthow to better use their cameras and its functions, and how to save their photos on computers and CD’s and mush more. The group will be meeting in the New Year on Wednesday afternoons 1-3pm, starting the 13th January 2010. If you are interested in learning about how to use digital cameras, maybe you have received one as a Christmas and are unsure of how to use it, then please do not hesitate to find out how you can join in, everyone is welcome. For more information contact Claire Jones, Communities First 01792 284740.

The Clyne Courts Residents Association started meeting in August of this year. The group has developed as a result of local tenants of the Clyne Court flats expressing their concern for the area, the wellbeing of local residents and a desire to see activities take place that can build better ‘community spirit’.

Over 30 residents have so far been involved in the association and, in this short time, a number of very productive activities and meetings have taken place, with plans for much more for the future. In total there have been five meetings, attended by Clyne Court Residents, the Neighbourhood Support Unit, Department of Housing, Tidy Towns, Keep Wales Tidy, Environment Department, local County Councillors, the Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Housing and of course, Communities First.

During the meetings we have looked at anti-social behaviour, substance misuse, refurbishments of the flats, local environment, recycling and noise nuisance. The Clyne Courts Residents Association, working with the Swansea

Council’s Housing Department, has drafted a document that outlines the groups aims and objectives, which include taking a more involved role in local maintenance and improvements, working together to combat issues relating to substance misuse and looking at reducing smoking, littering and fly tipping in the area. While working on these long term plans, the association has been involved in some short term activities that will build up ‘community spirit’.

Activities include flower bulb planting around the blocks, coffee mornings/evenings and a swap shop.

If you are a resident of Clyne Court, please call into our offices at number 134, in block three. Come and find out about all the work that is going on in your area, the various activities that are taking place and when our next meeting will be. You can also call us on 284740.

Hi all, well we’ve been out and about in the area meeting young people on the streets and getting involved in activities such as paint balling, trips to Oakwood Park, parties, football and fund raisers. The group of boys involved in the Short Mat Bowls Club have recently played their first League matches, and were part of a winning side too. These young people have achieved their

Bronze Award from Youth University which they received at the Bang, Sparkle, Jam Party night held by Swansea Youth Service and are now looking to achieve the Silver Award.

In response to the success of a sports project run over the summer at Parkland Primary School, in partnership with Fred (PCSO), an afternoon of sporting games took place on Halloween. Fred, other PCSO’s and us Youth Workers ran an afternoon of sporting games followed by a well earned fish and chip supper. Thanks to Sketty Park Chip Shop for all their help on this As well as playing football and cricket, thanks to our manager Carol Wharrad we were able to get hold of Sumo Wrestling suits which went down a storm. The following week a group from Sketty went to the Bang, Sparkle, Jam (bonfire evening) held at Gorseinon Youth Centre. At the moment we are working with a group who are setting up a disco for ages 11 – 17 in the Sketty Park Sports and Social Club, they are selling tickets as we speak, the date for this is 17th December. Tickets are available on the door for £4. As youth workers in your area we try to offer an opportunity for all young people to get involved. So if you have an idea and want our support to move it forward, get in touch with us via our e-mail address or stop us if you see us around. We are usually out and about Monday and Thursday evenings, between 6 pm and 9pm. See you out there!

Article submitted by:
Andy and Vicky
Your local Youth Workers

Sketty Park Communities First has been involved in organising free adventure days for young people across Swansea’s Communities First areas. Young people from Sketty Park, Townhill, Bonymaen and Castle (Town Centre) all went to Port Eynon on the second organised day, for an action packed Saturday during September. There were lots of outward-bound activities for the young people to take part in, including rock climbing, surfing, orienteering and journeying games. This day gave local young people the opportunity to try new activities, learn and develop skills, build on their team work and communication, and meet new people from other areas of the City. There was plenty of laughing to be heard as teams were given tasks to complete. There was a great spirit of camaraderie amongst the group and it was encouraging to see young people from different areas, families and experiences accepting one another, working together to achieve something new and have fun.

Lunch was provided mid-day to recharge the batteries then the teams changed around and new challenges were set for the afternoon. Communities First is now working closely with other partners to organised similar activities in 2010.

A huge thank you to all those that supported this adventure, and the young people themselves on the day. The Youth Service, PCSOs, and Community Development Workers all supported the young people who took part to ensure that they had a great experience and memorable day. Thank you.

Traditionally a time for trick or treats, October 31st is always full of excitement and fun, and this year was no exception. A group of 5 local parents, supported by Communities First, have come together to start planning increased play opportunities for the children of Sketty Park, and their first venture was a Halloween party.

The party was held at Sketty Park Community Centre in full fancy dress, and the volunteers had a variety of treats in store for the children attending. There were skeletons, goons, witches and pumpkins dancing their hearts away in the disco. Dunking apples and doughnuts games kept the children entertained and they all enjoyed the hotdogs and treats on sale from the kitchen. There were prizes handed out for the best costumes in the fancy dress competitions and lots of sugar and spice and all things nice in goodies bags that the children received on their way home.

The party was a great hit and the volunteers worked tirelessly planning and organising the party, advertising the event locally and selling most of the tickets in advance. Altogether over 90 people attended, representing dozens of family’s from Sketty Park.

There’s no rest for the wicked as this group of mums and dads are already well underway in planning a Christmas Party in Sketty Park Sports and Social Club on the 13th December. If you are interested in finding out more about this group or how you can get involved in local community events please contact Claire Jones, Communities First on 01792 284740.

October half term saw the second Play Session running in Sketty Park and it was a huge success. The session ran for 2 hours at Sketty Park Community Centre and was a great opportunity for children to come together and enjoy playing. There were lots of children’s play equipment, games, puzzles, toys, crafts and lots more for the children to choose from too. The musical instruments seemed to be a particular success and there were some very funky wrist bands being created. There was a baby and toddlers corner which the little ones enjoyed and circus skills equipment for the older children too.

The Play Session was organised in partnership with Sketty Park Communities First and the Councils Play Team and had the support of 3 local parent volunteers. Throughout the session there were 45 children who attended and 25 parents. A huge thank you to all those involved, especially the volunteers, for making this a day that the children, and parents, really enjoyed.

The next Play Session has already been planned for February Half Term 2010. If you would like to know more about these sessions or would be interested in volunteering yourself, please contact Claire Jones, Community Development Worker, Sketty Park Communities First on 01792 284740.

Ahoy there, me hearties. This summer saw lots of activity in Parry’s Park with our Pirate Week attracting children and families from around Sketty Park with lots of fun and games. The great British weather did, of course, have its wet moments, but that didn’t stop the good times rounding as Parklands Church opened its doors for the fun to continue on dry ground.

A number of organisations were involved in organising activities for this week, with Sketty Park Communities First taking the lead role. ‘Play Right’ came with their pirate ship, which the children loved climbing on and jumping off. The children’s imaginations were running wild with plenty of role play and pirates onboard. The Councils ‘Play Team’ supported the event and brought with them giant chess, football goals, parachute, henna painting and lots more. Parklands Church not only provided a last minute venue when the rain came but also ran a Wii competition, face painting, football table and table tennis games.

The Youth Service also supported the activities, and young people from the Sketty Park got involved by organising a hotdog stand for the 5 days. Hundreds of hotdogs were sold with all profits raised going towards supporting other youth activities in the area. Well done guys, you did a great job. Step aside Sir Alan Sugar; we may have some young apprentices on our hands.

The week attracted over 380 people throughout its duration, and it was lovely to see families coming out together with picnics and sun cream in hand. The week also provided the opportunity for local parents to show an interest in getting involved in future play and community events. Following this week a number of parents have already got together and have planned and delivered their first activity, with the second happening shortly.