Garw Valley Voice Initiative To Host Free Half-Term Activities

Four activity-packed days are planned for residents of the Garw Valley during half-term week, thanks to a partnership which aims to get residents involved in, and proud of, the communities in which they live. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Garw Valley Voice initiative – a partnership between South Wales Police and a range of organisations including Bridgend County Borough Council and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service – invites residents from the Bettws and Pontycymmer areas to attend one of four community action days to share their concerns, access information on a range of topics and enjoy a range of free fun activities for the whole family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event will kick off at Bettws Life Centre on Monday, October 24, and will continue there the following day. On Wednesday and Thursday, October 26 and 27, the activities will move to Blaengarw Rugby Club, Pontycymmer.
The days of action have been arranged as a direct result of feedback from members of the two communities, and aim to tackle some of the main issues raised such as environmental problems, drug-related crime and antisocial behaviour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It also aims to get residents together to celebrate all that is good in their communities, encouraging them to spread the word on social media using the hashtag #OurGarwValley. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as crafts and face-painting for the youngsters, a range of partners will also be on hand to provide advice on everything from fly-tipping and pollution to housing, finances, job-hunting, and getting online. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A skip will also be placed in each of the areas for a single day to give local people a chance to properly, and safely, dispose of large items of rubbish and gas cylinders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Patrick Catto of the Maesteg Sector commented: “The Garw Valley Action Days are a great opportunity for residents of Bettws and Pontycymmer to pop by to see what South Wales Police and other partner agencies are doing to help ensure their communities are safe and pleasant places to live. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Those living in the areas will know better than anyone what the key issues are and we want to work with them to identify and tackle priority areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is an ongoing initiative and the half-term events are just the beginning. So come along to join in the fun and have your say to help us shape future events and community engagement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each of the action days will take place from 9am to 4pm. Keep up with news from the week and planned future action by searching for #GarwValleyVoice on social media. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​