ALLTWEN HEELS WI

Alltwen Heels WI held their Christmas Celebration on December 5th, with a Christmas Wine and Food tasting evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

In October, we had applied for a Lottery Grant, from Wales Applications Funds/Awards for All, and that very day, we had an e mail to tell us it had been granted! £9,000. What an amazing gift for Christmas.Our application project was for ‘Alleviating Lonliness’, and ‘Reduction In Urban Bus Services’, two recent resolutions passed by the NFWI.

Our project application outlined plans to launch three workshops, in Clydach, Pontardawe and Rhos, so that ladies in these Communities can have a taste of the activities we have on offer, painting, Craft, Flower arranging being some examples. Information will be included in Leaflets, and Social media sites.

These workshops will, hopefully encourage new members. Each month we plan to hold a series of outings, events, for all paid up members, all entirely free.

Ideas so far include, a trip to the Royal Welsh Show, a visit to Denman College (The NFWI training college) for a Taster day, a trip to a Show in Cardiff. Plus, activity events such as an IT Training session by Age Cymru, Newport, a hands on Painting day, craft activities etc. Our cup runneth over.

In addition to these monthly events, transport will be provided, when needed, for those ladies unable to access our monthly meetings, using the Neath and Port Talbot Community Bus scheme (which we already subscribe to) and taxis, or car share.

All this is due to our hard working Committee, with a special mention to Jan Huxtable and Rhian Jones, who, over several weeks, pushed hard to complete the involved application.

This Grant is not just to increase our numbers, it is to help us spread the word in our Local Community to show what the WI has to offer, not the imagine of ‘Jam and Jerusalem’, but, an enthusiastic and forward thinking group, of which I am proud to be President.

Our 2020 programme includes a ‘Murder Mystery’ evening, ‘Tales of a Private Investigator’, Bee Keeping, ‘Fit Steps’, a wide variety of monthly meetings, in addition to what we have planned with our Grant Application.We meet the first Friday of each month,at Alltwen Community Centre, we have an FB page, and we are also on Twitter.

So, ladies, what are you waiting for? Come along to out Taster sessions or/and meetings! Our Grant application launch is planned for February/March 2020.