Join us as we publish our new research Beyond Essentials: Community Responses to the Cost-of-Living Crisis on Wednesday 22 May from 10.30-12.00.

This online launch will see us share core findings of our latest research into how communities continue to respond to the cost-of-living crisis and outline the changes we want to see. You’ll also hear directly from community organisations at the heart of this work and have the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the research.

Book your free place to hear more about:

• the work community organisations are doing to mitigate the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis;
• the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people who use community facilities;
• how the work of community organisations is addressing the cost-of-living crisis and complementing or replacing that of public sector organisations; and
• the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on community organisations’ own resources, including staff and volunteers.

We hope you can join us, if you have any questions or for more information, please contact Policy Officer, Eleri Williams on eleri.williams@bct.wales

Be vocal and help make a difference... Become a Co-opted Member on one of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council's Scrutiny Committees.

Scrutiny is an umbrella term covering a wide range of roles with key legislative responsibility for:

• Holding the Cabinet to account
• Policy Review and Development
• Reviewing and scrutinising the performance of the Council and help drive improvements in services.
• External scrutiny

Overview and Scrutiny Committees help ensure local public services are delivered effectively and efficiently and have wide ranging powers to investigate areas of local interest.

Scrutiny can question decision takers, call in expert witnesses or hear evidence from other local stakeholders.  Investigations are not restricted to Council run services, any area of interest to the local community may be investigated by scrutiny.

• The Council has five scrutiny committees:
• Corporate Support and Resources
• Neighbourhood Services, Countryside and Planning Scrutiny Committee
• Learning and LGES (Local Government Education Service) Scrutiny Committee
• Social Services Scrutiny Committee
• Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee

There is currently a vacancy for Voluntary Sector Co-opted representative on Corporate Support and Resources Committee. 

If you are interested in learning more about the role and responsibilities of Scrutiny Committee members, Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil will be holding an online awareness session on 23^rd May 2024 at 10am at VAMT.

To book your place contact karen.vowles@vamt.net

Merthyr Tydfil Global Village was set up in 2005 to raise awareness of and celebrate the cultural diversity of Merthyr Tydfil. Using art and creative projects the team worked tirelessly to develop an annual festival dedicated to bringing cultures together and educating people about Merthyr Tydfil’s diverse roots.

Bids are invited for arts-based projects that align with the spirit of Merthyr Tydfil Global Village Projects should celebrate and raise awareness of the cultural diversity of Merthyr Tydfil. Projects can include workshops, educational activities, dance, music, crafts and food etc to support and promote community cohesion within Merthyr Tydfil, leading up to a celebratory event or be used for a multicultural event in themselves.

Maximum award of up to £1500

Closing date – 12 noon on 17^th May 2024

All funding must be spent by 30^th August 2024

For an application form and guidance, please contact karen.vowles@vamt.net

People in South Wales can now access free online mental health therapy through a new referral system set up in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB).

For the first time, CTMUHB’s Local Primary and Child and Adolescent Mental Health services can refer clients to a suite of guided, online self-help programmes based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

CTMUHB – serving Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf - is the third health board to gain direct referral access to the service, with teams at Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) and Aneurin Bevan already referring.

Anyone in Wales aged 16+ can already self-refer to the service for free without seeing a GP or joining waiting lists.

Support through the programmes is provided for 12 weeks, but service users can set their own pace and access material and exercises even after completing courses. Progress is monitored by trained practitioners, who provide fortnightly feedback and can escalate more serious cases to access further support.

30,000 people have received support from the service – funded by the Welsh government - since it piloted in Powys in 2018.

If you’re under the care of CTMUHB’s Local Primary or Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, discuss a referral with your therapist.

Learn more about SilverCloud at: https://pthb.nhs.wales/services/adult-and-older-peoples-mental-health-services/silvercloud-online-mental-health-support/

To sign up via self-referral, visit: https://nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/

The Merthyr Tydfil Community Trust has recently awarded small grants to 11 local organisations. The recipients were 4Tom, St David’s Baby Bank, Aberfan Junior Wado Kai Karate Club, Cyfarthfa Gardening Club, Family Foxes School Partnership, Margaret Watts-Hughes Foundation, Merthyr Tydfil Poppy Crafters, Merthyr Wado Karate Club, Twynyrodyn Community School, Valleys Football Academy, and Ymlaen Merthyr Tydfil.

The Trust granted a total of £3,300 which is the total it had available. All the grants made were either £300 or £200. The number of applications received was unprecedented and numbered 37 which is twice the amount normally received. This is an indicator of the demand in funding for small groups in the County Borough.

The Trust is run by volunteers and given the annual income of the Trust it is unlikely that the Trust will be able to award more grants until 2026 unless donations are made to the Trust.

If an individual or company would like to make a donation, please contact Ian Davy at ian.davy@hotmail.co.uk

You can follow the Merthyr Tydfil Community Trust Facebook page The Trust's website is https://merthyrcommunitytrust.co.uk/