Welcome to the Latest News from Cobwebs!

From here you can read about various interesting news stories and upcoming events on Cobwebs, or simply by clicking the relevant links below. If you know of an upcoming event or an interesting story that should be included here, then please email us on cobwebs@bridgend.gov.uk

Enter our competition for Bridgend. Young Chef of the Year 11-16years category, Welsh Chef of the Year 17-25years category, to be held at Bridgend College.

This is the first ever Young Chef of the Year Competition, and this is to be held on 27 and 28 May 2008 hosted by Bridgend College.

Want to know more? Please contact: Mari Major at Civic Charity Mayors Appeal or phone 01656 664105, or mobile 07714 254248.

TAKE PART IN OUR RECORD BREAKING SPONSORED WALK AND SHOW GREAT BRITAIN HOW POSITIVE THE PEOPLE OF BRIDGEND ARE WHILE RAISING AWARENESS OF CLUBS AND SOCIETIES FOR THE YOUTH OF BRIDGEND.

My name is Deb Craddock. I’m a mum of three, a childminder and run a children’s club in Litchard. I am trying to facilitate a sponsored walk heading towards the biggest in Wales perhaps the U.K. has ever seen. I want to show everyone the wonderful clubs and facilities that the people of Bridgend County have. Any club, school, group etc. taking part can use this walk to raise money and the profile for their project or a charity of their choice. If you are interested in walking from MacArthur Glen to Bridgend town centre on Saturday 17th May at 10:00 am please contact me for a sponsor form and to register. Please note that I am facilitating the project and the responsibility of risk assessment and insurance is purely on the group, any individuals can call me for more information. I look forward in seeing you at this fun morning. So lets get together and put something positive back into Bridgend.

please contact: Deb C on 07989029276 or Email Deb

Sustainable Wales’ lottery-funded 'Sustainable Solutions' project is offering FREE advice to local voluntary and community groups in Bridgend to help 'green' the sector. The aim is to simplify the sometimes confusing world of sustainability .Help is offered to enable groups to become part of the solution and will be tailored to meet your needs covering themes such as:- Becoming an ethical organisation: Introducing environmental and ethical policies and practices – in conjunction with Porthcawl’s ethical retailer SUSSED. Reducing your climate change impact .Greening your Event .Making people and planet friendly purchasing decisions .Getting involved in the Plastic bag -free Bridgend Campaign .Other support offered includes: Campaigning, lobbying and media training. Effective Public Consultation/Participation .

If you would like to arrange a meeting with our Sustainable Solutions project manager, Angharad Dalton to find out more about the free services offered, please contact: Angharad at Sustainable Wales or phone 01656 783405.

People in Llangeinor can get online and increase their skills at a new IT facility open at the Richard Price Centre, following a grant from Communities @One. Free drop-in internet access will be available on 10 static computers along with digital camera, interactive white board and a scanner. Courses in email, digital photography and on-line shopping could be available in the future. Mentor Alan Phillips and Chris Swinney will be on hand to help people surf the net.

A £28,000 grant for the project comes from Communities @One, a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to improve access to new technology for people in Communities First areas. The initiative aims to make sure people do not miss out on the benefits of new technology. It is funded jointly through the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme and the Welsh Assembly Government and is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Barbara Davies is the Project Manager. She explains: “This facility is what the community have been waiting for. We want to build up people’s confidence with ICT and let them explore whatever their interest is in a friendly setting. We hope this will give people an appetite for further learning.” The project addresses a demand for free ICT facilities, identified in a consultation with residents in 2004.

Barbara worked with the Communities @One Broker, Cath Padfield, on making the application to the Communities @One grant fund. Cath says: “We hope this will remove some of the barriers that stop people getting involved in new technology and let people see what the benefits to them are.” If you would like more information on using the facilities contact Barbara or Laura on 01656 870084. The centre will be open Monday 1-4pm for visually impaired, 4-6:30pm under 18yrs, Tuesday 4:45-6:45 adults only, Wednesday 12-2pm, 6-8pm adult only, Thursday 9:30-11:30am adult only, 6:30-8:30 under 18yrs and Friday 1:30-4pm adult only.

2008 is the National Year of Reading in Wales, make this the year you aim to read more, join the library or a Reading Group, regularly read a bedtime story to your children, improve your own reading or try reading something you've never tried before.

Remember the ability to read is a gift for life!

An intergenerational project - Our Community across the generations - has been proposed.

This involves a grandparent & grandchild walking around their community using a camcorder to record their views. You will be given full support and of course the equipment to use.

We are looking to identify interested parties (that is, a grandparent and child) who would like to be involved and put their stories down on record digitally. We are just collecting names and contact details of interested parties at the moment. If this is you then please contact Tracey on 01656 754816 or Email Cobwebs