Rhondda Cynon Taf Mental Health Partnership is working together to raise awareness of mental illness in the County Borough by hosting a series of sponsored walks as part of world mental health week.

Choose the walk that suits you best, the walks start at 11am and are taking place in the following locations on the dates listed:

• Rhondda Mile at Gelligaled Park – 5th of October,

• Cynon Mile at Aberdare Park – 8th of October,

• Taff Mile at Ynysangharad Park – 10th of October.

The mile can be walked, run, cycled, skateboarded, whatever you fancy. Come along as a group, as a family, alone or in fancy dress and the best dressed will win a prize. The routes are wheelchair accessible and are suitable for pushchairs.

If you are unable to take part in the walk, why not come along and support the walkers or become an event volunteer.

Entrance Fee is £1.00 per walker payable on the day, for more information on the Rhondda Mile call Paul Bargewell on 01443 688770, for the Cynon Mile call Angela Evans on 01685 875481 or for the Taff Mile call Nannette King on 01443 486856.

Also on the menu in the coming months will be:

· Mavron String Quarter – Weds, October 7

· Smith Gilligan Duo – Weds, November 4

· Carols and Cakes – a special Christmas concert with Jennifer Walker (soprano) and Rhiannon Pritchard (piano) – Weds, December 9

Previous shows have gone down a treat with concert-goers and Cllr Robert Bevan, Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said: “Songs and Scones is a wonderful way to bring music into our communities, so we hope many more people will enjoy the lunchtime entertainment on offer in the coming months.”

Musicians from the Live Music Now scheme perform in Songs and Scones as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Arts Council of Wales-funded Take pART programme. All concerts start at 1pm in the Coliseum Theatre’s Gallery bar and entry is £3. For more information, please call the Coliseum Theatre on 01685 881188

The four youngsters will take the plunge at St Brides after receiving expert tuition in diving as part of a new scuba diving course, Discover Scuba, at Aberdare Pool.

The scuba diving course was developed from a larger sub aqua programme introduced at Aberdare this Easter as part of the Welsh Assembly Government Free Swimming Initiative.

Run by qualified PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructor) instructors from A1 Unisex Divers, Discover Scuba is aimed at youngsters aged 10 to 16 and Bubblemaker is aimed at children aged eight upwards.

Jean Davies, Swimming Development Manager for Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “We are very pleased with the success of the sub aqua programme, especially the opportunity for younger children to try scuba diving, which was an instant hit.

“The course covers both theory and practical sessions, and as well as increasing fitness and ability in the water, it develops confidence and is a lot of fun.

“We had so many youngsters coming along, we are hoping that the scuba diving will develop into a regular term-time club.”

Instructor Sue Fryer who has organised the sea open dive explained: “There are lots of benefits for the children who take part. They have fun and games during training which is the best way to learn, they make friends and they overcome any fears they may have about the first breath under water.

“They will spend all day diving, having picnics and enjoying the underwater world that lies ahead of them, knowing that they will then be qualified at a very young age to dive anywhere around the world as a PADI diver.”

Following on from the successful sessions at Aberdare Pool during the Easter and Whitsun holidays, sub aqua will again take place during the summer holidays.

For more information phone Aberdare Pool on 01685 874252

147 A Club players Danny Williams, Colin Williams, Ian Griffiths, Darren Baker and Dale Roberts were named division two champions at a presentation evening in Aberaman. Colin and Danny Williams were also runners-up in the doubles tournament. 147 C players Duane Jones, Daniel Norris, Delme Norris, Nicky Driscoll, Ieuan Jones and Christian Godden were division one champions.

Duane Jones, aged 16, of Mountain Ash, was also singles tournament winner, invitation singles tournament winner and was named player of the year – all of these awarded to him for the second year running. Duane has recently played in the Celtic Challenge Tournament in Ireland and aims to one day turn professional.

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Simon Lloyd, went along to see what is on offer at the swimming pool and snooker hall.

“The 147 Club was extremely successful this year and all the members practice here regularly. It’s great to see so much talent coming out of Rhondda Cynon Taf leisure facilities,” he said.

The snooker hall upstairs at Aberdare Pool comprises of eight full-size snooker tables and is fully air conditioned. For more details on the club or swimming times/classes at Aberdare Pool, please call 01685 874252

· Snooker at Aberdare Pool is just one of the free activities available during the school holidays for children up to the age of 16 this summer. For more information, please call 01685 874252

Based at Blaengwawr Comprehensive School, Aberdare, the Cynon Valley Hockey Club meets every Wednesday from 5-6pm. Players of all abilities, including beginners, are welcome and membership is £2 a week.

For more information, please contact Rhondda Cynon Taf Hockey Development Officer, Judith Powell on 01443 490207 or email Judith.A.Powell@rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk

If you are interested in coaching opportunities, please contact Judith Powell or 5×60 head coach Louise Harris on 07779 220236

The 2008 Student of the Year Award was presented for the second year in a row to Richard Morgan of Penywaun.

Richard Morgan also won the Award for Best Tournament Hyung and 6 months free lessons for winning Gold at the Traditional Tang Soo Do International Championships in May.

Morgan Abraham won the Penywaun Class Award for highest placed Penywaun student in the 2008 International Tang Soo Do Federation Champions League. This was a series of 4 rounds over the year in which students of all ages and ranks, gained points by competing against each other for the top spot of League Champion. Morgan, who won all his
sparring bouts, just missed out on an overall 3rd place tie by a bonus point.

The class currently has limited vacancies for the special rate class for children 6-10yrs at the Penywaun Community Centre, on Sundays at 4.30-6pm and Wednesdays 7-8.30pm.

For details or to book a place, contact Sian Moran 07593556268 or 01639 710595 or e-mail sian.moran@tangsoodo.co.uk

Initially for children aged from five to 14 years, the new Junior Disability Athletics Sessions start on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 from 5-6pm at Mountain Ash YMCA, Duffryn Road, Mountain Ash, and will be held every Tuesday.

Youngsters can take part in activities including running, jumping and throwing using soft equipment, supervised by instructor Amy Bush. The course costs £20 for ten weekly sessions and places are limited.

For more information, please contact Shelley Jones, Disability Sport Wales Development Officer, Rhondda Cynon Taf Leisure Services, Llwyn Castan, Library Road, Pontypridd, CF37 2YA Tel. 01443 490242

Children from Abercynon-based Carnetown Boys and Girls FC took part in the races in Mountain Ash on New Year’s Eve and sponsorship money collected since – around £600 – will help keep their club running in 2009. Club coach Mike Byard and fellow coaches Nigel Evans and Neil Morgan thanked all the youngsters who ran and everyone who sponsored them.

Mr Byard said: “We would like to thank all the children, who are aged between eight and 13, for their efforts. Without the sponsorship money, our club couldn’t continue this year.”

More than 60 youngsters are registered to Carnetown Boys and Girls FC, training every week at the football ground at Abercynon Sports Centre. The club is looking for annual sponsors and anyone who may be able to help should contact Mike Byard on 07929 033457

The Nos Galan Races are held in Mountain Ash every New Year’s Eve and many runners taking part choose to get sponsored, raising money for charities and local organisations. Youngsters from Carnetown Boys and Girls FC who ran in 2007 raised around £700 in sponsorship.

A new glazed reception/tourist information area is being created, the cafe and kitchen area updated and public conveniences and access to facilities improved, as the Country Park is developed as a tourism gateway. Caravan provision is being expanded to 35 pitches and, at the camping area, for up to 60 pitches.

Funding for the scheme was secured by Rhondda Cynon Taf Tourism team and Council partners from the Heads of the Valleys Programme. Due to the extent of the redevelopment works, the park’s visitor centre will be closed until Spring this year.

However, a temporary portacabin has been opened, selling snacks and tea and coffee for visitors, with the Country Park itself open seven days a week until the works are finished. There are also toilet facilities available during opening hours.

Dare Valley Country Park was Britain’s first country park to be developed on former industrialised land. It is spread over 500 acres of countryside, just a mile from Aberdare town centre.

During the improvement works, which are being undertaken by contractors Walters (UK) Ltd, 16,500 tonnes of topsoil and boulder clay is being moved to create the new camp site and caravan site extension, and 26 extra electric hook-up points and five more water bollards are being installed.

In addition:

· 470m of drainage ditches are being formed and 180m of drainage pipes laid to drain the plateaux

· 2660m2 of bridlepaths and access track are being laid in stone dust on a roadstone base

· 1,050m of timber fencing is being erected

· 1.6 hectares of land grass is being seeded

· 600m of double row hedgerows are being planted

South Wales Orienteering Club are holding an event at Dare Valley Country Park on January 25th.

Orienteering is a sport for all the family, for all ages and you don’t have to be super-fit to compete. Be as competitive or as relaxed as you want, the idea is to have fun.

Event starts at 10.45 am onwards.  Further details here.

It is suitable for all ages and abilities. All welcome.