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Category Archive: Families

  1. Open Week 1st – 5th August 

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    Darllenwch yn Gymraeg yma

    Join us for a week full of free activities and food to celebrate EVI opening its doors again! 

    Family crafting and wildlife activities, cultural exhibition, wellbeing classes, business/ digital support workshops, afternoon tea, creative writing and singing, and the opening of our new ‘Café at EVI’ – we have a week full of free and fun activities planned for all ages in Blaenau Gwent!

    To celebrate our Open Week and the new ‘Café at EVI’, all children will be provided with a free, healthy lunchbox to eat in or takeaway throughout the week. Keep checking this page for daily updates, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries by emailing megan@promo.cymru, ringing 01495708022 or popping in.  

    Some events will require pre-booking, others are available for anyone to pop in. See below for our full programme of activities – click the links to find out more. Come and join us! 

    This Open Week is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund*

    Programme of Events:

    ‘Let Paul Robeson Sing’ Exhibition

    Throughout our Open Week, EVI will host an inspirational exhibition about the life of actor, singer, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson. This exhibition chronicles Robeson’s struggle against prejudice and intolerance, his connection with the miners of South Wales, and his work to promote diversity and racial equality. One of his first appearances was at the Ebbw Vale National Eisteddfod in August 1958. 64 years on, Robeson’s story returns to Ebbw Vale. All ages can pop in any day during our opening hours for free to learn about Robeson’s fascinating life and important impact in Wales. Grab a cuppa and cake from our new ‘Café at EVI’ while you’re here!

    “There is no place in the world I like more than Wales.” – Paul Robeson  


    Monday 1st

    Digital Skills Drop In Support and Q&A

    11am – 1pm

    Learn how to effectively use social media to get seen and heard in Blaenau Gwent, with digital communications expert Andrew Collins from ProMo Cymru. Pop in and receive one to one advice and training, tailored just for you! Learn how to promote your work and events on social media, or just come along to generally improve your digital skills in a friendly, informal atmosphere. We can help you get to grips with a particular social media platform, setting up a page, creating engaging content, short form video, paid advertising, basic websites, algorithms, trends and more. Pop in for 10 minutes or the whole session, it’s up to you!

    Email megan@promo.cymru to register your interest and let us know what we can do for you. There will also be free refreshments. Business in Focus will also be on hand to support you with any business questions you may have.

    Singing For Beginners

    1.30- 2.30pm (For all ages) BOOKING REQUIRED

    This singing class introduces techniques to support best singing practice, like scales, tongue twisters, breathing and enunciation. Jonathon’s class will both elevate and encourage participants with their confidence, working through vocal exercises on projection, breath control, diction and enunciation. The sessions help develop a ‘tool kit’ which can be implemented in group singing. 

    Facilitated by Inside Out Cymru.

    Book here.

    Afternoon Tea and Film

    2.30pm

    Join us at EVI for free Afternoon Tea from the new Café at EVI, and a film showing of ‘The Proud Valley’ (1940) starring Paul Robeson to celebrate our ‘Let Paul Robeson Sing’ Exhibition. The exhibition chronicles Robeson’s struggle against prejudice and intolerance and his connection with the miners of South Wales. Pop in!


    Tuesday 2nd

    Driftwood Craft, Pyrography, Pebble Art & Seed Bomb Making

    11am – 4pm BOOKING REQUIRED

    A day full of free and fun natural crafts for the whole family in the EVI garden, with EggSeeds, “Bringing Education to Life”. There will be two different sessions, a morning and afternoon session. Come along for the day!

    Free lunch for children.
    Adult supervision is required.

    Limited spaces – book here.

    Session 1: 11am – 1pm
    Driftwood Craft (suitable for all ages) – Pick your driftwood biscuits and make cool decorative pieces to take away.
    Pyrography (Suitable for 4+) – Lend your hand to the art of wood burning – simple, fun and relaxing! From patterns, words or pictures create your own personal pieces to take away.

    Session 2: 2pm – 4pm
    Pebble Craft & Painting (suitable for all ages) – Help make some nature themed or inspiring stones to find in our garden or have a go at pebble art to take away.
    Seed bombs (suitable for all ages) – Help bring some colour and wildlife to our garden, providing wildlife places to eat, hide and look amazing for us to all come back and see. Take some home to enjoy! 

    EVI Official Reopening with Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir

    12pm

    Join us for our official reopening event! EVI will be officially reopened by Alun Davies, MS for Blaenau Gwent. Free food and refreshments and a short performance from the Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir.

    Youth Entrepreneur Session

    1.30pm – 3.30pm (25 years and under)

    Join Big Ideas Wales Youth Entrepreneur Session, where young people will leave with ideas on how to turn their hobbies, interests and passions into side hustles and businesses. Mental health and wellbeing advice will also be incorporated.

    Business in Focus will also be on hand to support you with your business questions (for all ages). Email megan@promo.cymru to register your interest.


    Wednesday 3rd

    Wellbeing Classes for 16+

    Free taster sessions for a variety of wellbeing classes for 16+. Prioritise your wellbeing and come and relax at EVI!

    11am – 12pm – Mindfulness – Andrew

    Mindfulness techniques can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, by helping you; understand your emotions better, cope better with difficult thoughts, feel calmer, boost your attention and concentration, and improve your relationships.


    12.15pm – 1pm – Yoga Relaxation – Clare


    2pm – 3pm Tai Chi / Qigong – Keith

    Come along for the day and grab lunch in the new Café at EVI , or pop in for whichever class you fancy.

    For more information and to register your interest, email megan@promo.cymru, ring 01495708022 or pop in!


    Thursday 4th

    MORNING SESSION FULLY BOOKED: Silk-Painting for Families

    10am – 12pm / 1pm – 3pm BOOKING REQUIRED (suitable for 5+)

    Come along to a fun, creative and vibrant family silk-painting session with talented artist Nina Morgan. This relaxing session is perfect for families to spend quality time together. Join us for either the morning session (10am-12pm) or afternoon session (1pm-3pm).

    All children will be provided with a free, healthy lunchbox.

    Limited spaces – book here.


    Friday 5th

    FULLY BOOKED: Perfect Pollinators: Bug Home Making

    10am – 12.30pm BOOKING REQUIRED (suitable for all ages)

    Fun and educational wildlife activities with Gwent Wildlife Trust. Join Rob Magee to learn about pollinating insects like bees, butterflies, moths and beetles. There will be moth identification at 10am followed by a fun bug home making session. There is also the opportunity to learn how to identify butterflies and bees and how to help in your garden. Join us for this educational and exciting workshop for all the family!

    Free lunch is provided for children.
    Adult supervision required.

    The bug home making has limited spaces – book here.

    Creative Writing Workshop

    11am – 12pm (suitable for 14+ – we look forward to welcoming a wide range of ages to this workshop!) BOOKING REQUIRED

    Art practitioner Jonathon Rowland-Beer will provide interesting and inspiring creative writing prompts as the participants are encouraged to draft their own short stories, poems, memories or just word play. The group share their writing before giving each other tips and inspiration. Jonathon can also include poetry, dialogue, and the concept of ‘show don’t tell’. Everyone has the chance to listen as well as quiet time to ignite that spark of creativity. 

    Facilitated by Inside Out Cymru.

    Book here

    Owl Sanctuary Visit

    1pm – 2pm

    We look forward to welcoming the Ebbw Vale Owl Sanctuary to EVI. Interact with owls and birds of prey from The Owl Sanctuary while learning all about them. No need to book, just pop in! All ages welcome. 


    *The  UK Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme for 2021/22. This aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invests in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fundprospectus

  2. Wythnos Agored 1af – 5ed Awst

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    Read English here

    Ymunwch â ni am wythnos llawn gweithgareddau a bwyd am ddim i ddathlu drysau’r EVI yn agor unwaith eto!

    Gweithgareddau crefft a bywyd gwyllt i’r teulu, arddangosfa ddiwylliannol, dosbarthiadau lles, gweithdai cefnogi busnes / digidol, te prynhawn, ysgrifennu creadigol a chanu, ac agoriad ein caffi newydd ‘Café at EVI’ – mae gennym wythnos lawn o weithgareddau hwyl ac am ddim wedi’u cynllunio ar gyfer pob oedran ym Mlaenau Gwent!

    I ddathlu ein Hwythnos Agored a’r ‘Café at EVI’ newydd, bydd pob plentyn yn derbyn bocs bwyd iach am ddim i fwyta mewn neu i fynd allan bob dydd yn ystod yr wythnos. Cadwch olwg ar y dudalen hon am ddiweddariadau dyddiol, a chofiwch gysylltu gydag unrhyw ymholiadau wrth e-bostio megan@promo.cymru neu ffonio 01495 708022 neu galwch draw.

    Bydd angen archebu lle (am ddim) i rai o’r digwyddiadau, tra bod eraill yn agored i bawb galw draw. Edrychwch isod am y rhaglen lawn o weithgareddau – cliciwch ar y dolenni i ddarganfod mwy. Dewch draw ac ymuno gyda ni!

    Mae’r Wythnos Agored yn cael ei ariannu gan Gronfa Adfywio Cymunedol y DU*

    Rhaglen y Digwyddiadau:

    Arddangosfa ‘Let Paul Robeson Sing’

    Trwy gydol yr Wythnos Agored, bydd yr EVI yn cynnal arddangosfa ysbrydoledig am fywyd yr actor, canwr a gweithredwr hawliau sifil Paul Robeson. Mae’r arddangosfa yn gronicl o ymdrechion Robeson yn erbyn rhagfarn ac anoddefgarwch, ei gysylltiad gyda glowyr De Cymru, a’i waith yn hyrwyddo amrywiaeth a chydraddoldeb hiliol. Un o’i ymddangosiadau cyntaf oedd yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Glynebwy yn fis Awst 1958. Nawr, 64 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, mae stori Robeson yn dychwelyd i Lynebwy. Mae croeso i bob oedran alw draw, am ddim, yn ystod ein horiau agored i ddysgu am fywyd diddorol Robeson a’r effaith pwysig y cafodd yng Nghymru. A thra bod chi yma, helpwch eich hunain i baned a chacen am ddim!

    “There is no place in the world I like more than Wales.” – Paul Robeson  


    Dydd Llun 1af

    Cefnogaeth Sgiliau Digidol a Sesiwn Cwestiwn ac Ateb ‘Galw Draw’

    11yb – 1yp

    Dysgwch sut i ddefnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn effeithiol i gael eich gweld a’ch clywed ym Mlaenau Gwent, gydag arbenigwr cyfathrebiadau digidol o ProMo-Cymru, Andrew Collins. Galwch draw a derbyn cyngor a hyfforddiant un i un, wedi’i deilwro yn arbennig i chi! Dysgwch sut i hyrwyddo eich gwaith a’ch digwyddiadau ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol, neu galwch draw i wella eich sgiliau digidol yn gyffredinol mewn awyrgylch cyfeillgar, anffurfiol. Gallem eich helpu i ddeall sut i greu tudalen, creu cynnwys diddorol, fideo ffurf fer, talu am hysbysebu, gwefannau syml, algorithmau, tueddiadau a mwy!

    E-bostiwch megan@promo.cymru i gofrestru’ch diddordeb a rhowch wybod beth allem ei wneud i chi. Bydd yna luniaeth am ddim hefyd. Bydd Busnes Mewn Ffocws yno hefyd i’ch cefnogi gydag unrhyw gwestiynau busnes sydd gennych chi.

    Canu i Gychwynwyr

    1:30-2:30yp (Ar gyfer pob oedran) RHAID CADW LLE

    Mae’r dosbarth canu yma yn cyflwyno technegau i gefnogi ymarfer canu gorau, fel graddfa, cylymau tafod (tounge twister), anadlu ac ynganu. Bydd dosbarth Jonathon yn codi ac yn annog hyder y rhai sydd yn cymryd rhan, yn gweithio ar daflu’r llais, rheoli anadlu, geirio ac ynganu. Bydd y sesiynau yma yn helpu i ddatblygu ‘pecyn cymorth’ fydd yn gallu cael ei ddefnyddio gyda chanu grŵp.

    Yn cael ei hwyluso gan Inside Out Cymru.

    Te Prynhawn a Ffilm

    2.30pm


    Dydd Mawrth 2il

    Crefftau Broc Môr, Pyrograffeg, Celf Cerrig Bychan a Chreu Bomiau Hadau

    11yb – 4yp RHAID CADW LLE

    Diwrnod llawn crefftau naturiol, hwyl, ac am ddim i’r teulu oll yn ardd yr EVI, gyda EggSeeds, “Yn Dod ag Addysg yn Fyw”. Bydd dau sesiwn gwahanol, un bore ac un prynhawn. Dewch draw am y dydd!

    Cinio am ddim i blant.
    Mae’n rhaid i oedolyn fod yn bresennol.

    Llefydd yn brin – hawliwch eich lle yma.

    Sesiwn 1: 11yb – 1yp
    Crefftau Broc Môr (addas ar gyfer pob oedran) – Dewiswch eich bisgedi broc môr a chreu darnau addurniadol cŵl i fynd adref gyda chi.
    Pyrograffeg (addas ar gyfer oedran 4+) – Rhowch dro ar y gelf o losgi pren – syml, hwyl ac ymlaciol! O batrymau, geiriau neu luniau, gallwch greu darnau personol eich hun i fynd adref gyda chi.

    Sesiwn 2: 2yp – 4yp
    Crefft a Pheintio Cerrig Bychan (addas ar gyfer pob oedran) – Helpwch i greu cerrig ysbrydoledig neu thema natur i’w darganfod yn ein gardd, neu creu celf cerrig bychan i fynd adref gyda chi. Bomiau Hadau (addas ar gyfer pob oedran) – Helpwch i gyflwyno lliw a bywyd gwyllt i’n gardd, yn rhoi lle i fywyd gwyllt fwyta, cuddio ac edrych yn anhygoel i bawb ddod yn ôl i’w weld. Ewch â rhai adref i fwynhau!

    Lansiad Swyddogol gyda Chôr Meibion Glynebwy

    12yp

    Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer ein lansiad swyddogol! Bydd EVI yn cael ei ailagor yn swyddogol gan AS Blaenau Gwent, Alun Davies. Bwyd a lluniaeth am ddim a Chôr Meibion Glynebwy yn canu.

    Sesiwn Entrepreneuriaid Ifanc

    1.30yp – 3.30yp

    Ymunwch â Sesiwn Entrepreneuriaid Ifanc Syniadau Mawr Cymru, ble fydd pobl ifanc yn gadael gyda syniadau am sut i droi hobi, diddordebau ac angerdd yn weithred ar yr ochr a busnes. Bydd cyngor iechyd meddwl a lles yn cael ei gynnwys hefyd.

    Bydd Busnes Mewn Ffocws yno i’ch cefnogi gydag unrhyw gwestiynau busnes.


    Dydd Mercher 3ydd

    Dosbarthiadau Lles i 16+

    Sesiynau blasu am ddim ar gyfer amrywiaeth o ddosbarthiadau lles i rai 16+.

    11yb -12yp – Meddylgarwch – Andrew
    12:15yp – 1yp – Ymlacio gydag Yoga – Clare
    2pm – 3pm – Tai Chi / Qigong – Keith

    Am wybodaeth bellach ac i gofrestru eich diddordeb, e-bostiwch megan@promo.cymru, ffoniwch ar 01495 708022 neu galwch draw!


    Dydd Iau 4ydd

    Peintio Sidan i Deuluoedd

    10yb – 12yp / 1yp – 3yp RHAID CADW LLE (addas i oedran 5+)

    Galwch draw i sesiwn peintio sidan hwyl, creadigol a bywiog gyda’r artist talentog Nina Morgan. Mae’r sesiwn ymlaciol yma yn berffaith ar gyfer teuluoedd i dreulio amser â’i gilydd. Ymunwch am y sesiwn bore (10yb – 12yp) neu’r sesiwn prynhawn (1yp-3yp).

    Bydd pob plentyn yn derbyn bocs bwyd iach am ddim.

    Llefydd yn brin – hawliwch eich lle yma.


    Dydd Gwener 5ed

    Peillwyr Perffaith: Creu Cartref Pryfed

    10yb – 12.30yp RHAID CADW LLE (addas ar gyfer pob oedran)

    Gweithgareddau bywyd gwyllt hwyl ac addysgiadol gydag Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gwent. Ymunwch â Rob Magee i ddysgu am bryfaid peillio fel gwenyn, pili-pala, gwyfynod a chwilod. Byddant yn dod i adnabod gwyfynod (moths) am 10yb, a dilynir hyn gyda sesiwn hwyl yn creu cartrefi i bryfed. Bydd cyfle hefyd i ddysgu sut i adnabod gwahanol bili-pala a gwenyn a sut gallech chi helpu yn eich gardd. Ymunwch â ni am y gweithdy addysgiadol a chyffroes yma i’r teulu oll!

    Darparir cinio am ddim i’r plant. Mae’n rhaid i oedolyn fod yn bresennol.

    Mae llefydd yn brin ar gyfer y sesiwn creu cartref pryfed – hawliwch eich lle yma.

    Gweithdy Ysgrifennu Creadigol

    11yb – 12yp (addas ar gyfer 14+) RHAID CADW LEE

    Bydd yr ymarferydd celf Jonathan Rowland-Beer yn cynnig awgrymiadau ysgrifennu creadigol diddorol ac ysbrydoledig wrth annog y rhai sydd yn cymryd rhan i ddrafftio stori fer, barddoniaeth, atgofion neu chwarae ar eiriau eu hunain. Bydd y grŵp yn rhannu’r hyn maent wedi ysgrifennu cyn rhoi cyngor ac ysbrydoli ei gilydd. Gall Jonathan hefyd gynnwys barddoniaeth, dialog, a’r cysyniad o ‘dangos paid dweud’. Mae pawb yn cael cyfle i wrando yn ogystal ag amser distaw i sbarduno’r creadigrwydd.

    Hwylusir gan Inside Out Cymru.

    Ymweliad y Warchodfa Tylluanod

    1yp – 2yp

    Edrychwn ymlaen at groesawu Gwarchodfa Tylluanod Glynebwy i EVI. Cysylltwch gyda’r tylluanod ac adar ysglyfaethus o’r Warchodfa Tylluanod wrth i chi ddysgu amdanynt. Nid oes angen cadw lle, dewch draw! Croeso i bob oedran.


    *Mae Cronfa Adfywio Cymunedol y DU yn rhaglen Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer 2021/22. Nod hwn yw cefnogi pobl a chymunedau sydd fwyaf mewn angen ledled y DU i dreialu rhaglenni a dulliau newydd i baratoi argyfer Cronfa Ffyniant Cyffredinol y DU. Mae’n buddsoddi mewn sgiliau, cymuned a lleoedd, busnes lleol, a chefnogi pobl i mewn i gyflogaeth. Am ragor o wybodaeth, ewch i: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewalfund-prospectus

  3. ‘Awards for All’ Volunteers create homes for garden wildlife

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    Awards for All Volunteers take local environmental action by creating wildlife habitats for birds, bats, hedgehogs and pollinating insects in the EVI garden …

    The next stage of our Big Lottery Community Fund Awards for All project was to create wildlife habitat, to help attract nesting birds and bats to the EVI garden and create homes for hedgehogs.

    Everyone had a task and were challenged to use tools and techniques that had not been used before.

    Supporting our garden wildlife

    Awards for All Volunteers from Llamau, ACT Training, Barod Gwent N-Gage and Cyfannol Women’s Aid, have created several bird and bat boxes to help attract nesting birds and bats to the EVI garden.
    Visit Gwent Wildlife Trust for more ways you can get involved locally and support garden wildlife.

    We also have a hedgehog home that will be relocated where it is most needed. If you find a hedgehog out in the day or injured, please visit hedgehoghelplinecymru.org.uk for information and advice on what to do next.

    Spreading the Seeds…

    Some of our younger volunteers made seed bombs and had great fun spreading them throughout the garden. We also relocated our pollinator bee and bug hotel and talked about how over a third of our food depends on pollinating insects.

    Wellbeing in Nature …

    Volunteers also created colourful images and words to remind people to spend more time in nature and how we can increase our wellbeing when spending time outdoors – over 18 posts were painted.

    Keeping up the great work

    ‘Awards for All’ Volunteers will continue taking care of the EVI garden throughout the seasons and utilise the wellbeing space for learning, meetings and activities.

    Organisations based at EVI, (Llamau, ACT Training, Cyfannol, Barod and BGCBC Youth Services) will also undertake further environmental and wellbeing projects in the EVI garden.

    Special thanks

    Thanks to Sam Holt, Eggseeds for leading the environmental workshops, MallowArt for the painting workshop and Promo Cymru (the charity that runs EVI) for providing the ‘graphic design with canva’ and ‘Film making on your mobile’ online workshops to support the volunteers in increasing their skills in digital communications.

    A special thank you to all our volunteers for creating a wellbeing space at the EVI garden. Everyone worked together with staff and clients from other organisations, with children and families; many new skills were learned along the way and so much has been accomplished to support our local wildlife.

  4. Volunteers Create a Wellbeing Garden at EVI

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    An environmental project at EVI, made possible by the National Lottery Community Fund Awards For All programme, has brought organisations and volunteers together to create a wellbeing space in the garden.

    What did we do?

    The first step was to plant bee friendly flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables that will be looked after by the volunteers throughout the seasons.

    Over the two sessions, facilitated by Eggseeds‘ Sam Holt, the volunteers and staff from ACT Training and Llamau prepared the soil and planted flowers, herbs (like rosemary and chives), fruit trees (like raspberry and gooseberry) and vegetables (chard, sprouts, peas). Everyone worked really hard and for many, this was a new experience.

    Some of the volunteers spent time creating wellbeing posts, painting vibrant colours and wellbeing quotes onto the old fencing posts, so that everyone is reminded of the benefits of spending time in nature.

    Providing new experiences for young people

    For many of the young people aged between 16 and 18 that were taking part, gardening was a totally new experience for them. Here’s what some of them had to say:

    “It’s my first time gardening I am usually an indoor person”

    “It feels nice being outdoors”

    “With lockdown, people could have got more into gardening”

    “I am enjoying it more than I thought I would”

    ACT Training – EVI Volunteers


    “It’s quite peaceful, relaxing”

    “I like to cook with a lot of these herbs so I am looking forward to planting them”

    “I like building computers so this is being creative in a different environment”

    “It feels nice being outdoors”

    Llamau – EVI Volunteers

    What are the next steps?

    The next step in this environmental project is to carry out the ‘local environmental and wellbeing in nature’ actions that were raised during a focus group with Llamau. These included displaying QR codes around EVI that linked to wellbeing information.

    EVI volunteers will create wildlife habitats, facilitated by Eggseeds, such as bird and bat boxes, hedgehog homes, and homes for pollinating insects. This workshop will be held on Tuesday 3rd August 2021.

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Foundation Funders:

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Current Funders:

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