Sunday 19th February in Tonyrefail Leisure Centre saw a fantastic turnout to the Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch family fun day. Initial estimates are that between 1,200 and 1,300 adults children and teenagers took part in the event.

Activities included inflatable slides and bungy run, a surf rider and bouncy castles for all ages. In addition a large number of partner organisations had a wide range of stalls which included information advice stands, arts and crafts and fundraising events.

It was great to see so many partners coming together to celebrate all that is good about the community of Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch.

Partners at the event included; Rhondda Housing Association, Want to Work, Tonyrefail Play Partnership, ACE (Action for the Community of Edmundstown) Capel Farm Community Committee, Penrhifwer Community Committee, RCT First Responders, Cware Teg, Tonyrefail Rock Factory, and Gingerbread. If I have forgotten anyone my appologies.

The event was put on by the Communities First Partnerships of Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch and was used as a precurser to seeing how the new cluster arrangements for Communities First will work in our communities. It was funded by the Welsh Governments Families First initiative and was part of a larger project aimed at tackling literacy levels in our primary schools and also engaging with families across the area.

I cannot close this piece without saying a huge thank you to all the community volunteers who turned out to support the event. Without these fantastic groups and individuals the event would not have been possible. I would also like to thank all the Communities First staff members who worked at the event, their energy and enthusiasm seems to know no boundaries.