Helpers honoured (From Free Press Series)

Helpers honoured

PONTYPOOL youngsters were commended by CSV Millennium Volunteers for their devotion to staging the Youth Festival and other exciting projects.

The Youth Council celebrated their achievements at a presentation last week, where 16 members were officially commended.

Pontypool Community Council Chairman Marion Williams handed out the awards, congratulated the young members, and presented certificates marking 100 hours of volunteer work.

This summer's hugely successful Youth Festival was a product of their hard work and planning - extending the hand of friendship to others from Portugal, France and Germany.

Clerk to the council Ruth Tucker thanked the CSV Millennium Volunteer group for their "invaluable support."

She explained the role of the Youth Council: "The whole purpose of the Youth Council is to form a group that can be consulted by anyone, effectively becoming a voice for young people."

Acting chairman Lewis Evans is relishing his role in the council. He said: "Planning the youth festival was great fun and seeing it come to life was a real sense of accomplishment. It was also great to see all the visitors from France, Portugal and Germany."

The festival was enjoyed by all that attended and Rebecca Tucker was also proud of the achievement.

She said: "It was good to make new friends because of the team building activities and it brought members of our council closer together too."

The council are now enthusiastic about their future plans.

Alex Frego, 15, said: "We want to set up a youth club in Pontypool, but we need to find a venue - we tried before to open a cyber caf but couldn't find a place. Hopefully we will be luckier this time."

Local Democracy Week will see all members getting involved. They are planning to shadow local councillors both in Wales and in Pontypool's French twin town of Longjumeau.