Local Senedd Member, Natasha Asghar, is full of admiration for the dedication and community spirit of volunteers at two of Brynmawr’s landmarks.
Yesterday (19 August) Natasha joined residents at a coffee morning organised by the Trustees of Brynmawr and District Museum.
Every Thursday morning they operate a coffee morning which allows people to meet for a chat and raises money for the upkeep of the museum.
Later, Natasha visited The Market Hall Cinema, Wales’ oldest cinema which has shown films since 1911.
A community group took over the cinema’s operation in June 2013 after the local authority proposed to close the Market Hall.
The Cinema recently reopened after being forced to close due to the pandemic.
As well as a small paid staff the cinema relies on a number of regular volunteers to keep it operating.
Natasha Asghar said:
“One of my greatest pleasures since being elected to the Senedd is visiting various places in my region to see how local people give up their time voluntarily to benefit their community.”
“At Brynmawr Museum I heard from Mrs Viv Williams, the Trustees Secretary, about the fantastic work they are doing to keep it open so that people can learn more about their history and heritage.”
“It was a pleasure to meet local residents at the coffee morning and join in their conversation.”
“At The Market Hall Cinema I met Andrea Durban who showed me around and I was greatly impressed by what she and her team have achieved in keeping this tremendous facility open to serve the people of Brynmawr.”
“Both these venues have one thing in common.”
“They rely on a small but dedicated band of volunteers who give up their time willingly in the knowledge they are keeping valuable assets open for the benefit of their community.”
“I am full of admiration for these people. I was truly inspired by my visit to Brynmawr and thank everyone I met for their warm welcome.”
Asghar yn llawn edmygedd o ymroddiad gwirfoddolwyr Brynmawr
Mae Natasha Ashgar, yr Aelod lleol o'r Senedd, yn edmygu’n fawr ymroddiad ac ysbryd cymunedol gwirfoddolwyr mewn dau o dirnodau Brynmawr.
Ddoe (19 Awst) bu Natasha yng nghwmni trigolion mewn bore coffi a drefnwyd gan Ymddiriedolwyr Amgueddfa Brynmawr a'r Cylch.
Bob bore Iau, maen nhw'n cynnal bore coffi sy'n galluogi pobl i gyfarfod am sgwrs, ac mae'n ffordd o godi arian ar gyfer cynnal yr amgueddfa.
Ar ôl hynny, aeth Natasha i weld Sinema Neuadd y Farchnad, sinema hynaf Cymru sy'n dangos ffilmiau ers 1911.
Grŵp cymunedol sy’n gyfrifol am redeg y sinema ers Mehefin 2013 ar ôl i'r awdurdod lleol gynnig cau Neuadd y Farchnad.
Ailagorwyd y Sinema yn ddiweddar ar ôl cael ei gorfodi i gau oherwydd y pandemig.
Yn ogystal â chriw bach o staff cyflogedig, mae'r sinema'n dibynnu ar nifer gyson o wirfoddolwyr i'w chadw i fynd.
Yn ôl Natasha Asghar:
“Un o'r pethau sy'n rhoi'r boddhad mwyaf i mi ers cael fy ethol i'r Senedd yw ymweld â llefydd amrywiol yn fy rhanbarth i weld sut mae pobl leol yn rhoi o'u hamser yn wirfoddol er budd eu cymuned.”
“Yn Amgueddfa Brynmawr, clywais gan Mrs Viv Williams, Ysgrifennydd yr Ymddiriedolwyr, am y gwaith gwych y maen nhw'n ei wneud i gadw’r amgueddfa ar agor fel y gall pobl ddysgu mwy am eu hanes a'u treftadaeth.”
“Roedd yn bleser cyfarfod â thrigolion lleol yn y bore coffi ac ymuno â’r sgwrs.”
“Yn Sinema Neuadd y Farchnad, cefais fy nhywys o amgylch y safle gan Andrea Durban ac mae'r hyn y mae hi a'i thîm wedi'i gyflawni wedi gwneud cryn argraff arna i o ran cadw'r cyfleuster aruthrol hwn ar agor er mwyn gwasanaethu pobl Brynmawr.”
“Mae gan y ddau leoliad hwn un peth yn gyffredin.”
“Maen nhw'n dibynnu ar griw bach ond ymroddedig o wirfoddolwyr sy'n barod iawn i roi o'u hamser gan wybod eu bod yn cadw asedau gwerthfawr ar agor er budd eu cymuned.”
“Rydw i'n llawn edmygedd o'r bobl hyn. Cefais fy ysbrydoli'n wirioneddol gan fy ymweliad â Brynmawr a diolch i bawb a oedd yno ar y diwrnod am y croeso cynnes a gefais.”
