Exciting new developments are taking place at Bloomfield, Narberth, as the association strives to continue to meet the needs of its users. In May this year a celebration evening was held to mark the start of work on the Brynmor Evans Training and Seminar Centre. This new facility is being named after Bloomfield's former chairman and president, who helped to develop the award winning centre in the 1980s. "The aim is to modernise, upgrade and extend the centre to provide more and better energy-efficient facilities for local people," said Joan Asby, chair of the Narberth and District Community and Sports Association. MP Nick Ainger cut the first turf for the project which will feature a new resource centre, including a seminar room equipped with technological teaching aids. There will be new facilities for Learning Pembrokeshire Community IT (formerly SIMTRA), a day nursery and a new kitchen and dining area. Funding for this development was awarded by the Community Fund, Objective 1, Welsh Assembly Local Regeneration Fund, Welsh Assembly Government's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, Welsh Development Agency, Garfield Weston Trust and the 'Greening your Community Building' grant scheme funded by the Sustainable Development Fund from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and managed by PAVS. Pictured right members of the Narberth and District Community and Sports Association and guests watching MP Nick Ainger cutting the first turf for the new Training and Seminar Centre. The development will be completed by summer 2005 - please contact the centre for further information.
2004/2005 PROGRAMME
The Narberth and District Community and Sports Association programme for 2004/2005 lists more than 90 different learning and recreation opportunities. Education courses are offered at the Bloomfield House Community Centre through Learning Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire College and the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth. Welsh for Adults is taught at four levels, if you are unsure which level is right for you then contact the centre for advice and guidance. You could join the hundreds of people who succeed in becoming fluent Welsh speakers every year. French, Spanish, and Greek are all offered for beginners and improvers and German for beginners makes a welcome return this year. GCSE courses in English and mathematics are run at Bloomfield through Pembrokeshire College as evening classes. If you would like to try a creative skill choose from 'Art for All', glass painting, making greeting cards, silk painting, patchwork and quilting, 'Introduction to Interior Design', sewing, sugarcraft or creative writing classes, all of which cater for beginners along with more experienced students. Seasonal one day workshops offer glass painting, sugarcraft and willow ball decoration for Christmas. This year for the first time the centre is able to offer 'Start Gardening' and 'Start Garden Design', both courses are offered by Pembrokeshire College in association with the Welsh College of Horticulture. The Community Basic Skills provision which is provided free of charge at Bloomfield, will help you to brush up your reading, writing and spelling or mathematics. English for speakers of other languages is also provided. Health and Leisure Introductory classes range from aromatherapy, massage, Alexander Technique, herbal medicine, beauty therapy, and Reiki Healing, to psychology and counselling. Health and Leisure courses which are available include aerobics, boxercise, belly dancing, body toning and conditioning, Pilates, Tai Chi Chuan and yoga for beginners and improvers. The sport facilities at Bloomfield include badminton and squash courts, fitness and weights rooms and the airdome which can accommodate five-a-side football, netball, basketball and tennis. Narberth Short Mat Bowls club play their matches there on Wednesday evenings, new members always welcome. Football, mini tennis and squash coaching for juniors is available and karate, gymnastics, disco dancing and ballet classes take place weekly. For the younger members of the community, the centre has Cylch Ti a Fi and Cylch Meithrin, Welsh medium parent and toddler and pre school groups, and the Bloomfield After School Club, which collects children from Templeton, Tavernspite and Narberth primary schools for after-school care daily. The Youth Club runs twice weekly for over 11s and members take part in activities such as art and craft workshops, quizzes, drama and sport, as well as participating in the Pembrokeshire Youth programme. The Centre is open from 8.30 am to 10 pm Monday to Friday and from 9 am to 5 pm at the weekend. The 2004/2005 programme is now available listing all the classes, activities and groups and societies who meet at the centre. To book the facilities, for further information, or a copy of the 2004/2005 programme, please telephone the centre on (01834) 860293.