© (h) David Davies, 2007

Newsletter 5

20 January 2007

Cylchlythyr 5

20 Ionawr 2007

We're running Ty'n Cornel now
and we're trying to buy Dolgoch!

Rydym yn rhedeg Ty'n Cornel nawr
ac yn ceisio prynu Dolgoch!

Ty'n Cornel

The hostel was bought by two of our supporters on 5 January and we have begun running it, with our first hostellers staying last weekend, nine months after our first meeting in Tregaron.

Working weekend

Our working weekend on 6/7 January was quite eventful starting with the eviction of a ram which had taken up residence, for some time apparently, in the shed. There was painting in the kitchen and repairs to stairs and shed.

Lock

A combination lock was fitted to the front door. We all very much regret the necessity of this and have tried hard to find a way round it, but it is a requirement of the insurance for the buildings. Hostellers will be given the code, which will be changed from time to time, when they book the hostel. The long tradition of daytime access for passers by is ended, but members who want to call in for a drink and a rest can contact us for the code before they go.

Fire

On an even darker note, the shed opposite the hostel was found to be ablaze on 8 January and, despite the efforts of the Tregaron Fire Brigade with two engines, it was burned to the ground. We lost a very useful building, along with some tools and a ton of coal. We think it was a foolish accident and not malicious. A makeshift coal store has been rigged up but it leaves the hostel temporarily without a cycle shed, or shelter for passers by. The owners are hoping to be able to rebuild the shed before too long.

Local group

A number of people who live in the area will be keeping an eye on Ty'n Cornel during the winter, as will our ever-helpful neighbours Dennis and Ann. If you can help with this please contact the Secretary.

Volunteer wardens

We now have a more or less complete rota of volunteer wardens for Ty'n Cornel from 3 March to 27 October. This leaves a few weeks unfilled in November for the hardy. All the volunteers are YHA trained and we are in the process of carrying out CRB checks on them. We would still like to hear from other wardens willing to stand in for anyone who is ill, perhaps at short notice, so please get in touch with Wardening. Remember that we hope to be recruiting volunteers for Dolgoch as well next year.

Bookings

Ty'n Cornel is open now for advance bookings all year round. If we all go and stay and round up our friends to go and to tell others, it will be a success. It costs £10 per night (£7.50 for under-18s; discounts for students and those on means-tested benefits relating to low income). A volunteer warden will be there to help you in the period from March to November. Those making bookings outside that period will need to be self-reliant and remove their own rubbish. Access by car can be difficult in icy weather and there is no telephone or mobile phone signal at the hostel - but it can be great at Ty'n Cornel in Winter: crisp hills, a warm fire and sky full of stars. All advance bookings are through YHA central reservations. If you have any difficulties when booking or comments on the process please email the Monitor or contact the Secretary so that we can try to improve the system if necessary.

Survey

We now have a full survey of the building. Some of the work needed we hope can be grant funded, including some of the work needed to meet fire regulations, but some jobs we can tackle ourselves. The Worcester local group is planning a working weekend on 17/18 March and there will be another on 28/29 April. Please contact Maintenance if you can help.

Ty'n Cornel

Prynwyd yr hostel gan ddau o'n cefnogwyr ar 5 Ionawr ac erbyn hyn, mae o dan reolaeth yr Ymddiriedolaeth. Arhosodd ein gwesteion cyntaf y penwythnos diwethaf, 9 mis ar ol ein cyfarfod cyntaf yn Nhregaron.

Penwythnos waith

Ionawr 6/7. Bu'n gyffrous! ee cael gwared a hwch dafad oedd yn llochesi yn y sied, yn ogystal a pheintio a thrwsio'r gegin, staer a'r sied.

Clo

Yn anffodus rhaid, yn awr, diogelu'r hostel gyda chlo ar y drws ffrynt, am resymau yswiriant. Mae pawb yn gresynnu bod dyddiau hostelau drws-agored wedi dod i ben ond does dim dewis. Bydd pawb sy'n trefnu aros yno yn cael rhif y clo a hefyd unrhywun sy am alw heibio am ddiod neu orffwys, os yn cysylltu a'r swyddfa o flaen llaw. (Newidir rhif y clo o dro i dro)

Tan

Eto, yn anffodus, darganfuwyd tan yn y sied gyferbyn ar Ionawr 8fed - damwain di-ofal, mae'n debyg, nid malais. Ofer bu ymdrechion taer Gwasanaeth Tan Tregaron a llosgwyd y sied yn ulw. Collwyd adeilad defnyddiol iawn ynghyd a pheth offer a thunnell o lo. Mae storfa lo dros dro wedi'i godi ond yn anffodus nid oes gofod mwyach am storio beiciau na lloches i gerddwyr. Gobaith y perchnogion yw ei ail adeiladu cyn bo hir.

Grwp lleol

Yn ystod y gaeaf, bydd ein cymdogion caredig Dennis ac Ann, ynghyd a nifer o bobl lleol, yn fodlon cadw golwg ar Ty'n Cornel. Os am ymuno a'r grwp, cysylltwch a'r Ysgrifennydd.

Wardeiniaid gwirfoddol

Erbyn hyn mae'r rota yn llawn o 3 Mawrth - 3 Tachwedd (heblaw am 5 - 12 Mai a gweddill Tachwedd). Mae pob un wedi cael/yn y broses o gael hyfforddiant YHA ac ymholiadau CRB. Os ydych, fel Warden, am fynd a chyfaill, rhaid i'r person yna gael ymchwiliad CRB hefyd felly cofiwch gysylltu o flaen llaw. Yn ogystal, hoffem wybod am unrhyw warden gwirfoddol sy'n fodlon sefyll yn yr adwy ar fyr rybydd ee salwch. Gobeithiwn y bydd angen gwirfoddolwyr ar gyfer Dolgoch hefyd y flwyddyn nesaf.

Trefnu aros

Gallwch fynd i Dy'n Cornel ar unrhyw adeg o'r flwyddyn o hyn ymlaen. Os gwneir ymdrech wirioneddol gan bawb i fynd yno a lledu'r neges, cawn lwyddiant. Y pris yw £10 y noson (£7.50 o dan 18, myfyrwyr, a rhai sy'n derbyn budd-daliadau incwm isel). Bydd warden yno rhwng Mawrth a Thachwedd i'ch helpu. Fel arall, bydd rhai bod yn hunan gynhaliol a chludo'ch sbwriel adre. Mae cyrraedd mewn car yn anodd mewn tywydd rhewllyd. Does dim ffon yno na derbyniad ffon symudol - ond gall Ty'n Cornel fod yn wych yn y gaeaf - bryniau barugog, tan cynnes ac awyr yn llawn ser. Trefnwch o flaen llaw trwy YHA canolog. Os cewch anhawster neu os oes sylw gennych, e-bostiwch Monitor neu cysylltwch a'r Ysgrifennydd er mwyn gwella'r broses os oes angen.

Archwiliad

Cafwyd un llawn. Gobeithiwn cael grant ar gyfer rhai pethau ee diogelwch tan ond gallwn ymdopi a galwadau eraill ein hunain Bydd Grwp Lleol Worcester yno ar 17/18 Mawrth a chyfle arall ar 28/29 Ebrill. Cysylltwch a Maintenance os am helpu yn Ebrill.

Treasurer

At our meeting on 2 December Richard Hollins, our treasurer, formally resigned as trustee and treasurer as from 31 December 2006. Richard does not wish to take on the extra risk and workload involved in the acquisition and running of Dolgoch as well as running Ty'n Cornel, and has been clear about this for some time. He remains very active as a volunteer in the Trust and continues to be the mainstay of the running and maintenance of Ty'n Cornel. He has made a crucial contribution to the Trust so far and continues to do so. Fortunately for us Colin Francis has come forward as Treasurer and is taking over the reins from Richard who is acting as assistant during the transition period. Donations can still be addressed to Richard in Malvern for the time being. We are very grateful to Colin for taking on the task, and look forward to working with him.

Trysorydd

Yng nghyfarfod 2 Rhagfyr, derbyniwyd ymddiswyddiad Richard Hollins fel Trysorydd ac Ymddiriedolwr o 31 Rhagfyr 2006. Dywedodd eisioes nad oedd am fod yn gyfrifol am Ddolgoch yn ogystal a Thy'n Cornel. Bydd yn parhau fel gwirfoddolwr prysur o fewn yr Ymddiriedolaeth, yn enwedig ynglyn a Thy'n Cornel; gwnaeth gyfraniad amhrisiadwy hyd yn hyn a pharhaed hynny. Yn ffodus iawn, cytunodd Colin Francis i ymgymryd a'r swydd, gyda Richard yn parhau fel cynorthwydd am gyfnod. Felly, gallwch ddanfon eich cyfraniadau at Richard yn Malvern am y tro. Mawr yw ein dyled i Colin ac edrychwn ymlaen at gyd-weithio ag e.

Trustees

Derek Edwards has been accepted as a trustee and joins the three remaining trustees. Derek is a long term supporter of the Elenydd hostels, having been warden at Blaencaron as a young man in 1954. We are keen to have more trustees, but some of those who would be interested live too far away to be able to get to many of the meetings. Please contact us if you would like to consider becoming a trustee. We need a broad range of experience and skills. There will be an opportunity to choose more trustees at our AGM on 21st April.

Ymddiriedolwyr

Derbyniwyd Derek Edwards i ymuno a'r tri sy'n weddill. Fel gwr ifanc yn 1954, bu Derek yn Warden ym Mlaencaron ac yn gefnogol i ymgyrch Elenydd ers tro byd. Mae angen mwy o Ymddiriedolwyr ond bydd eisiau i chi fod ar gael i fynychu cyfarfodydd yn rheolaidd. Cysylltwch a ni os oes diddordeb - mae galw am ystod eang o sgiliau a phrofiad. Bydd cyfle arall i ddewis yn ein Cyfarfod Cyffredinol ar 21 Ebrill.

Thank you, Arthur

The trustees would like to record their thanks to Arthur Green for the splendid new visitors book he has made for Ty'n Cornel. Please remember to add your contributions when you next visit.

Diolch Arthur

Hoffem ddiolch i Arthur yn swyddogol am wneud Llyfr Ymwelwyr newydd sbon a hyfryd ar gyfer Ty'n Cornel. Cofiwch nodi eich sylwadau ar eich ymweliad nesaf.

Dolgoch

The meeting of 20 supporters at Ty'n Cornel on 2 December again resolved that we should try to keep Dolgoch running as a hostel. We have written to the YHA offering to buy it for £110,000 and are waiting to hear back from them.

We have had over £39,000 worth of donations and membership subscriptions (245 members so far). We have applied for about £7,800 of gift aided tax back. There have been start up costs for Ty'n Cornel (insurance, survey, etc.) and some money must be allocated to essential maintenance there which may not be covered by the income from hostellers. We think up to about £30,000 is available towards buying Dolgoch so far, about £17,000 of which can only be used for that purpose. We are waiting to hear the result of several funding applications which if successful would make up the balance.

We also asked supporters whether they might be prepared to join the Trust in buying Dolgoch, possibly by buying shares (of £5,000+) in a company set up to do that. This needs more working out before we can be definite about how it would operate, but a number of supporters have expressed interest in it so far with amounts totalling over £60,000. There is a difficulty in using both private and charitable money which we hope to be able to resolve. If only half a dozen more people could offer such a conditional contribution we could well have enough committed funds to purchase the hostel outright. If you are interested in contributing in this way, please contact the Secretary as soon as possible.

There is also the possibility of leasing the hostel from a private buyer and we are looking into this, but the majority of trustees favour the Trust at least part-owning the hostel to make more sure it remains as a hostel open to all for future generations. We expect Dolgoch to be put on the market in March and we suspect there is interest from other quarters, so please make a donation if you can so we can keep it as a hostel. This may be our last chance. The donation form on the website allows you to specify that the donation can only be used for buying and refurbishing Dolgoch if you wish, and the money would be returned if this object cannot be fulfilled. Many thanks to all those who have already made donations.

Maintenance

We now have the full survey of Dolgoch and the result is encouraging. There are major works to do such as felting the roof but we hope that this would attract a grant. Generally it is not as damp as was feared. We need to find skilled volunteers who can lead us in carrying out the simpler jobs. Please get in touch if you can help as a volunteer or volunteer co-ordinator.

Dolgoch

Penderfynnodd yr 20 a ddaeth i'r cyfarfod ar 2 Rhagfyr y dylsem barhau i geisio cadw Dolgoch fel hostel. Rydym yn dal i aros am ateb oddiwrth y YHA i'n cynnig o £110,000. Ein cyfanswm hyd yn hyn yw £39,000 (rhoddion ac aelodaeth: 248 unigolyn ac 8 grwp). Ceisiwyd am £7,800 fel ad-daliad treth. Rhaid oedd gwario ar sefydlu Ty'n Cornel - yswiriant, archwiliad ayyb - a bydd angen mwy ar gyfer cynnal a chadw rhag ofn na fydd incwm o'r gwesteion yn ddigonol. Felly credwn bod tua £30,00 ar gael ar gyfer prynu Dolgoch, gyda £17,000 yn benodol ar gyfer hynny.

Rydym yn dal i aros am atebion i sawl cais am weddill y swm.

Syniad arall a osodwyd gerbron oedd i gefnogwyr ystyried prynu cyfrandaliadau o (£5000+) mewn cwmni pwrpasol. Mae anhawsterau posib ynglyn a defnyddio arian preifat ac elusennol a bydd angen ystyried y manylion yn fanwl ond roedd cryn diddordeb - dros £60,000 - a phe byddai 6 pherson ychwanegol yn fodlon ymuno a'r cynllun, dylai fod digon gennym. Os yw'n apelio felly, cysylltwch a'r Ysgrifennydd cyn gynted a phosib.

Rydym hefyd yn ystyried y posibilrwydd o logi'r hostel oddiwrth berchennog preifat,ond mae'n well gan y mwyafrif ohonom gael rhyw fath o berchnogaeth er mwyn ceisio sicrhau dyfodol Dolgoch fel hostel ar gyfer cenedlaethau i ddod.

Mae'n debyg bydd Dolgoch ar y farchnad ym mis Mawrth a disgwylir diddordeb oddiwrth eraill. Felly, os medrwch, gwnewch gyfraniad, os gwelwch yn dda, er mwyn ceisio cadw Dolgoch fel hostel. Mae'n bosib taw dyma'r cyfle olaf! Gellir printio ffurflen rodd o'r wefan neu cysylltwch a'r Ymddiriedolaeth am un. Os mynwch, cewch nodi eich dymuniad i'r arian fynd at Dolgoch yn unig, a'i ddychwelyd atoch os nad oes llwyddiant. Diolch i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu yn barod.

Cynnal a chadw

Gwnaethpwyd archwiliad llawn ar Dolgoch ac mae'n weddol gefnogol. Mae peth gwaith mawr megis y to (gyda arian grant, o bosib) ond yn ffodus, nid yw tamprwydd cynddrwg a hynny. Mae angen gwirfoddolwyr gyda sgiliau i wneud pethau eraill. Cysylltwch a ni os fedrwch helpu.

Sponsored walk

It is now time to register for the sponsored walk on 19 May to raise some money for the Trust, enjoy a walk in the Elenydd and meet others involved. The walks will end with a barbecue at Ty'n Cornel. (Click here) for an application form. Please let JJ know if you are coming as soon as possible so that he can complete his planning.

Tro nawdd

Mai 19: Mae'n bryd cofrestru nawr. Gobeithiwn godi arian ar gyfer yr Ymddiriedolaeth, i fwynhau tro/cymdeithasu yn yr Elenydd a diweddu gyda BBQ yn Nhy'n Cornel. Mae ffurflen gais gyda'r (Cylchlythyr) hwn. Rhowch wybod i JJ, y trefnydd, cyn gynted a phosib: JJ neu drwy'r cyfeiriad ar y ffurflen.

Footpaths

The Ceredigion footpaths officer has been in contact with the Trust to talk about improving and publicising the routes to and between Ty'n Cornel and Dolgoch. There is also a suggestion for a new off road walking route between Ty'n Cornel and Llanddewi Brefi, the nearest village.

Llwybrau cyhoeddus

Bu cysylltiadau rhyngom ni a Chyngor Ceredigion ynglyn a gwella' r llwybrau a rhoi hysbys i sawl un ohonynt megis rhwng Ty'n Cornel a Dolgoch; Ty'n Cornel a Llanddewi Brefi, y pentref agosaf.

Llanddewi Brefi

There is news recently that Llanddewi Brefi is likely to be made a conservation area by Ceredigion Council (Cambrian News, 18 January). 'The village has the potential to become one of the real jewels in Ceredigion's tourism crown' according to the planning officer. It must be good news for the only hostel in the village (well, OK, 7 miles up the road). See also the article published in the Independent.

Llanddewi Brefi

O bosib, caiff ei gofrestri gan y Cyngor fel ardal cadwraeth (Cambrian News 18 Ionawr - 'gem posib yng nghoron Ceredigion' yn ol swyddog cynllunio). Dyma newyddion da i'r 'unig hostel yn y pentref' (os 7 millitir i ffwrdd). Gweler hefyd Independent.

Cycle hire

The Trust is applying for funding to set up small cycle hire depots at Ty'n Cornel and Dolgoch.

Llogi beiciau

Gobeithiwn gynnig gwasanaeth llogi beic yn Nhy'n Cornel a Dolgoch. Mae amodau'r grant yn cynnwys Cwrs Hyfforddiant Cynnal a Chadw Beic 'Citec'. Oes diddordeb gan unrhyw un lleol yn hyn o beth?

Publicity

We now have attractive posters in Welsh and in English advertising Ty'n Cornel. They are being sent out to youth hostels, YHA local groups, walking groups, etc. If you have a suitable venue to display one, please contact the Chair. There is also a very good leaflet about the hostels which is just being reprinted. It is available from the Editor or the Chair. There was an excellent article in the Western Mail on 11 January and another in the Carmarthen Journal on 10 January marking the takeover of Ty'n Cornel. Radio Wales wants to record a feature on the hostels and we need people for a walk and local people to talk about the history of the farms/hostels. S4C are considering a half hour slot about the hostels and need Welsh speaking hostellers - please get in touch with our Chair if you are prepared to take part.

Hysbysrwydd

Mae gennym boster deiniadol yn Gymraeg a Saesneg am Dy'n Cornel i'w danfon allan i Hostelau Ieuenctid, Grwpiau lleol, grwpiau cerdded ayyb. Os oes gennych le am un, cysylltwch a'r Cadeirydd (gweler isod). Mae taflen wybodaeth dda hefyd yn cael ei ail brintio. Cysyllter a Editor neu'r Gadair (cyfeiriad isod). Roedd erthygl ardderchog yn y Western Mail ar 11 Ionawr ac un arall yn y Carmarthen Journal ar 10 Ionawr - y ddau'n son am ail lansio Ty'n Cornel. Mae Radio Cymru a diddordeb hefyd a bydd angen pobl i fynd am dro/siarad am hanes lleol. Efallai bydd S4C yn chwilio am siaradwyr Cymraeg sy'n hostela ar gyfer 'slot' hanner awr rhywbryd. Cysylltwch a Marilyn, y Cadeirydd, os ydych yn fodlon cymryd rhan.

Launch celebration

To mark the taking over of Ty'n Cornel, the Trust plans to hold a celebration at the hostel at 2 pm on Saturday 21 April. We are inviting all Trust members and other supporters to come along and celebrate the Trust's success so far with food, drink and entertainment. RSVP!

Dathliad yr agoriad

Gwahoddir pob aelod a chefnogwr arall i Dy'n Cornel ar 21 Ebrill am 2.00 ar gyfer y dathliad. Bydd lluniaeth ac adloniant. RSVP!

Meetings

We had excellent meetings on 15 October, 2 December and 20 January, getting through a lot of business and meeting a few new people with new ideas at each. Please come and join in if you can. The next meetings are:

• Saturday 10 March, 11am at Ty'n Cornel.
• Saturday 21 April, 11am in Llanddewi Brefi community hall: AGM followed by launch celebration at Ty'n Cornel (see above).

Cyfarfodydd

Cafwyd cyfarfodydd llwyddiannus ar 15 Hydref, 2 Rhagfyr a 20 Ionawr. Trafodwyd llawer o faterion busnes a syniadau newydd, felly dewch, os fedrwch, i'r rhai nesaf:

• Sadwrn 10 Mawrth, 11am, Ty'n Cornel.
• Sadwrn 21 Ebrill, 11am, Llanddewi Brefi, y Ganolfan Gymuned: (Cyfarfod Cyffredinol) cyn y dathliad yn Nhy'n Cornel (gweler uchod).

Contacts

Marilyn Barrack, Chair
Bill Hine, Secretary
Richard Hollins, Treasurer

Cysylltiadau

Marilyn Barrack, Cadeirydd
Bill Hine, Ysgrifennydd
Richard Hollins, Trysorydd

Previous newsletters

November 2006
September 2006
July 2006
May 2006

Cylchlythyrau blaenorol

Tachwedd 2006
Medi 2006
Gorffennaf 2006
Mai 2006