Old Hall; June Madeira-Cole took this photograph, just before it was demolished, early 2000.

In 1998 the Gwynfe Community Association was Constituted and became instrumental in successfully securing funding from Cynnal - the Millennium Commission, Carmarthenshire County Council's Rural Grant Programme, the then Welsh Office and BBNPA, for replacing it's old Hall with a new 21st century Hall for Gwynfe; we recognize the help given by Antur Cwm Taf/Tywi to source these grants.

The intention of our Association was to foster Community involment and social inclusion by ensuring all age groups and abilities in the community were able to participate locally in social, educational, recreational and leisure activities.

The Builders, Doel & Rowlands handed over the keys in May 2001 and the Hall was officially opened, by Carwyn Jones AM, Minister for Rural Affairs, in November 2001.

People who regularly use the Hall are the Gwynfe Show Committee, the Gwynfe Darts Club and of course the Gwynfe Community Association and the Hall Management Committee, who run the ICT Lessons, the Yoga Club, Welsh Lessons and present Shows & Drama and oversee events such as the New Years Eve Parties and in May 2002, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

In 2001, we were successful in obtaining grants from BT, WCVA, Lloyds TSB Foundation, BBNPA Sustanability Challenge Fund, Sportlot and Carnegie UK Trust to acquire a Telephone System, an Induction Loop, Sports Equipment, Office Equipment, a Pool Table, eight Computers and two Printers for ICT training and a Cyber Cafe, and furniture, fittings and equipment for the Hall and Kitchen.

In 2002 we received a grant from Community Fund to add a demountable Stage, Stage Curtains, Stage Lighting and Lanterns, Large Screen TV/Video & Projector System, a Sound System including a Stereo CD Player and Stereo Cassette, Scanner and various Kitchen Equipment.

In February 2003, we were informed by Carmarthenshire County Council that the Sports Council for Wales had awarded us a SPORTLOT Community Chest Grant towards establishing a Yoga Club. In March 2003, we were told that our application for a BBNPA's Sustainable Events Grant had been accepted and that they would support us with our 'Spring Show'.

In December 2003 our Secretary was able to source a Grant to cover the the Trainer's Fee for Yoga Sessions in 2004; for this we are indebted to The Atlantic Foundation.

Then in January 2004, the Secretary June, was able to source another grant from Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, for the Yoga Club. With these two grants the Yoga Club Trainer's fee has been secured, well into 2005.

At the end of April 2004, the Secretary managed to secure an Award from Arts Council of Wales; this was used to purchase a Digital Piano.  There was a Community Launch with a Cheese & Wine Evening and a Recital, which was enjoyed by all.

Becoming victims of our own success and finding that we were very short of storage place, the Sectretary applied for and received funding from Wales Council for Voluntary Action for a Camu 'mlaen Grant and to Carmarthenshire County Council for a RSTP Grant; Doel & Rowlands Tendered for the construction and in January 2005, handed over the Keys to the competed structure. We now have a roomy Storage Facility, which Betty and June are most pleased about.

We won "Carmarthenshire 2004 Village of the Year" & Winner in Carmarthenshire of All 5 Categories and a cheque for £100 for being IT Winner in Carmarthenshire. Three months later June journeyed to London, with Mary Davies, to receive £500 for Gwynfe Wales' Winner for Information Communition Technology.

In 2005 our Secretary June, accessed a Cultural Grant for a St. David's Day Celebration. During 2004, June started sourcing a grant from Rural Community Action in Carmarthenshire for a Community Map and a handmade Cabinet to Display it in our Garden; a further grant in 2005 from the same source, paid for 100 Fold Up Maps, which when sold, would put £1,000, pure profit, into our Bank Account. In March 2006, June sourced another grant to pay for 'Community Celebrations' to Launch these Maps. Rev Guto Prys ap Gwynfe was our Speaker and it was an enjoyable evening with Refreshments included.

In December 2005, the Secretary received a cheque for £1,000, from the Community Facilities and Activities programme, towards the Yoga Teacher's training fees, making it possible for Yoga to continue for another year. The pupils greatly benefit from these Classes.

On New Year's Eve 2005 disaster struck and we found the Hall flooded - the Plumber declared that due to the artic conditions in Gwynfe (-8 degrees) a few water pipes had burst in the Loft; when we had recovered from the shock, we got to work with our Insurance Company & Loss Adjuster, Builders, Plumber, Electrician and Painters and the Hall was up and running in March. Unfortunately many event had to be postponed or cancelled during January and February, but Llangadog Community Council gave us a donation of £100 towards the repair of the Public Toilets.

Between August 2004 and March 2006 we have worked with Antur Teifi on three projects - (1) to produce a Community Map, (2) to produce 100 Fold-Up Maps for sale to the Community and general public and (3) a Community Celebration to launch the Map. The outcome has been a success and we have enjoyed working with Antur Teifi on this project.

Having obtained a Licence to become a venue to hold Marriage Ceremonies, we held our first Wedding in April 2006; Terry and Jan from New Inn had this privilege as they had paid the costs of the Licence - £580. Since then we have received two more bookings, one in August for the Marriage of Terri and Angus of Glanrhyd and the other in September of Charlotte and Joe Rideout.

As our Insurance Company paid for four computers and a Printer to replace those which were lost during the 'flood'. our Secretary has bid for funding to replace the four remaining Computers; we await news.

In October 2006, the Secretary heard that her bid was successful and Gwynfe Community Association had received £4,210 from the lottery-funded grants programme 'Awards For All Wales', for replacing the remaining four Computers; the grant will also enable the provision of a complete Network setup, Broadband for the Hall, Wireless Free Internet and installation. The Hall Management Committee are delighted, as are the Tutors, to be now teaching on Windows XP
and an up-to-the-minute, upgraded Computers.

In December 2006 our Secretary's bid for funding, for the Computers for the Community Classes, was successful and Gwynfe Community Assocation received £2,000 administered by CAVS.

In August 2007 Secretary June, the Fund Finder, found £930.23 for replacement Heaters in our Community Hall; administered by CAVS, this CFAP Grant from the National Assembly for Wales is of great assistance to Gwynfe Hall Committee and a piece of good fortune for members of the Community whom use the Hall - ask anyone.

Gwynfe Community Hall received a Carmarthenshire Local Projects Fund grant in January 2008; County Councillor D Huw Morgan has decided to offer Gwynfe Hall a general grant of £420 to enable the Committee to identify small-scale projects such as improvements, repairs, or redecorations to the Hall, local events or festivals, or small-scale environmental improvements.

The Secretary has procured a Grant of £2,000 in January 2008 for Yoga Practice, from the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust; the Yoga Club is extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue this marvellous Practice.  The Grant pays the Teachers Fees of £400 for a 10 week session and pupils pay £1.50 (same prices kept since 2001) per week, taken at the beginning of the session, to pay Gwynfe Community Hall Hire Fees for the Hall. 

Any ex-Gwynfe community member will remember that there is no Shop, School, or Public House here - or Public Transport, so we could have quite easily become socially isolated. The locals have benefited by having the opportunity to become more involved in their Community, through the facilities, events and activities provided by the Hall Committee. Those with disabilities have also been able to take full advantage of the facilities, as the Hall is easily accessible to them. Most important there is no need to travel out of the area.

The Community appreciate this wonderful multi-purpose Hall, with all these facilities, right in the middle of our beautiful Village.

This is the New Hall, taken by Betty Griffiths, just after it was built in 2001.