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Christmas activities in the Darran Valley will be bigger this year thanks to extra money put forward by the community council. 

Residents of Fochriw, Pentwyn and Deri will have more opportunities for festive fun this December as money that was set aside for summer activities and not used due to Covid-19 will be spent on Christmas events. 

Robert Chapman, community councillor for Fochriw and Pentwyn, discussed how the agreement was reached.

“We had the money there, because of, naturally, Covid,” he said.  “We couldn’t spend it for summer schemes for the kiddies.

“We thought that we would spend it for them to have a lovely Christmas.”

According to the October community council meeting, there will be an estimated additional £2,200 spent on activities which include arts and crafts and two pantomimes – Robin Hood in Fochriw and Sleeping Beauty in Deri. 

There may even be a visit from the man in red and white himself, according to Cllr Chapman who also represents the Darran Valley ward for Caerphilly Borough. 

“[There’ll be] a fire engine with Father Christmas on it,” he said, where children will be able to receive gifts at stops which will include Pentwyn and Fochriw and Deri Community Centres.

It’s a community effort, with a lot of the work being done by locals, according to Cllr Chapman.

“Fair play to the community, especially in Fochriw,” he said.

“There is a group of residents doing it and they’re doing a fantastic job at the moment of getting the whole village together.”

‘Father Christmas on a Fire engine’ will take place on December 10.  The times are yet to be confirmed.

Sleeping Beauty will be playing in Deri Community Centre on December 28 at 13.30 pm. Robin Hood will be playing in Fochriw Community Centre on December 30 at 13.30 pm. Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis by Councillors at Community Centres.