Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Aber Valley YMCA celebrate 80 years at the heart of its community

News | | Published: 14:00, Friday September 14th, 2018.
Last updated: 16:52, Thursday September 20th, 2018

Aber Valley YMCA
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY: Aber Valley YMCA

A YMCA has celebrated 80 years of being at the heart of its community.

Aber Valley YMCA has stood on the same site in Brynhafod Road, Abertridwr, since it opened in September 1938 – although thanks to the efforts of an army of volunteers it is unrecognisable to what it was.

Its story began in March 1938 when the manager of the Windsor Colliery asked the YMCA in Wales to find a suitable location in the valley. Its purpose would be to serve the young men who worked in the colliery.

Opened in September, the early YMCA was funded by the colliery’s owners Powell-Duffryn and consisted of just a single room.

A gymnasium, now used as a dance studio, was opened in 1939, with a further extension in 1986.

In 2002 a major expansion took place with the opening of the YMCA’s £800,000 sports hall – paid for in part with European Objective 1 funding.
Thousands of youngsters have passed through the YMCA’s doors in its 80 years.

One of them is current chairman Elwyn Evans – who first started going there aged 12 – some 61 years ago.

Mr Evans is also celebrating his own milestone with the YMCA as he has been chairman for the last 40 years. He is just the fourth person to take up the role.

Mr Evans, who was awarded an MBE for his youth work back in 2007, said: “People say how much I have done for the YMCA, but it’s more about what the YMCA has done for me – it’s a reason to get up in the morning.

“The YMCA is in my blood and my whole family are involved.

“We are open five nights a week between 5pm and 9pm and our members range in age between eight years and 15. We have around 400 members at present.”

The YMCA’s 80th anniversary was recently marked with a well-attended concert by Aber Valley Male Voice Choir.

CELEBRATION: The Aber Valley Male Voice Choir at the YMCA’s 80th anniversary concert. Picture by Keith Gough

Caerphilly Media

Latest News

  • Drakeford warns of £7bn cuts if Welsh Government budget not passedTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • ‘The men that were killed must never be forgotten’: Senghenydd remembers 112 years onTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Davies' lurcher dog Shirley, who was used for illegal fights
    Man who abused badgers and entered his dog into illegal fights jailedTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • How the proposed wind farm would look from Heol Tasker, Nelson
    Larger turbine blades for wind farm a “minor change,” says developerTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Finance minister Mark Drakeford
    Sweeping cuts loom as Drakeford unveils £27bn spending plansTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Young Saints honour Senghenydd’s mining legacy with new memorial rugby cupMonday, October 13, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, October 2, 2025
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Hanbury Road, BargoedThursday, September 25, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Pontygwindy Industrial EstateThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 18, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.