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The volunteers at Penrhiwceiber Institute Community Hall have been busy trying to breathe new life into the building and achieve their dream of staging a Welsh film festival during February and March 2011.

This week the team have been on the hunt for volunteers to help them not only at the film festival but to keep the hall running for years to come. At the moment they have a small but dedicated band of 11 volunteers - but they need dozens just to staff the film festival.

Members of the Ceiber Challenge team

So to give them some tips on recruiting volunteers we've taken Michelle, Kelly and Dean to Gilfach Goch Community Association. The centre has more than a hundred volunteers on its books and sees more than 4,000 pass through its doors each month.

Alison Patterson - the volunteer coordinator at GGCA - also gave Michelle and Kelly some helpful tips to get people to give a helping hand:

• Find out what people are interested in helping out with. Make flyers and questionnaires to hand out at community events to help you find out what people think of your project and what they'd like to do there.
• Offer your volunteers training and support. If the volunteers feel like they're getting something back for their time then they'll be more likely to stick at it.
• Give your volunteers a voice! Set up a committee which they can attend regularly and have their say about the project.
• Make your volunteers feel appreciated. Make sure you speak to them regularly, get special t-shirts printed for them and hold an awards ceremony each year to reward them for their loyalty.
• Use the resources in your local community for extra support. Contact nearby businesses and ask them to sponsor your event or project. Offer them advertising in exchange for support.

If you're interested in helping out at the hall you can contact 01443 476750 between 9am and 5pm weekdays.

Meanwhile, tickets are now on sale for the Ceiber Film Festival. If you're keen to get hold of a ticket for one of the films please call 01443 479734 or 01443 473711 - or visit for more information.

The films showing include:

• How Green Was My Valley, (U) (Feb 25, 7pm)
• Zulu, (PG) (Feb 26, 2.30pm)
• The Edge of Love (15) (March 4, 7pm)
• The Princess and the Goblin (U) (March 5, 2.30pm)
• Twin Town (18) (March 11, 7pm)
• Tiger Bay (U) (March 12, 2.30pm)
• House! (15) (March 18, 7pm)
• Prince Valiant (U) (March 19, 2.30pm)
• Legends of the Fall (15) (March 25, 7pm)
• Vikings (PG) (March 26, 2.30 pm).

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Picture Frame Appeal

As part of their mission to get more people to use the hall they're hoping to give part of the building a little spruce up - and they need your help.

They're looking for old picture frames, lampshades, chairs and a birdcage! It doesn't matter what shape or size the pieces are - as long as they're in good working order. If you can help, please drop your item into the hall on Penrhiwceiber Road, Penrhiwceiber, CF45 3SP.