On New Years Day 2022, Seiriol Swimmers pulled on their Bobble Hats, gloves and boots and celebrated the day with a wavy dip in the chilly waters of the Menai Strait. They set out to raise funds for Croeso Menai, a local Refugee Community Sponsorship Scheme. As an extra incentive the first 10 mermaids were given a Coffee Log to put on their woodburner. It was a windy, wavy day but the sun came out and the bonfire, sausages and cake helped warm everyone up.
Ar Ddydd Calan 2022, gwisgodd Nofwyr Seiriol eu hetiau bobl, menyg a bŵts i ddathlu’r diwrnod drwy ymdrochi yn nyfroedd oerllyd Afon Menai. Eu bwriad oedd codi arian at Croeso Menai, Cynllun Nawdd Cymuned lleol i ffoaduriaid. Er mwyn eu temtio, roedd y 10 môr-forwyn gyntaf yn cael Boncyff Coffi i’w roi ar eu llosgwr coed. Roedd yn ddiwrnod gwyntog, a’r tonnau’n uchel ond roedd yr haul allan a buan y cynhesodd pawb o gwmpas y tân yn byta sosejis a chacen.
Kay swimmer and Croeso Menai team member said ‘people say we’re tough, swimming in the sea all year round, but we can hardly imagine what it must be like for the mothers of children, forced to leave their home out of fear for their future. The community sponsorship scheme means we can change the future for a refugee family, giving their children a chance to fulfil their potential’.
Dywedodd Kay, sy’n un o’r nofwyr ac yn aelod o dîm Croeso Menai ‘ mae pobl yn deud ein bod yn wydn, yn nofio yn y môr drwy gydol y flwyddyn, ond allwn ni ddim dychymygu sut deimlad ydy o i famau sydd wedi eu gorfodi i adael eu cartrefi oherwydd eu bod yn ofni’r dyfodol. Mae’r cynllun nawdd cymuned yn golygu y gallwn newid y dyfodol i deulu o ffoaduriaid, gan roi cyfle i’r plant gyflawni eu potensial.’
The programme, which is run by the UK Home Office, has already enabled some families from Syria to find refuge. Recently the government extended the scheme to include displaced families from Afghanistan. Across the UK a number of rural communities have raised funds and welcomed refugees, as seen on BBC Countryfile at Christmas. Families apply for Asylum via the UNHCR whilst overseas and Croeso Menai’s first family, from Syria, arrived in 2021 and are settling down to their new life.
Diolch i’r cynllun, sy’n cael ei chynnal gan y Swyddfa Gartref, mae teuluoedd o ffoaduriaid o Syria wedi gallu cael lloches. Yn ddiweddar mae’r llywodraeth wedi ymestyn y cynllun i gynnwys teuluoedd digartref o Afghanistan. Ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig mae amryw o gymunedau gwledig wedi codi arian ac wedi croesawu ffoaduriaid, fel a welwyd ar BBC Countryfile adeg y Nadolig.
Donations for Croeso Menai can be made by text or online. Every donation helps get us closer to the £9,000 we need to raise to change the future for a family.
Mae modd cyfrannu at Croeso Menai drwy neges destun neu ar-lein. Mae pob rhodd yn ein helpu i ddod yn agosach at y £9,000 sydd ei angen i newid y dyfodol i deulu.
* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org
Diolch i chi am gyfrannu at Croeso Menai (Rhif Elusen 1186363), un o bartrneriaid cynllun Nawdd i Ffoaduriaid y DU. Gallwch ddilyn Croeso Menai ar Facebook. Os hoffech chi helpu mewn ffyrdd eraill, neu os hoffech chi wybod mwy am Croeso Menai a Nawdd Cymuned, neu wahodd aelod o’r tîm i ddod i siarad (siaradwyr Saesneg/Cymraeg0 â grŵp yr ydych chi’n aelod ohono, cysylltwch os gwelwch yn dda â info@croesomenai.org.uk