Latest news with #WelshGovernment
South Wales Argus
9 minutes ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Free summer scheme returns to schools across Wales
The Food and Fun programme returns for the school holidays, offering children free activities and nutritious meals throughout the summer break. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the scheme, which first began as a pilot in Cardiff before expanding across Wales. Lynne Neagle, Wales' cabinet secretary for education, said: "The 'Food and Fun' School Holiday Enrichment Programme has helped tens of thousands of families over the last decade, providing free nutritious meals and enriching activities across the country. "I am very proud to mark this special anniversary by visiting the very successful and popular Pantside Primary Food and Fun scheme." The programme, now delivered in around 230 schools across all 22 Welsh local authorities, is fully funded by the Welsh Government and coordinated by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). More than 14,000 places will be available each day during the holidays, with each scheme offering at least 12 days of support. Since its launch, the scheme has provided more than 800,000 free places for children. Each day includes a healthy breakfast and lunch, along with activities ranging from cookery and sports to music and den building. Schools invite families to sign up during the summer term, and each scheme hosts a weekly family meal to bring communities together. This year, the Welsh Government has allocated more than £5.8 million to the programme, including an additional £1 million in funding. To celebrate the 10-year milestone, Ms Neagle visited Pantside Primary School to take part in the scheme. During her visit, she joined a cooking session where children made fruit kebabs, played a game of cricket, and enjoyed a healthy lunch. Ms Neagle said: "The summer holidays can be a challenging time for families and 'Food and Fun' highlights the important role that schools play in supporting children, their families and the local community. "At the heart of this scheme is the dedicated local authority and education workforce, who have formed fantastic partnerships with a variety of organizations to deliver a diverse range of activities for young people to enjoy."
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
What Caerphilly schools will look like after summer holiday
Pupils and teachers will say goodbye to Rhydri Primary School, which has served the village of Rudry since 1902. The local authority confirmed in April the school would close down, bringing to an end a long campaign to make it viable. The council's argument focused on falling pupil numbers – blamed on declining birth rates – and their impact on the school's ability to produce a balanced budget. Some parents launched a recruitment campaign to try and drive up pupil numbers, but this failed to persuade the council that Rhydri Primary had a sustainable future. Other efforts included slashing the number of classes and federating the school with Bedwas Juniors, but the council said this work was 'not viable or sustainable moving forward'. Critics of the proposed closure argued the council should have done more to make the school survive, but this view was challenged by the local authority. At the April meeting to decide Rhydri Primary's fate, cabinet members described the move as 'difficult' and acknowledged the community's 'hard work' to try and save the school. Its pupils are expected to move to Caerphilly town's St James Primary School in September, although parents are free to send their children elsewhere. Elsewhere, some students currently at two single-sex schools will begin co-ed lessons in the new academic year. The council agreed last December to eventually shut down Lewis Girls School, in Ystrad Mynach, and transfer all pupils to the currently boys-only Lewis School Pengam by September 2027. This autumn, the proposal is for all pupils in Years 7 and 8 at both schools to be taught on the Lewis Girls School site, and for all pupils in Years 9 and 10 to have their lessons at Lewis School Pengam. Year 11 pupils preparing to take their GCSEs will remain at their current school to minimise disruption. There will be further changes in September 2026 before Lewis Girls School shuts a year later, closing the book on single-sex secondary school state education – not just in Caerphilly County Borough, but also in Wales. Meanwhile, demolition work will begin this summer at Plasyfelin Primary School, in Caerphilly town, where a modern replacement will be built in phases. Some students will learn in temporary classrooms when they return to lessons in September, as the council hopes to minimise disruption to learning. The replacement school will be larger and carbon-neutral – but a new report shows costs are already expected to rise by nearly £3 million more than initial estimates, meaning the council will have to contribute an extra £1.76 million to the project, which is jointly-funded with the Welsh Government. Also in Caerphilly town, Hendre Infants School will 'amalgamate' with Hendre Junior School in September to create a new primary. A council meeting heard the 'amicable' merger had been supported by both schools, and could lead to a 'sharing of expertise' for staff and a 'continuity of learning' for pupils. The infant and junior key stages will continue to operate at their current homes, opposite each other on St Cenydd Road, but will now be run as one school.
Business News Wales
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Tramshed Tech Swansea Expands with New Roles in Historic Palace Theatre
Eight months after opening its doors in Swansea's restored Palace Theatre building Tramshed Tech is creating jobs in the city. The coworking network and innovation hub, which launched its Swansea location in November 2024, is recruiting for three new positions. The refurbished 136-year-old landmark now includes five floors of workspace. The historic theatre stage has been transformed into an event space, while the ground floor Da coffee shop is open to the public. 'The response from Swansea's business community has been incredibly positive,' said Louise Harris, CEO at Tramshed Tech. 'We're building a strong foundation of members who truly value our flexible coworking, office space, meeting rooms, and event facilities. The Palace Theatre is becoming exactly the collaborative hub we envisioned – where Swansea's rich heritage meets its bright entrepreneurial future.' Now Tramshed Tech is recruiting for the following roles to support their expanding operations: Community Manager & Receptionist – A full-time position leading community engagement, member relations, and space management. The successful candidate will be instrumental in planning events, onboarding new members, and fostering the collaborative culture that defines Tramshed Tech. – A full-time position leading community engagement, member relations, and space management. The successful candidate will be instrumental in planning events, onboarding new members, and fostering the collaborative culture that defines Tramshed Tech. Community Executive & Receptionist – A full-time role serving as the 'face' of the business, providing exceptional customer service to members and visitors while supporting the community function that makes Tramshed Tech unique. – A full-time role serving as the 'face' of the business, providing exceptional customer service to members and visitors while supporting the community function that makes Tramshed Tech unique. Barista for Da Coffee Shop – A part-time position joining the independent coffee shop that celebrates community and collaboration, serving Coaltown coffee and locally sourced food to both Tramshed Tech members and the public. The Palace Theatre restoration, supported by £4.9 million from the Welsh Government, comes as Swansea Council is leading a £1 billion city regeneration plan. 'Tramshed Tech's rapid growth in the Palace Theatre demonstrates exactly what we hoped to achieve,' said council leader Rob Stewart. 'They've created a dynamic business environment that's attracting entrepreneurs and supporting local talent, while preserving this magnificent historical building for future generations.' Tramshed Tech also continues to deliver its award-winning business growth programmes, supporting tech, digital, and creative businesses throughout Wales. The Swansea location is hosting the 'Skills for Swansea' programme – offering free half-day digital skills training sessions funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for residents and workers aged 19 and over. These complimentary workshops cover skills including digital marketing fundamentals, programming foundations, AI applications, data handling, and enhanced digital tools. Founded in 2016, Tramshed Tech now has locations in Cardiff, Newport, Barry, and Swansea. All three positions are open for applications. Interested candidates should email their CV to swansea@
South Wales Argus
20 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Deputy first minister feasts on success at Royal Welsh Show
And Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy first minister with responsibility for climate change and rural affairs, toured the lounge to see first hand how Welsh Government support was delivering commercial opportunities for food and drink businesses across Wales. Funded by the Welsh Government, Cywain has been the launch-pad for countless food and drink producers. This year 16 producers displayed at the Royal Welsh Food Hall for the first time. Exhibiting at the Cywain stand, Claire Garland, Pembrokeshire Cheesecake Company, said: "As a small business, it's wonderful to be here. "Hopefully we'll make some good contacts. That's the main reason to come, as well as showcasing my products, and see where that takes us." Sioned, from Snowdonia Wagyu, said: "To be on this stall this year and have this kind of exposure is really excellent. "To come to the Royal Welsh to exhibit is a big step. The actual cost of coming to a show for a small business is just one factor, and because there's just the two of us on the farm, it's nice to have that one day to test, just to see what the reaction is and get the feedback from people. "It's really important that we have places like Cywain that can offer us this support - from staging the stand to how to speak to people and how to present your product as well. "It's imperative - that we have the support here in Wales." Mr Irranca-Davies said: "The Food & Drink Wales Business Lounge demonstrates exactly how our strategic support is creating real commercial opportunities for Welsh producers. "The Welsh food and drink industry is a cornerstone of our economy and a source of immense national pride. 'It was a pleasure to have a tour this morning and to meet the producers and It's exciting to see Welsh businesses connecting with major buyers and securing new market opportunities."
Leader Live
20 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Hannah Blythyn MS for Delyn says 'our towns matter'
MS for Delyn Our towns matter. They're more than just places on a map, they're where we grow up, build our lives and create our futures – that's why I've always believed in backing them. Last week in the Senedd, I asked the First Minister about the Welsh Government's commitment to investing in our towns across North Wales and to go further by putting local people at the heart of decisions that shape their communities. From Rhyl's new Queen's Market to the transformation of Theatr Clwyd, the Welsh Government is investing in our towns. I'm proud to have played a part in establishing the Transforming Towns approach that's seen a significant amount of investment across the country and nearly £5.5m alone in Flintshire and Denbighshire. You can see many of my contributions in the Senedd on my Facebook page at I'm proud to see once again our green spaces across the constituency recognised as part of the record-breaking Green Flag Awards. From Bailey Hill in Mold to Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, these places play such a significant part in our lives – they're vital for our wellbeing, our wildlife and our communities. The full list for Wales includes 315 spaces recognised for their excellence, securing Wales that global benchmark of the highest number of Green Flags. A huge thank you to all the volunteers, community groups and the local authorities who make this possible. Your hard work has helped put our favourite North Wales spaces on the map with a Green Flag award. We recently saw the School Essentials Grant open for applications – a really helpful way to get hold of uniform, school equipment, books and laptops as well as paying for school trips for families on low incomes. Grants of up to £125 per child are available, going up to £200 for Year 7 students to reflect the extra cost of going to secondary school. To qualify, families need to be on certain benefits and children need to qualify for Free School Meals – grants are administered by Flintshire County Council, so to find out more and apply, go to Age Cymru recently launched a new, free and confidential telephone advice line specifically for older carers in Wales. Whether you're new to caring or have been doing it for years, the new telephone line provides information and advice tailored to the needs of older carers – advisors can help with a range of issues, including access to services, benefits, your rights as a carer and more, so it could be a real help to older carers in our corner of North Wales. You can contact the Older Carers Advice Line on 03300 564 365 to speak to a friendly advisor who understands your situation. I recently had the chance to join the RSPB at Talacre to do a bit of birdwatching – we were looking for the Little Tern, which can sometimes be seen in Talacre and also at Gronant Dunes. Regular readers might remember that I'm the Senedd Species Champion for the Little Tern, which the RSPB has put on the 'amber' list of birds of conservation concern. Sadly, I didn't spot any Little Terns but I did see some Sandwich Terns and Curlew! And, finally, I'm recruiting – I'm currently looking for someone to join my busy team as a Caseworker and Constituency Coordinator. This role is based in the constituency and involves helping local residents with casework, coordinating constituency visits and events and ensuring the day-to-day running of the office is responsive to the needs of the people and communities I represent. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, or if you know someone who might be a good fit, you can see full details at As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.
