New bursary schemes will support up to 19 qualified planners, with a particular focus on tackling workforce shortages in mid and west Wales

COMMUNITIES across Wales are set to benefit from stronger local planning services following the announcement of almost £450,000 to train and retain the next generation of planners.

The Welsh Government has confirmed £447,400 for two bursary programmes which could support up to 19 people to gain professional planning qualifications.

The existing Pathways to Planning bursary scheme will receive £126,000, enabling up to seven junior planners to complete fully funded postgraduate study.

A further £321,400 will be invested over three years in a new Mid and West Wales Rural Planners bursary scheme, designed to address recruitment and retention difficulties in rural authorities.

The programme will support up to 12 graduates and existing local authority staff to study for Royal Town Planning Institute-accredited postgraduate qualifications while continuing to live and work in their local communities.

It will operate across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Eryri National Park.

The scheme will also place a strong emphasis on supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and developing locally based professionals with an understanding of the communities they serve.

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Siân Gwenllian said effective planning departments were vital to the future of communities across Wales.

She said: “Good planning services are the backbone of thriving communities. They shape where homes are built, where businesses grow and how we protect our natural environment, but too many rural areas in Wales are struggling to recruit and retain the planners they need.

“That is why I joined a roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show this week with rural council leaders, including the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys, to hear directly about the pressures they face.

“These bursary schemes are a direct response to what we heard, investing in local talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and growing the planning workforce from within the communities it serves.”

Ceredigion County Council will lead the delivery of the rural programme in partnership with the other participating authorities.

Council leader Cllr Bryan Davies said the initiative demonstrated what rural authorities could achieve by working together to tackle shared workforce challenges.

He said: “Ceredigion has been proud to lead the development of this regional initiative, working with our partners to create new opportunities for local people to build professional careers in planning while remaining in rural Wales.

“By investing in home-grown talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and strengthening the skills we need for the future, we are helping to ensure that mid and west Wales has the capacity, expertise and local knowledge required to shape thriving, sustainable communities for generations to come.

“We thank the Welsh Government for the opportunity to develop this ‘grow your own’ planners approach.”

A GRIEVING mother is preparing to leap from an aircraft at 15,000 feet in memory of her much-loved son, while raising money for two Pembrokeshire organisations close to her heart.

Tina has booked a tandem parachute jump to honour her son, Luke Foster, who died suddenly on March 12, 2024, aged just 37.

Luke would have celebrated his 40th birthday on August 23 this year, and Tina hopes to complete the jump on that date alongside her boss, Sam Warden, who has volunteered to take part with her.

Money raised through the challenge will be divided between Get The Boys A Lift and Windswept Watersports, two not-for-profit community interest companies working to support people in Pembrokeshire.

Tina said: “In honour of my beloved son Luke, who very sadly passed away suddenly, I have booked a tandem parachute jump at a height of 15,000 feet.

“Luke should have been celebrating his 40th birthday on August 23, so I’m hoping it will be possible to jump on the day of his birthday alongside my amazing boss Sam Warden, who has kindly agreed to support me and jump with me.”

Support following Luke’s death

Get The Boys A Lift was established by a group of friends in 2016 and uses income from its Haverfordwest coffee shop, clothing sales and fundraising activities to provide free and easily accessible mental health support.

Tina said the organisation had supported her through an extremely difficult period following the loss of her son.

She said: “After walking into their café in Haverfordwest, then breaking down into floods of tears as soon as I tried to speak, the Get The Boys A Lift staff comforted me with compassion, much-needed hugs and a long chat.

“That then led to them providing me with weeks of counselling.

“If I could raise some funds for them to carry on doing just that for others, I would be so grateful. I know my Luke would have readily approved, as he had suffered badly with his own mental health for many years.”

Accessible watersports facilities

The second beneficiary, Windswept Watersports, works to provide affordable and inclusive watersports activities for people of all ages and backgrounds, with a particular focus on disabled and disadvantaged groups.

Tina has seen the organisation’s work through her employer, Value Independence CIC, whose disabled clients have taken part in activities including paddleboarding and supported sessions in the sea.

Funds raised through the parachute jump will help Windswept Watersports develop a changing area with accessible facilities.

The planned space would provide wheelchair users with a safe and dignified place to change and would include specialist hoisting equipment.

Tina added: “I would be so grateful if people could donate, no matter how big or small, as anything would be greatly appreciated.

“If you are unable to donate, you could still help by sharing the fundraiser far and wide.”

Donations can be made through Tina’s JustGiving page: HERE.

THREE children were rescued after being blown around a mile out to sea on a paddleboard off Pendine.

Tenby’s all-weather RNLI lifeboat was launched shortly after 5:00pm on Saturday, July 18, following reports that the children were in difficulty.

Before the lifeboat arrived, the children were spotted by the crew of the Saundersfoot-based charter boat Ebony May, who acted quickly and brought them safely aboard.

An RNLI lifeguard from Pendine had also reached the group but was unable to return all three children to the beach without further assistance.

The Tenby lifeboat crew arrived a short time later and transferred the children onto the lifeboat, where they were checked for injuries.

They were then taken back to Pendine beach aboard the lifeboat’s smaller Y boat. The lifeguard was also returned safely to shore.

Tenby RNLI thanked both the charter boat crew and the lifeguard for their rapid response.

A spokesperson said: “Our thanks go out to the crew of the Ebony May and also the RNLI lifeguard. Without them spotting and rescuing the children, this incident could have turned out very differently.”

The RNLI also praised the children for remaining with the paddleboard, which made them easier to locate from the shore and from nearby vessels.

Following the rescue, the charity issued a warning about the dangers posed by offshore winds to paddleboarders.

The spokesperson added: “When going paddleboarding, you should avoid beaches where the wind is offshore.

“You can quickly be blown out faster than you can paddle, meaning you are unable to make it back to shore.

“Always wear a buoyancy aid and carry a way of calling for help, such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.”

As the Tenby lifeboat returned to station, the crew was redirected towards Burry Port following a separate report that three children were in difficulty at sea.

However, while the lifeboat was passing south of Carmarthen Bar, the crew was informed that everyone involved had been safely recovered and no further assistance was needed.