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Wales needs more trustees

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WCVAA DRIVE to help Wales’s thriving third sector become even stronger will be highlighted next month during a UK-wide week of events organised to attract more volunteer trustees. Trustees’ Week 2014 (November 10-16) is a national campaign highlighting and celebrating trusteeship. Wales will see the importance of good governance outlined through events and initiatives run by umbrella body Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and its members. They include a Twitter question and answer session, trustee seminars and the opportunity to enter a prestigious national annual awards ceremony. “We want to encourage people to take up trustee responsibilities,” said WCVA Acting Chief Executive Phil Jarrold. “Trustees are crucial to the smooth running of the third sector, but not always easy to attract.

They play a vital role, making important decisions about their organisation’s direction. Taking on such work can be both challenging and demanding, but those who decide to become trustees are not alone, and there is a wealth of information and support available for them.” Events taking place during Trustees’ Week include: Two shared learning seminars for trustees, which will be hosted by the Wales Audit Office in Cardiff on Tuesday (Nov 11) and Llanrwst on Thursday (Nov 13).

A WCVA Twitter Q&A on trustee training and development on Friday (Nov 14) using the hashtag #trusteesweek as part of a programme of Q&A sessions being held during Trustees’ Week – including ones to be hosted by the Charity Commission and the Charity Finance Group. The deadline for entries for WCVA’s Third Sector Awards Cymru, featuring a category rewarding good governance, which is also on November 14. The winner in the 2013 awards was YMCA Swansea which, between 2007-2013, saw a significant growth from having just four members of staff to employing 31 people and managing another 34 across Wales, delivering an all-Wales portfolio with a turnover of £1.5m.

Chief Executive of YMCA Swansea, Anne-Marie Rogan, said: “To have a board of trustees that is 100% engaged and committed to the organisation has been fundamental in building our organisation’s strength and determining our strategic direction.” One of the runners-up in the same category were the trustees of Vale Centre for Voluntary Services (VCVS), Barry, who led the organisation on a programme of continuous improvement since the adoption of the Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations (PQASSO) more than 10 years ago.

Partnership and Development Manager, Clive Curtis, said: “The award shows that VCVS trustees have worked hard to ensure that the organisation is fit for purpose to support voluntary and community groups and also demonstrates that we have robust policies and procedures in place.” A number of Welsh trustees have been recognised for their work over the past year, including Tenby’s Kathy Talbot, who recently stepped down as Honorary Curator of one of the town’s top tourist attractions – its Museum and Art Gallery – but has remained as a Trustee.

Kathy, who picked up a 2014 WCVA Wales Volunteer of the Year Trustee category award, was credited by her nominator with bringing the museum into the 21st century. “The role of trustee should bring skills and contacts for the administration of – in our case – the museum, to ensure a sustainable future,” she said. “A trustee can take both a bird’s eye and strategic view of the operation, but at the same time should be prepared to take an active role, helping in seeking funding, outreach work and marketing, etc.” WCVA and county voluntary councils across Wales are able to provide direct support to individual trustees and trustee boards, as well as signposting to further sources of expert advice and guidance.

A range of information sheets to help trustees are also free to download from WCVA’s website, as well as free publications including: Good governance: a code for the third sector in Wales Faith and hope don’t run charities (trustees do) WCVA’s governance health check. Other support includes events such as the annual Wales Charity Law and Governance conference in May, and seminars delivered by a range of professionals including associate accountants and solicitors. Visit www.volunteeringwales.net and www.recruit3.org.ouk to find out about trustee vacancies in your area.

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Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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