News
Project to support dementia sufferers

AN INNOVATIVE new service to help people with dementia across South West Wales and their carers feel more supported and enjoy a full and active life through activities including art, drama, and photography launched in Llanelli on Friday (15 November).
Alzheimer’s Society will run the ‘Life not just a service’ project across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, after being awarded over £720,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
The project will be delivered through a programme of adult community learning opportunities including art, drama, patchwork quilting, family history, and photography – to name but a few. Each course will run for 10 weeks, with the weekly session operating for three hours in locations across south west Wales.
The event, which highlighted the charity’s support services for people living with dementia in South West Wales, was attended by Jonathan Edwards MP. Speaking at the event he said:
‘In my surgeries I meet many carers who are extremely grateful for the work of Alzheimer’s Society in helping them to adapt to a life-changing condition which impacts not just the individual, but the wider family circle. Amongst other things Alzheimer’s Society offers hope to people that there is life beyond developing dementia.
‘The fact that Alzheimer’s Society has been awarded substantial funding from the Big Lottery is a testament to the confidence stakeholders have in the work the Society undertakes’.
The new funding is one of three Big Lottery projects secured in the last 18 months for Alzheimer’s Society in Wales, totalling £2.75m (£2,750,000).
The advocacy and befriending services, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s AdvantAGE programme, were officially launched in July 2012 and have since helped to support people across South West Wales who are living with all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Cheryl James, Operations Manager for Alzheimer’s Society in South West Wales said: ‘There are estimated to be over 44,500 people with dementia in Wales and as the population ages, we all face the risk of one day developing the condition. Through our new project ‘Life Not Just a Service’ we aim to reach out and offer a range of learning opportunities to those who may not have otherwise been able to access our support services.
‘People with dementia and their carers can often experience feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially in the more rural parts of Wales. Alzheimer’s Society is committed to reaching out to all people with dementia and their carers in order to help them and support them to live well with dementia now and in the future.
‘We hope that the new ‘Life Not Just a Service’ will increase public awareness of dementia and give people a better understanding of the condition; reducing the stigma. We also hope that the project will create a sense of community spirit where people with dementia can be active citizens.
‘We are delighted that thanks to the generous support of the Big Lottery Fund, we can bring these much needed services to Wales.’
Education
Nursery place application deadline reminder from Local Authority

PARENTS and guardians of children in Pembrokeshire born between 01/09/2022 – 31/08/2023 are invited to apply for a Nursery school place for January, April and September 2026 by the closing date of 30th April 2025.
Applications received after 30th April 2025 will be considered late which may have a bearing on whether the child gets a place at your preferred school.
It is important to note that no school place will be allocated unless a formal application is received.
The online application form can be found on the Pembrokeshire County Council website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning under ‘Apply for a School Place’.
For information on which term your child would be due to join nursery, please follow this link to our Information to Parents which sets out the terms based on your child’s date of birth and which school you are applying to.
There is no need to re-apply if you have already submitted an application form. You can view your current applications by logging into your My Account and into the ‘Schools & Learning’ ‘School Admissions & Transport’ section.
Parents/guardians are reminded that attending a Nursery at a school does not guarantee a Primary place (to start in September 2027) and a separate application does need to be submitted for this. This application can be submitted at the same time as your Nursery application.
Parents/guardians will be notified of Nursery places by 31st July 2025.
News
Welsh Conservatives call for stronger action on marine littering

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have urged the Labour Government to take more decisive action to tackle marine littering following a reported rise in beach waste levels across Wales.
During Spokesperson’s Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and the Environment, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, expressed concern about the state of the marine environment.
Despite Wales being ranked second in the world for recycling and the Welsh Government having declared both a climate emergency and a nature emergency, the average amount of litter found on Welsh beaches has increased by 4%, prompting questions over the government’s approach to marine conservation.
Commenting on the figures, Ms Finch-Saunders said:
“These figures show a worrying trend occurring on our beaches across Wales, with birds and sea mammals being placed at increasing risk due to Labour’s inaction.
“In terms of nature recovery, this issue is simply not being addressed by the Labour Government. We are seeing progress across the border, yet the problem persists here in Wales under the Welsh Labour Government’s watch.
“Given the serious risk to marine animals and the broader marine environment, the Labour Government must do more to combat marine littering and support our marine ecosystems.”
Environmental campaigners and marine charities have also called for increased efforts to tackle plastic waste and improve coastal cleanliness. The Welsh Government has previously committed to enhancing marine protection and reducing single-use plastics, though opposition parties argue that further action is needed to reverse recent trends.
Business
UK’s largest semiconductor facility secures major investment

Newport factory to support 500 new jobs and play vital role in EV supply chain
WALES is set to benefit from a £250 million investment into its advanced manufacturing sector, as US tech giant Vishay Intertechnology commits to expanding operations at the UK’s largest semiconductor facility in Newport.
The investment is a major vote of confidence in Wales’s industrial capabilities and will further strengthen South Wales’s status as home to the world’s first Compound Semiconductor Cluster. It comes as part of the UK government’s Plan for Change to grow the economy, support skilled jobs, and enhance national resilience in critical sectors.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will visit the Newport site today (Thursday, March 27) to formally welcome the investment, which will boost production of Silicon Carbide semiconductors—an essential component in electric vehicles (EVs). These next-generation chips enable faster battery charging, improved energy efficiency, and extended driving ranges.
The development is expected to directly create over 500 high-value, highly-skilled jobs in Newport and support hundreds more across the wider supply chain. The project is backed by the UK’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), which supports innovation and domestic supply in critical technologies such as semiconductors.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Under this government, the UK is open for business. This is exactly the type of investment that will help us grow the economy, create highly-skilled jobs, and boost opportunity across the country, as we deliver on our Plan for Change to get more money into working people’s pockets.”
The investment follows the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, where she announced a “new era of security and national renewal.” The Office for Budget Responsibility has upgraded growth forecasts for 2026 and beyond, with households expected to be £500 better off per year by the end of this Parliament compared to under the previous government.
The announcement marks a major step in the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing. From 2010 to 2023, the UK saw the fastest growth in manufacturing productivity per job among G7 nations.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“This is a huge vote of confidence in the Welsh economy and our plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investment in the industries of tomorrow. Vishay’s investment will help secure a domestic supply of semiconductors for our world-leading automotive and clean energy sectors—key drivers of long-term economic growth.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added:
“This massive investment by Vishay and the UK Government is a huge boost for Wales’s world-leading semiconductor industry. It will build on the success of our advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and defence sectors—creating and supporting hundreds of skilled, well-paid jobs across South Wales.”
Vishay’s Chief Operating Officer for Semiconductors and Chief Technology Officer, Roy Shoshani, said:
“This is an exciting moment and the beginning of our growth journey in the UK. With a skilled workforce and strong government backing through the Industrial Strategy, the UK has an opportunity to lead in advanced semiconductor manufacturing—enhancing economic security and helping deliver Net Zero.”
The investment coincides with the Chancellor’s participation in the Invest in Women Taskforce roundtable in Wales, which has secured over £250 million in funding commitments for female entrepreneurs.
The Automotive Transformation Fund—delivered in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)—has already helped unlock more than £6 billion in private sector investment for the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. In addition, the Autumn Budget committed over £2 billion to capital and R&D funding for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing over the next five years.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said:
“This significant investment in compound semiconductors is a huge contribution to the innovation and advanced technology necessary to drive the future of UK automotive. British-made next-generation semiconductors will create jobs, support supply chains, and enhance the UK’s strategic capabilities.”
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