News

Sioned Williams sets out new plan to tackle child poverty in Wales

Published

2 months ago

June 9, 2026

THE DEPUTY First Minister has promised a new approach to tackling poverty in Wales, with expanded childcare, a Welsh Child Payment pilot and a new child poverty plan with clear targets.

Sioned Williams, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Equality, used her first oral statement to the Senedd to outline the new Welsh Government’s priorities.

She said the government’s work would be built around “respect, solidarity and fair play”, with a focus on reducing poverty, tackling inequality and building safer and more united communities.

Childcare expansion

One of the main commitments is a major expansion of funded childcare.

The Welsh Government says work has already begun on what it describes as a “transformational” childcare offer, which it claims will become the most generous in the UK.

An expert steering group has now been appointed to help guide the rollout. Its work will focus on phased delivery, workforce planning, improving access for families and simplifying the application process.

The government is already working with local authorities to speed up the delivery of 12.5 hours of funded childcare for all two-year-olds.

The longer-term aim is to provide 20 hours of funded childcare each week for all children aged from nine months to four years.

Welsh Child Payment

Progress has also been announced on Cynnal, the Welsh Child Payment pilot.

An expert group will be set up as part of the government’s first 100 days plan. It will be co-chaired by Sioned Williams and Steffan Evans, chief executive of the Bevan Foundation.

The Welsh Government says the scheme will form part of a wider effort to support families with the cost of living and reduce child poverty.

New poverty plan

Ms Williams said ministers would work with partners to develop a new child poverty plan, including targets, benchmarks and milestones.

That is intended to address criticism of the previous Welsh Government, including concerns raised by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales that past anti-poverty work lacked clear measures of success.

The Deputy First Minister said: “This new government has been left with a legacy of stubbornly high levels of child poverty – I am determined to change that.

“We are committed to reducing poverty and improving life chances for children and families with an ambitious new child poverty strategy which reflects what the sector has been asking for – clear targets, benchmarks and milestones.

“Our childcare offer is the most ambitious in the whole of the UK and I’m pleased that work to deliver it in line with our First 100 Days Plan is progressing well, including establishing an Expert Group that will drive the work forward.

“Our priorities set a clear and deliverable course of action that will lead to tangible results across Wales. They are tightly and clearly focused on the pressures people living in Wales face, the support they need, and the kind of nation we want to build together across all parts of Wales.”

Wider priorities

The Deputy First Minister also said work would continue across government to tackle violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Marking Pride Month, she also spoke about the contribution of LGBTQ+ people and said dignity, respect and inclusion would remain central to the government’s approach.

The expert group on childcare will be chaired by the Deputy First Minister. Members include Dr Su Min Lee of London Economics, Dr Lowri Vaughan Brown from the Association of Directors of Education in Wales, Sharon Davies from the Welsh Local Government Association, representatives from Cwlwm including Catrin Edwards of Mudiad Meithrin, and Gemma Halliday from Social Care Wales.

Entertainment

From Sinatra to Bublé as The Story of Swing comes to Milford Haven

Published

2 seconds ago

July 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Music lovers are invited to take a journey through the golden age of swing when SOS Big Band – The Story of Swing arrives at the Torch Theatre this August.

Presented by award-winning vocalist and world-class trumpet player Gareth John, alongside the acclaimed SOS Big Band, the show celebrates decades of iconic swing and big band music.

Audiences can expect much-loved classics made famous by Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr, as well as more modern hits associated with Michael Bublé, Robbie Williams, Matt Goss, Paul Anka and Harry Connick Jr.

Renowned for his showmanship and passion for the genre, Gareth brings a natural warmth and energy to the stage, building an easy rapport with audiences wherever he performs.

During his career, he has shared the stage with a number of household names, including The Beautiful South and The Specials.

The production has already received enthusiastic reviews during its tour, with one audience member at the Core Theatre in Solihull describing it as “a brilliant show”.

SOS Big Band – The Story of Swing will be performed at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, on Saturday, August 1, at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £28.50 and can be booked through the Torch Theatre website or by calling the box office on 01646 695267.

News

Pembrokeshire ‘left behind’ as top-quality 5G reaches just one in 100 premises

Published

2 minutes ago

July 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Henry Tufnell has called for urgent government action, saying unreliable mobile coverage is damaging businesses, tourism and access to essential services

ONLY one per cent of premises in Mid and South Pembrokeshire can access the highest-quality form of 5G from at least one mobile network, according to figures highlighted by the constituency’s MP.

Henry Tufnell has written to the Minister for the Digital Economy calling for an urgent meeting over what he described as a serious lack of investment in mobile infrastructure across West Wales.

In his letter, the Labour MP said the constituency remained far behind the rest of the country in both the availability and reliability of mobile services.

According to Ofcom figures cited by Mr Tufnell, 12 per cent of premises in Mid and South Pembrokeshire cannot receive a usable high-quality 5G signal from any network. That is six times the national average of two per cent.

He also said that only one per cent of premises locally could access “5G Standalone”, the highest-quality version of the technology, from at least one operator. Nationally, the equivalent figure is said to be 86 per cent.

Mr Tufnell said surveys carried out among his constituents showed the effect poor coverage was having on everyday life.

Some 98 per cent of respondents said a lack of mobile signal negatively affected them, while more than three-quarters reported having a poor signal or no signal where they lived.

The MP said unreliable connectivity was affecting residents, businesses and visitors, as well as schools, transport services and healthcare workers such as community nurses.

Mobile coverage problems were not limited to isolated rural areas, he said, with unreliable service frequently reported in Haverfordwest and persistent “not-spots” affecting Tenby during the busy tourist season.

Poor coverage can also prevent people from using banking, payment and parking applications, creating particular difficulties for visitors and businesses during peak periods.

Mr Tufnell has separately contacted VodafoneThree UK and EE about infrastructure in the Tenby and Penally areas.

VodafoneThree has advised him that it plans to upgrade the mast at Slippery Back Lane in Tenby, although the work is not currently expected to be delivered until 2028.

He has also raised concerns about a proposed 20-metre 4G telecommunications mast at Strawberry Lane, Penally.

Planning permission has been granted for the replacement mast, but the previous structure has already been removed and work on the new installation has yet to begin.

Mr Tufnell said he had written to EE in April seeking clarification about when the mast would be installed, but had not received a response by the time of his latest correspondence.

He has now asked the Government to discuss what support can be provided to accelerate the delivery of reliable mobile infrastructure across the constituency.

Mr Tufnell said: “West Wales cannot continue to be left behind. We need high-quality, reliable digital infrastructure across the whole of Pembrokeshire.

“This is not simply an inconvenience. Poor mobile coverage is affecting residents, local businesses, public services and the tourism industry.”

Community

Family pays tribute to ‘loving father’ who died after A487 motorcycle crash

Published

2 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE FAMILY of a 30-year-old father who died following a motorcycle crash near Aberystwyth have described him as a much-loved partner, relative and friend who will be “sadly missed by so many people”.

Matthew Sims, known to his family and friends as Matt, was seriously injured in a single-vehicle collision on the A487 at Blaenplwyf on the morning of Saturday, July 11.

The crash, involving a blue Suzuki motorcycle, happened at around 7am as Mr Sims was travelling to work.

He was taken by air ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he died on Thursday, July 16.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Mr Sims, who was from Lampeter, leaves behind his partner Katie and his daughters, Emma and Beca.

In a tribute released through Dyfed-Powys Police, his family said: “Matt passed away on Thursday 16th July 2026 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, following a motorcycle accident on the Aberystwyth road on his way to work on the morning of Saturday 11th July 2026. No other vehicles were involved.

“He was a loving father to his daughters Emma and Beca and partner to Katie.

“He had a wide circle of family and friends and will be sadly missed by so many people.

“Rest in peace Matt.”

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Anyone who was travelling on the A487 near Blaenplwyf at around 7am on July 11, particularly anyone with dashcam footage, is urged to contact the force.

Information can be provided online through the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], sending the force a direct message on social media, or calling 101.

The reference to quote is 82 of July 11.