News

A Badger special: Badger and the money tree

Published

11 years ago

March 4, 2015

moneytree CHINESE mythology is not Badger’s forte. In his sett, Badger’s main concern with matters oriental is that his crispy hedgehog in bo’s’n sauce and worm Chow Mein are suitably yummy and come with a side order of prawn crackers. The legend of the money tree does, however, seem pertinent to the Local Health Board’s treatment of charitable funds raised for healthcare charities. You see readers, the coins on the money tree link paradise with a material bounty in this world. Paradise. readers. That’s what it is all about. In order to create an earthly paradise. the Health Board needs material bounty in excess of that provided by that loveable scallywag Mark Drakeford, whose world begins and ends in Cardiff Bay. And when it needs that material bounty it shakes the money tree and out the readies tumble.
twenty pence pieces and pound coins you give to local charities mount up over lime. The charities and appeals involved are above reproach in their conduct with your money. They have constitutions that set out how they are able to spend the money you donate to them. Let’s look at just one example. The Adam’s Bucketful of Hope Appeal. Registered Charity Number 1136641. its purposes, according to the Charity Commission website, are:

• Fundraising for additional facilities in proposed new cancer care day unit.
• Cancer support services to patients referred from local hospital.

• Distraction therapies including tranquillity room and pamper room. • Counselling venue and information centre also used by organisations. such as CRUSE, bereavement counselling, Pembs counselling services plus Pembs breast cancer support group. The Appeal has raised over half a million pounds to fulfil those purposes. Not Badger’s guess – he words of the Local Health Board who in 2010 wrote in a press release: “To date. almost £500,000 has been raised through the Bucketful of Hope Appeal and other donations to Ward 10 and the Chemotherapy Day Care Unit in readiness to fulfil Adam’s dream. “in a recent meeting between the charity members, the C h a irm an of the Board Chris Martin said that the Health Board is currently in discussions with clinical staff about the future of chemotherapy services and the chemotherapy day unit in Pembrokeshire.

“He said: “The Health Board will work closely with Adam’s Bucketful of Hope, and other fundraisers. to ensure that chemotherapy services are delivered in a modern day facility and that the funding which has been donated for this purpose will be used for the benefit of Pembrokeshire patients. Future proposals will be available by the early summer of next year and we look forward to working closely with the Bucketful of Hope appeal during that time.” “Adam’s mother Chris Evans-Thomas commented: “We did not envisage fundraising for this amount The Bucketful and the Board And what a lot of readies they are readers. All the f time and frustration was setting in, but to know that we will have a definite date for a new CDU by May 2011 is wonderful news!

It this means we can move forward with a real message of hope for the New Year!’ Almost four years have passed since that announcement. Where is the hope? More to the point, where is the money? The Health Board has callously claimed that the Bucketful of Hope Appeal has raised only £1 5,500 or so to the costs of a new Cancer Day Unit. Poppycock, readers! The Board are speaking out of an orifice that if spoken from would usually be subject to the sort of significant colorectal examination the Board could ill afford.

And the product of such speech reminds Badger of nothing so much as the fate of flatterers in Dante’s inferno. The Board is. however. not lying. It is, however, being very (very) economical with the truth. Bear with Badger readers and he will explain how and why he has reached that conclusion.
The money-go-round NHS charitable funds are organised into two types, like other charitable funds. Those funds are “Restricted” (which means that the funds can only be used for the specific purposes of the charity) and “Unrestricted” (which means that they can be used more broadly and at the discretion of the charity trustees). Under “Restricted Funds” are two sorts of other fund “Endowment” for example where someone donates the income from an asset for a specific purpose and “material funds, that is funds that can only be used for the purposes either specified by the donors or by the terms of the appeal which led to their donation.

Under “Unrestricted Funds” come “unrestricted funds” are those donated for a wider purpose and “designated funds’, which are set aside by the trustees for designated projects at their discretion. In the latter case the use of the funds to fulfil a purpose, such as building a new cancer day unit at Withybush, is entirely down to the trustees. So far readers. so dry. But what happens do you suppose when you give a Health Board the power to re-designate charitable funds? So that a Board can switch funds from restricted to unrestricted ones to suit itself? Well, readers what happened was this: In 2009/2010 the Health Board had £6.9 million in restricted funds. It had £13m in endowment funds and just under £5.4m in material funds. Remember readers that material funds can only be spent on the projects the donors direct. That is £5.4m that had to be spent on specific projects. And then POOP With a wave of a bean counter’s pencil some of it disappeared. Yes, in 2010/2011 there were only E1.5rn in material funds dedicated to the donors” intentions. £3.9m readers. £3.9 million went walkies out of a restricted material fund and became unrestricted for the trustees of the Board’s tame in-house charity to spend on whatever the Board wanted it spent on.
Why change?
Now the Board claims all this was all above board and all according to the law of the land. But was that accounting jiggery-pokery in the spirit of the law or in the spirit in which donations were made by Pembrokeshire residents to Pembrokeshire health causes for the benefit of Pembrokeshire residents? Or was it simply a cynical money grab to meet the agenda of a centralising Board. jealous of too much money being held in ways that meant the money was beyond its sticky mitts? Draw your own conclusions readers, pray do. Now from the above, certain issues

Community

Craig Flannery appointed as new Chief Fire Officer

Published

6 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE SERVICE LEADERSHIP CHANGE

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Craig Flannery as its new Chief Fire Officer, with effect from Monday, December 15, 2025.

Mr Flannery has served with the Service for more than twenty years, progressing through a wide range of middle management and senior leadership roles across both operational and non-operational departments.

During his career, he has been closely involved in strengthening operational delivery, risk management and organisational development. His work has included leading innovation in learning and development, overseeing the Service’s On-Call Improvement Programme, and driving investment in key enabling functions such as workforce development and information and communication technology.

The appointment followed a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment process led by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. Candidates were assessed through structured interviews, strategic leadership exercises and scenario-based assessments designed to test operational judgement, organisational vision and the ability to lead a modern fire and rescue service.

External professional assessors were also engaged to provide independent scrutiny, ensuring the process met high standards of fairness, transparency and challenge.

Mr Flannery emerged as the strongest candidate, demonstrating clear strategic leadership capability, detailed organisational knowledge and a strong commitment to community safety and service improvement.

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Craig brings a deep understanding of our Service and a clear vision for its future. His appointment will strengthen our ability to innovate, support our workforce and deliver high-quality protection for the communities we serve.

“As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape, Craig’s experience in driving innovation and organisational development will be invaluable in helping us adapt and transform for the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Flannery said: “It is a privilege to lead this outstanding Service. I am committed to supporting our people, strengthening partnerships and building on the strong foundations already in place.

“As the challenges facing fire and rescue services continue to evolve, we must modernise and innovate, ensuring we have the skills, technology and capability needed to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across Mid and West Wales to deliver a resilient, progressive Service that keeps people safe and places our staff at the heart of everything we do.”

Health

Resident doctors in Wales vote to accept new contract

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENT doctors across Wales have voted to accept a new contract, with 83% of those who took part in a referendum backing the agreement, according to BMA Cymru Wales.

The contract includes a four per cent additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and introduces a range of reforms aimed at improving training conditions, wellbeing and long-term workforce sustainability within NHS Wales. The BMA says the deal also supports progress towards pay restoration, which remains a central issue for doctors.

Key changes include new safeguards to limit the most fatiguing working patterns, measures intended to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.

Negotiations between the BMA’s Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government concluded earlier this year. Following a consultation period, a referendum of resident doctors and final-year medical students in Wales was held, resulting in a clear majority in favour of the proposals.

Welsh Resident Doctors Committee chair Dr Oba Babs Osibodu said the agreement marked a significant step forward for doctors working in Wales.

He said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.

“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.”

Dr Osibodu added that the BMA remains committed to achieving full pay restoration and acknowledged that challenges remain for some doctors.

“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we recognise that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and secure permanent work,” he said. “We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to address training bottlenecks and underemployment.”

The Welsh Government has previously said it recognises the pressures facing resident doctors and the importance of improving recruitment and retention across NHS Wales, while also highlighting the need to balance pay agreements with wider NHS funding pressures and patient demand.

The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026. It will initially apply to doctors in foundation programmes, those in specialty training with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.