News
Welsh RNLI volunteers aid Carlisle
RNLI Flood Rescue Team volunteers from Penarth, Porthcawl, Barry Dock, Angle and Port Talbot have joined emergency services from across the country to help people caught up in floods in Cumbria.
RNLI volunteers operating in Carlisle and Cockermouth have evacuated over 300 people over the weekend and are continuing to help in affected areas today.
Two RNLI teams have been wading through flood waters to help people in Workington.
The RNLI’s team of specifically trained flood rescue volunteers arrived in Kendal on Saturday and have been helping the communities affected by flooding ever since.
RNLI volunteers from south Wales helping with rescue operations include Jason Dunlop from Penarth, Chris Missen from Porthcawl, John Perring from Port Talbot, Hugh Davies from Barry Dock and Sarah Lunn from Angle.
Among the tasks undertaken by the Welsh RNLI Flood Rescue Team volunteers was a joint operation to evacuate elderly and vulnerable residents of a care home in Carlisle last night.
About 15 of the home’s residents, and five carers, needed to be taken from the home, which had flood water throughout its ground floor and has lost power and was getting cold.
Working in partnership with fellow emergency services, three RNLI Flood Rescue Team boats were involved in the evacuation, with volunteers carrying the elderly residents down from the first floor to the waiting boats, which transferred them to dry land for further care. All were taken to safety.
Also in Carlisle yesterday, an 80-year-old woman had to be helped out of a first floor window onto a ledge after five foot of water flooded into her home on Sunday. She was transferred safely into an RNLI Flood Rescue Team boat. While in another flooded Carlisle property yesterday RNLI volunteers waded through feet of water to carry another two pensioners out on their shoulders on stretchers and into a rescue boat.
Among the hundreds of people evacuated by RNLI Flood Rescue Team volunteers were children, pensioners, pregnant women and pets – including a Great Dane.
RNLI volunteer Chris Missen, who travelled to Cumbria from Porthcawl, Wales, to help the rescue effort, said the conditions were ‘unprecedented.’
He said:
We have been working closely with the other emergency services to do what we can to help people, and fortunately the majority of the people we’ve evacuated have been uninjured but are understandably quite distressed. It’s heart-breaking to see what this has done to people’s homes, especially just before Christmas.
The scale of this incident isn’t like anything I’ve seen before, it’s relentless. I’ve been involved in six other flood rescue operations with the RNLI and this is by far the worst. It’s unprecedented. It has been emotionally and physically challenging for the RNLI volunteers but the teamwork has been excellent and the operations have gone well.
Flood Rescue Team volunteer, Glen Mallen said:
We currently have five Flood Rescue Teams on the ground, with four specifically adapted boats for flood rescue. We are working closely with other emergency services on the scene to help those in need. Thankfully most of those helped are uninjured, but understandably distressed. It is so sad to see this kind of devastation, especially so close to Christmas.
The RNLI Flood Rescue Team is supported by Toolstation.
Health
Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter
NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.
The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.
As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.
In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.
To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.
Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.
The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”
Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”
Crime
Welsh shop workers face ‘surge in shoplifting linked violence and abuse’ says union
A NEW survey by retail trade union Usdaw has revealed disturbing figures on the abuse, threats, and violence endured by Welsh shop workers, with incidents increasingly linked to shoplifting. Released during Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17, the statistics highlight a troubling trend that is impacting thousands of retail employees.
Usdaw’s survey, based on responses from over 4,000 retail staff, shows that in the past year:
- 69% experienced verbal abuse.
- 45% were threatened by customers.
- 17% were assaulted.
Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis commented on the findings, saying: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. These reports from Welsh retail staff make grim reading. It is shocking to see over two-thirds of our members subjected to abuse, threats, and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents are related to theft, much of it tied to addiction and organised crime.”
Usdaw’s survey suggests that shoplifting is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for violence. Many shop workers report encountering hardened criminals who appear to steal goods “to order” or to fund addictions. According to the union, incidents are on the rise across Wales, with police-reported shoplifting up by 33% in the past year.
Usdaw member testimonies paint a vivid picture of the dangers faced on the shop floor:
- One respondent described being “spat at, pushed against a wall, punched, and threatened with a knife.”
- Another reported that, after refusing to sell alcohol, they were told to “F**k off” and threatened with a beating by a group of five.
- Others spoke of being punched, spat on, and verbally abused, with threats that often left lasting emotional scars.
New measures on the horizon
Usdaw has been calling for greater legal protection for retail workers for years, and it appears these calls are finally being heard. The recent Crime and Policing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, proposes to:
- End the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has been a source of frustration for retailers.
- Introduce town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
- Allocate funding for tackling organised shoplifting and increase police presence in shopping areas.
“We welcome these new measures and hope they will provide much-needed protection,” said Mr. Lillis. “After 14 years of neglect under successive Tory governments, we are encouraged by the steps the new Labour government is taking to address the retail crime epidemic.”
As Christmas approaches—a time when retail crime tends to peak—Usdaw is urging the public to “respect shop workers” and remain calm as stores become busier.
Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 members, primarily in retail, launched its Freedom From Fear Campaign to tackle the growing issue of violence against shop workers. The final results of the 2024 survey are expected in March 2025.
Charity
Milford Haven RNLI celebrates heartfelt donation from Neyland Ladies Choir
MILFORD HAVEN RNLI Fundraising Group received a generous donation of over £1,000 from Neyland Ladies Choir this October, marking a touching tribute to Mrs. Dorothy Beckett, one of the RNLI’s longest-standing supporters.
The Neyland Ladies Choir held a special concert at St. Mary’s Church on Waterloo Road, Hakin, to celebrate Dorothy Beckett’s 90th birthday. A lifelong supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Dorothy has played a crucial role in lifeboat fundraising in the Milford Haven area, dating back to the 1970s. She was instrumental in establishing the Hakin Point RNLI fundraising group, which has raised over £500,000 to support the RNLI’s lifesaving work.
The concert’s proceeds were presented in a moving ceremony at Bethesda Baptist Church in Neyland. Accepting the donation on behalf of the RNLI were Steve Lewis, Chairman of the fundraising group, and Thomas Kehoe, Deputy Coxswain of the Angle Lifeboat.
Adding to the evening’s celebrations, Alice Coleman, RNLI Community Manager, presented Dorothy with the Long Service Medal, recognizing her fifty years of dedication to the institution. This award, given by the RNLI, honors Dorothy’s unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea.
“Thank you, Neyland Ladies Choir and Dorothy Beckett,” said the RNLI in a heartfelt message to the community. “Your support and dedication mean the world to us.”
The Milford Haven RNLI Fundraising Group encourages supporters to share and spread the word, hoping that Dorothy’s legacy inspires continued community support.
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