Education

Beach Wheelchair scheme boosted by Bournemouth University students’ animation

Published

2 years ago

September 30, 2022

PEMBROKESHIRE Coast National Park Authority’s Outdoor Mobility Project is being promoted online thanks to an animation produced by students for Bournemouth University students.

The animation, which has been created for BFX, the UK’s largest computer game and animation festival, features the type of specially designed beach wheelchairs that are available to hire at various locations around the Pembrokeshire Coast.

The Park Authority’s Pembrokeshire Outdoor Mobility Project also includes mobility scooters and all-terrain wheelchairs, which are available at inland locations including Carew Castle, Castell Henllys Iron Age Village and Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre in St Davids.

National Park Authority Health and Well-being Policy Officer, Hannah Buck said: “We were absolutely delighted to be chosen to be part of the competition and blown away by the quality of work and attention to detail shown by the students.

“The students have been brilliant to work with and really understood our brief and we are and are delighted with the finished animation, which will help spread the word about the range of equipment available to hire around the National Park.

The animation titled ‘A Day at the Seaside’ sees an elderly mother and her son looking at old photographs of a family holiday to Pembrokeshire in 1982.

The mother indicates her use of a walking stick would make a return trip impossible, but the son appears with a beach wheelchair and the two are able to enjoy a day on the beach just like they had done 40 years previously.

The animation competition winners will be announced during the BFX Festival in November.

The team behind the animation are Janet He, Koey Leung, Malachi Dempsey-Clark, Maria Bartucca and Soraya Assadian, with music by Jess Ward.

To find out more about the BFX Festival competition visit www.bfxfestival.com/competitions.

To watch the video, find out more about the beach wheelchairs and to find out how to pre-book, please visit www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/beachwheelchairs.

Education

Milford Haven School first to achieve gold in carer’s scheme

Published

4 days ago

November 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL have been recognised for their commitment to and support for young carers and is the first school to achieve the top level award.

The school have achieved the Investors in Carers Gold Level award for its work for learners and staff who are carers.

The scheme is delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board and supported by local authority and third sector partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Investors in Carers initiative was originally designed to help health facilities such as GP practices, areas within hospitals and other organisations focus on and improve their carer awareness.

This scheme has now extended to many other teams, services, and organisations. It is a scheme that provides a foundation for helping to identify and support unpaid carers of all ages.

Milford Haven School was assessed against the six themes within the scheme: Carer Lead, Staff training, Identification, Information and Support for carers and Evaluation.

Janette Reynolds, Assistant Head Teacher said: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the Gold Investors in Carers Award, it is a testament to our commitment to supporting and recognizing the invaluable contributions of carers within our community. It was about developing a culture that respects, empowers, and advocates for the wellbeing of carers at Milford Haven School.

“We will continue to strive towards providing the best possible support, ensuring carers feel valued and equipped to balance their responsibilities.”

Pembrokeshire County Council Carers Champion, Councillor Mike James said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. Everyone at Milford Haven School should be extremely proud of their hard work and commitment that has led to them becoming the first school in Pembrokeshire to receive the Gold Investors in Carers award.

“The award recognises the awareness and support for carers provided by the school and this is to be congratulated.”

A carer is someone, of any age, who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; in most cases becoming a carer is not out of choice, it just happens.

For more information about the Investors in Carers scheme or for useful advice for carers, please visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/carers

Education

Kurtz calls for better conditions for supply teachers

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Richard Lewis

WEST WALES members of the National Education Union visited the Senedd on Wednesday to campaign for increased rights for those working as supply teachers employed through teaching agencies.

Commenting following the visit, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Member of the Welsh Parliament, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “It does not seem right that those opting to work as supply teachers are not afforded the same rights, pay and conditions as their full time, local authority employed counterparts.

“The flexibility that supply teachers offer our schools is essential to pupils being able to maintain a good level of education, covering staff sickness and training absences.

“My concern is that with the education line in the Welsh Government’s supplementary budget for 2024/25 showing a cut, the Cabinet Secretary has no intention of addressing these concerns.

“If we fail to demonstrate the value we place on the whole teaching workforce, we run the very real risk of being unable to improve the educational outcomes of pupils in Wales.”

Education

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA to host open evening at Dewi Campus this week

Published

2 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN ST DAVID’S Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA will hold an Open Evening on Thursday, October 24 at its Dewi Campus in Millard Park, St Davids, Haverfordwest.

The event, scheduled from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, invites prospective students and their families to learn more about the school’s offerings.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the campus, meet with staff, and discover the school’s emphasis on achievement, inclusion, and respect. This event is designed to provide a comprehensive insight into the academic and extracurricular opportunities available at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA.

Prospective families can expect a warm welcome from the staff and a chance to engage with current students, gaining a firsthand understanding of the school’s community and values.

For more information, please contact Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1437 809200.