A NEW £1 million fund will help ensure that tourism attractions across Wales can welcome visitors whatever the weather.

The ‘Year of Croeso Weather-Proofing Fund’ is being launched as Visit Wales celebrates the unique Welsh welcome that draws visitors back time and again.

The fund will provide grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 to eligible businesses, supporting them to implement weather-proofing measures.

Tourism is a major contributor to the Welsh economy, injecting £3.8 billion each year, and showcasing the wide range of experiences Wales has to offer — come rain or shine.

However, recent data from Visit Wales showed that poor weather was cited by 55% of businesses as the main reason for fewer visitors during summer 2024, ranking even ahead of cost-of-living pressures. Similarly, the Domestic Sentiment Tracker survey identified poor UK weather as the top factor discouraging domestic breaks.

Grants could be used for a variety of improvements, including canopies, sustainable drainage systems, covered seating areas, visitor shelters, and enhanced pathways and car park surfaces.

Announcing the fund, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Rebecca Evans said: “Wales has an incredibly strong tourism offer and visitors can always be guaranteed a warm croeso.

But the weather — which has shaped our stunning landscapes — is becoming increasingly unpredictable and is now identified as the single biggest factor affecting visitor numbers to Welsh attractions.

Poor weather can impact normal operations, harm visitor experience, and even discourage visits altogether.

That’s why we have listened to the concerns of the tourism sector and launched this fund — to help attractions prepare for increasingly variable weather patterns.”

The Welsh Government’s tourism strategy, ‘Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the Visitor Economy 2020–25’, highlights the importance of tackling seasonality by promoting Wales as a year-round destination.

Welsh Government support for the sector in the coming financial year includes:

• Visit Wales: Over £9 million revenue budget and £6 million capital budget
• A £50 million Wales Tourism Investment Fund
• A £5 million Brilliant Basics Fund

The Cabinet Secretary added: “All visitors, wherever they come from, will find a destination delivering an outstanding experience — and we are always working to build on and improve Wales’ tourism offer.

These grants will help tourism attractions become more resilient, extend their seasons, and enhance the visitor experience — benefiting both businesses and the wider Welsh economy.”

Union demands answers over fate of Welsh Government funding

SCHOOL leaders from Wales will this week call on their colleagues across the UK to support efforts to prevent children in Welsh schools from being ‘short-changed’.

At NAHT’s annual conference in Harrogate, leaders will raise concerns that additional funding received by the Welsh Government for education may not be reaching schools – or even being spent on education at all.

The funding in question, known as ‘consequential’ money, is triggered by additional education spending by the UK Government under the Barnett Formula, such as the commitments announced in last autumn’s budget.

However, NAHT Cymru says it has been unable to confirm whether any of the extra funding received by the Welsh Government has reached schools, despite lodging Freedom of Information requests with officials in both Wales and England.

At the same time, many headteachers in Wales are struggling to set budgets without making painful cuts, including to staffing. A recent NAHT Cymru survey found more than half (53%) of schools predicted they would be in deficit this academic year.

Dean Taylor, headteacher at Pentrepoeth Primary School in Bassaleg near Newport, will urge delegates at the conference to back a motion calling for education funding in Wales to be ring-fenced.

The motion states that “education consequential funding should be ring-fenced for spending on education at Welsh Government and local authority levels, ensuring that children and young people in Wales are not short-changed.”

It calls on NAHT’s national executive to use its bargaining and lobbying strength to demand that all education consequentials received by the Welsh Government are spent transparently and equitably across Wales.

The motion is seconded by Rebecca Penn, headteacher at Charles Williams Church in Wales Primary School in Caerleon.

Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru’s national secretary, said: “At a time when schools are contemplating deficit budgets, cutting pupil spending, and making staff redundant, they deserve answers from the Welsh Government about the destination of this extra funding.

“Without transparency, there will inevitably be suspicions that this money is not reaching schools. If that is the case, it will be even harder for schools to provide the education children deserve.”

Another motion, proposed by Kerina Hanson, NAHT Cymru’s vice president and headteacher at Pennard Primary School near Swansea, calls for the union to campaign for the reintroduction of the Small and Rural Schools Grant.

The motion states: “Small and rural schools are an integral part of the education system in Wales. For many communities across the nation, the school is the heart of that town or village.

“The Welsh Government’s Community Schools Initiative sits at odds with the reality that small and rural schools are not fairly funded or valued.”

It argues that restoring the grant would help ensure small schools are properly supported during discussions about school reorganisation, prioritising the educational experience of learners.

A third motion, proposed by NAHT Cymru president Dafydd Jones, headteacher at Ysgol Melyd in Prestatyn, urges the union’s executive to lobby the Welsh Government to fully implement the 26 recommendations made by the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body last year.

So far, only seven recommendations have been actioned, with key measures – including protected leave for school leaders and better pay and non-contact time for additional learning needs coordinators (ALNCOs) – still outstanding.

The motion also calls for a fit-for-purpose school improvement service, maximising frontline funding and learner impact, following the Welsh Government’s commitment to review the middle tier consortia, which it describes as “overly bureaucratic.”

NAHT’s conference will take place on Friday 2 May and Saturday 3 May.

SIX volunteers at Angle RNLI Lifeboat Station have successfully completed key assessments, marking an important milestone in their ongoing training with the charity.

Earlier on Tuesday (Apr 29), crew members Nathen Houston, Anthony Thomas, Marc Blockwell, Bobby Davies and Neil Coles were all signed off on their Tier 2 competencies. The assessment, carried out during live exercise launches, tested their ability to carry out a variety of operational tasks safely and efficiently aboard the station’s lifeboat.

Tiered assessments are a core part of the RNLI’s structured training programme, designed to ensure volunteers are fully prepared to respond to emergencies at sea. Volunteers progress through the tiers as they demonstrate competence in areas such as navigation, boat handling, safety procedures, and teamwork under pressure.

Later the same day, Rhiannon Creese was successfully assessed as a Launch Authority. In this vital role, she will be responsible for authorising the launch of the lifeboat when required — a decision made in close coordination with HM Coastguard and other emergency services.

A spokesperson for Angle RNLI said: “These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. The training is thorough and challenging, and passing these assessments means they are ready to take on more responsibility during lifeboat operations.”

The RNLI relies on volunteers for the majority of its lifesaving work, with crew and shore-based personnel undergoing extensive training to ensure they are ready for the demands of maritime rescue.

Angle Lifeboat has seen an increase in volunteers since their rescue vessel has been spending time moored in Milford Haven at the Port Authority Jetty.