SENEDD CYMRU’S Economy Committee published its report ‘Green Economy’, which a series of recommendations on the future of the renewable industry in Wales.

Members of the Committee made particular reference to the content of local supply chains, local ownership, and skills. Bute Energy has welcomed the report.

Bute Energy is developing the largest pipeline of onshore wind in Wales, capable of generating more than 2.2GW of clean energy by 2030, enough to power 2.25m homes and create up to 2,000 new jobs.

The company is backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and the Welsh Pension Partnership, meaning that local authority pension holders across the 8 member authorities will benefit directly from Wales’ clean energy mission.

Responding, Community Investment and Communications Director Catryn Newton said: “Onshore wind not only represents the quickest route to the decarbonisation of Wales’ energy system, but also typically has higher levels of local and Welsh suppliers across the lifetime of the projects.

“At Bute Energy we’re working tirelessly to set a new standard for our projects – whether that’s our Net Zero Skills Strategy, how we deploy our potential £20m a year community benefit fund to benefit local communities, our social value in procurement standard.

“Our mission is not only to power Wales with clean energy but to maximise the investment in our clean energy transition to the benefit of Wales and our communities.”

Bute Energy states that its partnership with the Welsh Pension Partnership represents the most equitable form of community and shared ownership in Wales. Hundreds of thousands of Welsh pension holders will benefit from the transition to clean power.

The company will also invest up to 25% of its Community Benefit Fund to support local community energy schemes which it will gift to communities, local services and charities in the communities nearest its energy parks.

A LOCAL opticians in Haverfordwest has raised awareness about glaucoma and funds for charity Glaucoma UK by hosting an in-store bake sale.

Coinciding with World Glaucoma Awareness Week (9 – 15 March), an annual campaign encouraging people to talk about the effects of glaucoma, the fundraiser saw employees at Specsavers Haverfordwest, alongside local café, The Box, donate a variety of baked goods to help support the cause.

Customers and local community members contributed to the event, raising £280 through cash and online donations. Leftover cakes were donated to local community initiative, Feed the Community.

According to Glaucoma UK there are around 700,000 people living with glaucoma and between 2015 and 2035 that number is set to rise by 44%[1]. Early detection plays a crucial role in preventing sight loss, as glaucoma can often be managed effectively if diagnosed in time.

Andy Britton, director and glaucoma specialist at Specsavers Haverfordwest, explains: ‘Glaucoma is a major cause of sight loss, but the good news is that early diagnosis and treatment can make a real difference in managing the condition. That’s why events like this are so valuable in spreading awareness.

‘We’re delighted with the turnout for our bake sale and want to thank everyone who contributed, whether by baking, donating or simply stopping by to support the cause. Raising awareness of glaucoma is vital and we’re proud to support Glaucoma UK in their mission to help those affected by the condition.’

To further boost fundraising efforts, the store also held a raffle with prizes including a food and movie night hamper and a voucher for local restaurant, Waldo Lounge.

Alongside cash donations on the day, Specsavers Haverfordwest set up a JustGiving page to allow those unable to attend in person to contribute.

To support the fundraiser, donate via the JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/danielle-thomas-turner-1?newPage=true

Specsavers Haverfordwest is open seven days a week. To find out more information about Specsavers in Haverfordwest, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.

Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.

Pembrokeshire music lovers are celebrating a major victory this week after the Goodwick Brass Band was invited to perform at one of the UK’s most prestigious brass festivals in Blackpool.

This May the 28-piece band will be travelling to the Winter Gardens to compete in the highly selective Spring Brass Festival on May 10. There they will be competing alongside some of the leading brass bands in the UK.

“This means that Goodwick Brass Band is now up there in the championship section,” explained the band’s delighted chairman, Tony Evans.

“In February our senior band took part in the Welsh Open Brass Band championship, where we competed against 13 other bands. We came second overall but we also had the best instrumentalist award, the best soprano player award and the best tenor horn section. As a result, we’ve now had the invitation to perform in Blackpool.”

The invitation is a huge accolade for each of  the 28 players who will be performing on May 10, and who give a huge chunk of their spare time to attend band rehearsals and section improvement.  The performers, who range in age from 14 to 66, rehearse twice a week, but in the run-up to serious competitions such as the Blackpool Spring Brass Festival, they will be rehearsing for three evenings a week as well as sectional rehearsals every Saturday.

“It’s a huge commitment, particularly when you remember that a lot of our players are still in school, juggling their GCSEs, their A levels and all the other extra-curricular things that the young people do,” explained Tony.

“But the opportunity for them to play in a band such as this is fantastic, as it teaches them the skills required not just to play well, as they do with their solo work, but how to perform collectively as a band.  This is when they realise that it’s the conductor who is in sole charge and who has to be followed so carefully.”

The Blackpool festival will put Goodwick up against some of the UK’s leading brass bands, who will each be performing Malcolm Arnold’s  challenging 12-minute set piece entitled ‘Fantasy for Brass Bands’.

“Yes, we’ve got our work cut out as it’s quite an intense piece, but our conductor Joshua Ruck is starting to put us through our paces, and we know that come the festival, Goodwick Brass Band will be ready to perform to the very best of its ability.

“Many of our younger instrumentalists get just 10 or 15 minutes of tuition in school, and this is why our band rehearsals are so important.”

The Goodwick Junor band is open to youngsters between the age of nine to 16, while the community band includes youngsters as well as the older generation who just want to play for fun. 

“And at the end of the day that’s what music is all about,” added Tony.

Some of the Goodwick band members have gone on to great and mighty things including trumpeter Carys Wood who was this year accepted to study at the Royal Academy of Music London, and past members Gemma Taylor who studied tenor horn at the Royal College of Music and Gareth Trott who was solo euphonium player with the Household Division’s Band of the Irish Guards.

Meanwhile, Goodwick Brass Band is currently trying to secure sufficient funding to take part in the Blackpool Festival.  The band will be travelling up on Friday evening, May 9, competing throughout Saturday afternoon and heading back to Pembrokeshire on Sunday morning.

“The trip is going to cost us around £3,500 so we’re currently trying to get as much funding together as possible,” explained Tony.

“The bus alone is going to cost us  £1,600, so if anyone is in a position to give the Goodwick Brass Band some financial support to help us on our way, that would be a huge help.”

Any donations can be made by contacting the chairman, Tony Evans on 07971 945464 or by visiting the band’s website on www.goodwickbrass.org.uk