A GROUP of students from Haverfordwest High School have been recognised on the national stage after winning a prestigious award at the Wales final of the The King’s Trust and TK Maxx Awards.

The students scooped the JD Foundation Community Impact Award during a ceremony held on Monday, January 19, at voco St Davids Cardiff, celebrating their efforts to transform a vandalised and neglected subway into a bright, welcoming mural for the community.

The project was delivered through the Achieve programme run locally by Pembrokeshire Youth Service, giving pupils a more hands-on, practical approach to learning outside the traditional classroom.

Reclaiming a neglected space

The group identified the graffiti-covered underpass, used daily on their walk to school, as somewhere that left a poor impression of the town.

Ffion, one of the students, said: “The subway was really unwelcoming and gave people a negative impression of the town. We wanted to reclaim the space and turn it into something positive.”

Working together, the pupils applied for funding, secured sponsorship from local businesses and organised school fundraising events. They also partnered with local artist Lloyd Griffiths to design and paint a colourful mural celebrating wellbeing, identity and pride in Haverfordwest.

The artwork even features their daily emotional “check-in” system – a tool they used throughout the programme to support each other’s mental health.

Building confidence and skills

Many of the young people involved had faced barriers in mainstream education, including social and emotional challenges or caring responsibilities at home. Several were at risk of leaving school with few qualifications.

Through the Achieve programme, they say they found a more supportive environment where they could develop confidence and practical skills.

Lateesha said: “We were really pushed outside of our comfort zone throughout the project, which helped us discover confidence in ourselves and just how much we’re capable of.”

The students developed teamwork, communication, fundraising and public speaking skills while delivering a lasting improvement to their neighbourhood.

Ffion added: “This project is our legacy. We’ve created something lasting that represents who we are and where we come from. It’s amazing what a cup of tea and a conversation can result in.”

Recognition on the national stage

Aaron Probert, JD Foundation Manager, presented the award on the night.

He said: “It is an honour to present this very special group of young people with the Community Impact Award. The way you have worked together to benefit your community is truly inspiring and the impact you have had is clear to see.”

The win now puts the Haverfordwest students in the running for a national King’s Trust Award, with finalists invited to a celebration event in May at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The King’s Trust supports young people aged eleven to thirty with skills, training and opportunities, with three in four participants moving into work, education or training.

For these Pembrokeshire pupils, their award-winning mural is already proof of what can happen when young people are given the chance – and the support – to make a difference close to home.

FAMILIES across Wales will soon have access to a broader range of affordable childcare options after the Welsh Government unveiled plans for a new voluntary approval scheme aimed at widening support and reducing costs.

The Voluntary Approval Scheme, due to launch in April 2027, will allow eligible parents to use Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare payments with more providers than is currently possible.

Ministers say the move will increase the number of approved settings, making it easier for families to find care that suits their needs, working hours and location.

Under the scheme, childcare, play and activity providers that are not required to register with Care Inspectorate Wales will be able to apply for approval, provided they meet strict standards. These include safety checks and mandatory training developed by Social Care Wales, designed to give parents added confidence when choosing a provider.

Clear guidance will also be published to help families understand the difference between providers approved under the voluntary system and those formally registered with Care Inspectorate Wales.

The decision follows a public consultation held between August and November last year, with further development work now underway ahead of the rollout.

Children and Social Care Minister Dawn Bowden said: “We are moving forward with this important scheme, which will make a real difference to families right across Wales.

“It will help support parents and improve children’s access to enriching childcare, playwork and activity opportunities by expanding the pool of approved providers.”

The Welsh Government says the scheme forms part of wider efforts to ease pressure on working families and improve access to flexible, high-quality childcare across the country.

WALES is marking Apprenticeship Week Wales 2026 with claims of record progress on jobs and training – but legal leaders say one profession is still being left out.

The Welsh Government says more than 100,000 apprenticeships have now been delivered during the current Senedd term, a milestone ministers describe as transforming routes into work for thousands of people across construction, engineering, health, energy and creative industries.

Events are taking place throughout the week to showcase apprentices and employers, with colleges, businesses and job centres highlighting success stories and new opportunities for school leavers and career-changers alike.

However, the Law Society of England and Wales says Wales risks falling behind in one crucial area – access to legal apprenticeships.

Legal gap raised

While many sectors now offer clear apprenticeship pathways up to degree level, the Society says aspiring solicitors in Wales have fewer advanced training options than their counterparts in England.

In particular, it has called for the introduction of Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships in Wales, which would allow trainees to qualify while earning, rather than having to fund lengthy university and postgraduate study or move across the border for opportunities.

The body argues that without those routes, talented young people – especially from lower-income or rural communities – may be priced out of legal careers altogether.

It says the issue is not just about jobs, but about access to justice, with fewer locally trained lawyers potentially affecting high street firms and community legal services.

More than a celebration

Apprenticeship Week Wales, running from February 9 to 15, is intended to promote vocational training as an equal alternative to university.

Supporters say apprenticeships help businesses fill skills gaps while allowing learners to earn a wage and avoid student debt.

Colleges across west Wales are using the week to spotlight programmes in marine engineering, hospitality, construction and health and social care, with employers reporting improved retention and productivity from “grow your own” talent.

But campaigners say the legal sector highlights a wider question: whether all professions are keeping pace with the apprenticeship model.

Local opportunity

For communities like Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, where young people often leave the area for work or study, expanding higher-level apprenticeships could mean more skilled jobs staying local.

Education leaders say stronger vocational routes could help retain talent and support small and medium-sized businesses struggling to recruit.

As the week’s celebrations continue, the message from legal leaders is clear: apprenticeships are working – but only if every profession is included.

Without broader access, they warn, Wales risks creating opportunity in some careers while quietly closing doors in others.