Community
Youngsters champion a sustainable future for Wales at Cymbrogi Hackathon 2025
It all came down to this: 1,000 learners, three counties, 35 finalists and six teams — all in one day
LEARNERS from across South Wales gathered at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on 14 November to showcase bold, climate-smart ideas as part of the third annual Tomorrow’s Changemakers Hackathon, hosted by Pembrokeshire-born education enterprise Cymbrogi Futures.
Despite severe weather warnings, the energy and imagination of Wales’ young climate innovators filled the hall as 35 finalists aged 12 and 13 pitched their solutions to real-world environmental challenges.

The SustainAbles from St Joseph’s School in Neath Port Talbot were crowned overall winners for their response to the “sustainable school” brief. Their idea — a hydro-electric device designed to fit into drainage channels and generate electricity for school buildings — impressed judges with its technical detail, creativity and practical potential. Judges also praised the team’s honesty about the challenges they faced while testing their design.
Six finalist teams from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot presented concepts linked to sustainability in tourism, marine biodiversity, construction, and the circular economy. Judges described the standard as “a blueprint for how Wales can unlock the talents of its young people”.

Pembrokeshire finalists praised for strong climate solutions
Pembrokeshire’s two finalist teams — from Milford Haven School and Haverfordwest High VC School — narrowly missed out on the top spot but were highly commended for their work on local priority themes.
The Tidal Techies from Milford Haven presented an impressive prototype for an underwater camera system, known as a BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video), designed to monitor sea life and support marine conservation efforts.
Protect Pembrokeshire from Haverfordwest High focused on sustainable tourism, unveiling a proposal to power the county using green energy and solar-powered water filtration.
Other finalists included:
- Ysgol Bro Dinefwr – The Big Difference: A youth-led awareness campaign and club promoting the 6Rs of the circular economy.
- Ysgol Bae Baglan – The YBB Beavers: A classroom clean-air device designed to reduce pollution exposure.
- St Joseph’s School – Eco Warriors: A concept for personalised, nature-based resin desks to improve teacher wellbeing.










A celebration of skills for the future
The Hackathon marked the culmination of Cymbrogi’s year-long, curriculum-aligned programme involving more than 1,000 learners across three counties. The event showcased the impact of hands-on, project-based learning rooted in local community issues.
As world leaders inched through COP30 negotiations in Brazil, the Hackathon demonstrated how Wales is nurturing a new generation of climate-savvy problem-solvers.
This year’s design briefs were developed with industry partners including the Port of Milford Haven, Cwm Environmental, and Morgan Sindall Construction, alongside mentors from local government, academia and the Future Generations Office.
Cymbrogi Founder Liza Lort-Phillips said: “It’s been inspiring to see the creativity and confidence on show today. We’d love to see every young person in Wales have the chance to put their minds to work in this way, alongside enterprises focused on building the future we all want.”
Wales aims to become “the most future-literate nation”
The event also saw the public launch of a new Futures Literacy module co-designed by Cymbrogi and the Future Generations Commissioner. The resource helps young people imagine, explore and design alternative futures and is freely available to all schools.
Future Generations Commissioner Derek Walker said: “We want to make Wales the most future-literate nation in the world. There’s no better place to begin than with the imagination and creativity of our young people.”
Community
Tenby sailing club works approved by national park
PLANS for works at Tenby’s historic sailing club building, part of the ‘iconic view’ of the town’s harbour have been given the go-ahead by the national park.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Tenby Sailing Club, through agent David J P Morgan RIBA Architect sought permission for the two openings in second floor gable wall along with two new windows at Tenby Sailing Club, Penniless Cove Hill, along with a related listed building consent.
The application was supported by Tenby Town Council and Tenby Civic Society, the latter saying it will “add value to the use of the building and maintain the character and value of the listed building and the conservation area”.
Supporting documents for the application said: “The proposal is to form two new openings in the stonework and install two windows. These will replicate the existing windows at first floor level below. The openings will have red brick head as on existing original openings on the building. The proposal will have very little adverse impact on the listed building.”
They added: “The proposed new windows will improve observation of the harbour and bay from the second-floor level. This is where yacht racing is monitored and observed by officials and safety personnel.”
An officer report, recommending approval said: “The sailing club was built as a warehouse c. 1825, abutting the C17 sluice. Originally wine stores, it was later used by the local fishermen for stores and is now the home to Tenby Sailing Club, established in 1936. The rubble-built building is of three storeys and four bays, the glazing all later C20 with a slated roof and a modernised interior. There is a large steel stair to north (seaward) elevation.”
It added: “The building forms part of a group picturesquely clustered around the sluice, in turn forming part of the iconic view of Tenby Harbour. The proposal is to insert two windows at second floor level to the north (seaward) elevation, flanking the existing door,” adding: “The area retains its mercantile character not just in appearance, but also through its character due to ongoing use as fishing boat stores and winter moorings.
“The sailing club has occupied the building for many years and remains very active. The proposal is intended to improve the amenity of the building to provide better viewing at elevation and seeks to copy the detail and proportions of the windows at first floor stage.”
The application, and the related listed building consent, was conditionally approved by park planners.
Community
Pembrokeshire students speak at national Holocaust Memorial Day event
TWO Haverfordwest High School pupils addressed senior political and religious figures and a Holocaust survivor at Wales’ main commemoration in Cardiff
Holocaust Memorial Day was marked in Cardiff this week with a powerful contribution from two Pembrokeshire students, who were invited to speak at Wales’ national commemoration event.
Awel Jones and Olivia Beal, both Year 13 pupils at Haverfordwest High School, attended the ceremony at the Temple of Peace on Monday (Jan 27) in their roles as ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust.
The pair were asked to deliver speeches reflecting on their work with the Trust and their involvement in the “Lessons from Auschwitz” project, which educates young people about the Holocaust and the dangers of prejudice, discrimination and hatred.
They spoke in front of a distinguished audience that included the First Minister for Wales, Eluned Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, senior civic leaders and Holocaust survivor Peter Lantos.
The national event formed part of Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, which was held under the theme “bridging generations”, highlighting the responsibility of younger generations to carry forward the lessons of the past as the number of living survivors declines.
Awel Jones and Olivia Beal were the only young Holocaust Educational Trust ambassadors representing Wales at the national ceremony, a distinction described as a significant honour for both the students and Pembrokeshire.
A parent said the occasion was “profoundly emotive and important”, adding that being invited to speak at such a high-profile event was an accolade for the students and a reflection of the strength of Holocaust education work taking place locally.
Holocaust Memorial Day is observed annually on January 27, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.
Business
Final wind turbine deliveries completed after months of disruption
Last major component reaches site as Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thank communities for patience
DRAGON LNG and Dragon Energy have confirmed that the final large component for a new wind turbine project has now been successfully delivered, bringing months of complex abnormal load movements on Pembrokeshire roads to an end.
The companies said the final turbine blade was delivered to the site on Wednesday (Jan 28, 2026), marking the completion of all major component deliveries associated with the project.
In a statement, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thanked the local community for its patience and cooperation throughout the delivery programme, acknowledging that the operation caused disruption on local roads.

Residents across parts of the county have previously experienced temporary road closures, traffic delays and police escorts as oversized turbine components were transported from the Port of Milford Haven to the site under tightly controlled conditions.
The abnormal load movements required months of detailed planning and coordination, involving route surveys, traffic management, police support and liaison with local authorities to ensure deliveries were carried out safely and with minimal disruption wherever possible.
The companies also apologised for the inconvenience caused during the delivery phase, saying the support and understanding shown by residents had been “invaluable” in allowing the project to reach this milestone.
A number of organisations were involved in supporting the operation, including Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, haulage specialists Collett & Sons Ltd and Green Light Traffic Management.
Local media outlets, including The Pembrokeshire Herald, provided advance notice and updates during the delivery process to help keep residents informed.
With the final major deliveries now complete, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy said the project would continue to progress to the next phase of construction on site.
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