Community

Younger generations more ‘self concious’

Published

10 years ago

April 28, 2016

NEW RESEARCH conducted by Weight Watchers has revealed that modern Welsh women are considerably less confident than their mothers were at the same age.

As part of the survey, Weight Watchers questioned over 2,000 women across the UK and in Wales.

Weight Watchers state that today’s young Welsh women are ‘losing out in the self-confidence generation game’, as their survey results have exposed the fact that over two thirds of Welsh women aged between 18 and 30 do not currently consider themselves to be confident.

Whilst 62% of Welsh women, more than the national average of 58%, feel their body is the area they are least confident about, research also revealed that the older generations of women are twice as positive about themselves as the younger generation, with less than 7% of Welsh 18 to 30 year-olds feeling confident in their bodies at all.

Weight Watchers say that although young women today enjoy considerably more freedom and equality both in their careers and relationships than previous generations, they are more lacking in confidence and self-esteem compared to older women when they were the same age.

In a cross generational study conducted by Weight Watchers, it was revealed that the younger women asked had 50% less positive thoughts about themselves a day compared to their mothers’ generation, alongside a third more negative thoughts per day.

For Welsh women, there was a strong correlation between body confidence and the women’s overall happiness. 20% of women aged between 50 and 65 reported having body confidence in their thirties, with 74% of these women agreeing that they currently felt happy in themselves.

Sadly, less than 10% of today’s 30-year-olds felt that they were happy in their appearance, with only 66% feeling happy in themselves overall.

This evidence was further supported by the result that young women place more than four times more emphasis on physical improvement by working on their health and fitness (59%), but only 5% of these women answered that they were happy about their body.

Nearly half of the women surveyed stated that their body was the area of their life they currently felt most unhappy about.

Commenting on the findings of the Weight Watchers research, Dr Katy Tapper, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at City University London, said: “It is unsurprising that these findings indicate young women today are feeling far less confident in their bodies than the older generation did at the same age.

“The UK is seeing rising rates of obesity in young women which can contribute to decreased body confidence and lead to lower mood levels.”

However, it was reported that young women had higher degrees of confidence in their relationships and professional capabilities than their mother’s generation did at their age. 58% of the older women survey agreed that today’s young women are much more empowered than they were at the same age.

However, 55% of the older generation concurred that the pressure to look good is more prevalent today, which could potentially be a consequence of the rise of the selfie. They said that this is likely due to the perceived confidence that results from the current social media climate of confidence building through curated photographic representations of the self.

The older generations were more likely to be pleased with how they look in the mirror (38%), be proud of something they had accomplished during the day (21%) or walk down the street feeling good about themselves when they were the same age (75%).

Zoe Griffiths, Head of Public Health and Programme at Weight Watchers, remarked on the survey results, saying: “It is clear that women today are far harder on themselves in all aspects of life than their mothers’ generation was. From careers and relationships to the way they look, women today are pushing themselves to exceed in every way.

“This is a trend can have a huge impact on young women’s confidence which is why at Weight Watchers, we believe it is incredibly important for women to build a strong and positive relationship with body and mind.

“We want to empower women to focus on building greater self-belief to achieve positive change.”

This researched has been conducted by Weight Watchers as a part of #WomanKind, a nationwide campaign that explores why modern women are unkind to themselves and how they can counter this cultural habit, to make healthier choices by focusing on building greater selfbelief to build better relationships with themselves.

Community

Crowds line streets as tractor run hailed a festive success

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CROWDS lined streets and pavements across Pembrokeshire on Saturday evening (Dec 20) as Clarbeston Road AFC’s illuminated Christmas tractor run was hailed a resounding success.

More than 200 tractors took part in the event, travelling through villages and towns including Newmoat, Maenclochog, Llys-y-frân, Walton East, Clarbeston Road, Wiston, Newbridge, Poyston Cross, Crundale and Haverfordwest, where large crowds gathered to watch the festive convoy pass through.

Families, children and residents wrapped up against the cold to enjoy the sight of tractors decorated with Christmas lights and festive displays, with applause and waves greeting drivers as they made their way through built-up areas and rural roads alike.

The convoy set off from the Clarbeston Road AFC Knock Playing Fields at 5:30pm and concluded at the County Showground in Haverfordwest later in the evening. At the end of the run, refreshments were available and the raffle draw took place at the Park House building, which was open to the public.

Organisers said the turnout from both drivers and spectators exceeded expectations, with the event once again bringing communities together while raising funds for local causes, including The Catrin Vaughan Foundation, In It With Isaac, and Wales Air Ambulance.

Clarbeston Road AFC thanked tractor drivers, volunteers, sponsors and members of the public for their support, as well as residents and road users for their patience while the convoy passed through.

The illuminated tractor run has become a firm fixture in the local festive calendar, with Friday night’s event described by many spectators as one of the best yet.

Community

Charity tractor and car run set to raise funds for Macmillan and Paul Sartori

Published

9 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A CHARITY tractor and car run in memory of Charles Rees is set to take place in Pembrokeshire later this month, with funds raised supporting Macmillan Cancer Support and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

The Charles Rees Tractor & Car Run will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, starting and finishing at Dudwell Farm in Camrose.

Participants are being invited to “start their engines” in aid of the two charities, with gates opening at 9:00am and the convoy leaving promptly at 10:30am. Organisers have confirmed that the run will operate with no halfway stops, returning to Dudwell Farm at the end of the route.

The event will begin and finish at Dudwell Farm, Camrose (SA62 6HJ), and is open to tractors and cars. Registration and cash payment will take place on the day, with the price to be confirmed nearer the event.

Additional donations can also be made locally in the run-up to the event at Camrose Country Hardware and Croesgoch Stores.

The run has been organised to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which provides vital care and assistance to people living with cancer, and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, which supports patients and families across Pembrokeshire during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Organisers say more information will be released closer to the event and are encouraging the local community to support the run, whether by taking part, donating, or lining the route to show support.

The event is expected to attract strong local interest, continuing Pembrokeshire’s tradition of community-led fundraising in support of much-valued charities.

Community

Cilgerran school could be discontinued as consultation launched

Published

22 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CONSULTATION on proposed changes for a north Pembrokeshire school, which attracted a near-400-strong petition in opposition to the council, has been launched.

At its May meeting, Pembrokeshire County Council considered a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which outlined the findings of a review of education provision in the Preseli area.

“In particular, the review considered the extent of surplus school places in the area, set against a significant decline in the pupil population,” the council in its consultation on proposals for discontinuation of Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School has said.

A later July meeting of the council, following May’s agreed consultation with St David’s Diocese, backed a general consultation to discontinue Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, and to establish it as a 3-11 community school.

The consultation was launched on December 16 and runs to January 30.

Hundreds have opposed the proposed changes, with a petition, on the council’s own website opposing the changes recently closed after gaining 391 signatures.

Any petition of between 100 and 499 signatures triggers a debate at one of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and any over 500 a debate at full council, meaning this petition will be heard by committee members at a later date.

The proposals for Cilgerran are part of a wide range of potential education changes in the county.

Two petitions, opposing the potential closures of Manorbier and Ysgol Clydau schools, were recently heard at full council and a further petition opposing the potential closure of Stepaside School has recently been launched.

The Cilgerran e-petition, created by Louise Williams, raised concerns including the school could become part of a federation, a loss of permanent head teacher on site, a shared head teacher would have to oversee several schools, loss of funding control and the ability to maintain the school’s current healthy and stable funding, and a loss of commitment to the church, in turn could impact on the school’s and pupils values, beliefs and cultural beliefs.

It said: “Ysgol Cilgerran VC school has strong links with the Church community in Cilgerran and we believe this will have a negative impact on the children who attend the school, the community of Cilgerran and the links between the two.

“We are proud of our school ethos and values which are strengthened by our links with the church. The school has close and strong relationships with our Church in Wales federation governors one of which is also our safeguarding governor.

“Our Church Federation governors work closely with the school and are regular visitors to the school and the children. They provide vital support and guidance to the school and have a positive impact on the Children’s education. We believe these links will be weakened by this proposal to remove our VC status and we believe this is an un-necessary action.”