Charity
Pessimism among Welsh youth: A generation fearing a dim future
IN A REVEALING survey conducted by Barnardo’s Cymru and YouGov, a staggering 58% of Welsh teenagers have voiced concerns that their futures will be bleaker than those of their parents. The study, which engaged with 225 youths aged between 14 and 17, unveiled a distressing outlook on their life prospects at the age of 30, with over a third worrying about the fate of their future offspring.
Amid escalating concerns over financial instability, environmental crises, and job scarcity, the sentiment among the surveyed cohort is grim. A respondent encapsulated the prevailing anxiety, highlighting personal and familial struggles despite academic accomplishments. This echoes a broader apprehension about achieving a comfortable standard of living, with 22% of the participants doubtful about their financial future.
The data further exposes a sense of helplessness among the youth, with 12% feeling powerless to alter their destined paths. The narrative of hard work not equating to job security is a recurring theme, adding to the disillusionment.
Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo’s Cymru, expressed her dismay at the findings, questioning the future we are carving for our children. She criticized the insurmountable barriers faced by the youth, a generation seemingly condemned to a deteriorating quality of life, devoid of the opportunities that previous generations had.
The survey coincides with Barnardo’s recent report, “Changing Childhoods, Changing Lives,” which paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by UK children in 2024. The document details the compounded effects of the cost of living crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and environmental concerns on child wellbeing, predicting a dire future marked by declining mental health, increased online exploitation, and more children entering care.
Dylan Thomas, a 20-year-old from Newport, who has benefited from Barnardo’s Newport Young Carers service, shared his perspective on the tough realities faced by his peers. He lamented a society increasingly divided by wealth, where young people are judged superficially, and the essence of community and collective values are being eroded.
Dylan, whose education suffered due to his caring responsibilities, underscores the importance of support systems for young carers. He now works at Cardiff and Vale College, a role that has provided him with much-needed stability and a sense of purpose, highlighting the challenges young people face in gaining employment without prior experience.
In response to these pressing issues, Barnardo’s has announced a new three-year strategy aimed at addressing the crisis. The charity is rebranding to resonate more with the youth and is calling on the Welsh Government for collaboration to mitigate the long-term impacts of current challenges.
Last year, Barnardo’s supported over 373,000 individuals across the UK, demonstrating a significant effort to improve the lives of children and young people. With its deep-rooted presence in Welsh communities, Barnardo’s Cymru is committed to ensuring that the voices of the young are heard and that they are given the opportunities to thrive amidst adversity.
Charity
Charitable donations fund ambulatory heart monitors for Withybush Hospital
THANKS to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities – the official charity of Hywel Dda Health Board – has funded 10 ambulatory heart monitors worth over £13,000 for Withybush Hospital’s Cardio-Respiratory Department.
The monitors are compact devices which are used to assess a patient’s heart rate and rhythm for a sustained amount of time.
The state-of-the-art monitors will help the Cardio-Respiratory Department provide the best possible service, with accurate, efficient and timely arrhythmia recognition provided on site or at home.
Rhys Bowen, Advanced Cardiac Physiologist, said: “We are so grateful that charitable donations from the local community have enabled us to buy the new monitors.
“The monitors are more adaptable to each patient’s presenting symptoms which will enhance the quality of the data gathered.
“They are more patient-friendly and easier to wear for the duration of the test, so there will be less need for repeat monitoring. They will also support quicker in-patient discharge due to an increase in the number of available monitors and the fact they can be worn by the patient at home and provide remote monitoring.”
Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”
For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, visit here.
Charity
St Davids RNLI teams up with Solva Rowing for joint exercise
THE RNLI St Davids lifeboat crew joined forces with Solva Rowing and Watersports Club for a unique joint training exercise on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The session focused on practising medical evacuation and tow techniques using a Celtic longboat, providing an opportunity for both lifeboat and rowing crews to enhance their rescue skills.
The training aimed to prepare volunteers for a variety of maritime emergency scenarios, ensuring that they are well-equipped to handle situations that may arise at sea. The use of the traditional Celtic longboat added an extra layer of challenge and realism to the exercise, simulating conditions that could occur during actual rescue operations.
The collaboration between the two groups was not only a chance for skill enhancement but also a way to strengthen community ties and mutual understanding among the local sea-going organisations. The exercise was documented in photographs by Lyn Jenkins and Cathy Morton, capturing the intense yet constructive nature of the training.
This proactive approach by both the RNLI and Solva Rowing and Watersports Club underscores the commitment of local maritime groups to safety and preparedness, ultimately aiming to ensure that their volunteers are ready and able to save lives at sea effectively.
Charity
Angle RNLI responds to four emergencies in two days
THE Angle RNLI lifeboat crew demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill in managing four separate emergency callouts over the span of just two days. The series of incidents began at midnight on Friday, 10th of May, when the all-weather lifeboat was launched to investigate reports of red flares over Pennar, Pembroke. Despite an extensive search of the area stretching from the 5A buoy east of Valero to Llanreath and into Pennar Gut, no evidence of distress was discovered and the team was stood down at approximately 1:45am.
The second incident occurred later the same day at 4:58pm, following a mayday call from a vessel between South Hook and Angle. The vessel’s skipper reported an unconscious crew member who had collapsed while fishing. The lifeboat reached the distressed vessel within minutes, where crew members provided immediate medical assistance. The casualty, now conscious and stable, was transported to the Port Authority Jetty, where further medical support awaited.
The crew’s third emergency call of the day came at 7:19pm, prompted by a 999 call reporting four individuals being swept out to sea on two surfboards at Freshwater West Beach. Fortunately, all four were safely out of the water by the time the lifeboat arrived, but the crew conducted a precautionary search to ensure no further individuals were at risk.
On Saturday, 11th of May, at 1:03pm, the crew was again called into action after a report of a person unable to reboard their boat south of Watwick Beach. The individual, who had been recovered from the water by a passing vessel, was safely transferred to the lifeboat. It was found that the casualty’s mirror dinghy had capsized. The lifeboat ferried the individual to the Port Authority Jetty for medical care.
Each of these operations underscores the critical role played by the RNLI and its volunteers in ensuring maritime safety and rapid response to emergencies along the coast.
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