Charity

More than 19k animal lovers call to end greyhound racing in Wales

Published

2 months ago

July 19, 2024

IN RSPCA open letter signed by an astonishing 19,715 people which calls for the end of greyhound racing in Wales has been delivered to the First Minister’s office.

The open letter, addressed to Vaughan Gething MS, the First Minister of Wales, stated that the thousands of signatories wish to see a phased end to the “outdated practice” in Wales in order to protect the welfare of countless dogs at risk of injury – or worse.

The RSPCA is part of the Cut the Chase coalition – which includes the Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales – who have long expressed concern about the negative welfare consequences that racing and the greyhound industry has on the dogs involved. The regulated sector’s own figures show that between 2018 and 2023, 2,751 greyhounds died or were put to sleep for reasons other than natural causes or illness. (data covering England and Wales).

Meanwhile, more than 26,500 injuries were recorded from greyhound racing over the same time period*. The latest statistics from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) – which regulates Wales’ only track – show that the number of dogs involved in racing who died increased by 47% in 2023, further adding to the coalition’s concerns.

Wales could be the first nation in the UK to phase out the activity. Earlier this year, the Welsh Government carried out a 12-week consultation which is considering the future of greyhound racing. The consultation closed in March.

The Welsh Government has yet to publish the outcome of the consultation – and in the meantime dogs at the Valley Greyhounds Stadium in Ystrad Mynach continue to risk death or serious injury due to being knocked over or falling at speeds often in excess of 40mph.

Published results from races and trials at the Valley track, analysed by Greyhound Rescue Wales, shows that, between 3 March and 29 May this year, nine dogs were recorded as “fell” and 15 more were recorded as “knocked over”.

But these stats don’t show the full picture. Injury data from individual tracks and veterinary reports aren’t released publicly, so the exact welfare impact of the dogs who have fallen in races remains unknown.

Billie-Jade Thomas, RSPCA Senior Public Affairs Manager in Wales said: “Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved. Running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs, and in some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary for dogs to be put to sleep.

“There are only 10 countries in the world – including all UK nations – where commercial greyhound racing still goes on in 2024. But the Welsh Government now has a golden opportunity to commit to phasing out greyhound racing in Wales once and for all, sending an important message to the rest of the UK that they need to act to deliver a better life for greyhounds.

“We’d like to thank everyone who signed our open letter – we were delighted to have such a strong response and have more than 19,000 people support this cause. It really does show the strength of feeling there is about ending greyhound racing, and what we can achieve together for animal welfare.”

At its peak, there were 250 licensed tracks in the UK. Today, only 20* remain, with only one that is unlicensed in Great Britain.

The Cut the Chase coalition has called for greyhound racing to be phased out over the next five years, and remains committed to the welfare of the dogs involved in the industry during this time.

Phasing out greyhound racing in Wales is a major campaign priority for the RSPCA, as the charity marks its landmark 200th anniversary this year. Since its formation in 1824, the RSPCA has changed more than 400 laws for animals.

In reply to this story, a spokesperson from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which now regulates the Valley Greyhound Stadium, said:

“Since successfully becoming licensed under GBGB in Autumn 2023, the Valley Greyhound Stadium has been transformed and welfare standards have never been higher. A veterinary surgeon is now on site for all trialling and racing and new high-quality veterinary and kennelling facilities have been put in place.

“GBGB-registered greyhounds receive far more protections than domestic pet dogs. They benefit from a host of systems and regulations, from veterinary surgeons on site at all time and independent oversight of trainers’ residential kennels to a national programme of training for individuals involved in the sport. It is gratifying that, under our remit, we can help promote the highest standards of greyhound welfare at the Valley Stadium whilst preserving this historic pastime and local source of employment for Wales.

“We have been pleased to engage with key stakeholders in Wales in recent months on the high standards that exist within our licensed sport, as well as our commitment to driving improvements still further through our long-term welfare strategy ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound. We will continue to support the Welsh Government’s consultation process on licensing of animal activities to be evidence-based.”

Charity

St John’s mark Falls Awareness Week by announcing new rapid response service

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SAINT John Ambulance Cymru has secured a contract to provide a new Welfare and Falls Rapid Response service in the Pembrokeshire area, which will see staff responding to incidents to assess and assist people, reducing demand on Emergency Medical Services.

The Haverfordwest-based scheme will be run in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) and will initially run from October 1^st 2024 until March 31^st 2025.

The scheme will follow on from the Falls Response scheme which has been operated by St John Ambulance Cymru in partnership with HDUHB and Wales Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WASUT) in the same area since January 2023.

The announcement comes as St John Ambulance Cymru marks Falls Awareness Week from 16-20 September alongside fellow members of the National Falls Prevention Taskforce Wales.

The Falls Taskforce is an alliance focused on falls prevention for older people in across the country and includes Age Cymru, Age Connects Wales, Care & Repair Cymru, St John Ambulance Cymru, representatives from all seven health boards, as well as national and local government, public, private and other third sector organisations.

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Head of Ambulance Operations, Helen Coulthard said: “This new contract is a testament to the great service our staff have provided to people in this area of West Wales as part of the current scheme. To date the scheme has attended to over 1,000 people and saved an ambulance from attending on more than 500 occasions.

“St John Ambulance Cymru continues to build on its record of providing high quality help to patients all over the country and we look forward to continuing that work with this new scheme.”

St John Ambulance Cymru operates Falls Response schemes in communities across Wales, working in partnership with WASUT, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. In 2023 these schemes, together with the current Pembrokeshire scheme, helped a total of 12,815 patients.

Falls Response is just one of the services provided by the charity’s Ambulance Operations team, with more than 24,000 patients helped in 2023, including patient transport and other schemes such as the Taith Dda Mental Health Response Service.

For more information on the healthcare services provided by St John Ambulance Cymru, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/healthcare-services.

Charity

FRAME is looking for passionate leaders to join its Board of Directors

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FRAME, one of Pembrokeshire’s leading charities, is excited to announce the recruitment of new directors to join its Board. As FRAME continues to grow and expand its impact on the community, we are seeking passionate individuals who want to help steer our charity toward an even brighter future.

Since 1994, Pembrokeshire FRAME has been at the heart of the community, providing life-changing support for individuals with additional needs, while also promoting environmental sustainability by reducing waste through the reuse of furniture and household items. Our social enterprises, such as furniture upcycling and gardening projects, have provided invaluable work experience for adults with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and disabilities. To sustain and enhance our impact, we need strong, dedicated leaders on our board.

What They’re Looking For:

FRAME are seeking individuals who are passionate about charity work, social enterprise, and environmental sustainability. We’re particularly interested in those with experience in the following areas:

Finance (accountancy, financial management)
Legal (charity law, governance)
Retail
Fundraising
Marketing & Communications (digital marketing, PR)
Social Enterprise Development
Human Resources & Leadership
Environmental & Sustainability Expertise
Lived Experience (experience with disability, mental health, or social exclusion)

Why Join Our Board?

By joining our Board of Directors, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our charity. You’ll help us continue making a real difference in people’s lives by providing opportunities for learning, employment, and community engagement while also supporting

If you are interested in applying, please visit www.pembrokeshire-frame.org.uk/vacancies for more information.

Charity

Tenby musical extravaganza raises over £1700 for Lifeboats

Published

21 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

TENBY was alive with the sound of music and community spirit this past weekend, as the Hay Shantymen delivered an unforgettable performance, raising approximately £1,700 for the Tenby lifeboat station.

Despite inclement weather, the event, held at the Tenby Brewing Co., saw a full house, with every ticket sold contributing directly to the lifeboat fund. The venue, known for its commitment to local causes and excellent beer, played host to an evening filled with lively shanties and heartfelt camaraderie.

John, a crew member from the Tenby Lifeboats RNLI, provided an “inspirational and mildly terrifying” tour of the lifeboat earlier in the day, further solidifying the community’s appreciation for the brave work of the RNLI volunteers. Mags, another lifeboat team member, was noted for her cheerful demeanour as she navigated the crowd with a donations card reader, ensuring everyone had a chance to contribute.

The Shantymen expressed profound gratitude to their audience and supporters on social media, stating, “Thanks so much to everybody who came to our gigs on Saturday. It was such a brilliant weekend, despite the weather’s best efforts.”

Unfortunately, the Shantymen had to cancel their planned busking in town on Sunday due to a combination of the bad weather and some very sore throats, much to the disappointment of both the band and their fans.

Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees sharing their joy on social media. Karen Gill, a local attendee, remarked, “Thought you were brilliant, really enjoyed listening to and watching you all, thank you!”

The event not only showcased the tight-knit community of Tenby but also highlighted the critical role that fundraising plays in supporting vital services like the RNLI. The Tenby Brewing Co. echoed this sentiment, expressing their delight at hosting the event and looking forward to more such gatherings in the future.