Bank holiday weekend
With more warm weather forecast over the bank holiday weekend, Bridgend County Borough Council is urging people to stay safe at home, prevent the risk of exposure and help protect the NHS. Car parks at Rest Bay and Salt Lake in Porthcawl remain closed, and signage has been erected on routes into the town. Tannoy cars are patrolling the county borough, and South Wales Police will be monitoring the situation closely.
Recycling reminder
There will be no change to waste and recycling collections as a result of the bank holiday on Friday 8 May 2020, and planned collections for the day will take place as normal. With more people at home due to the coronavirus, please support our crews by making sure that cars are parked with enough room for collection vehicles to get through.
Support for sports clubs
Sport Wales is providing emergency funding designed to keep sports clubs running during the coronavirus pandemic. Applications for immediate support can be directed to the Sport Wales Emergency Relief Fund website. An all-new £8m resilience fund is also being developed which will support the rebuilding of community sport in Wales once the pandemic is over – look out for more news on this soon.
Social care opportunities
More people are being sought to help support the county borough’s most vulnerable residents. A number of employment opportunities are available, and anyone who has previously worked in social care or who has transferable skills is invited to apply. A fast-tracked application process and rapid refresher training course are available. To apply or find out more, visit the job pages at the council’s website.
Update on schools
Emergency childcare hubs will continue to be available for the immediate future after the Welsh Government education minister Kirsty Williams confirmed that schools throughout Wales will not be reopening on 1 June. The announcement follows speculation that schools in England could potentially reopen on this date. The minister has stated that more time is needed to enable discussions between councils, schools and Welsh Government, and that any reopening will only take place when it has been confirmed as being safe to do so.
Community Chest funding
Sports clubs and organisations throughout Bridgend County Borough are benefitting from new Community Chest funding which will be put to good use once the pandemic is over. For 2020, more than £8,000 has been awarded to seven local clubs with the Pen Y Bont Herons Netball Team being one of three in Wales to benefit from the maximum £1,500. The team will use the funding to expand its membership, encourage more women, girls and inactive adults to take part, and enable greater participation in disability sport while boosting opportunities within some of the area’s poorer communities. Bridgend Blue Bulls RLFC will also use their funding allocation to set up new teams for women and young people aged under 16, and Bettws FC will establish new teams across a range of ages while attracting new female players. Both Heol Y Cyw Mini and Junior RFC and Kenfig Hill Amateur Boxing Club will make use of the grant to attract more participants, while the Cornelly Striders Running Club and Bridgend Fencing Club will introduce new coaching programmes.
£26m support for local businesses
With 2,083 applications processed to date, more than £26m has been issued to local firms in business grant funding by Bridgend County Borough Council. The support is available for businesses that are eligible for small business rates relief in Wales and who occupy premises with a rateable value of £12,000 or less. It also includes those who fall under small business rates relief but who do not currently pay business rates, and retail, leisure or hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £12,001 to £51,000. Applications can be made by completing the online form.