Latest News from Bridgend County Borough Council 4 Feb 2021

Work starts on community garden in Ogmore Valley

Work has started on developing a community garden on the site of the former Berwyn Centre in Nantymoel.

The garden will contain a seating area, native tree planting and ornamental plants with plans in the pipeline to feature artwork commemorating Lynn the Leap’s famous jump in addition to the area’s mining heritage with a sculpture of a miner looking out to the Wyndham Colliery.

As part of the plans, Keep Wales Tidy have provided £25,000 of funding for the creation of a new Tiny Forest – a brand new project to plant 1,000 trees and establish a new outdoor classroom – funded by Welsh Government’s National Forest programme.

Meanwhile a grant of £6,800 from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust will go towards the creation of a Miner and Dram sculpture, forming part of the design at the front of the garden.

Around £120,000 for the project has been made available via the Valleys Task Force Covid-19 recovery funding for town centres, providing an outdoor meeting place within Nantymoel.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s deputy leader Hywel Williams said: “We are very pleased to see work on the garden already underway which we hope will be of real value to the community, a place to relax and enjoy the outdoor space.

“The plans have been evolving over a period of time with a number of consultation events taking place in the community involving a range of groups, from the local primary school and residents to the Ogmore Valley History group, overseeing the project.

“The Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales, the council’s Reach Rural Development and the centre’s trustees who are responsible for the land have been working together to submit grant applications to help fund the project.”

A further grant from the Valleys Task Force Covid-19 recovery funding will be spent on the Ogmore Vale Washery site enabling improved infrastructure for walking, cycling, running and other forms of physical activity.

 

Work underway on new health and social care facilities

New facilities are being established in Bettws that will support the work of the county borough’s integrated health and social care team.

The plans involve adding a new level on top of the existing flat roof of the Trem y Mor building, which is currently home to the community resource team, and providing facilities that will support the training of staff who work in areas such as reablement, physiotherapy, nursing, social work and occupational therapy.

The £435,000 project, which is being funded by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Bridgend County Borough Council, includes a £400,000 grant from the Welsh Government Integrated Care Fund.

The newly-added level will support the work of frontline health and social care staff by providing an appropriate environment and demonstration space for a wide range of telecare equipment, aids and adaptations for people with sensory and physical disabilities, and more.

Cllr Nicole Burnett, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help, said: “Working in close integration and partnership with colleagues in health is a vital part of how we are delivering essential services for local people.

“This partnership is making it possible for adults to live healthier, independent lives within their own homes while also ensuring that more secondary-care beds remain available.

“I’m sure that the work at Trem Y Mor will prove to be an extremely valuable asset in our efforts to provide residents with the very best level of support possible.”

 

Council marks Apprenticeship Week 2021

Bridgend County Borough Council is celebrating the valuable contribution of its apprentices ahead of Apprenticeship Week Wales, which runs from 8-14 February 2021.

The council currently has 16 apprentices who work across a variety of departments including finance, social care learning and development, highways, building control, business administration and social care.

Since it set up its apprenticeship programme in 2013, the council has successfully supported 93 apprentices, many of whom have since gone on gain employment with the local authority.

Holly Brooks, who has joined the council as an apprentice, said: “Being an apprentice for the council has meant that I can learn on the job and develop my existing skills on a professional level.

“The council has been so welcoming and supportive since I joined and I could not ask for a more wonderful team of people to work with while studying for my apprenticeship. I would highly recommend apprenticeships to anyone as they’re a brilliant way to expand on your skills while gaining experience in a role.”

The Deputy Leader, Cllr Hywel Williams said: “Apprenticeships allow individuals the opportunity to develop professional skills and gain valuable experience while earning a wage and working towards an accredited qualification.

“The council has, over time, been increasing the recruitment of apprentices across service areas and this has been enhanced recently by the investment of a corporately-funded apprenticeship programme which meant a further 12 apprenticeships being created last year.

“We are committed to supporting people of all ages to develop their skills by creating apprenticeship opportunities wherever possible and developing our workforce for the future.

“I would like to thank all of our apprentices for their hard work, particularly during the difficult circumstances of the past year, and wish them the best of luck with their careers.”

Apprenticeship Week is an annual celebration of apprenticeships, and the value they bring to employers and learners across Wales.

Any future apprenticeship opportunities with the local authority will be posted on Bridgend County Borough Council’s job search webpage.

For further information and advice about apprenticeships, visit the Careers Wales website or call 0800 100 900.