Robs Weekly Round Up 

Dear colleagues,

As we approach the end of another busy week it is great to see and hear of the fantastic work and outcomes being achieved across the organisation.

I’d like to share some of that here and also remind you all that our comms team is always looking for stories about colleagues’ achievements.

First of all, I wanted to pass on my best wishes to all students that received their A Level results yesterday.

Exams are a stressful business, as is waiting for your grades, so I hope everyone in that position is now enjoying some much-deserved downtime.

I also hope our sixth-form leavers got the grades they needed and are looking forward to the next stage of their journey, whatever that may involve.

It’s also important to thank the many people involved in helping pupils achieve not only in their exams but throughout their time in school.

We have a dedicated and talented group of school staff in the Vale who go above and beyond to give their students the best platform for success.

Supporting them is our Learning and Skills directorate, making sure schools have the resources and infrastructure necessary to function effectively.

Sometimes the role of people behind the scenes gets lost on occasions like results day so I wanted to take this opportunity to pass on my sincere thanks to each and every one of you involved in the Vale’s outstanding education system.  Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi i gyd.

Speaking of unsung heroes, our comms team recently visited the Council’s Complex Needs Day Service at Hen Goleg and the YMCA HWB in Barry to shine a light on the brilliant work that takes place there.

These two centres provide day services for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.

They use principles of Person-Centred Planning to build a weekly timetable of activities for the service user and their families or carers, which is regularly reviewed and updated.

This helps people to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Day Service Manager Sarah Sidman-Jones and her team are at the heart of the positive and innovative work that takes place there.

They offer individuals activity that is stimulating and meaningful and use technology, such as eye gaze equipment, to help even those with profound disabilities communicate.

Well done to all involved in the service – your efforts are truly inspiring.

There was an open day at Porthkerry Park on Tuesday, offering people the opportunity to find out more about the Council’s Restore the Thaw project.

Around 150 people came along to take part in conservation activities, citizen science schemes and a range of fun activities for the family, including a scavenger hunt and pond dipping session.

Creepy crawly enthusiasts could also enjoy an Insect Discovery Walk with a representative from Buglife, the Invertebrate Conservation Trust.

Project managed by Mel Stewart, with support from Ceri Williams, Restore the Thaw is a three-year programme of work to make biodiversity improvements along the River Thaw, its tributaries and surrounding landscapes. 

It aims to benefit local wildlife, landowners and the community, and will provide various opportunities for organisations, community groups, and volunteers to take part in conservation work.

Alongside monies from the Council’s Project Zero fund, the scheme received finance from the Waterloo Foundation and Nature Networks, which is delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

The Nature Network Fund aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales’ protected land and marine sites, support nature’s recovery and encourage communities to get involved in conservation.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the project, either as a volunteer or as a group, can e-mail Mel to find out more.

Sticking with the outdoors, some staff might be interested to learn that woodland grants are available to fund tree planting.

Applications can be made to place a single tree in a garden or for whole woodlands.

Natural Resources Wales and Woodland Creation are the best organisations to offer more information and advice.

Activity such as this helps maintain green spaces and is very much in line with the Council’s Project Zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030 and the Nature Emergency that we have declared.

The Vale’s Foster Wales Team has been busy recently with a couple of really worthwhile initiatives.

Last Friday saw the department’s summer fate, attended by carers and their families, held at Sully Sports Centre and organised by Megan Parry.

Members of the Flying Start, Parenting and Social Care Information teams were all in attendance to provide details about foster caring opportunities.

There was a police van and fire engine for children to explore, bouncy castles, slides, a ball pit, sports day games, a nerf gun stand, an animal show featuring snakes, lizards, tarantulas, rabbits and guinea pigs and a magic show.

It all sounds like a lot of fun – Da iawn Megan for pulling that together.

Meanwhile, the Council is also supporting the Foster Wales Eliminate Profit campaign.

This is connected to Welsh Government plans for only not-for-profit foster care providers to operate in Wales by 2027.

Such a move would mean local foster children stay connected to the communities they love.

The campaign strives to encourage people to foster through their local authority to benefit from support, training, and lifelong connections in care.

Elsewhere, a far-reaching survey that asks residents about life in the Vale and the issues that matter to them is about to launch.

Let’s Talk About Life in the Vale is a consultation exercise that seeks views on a range of matters that cover the Council’s entire breadth of responsibility.

It gives people living in the County the chance to share their experiences of public services, their priorities for the future and will help us better understand how to get more people involved in local decision making.

The plan is to hear from as many people as possible, including staff.

This is different to other Vale-wide surveys that the Council has run as the question is not simply how satisfied people are with Council services.

Instead, we are trying to understand what life is like for people living in the Vale and how public services affect this.

This exercise is part of a wider programme of work, known as the Public Participation Strategy, to improve how the Council takes the views of people who live and work in the Vale into account when setting policy and delivering services.

The success of this exercise will very much depend on the number of responses received, so, as well as responding directly, please pass on details of the survey to friends and family.

Everyone who participates will have the chance to win one of ten £50 Love2Shop vouchers, which can be spent in a wide variety of high street shops and restaurants. Once the survey has launched, I will send around an update with details of how to take part.

I’d also like to reminder everyone that the consultation on the Digital Strategy is still running.

This will help shape the Council for the future and builds on our People Strategy, work around Project Zero and the Financial Strategy.

The new draft Digital Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for how the organisation can transform its approach in this area.

Residents are being encouraged to have their say, but we also want to hear from colleagues and partners so if you have some free time, please share your thoughts.

Cabinet will review the feedback before a final draft of the strategy is agreed early in the autumn.

Once again, thank you very much for your efforts this week – they are always very much appreciated.

Have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob