Rob's Weekly Round Up
16 May 2025
Helo bawb,
I would like to begin this week’s message with the brilliant news that the Council has been awarded over half a million pounds in funding from Welsh Government for major improvements to visitor facilities across the Vale.
The Barry Island Visitor Experience Improvement Project has secured a funding award to support a range of new facilities, including changing rooms, beach wheelchairs, and digital water quality displays. 
Another award has also been granted to Countryside Services for the refurbishment of toilet facilities at both Porthkerry and Cosmeston Country Parks, enhancing comfort and accessibility for park users.
Both projects form a part of a growing portfolio of successful funding bids made by Council in recent years, and are a result of the fantastic partnership working between colleagues in the Regeneration, Neighbourhood Services, and Shared Regulatory Services teams. These enhancements link into a number of our well-being objectives set out in Vale 2030 and will enhance the experience of visitors to our key destinations.
The Vale of Glamorgan is home to a breathtaking coastline and beautiful country parks, and this latest pot of funding will help us provide even better infrastructure as we continue to make the Vale a fantastic place to live and visit.
Well done to Nia Hollins, Adam Sargent, Aaron Jones and Rhodri Morgan - who have all been involved in putting these successful project bids forward – gwaith bendigedig!
On the subject of visitor experiences, it is shaping up to be a bumper weekend for Barry Island with a whole host of brilliant events planned over the coming days.
On Saturday, Gŵyl Fach y Fro – a celebration of Welsh culture and language in the Vale -is set to return once again this year.
Now in its tenth year, this much-loved annual festival - organised by Menter Bro Morgannwg - brings together the very best of local arts, music and family fun, all set against the stunning seaside backdrop of Barry Island.
Festival-goers can enjoy live music, street food and drinks, art and craft stalls, and children’s workshops, all designed to showcase and celebrate the Welsh language in our communities.
The Vale of Glamorgan is one of the few local authorities that has recently seen an increase in the use of the Welsh-language, and local events such as Gŵyl Fach y Fro are vital as we strive to foster vibrant bilingual communities.
A number of schools from across the Vale will be appearing on stage at Gŵyl Fach y Fro once again this year and many will no doubt be using the event as an opportunity to ‘warm up’ for the up and coming Urdd Eisteddfod in Margam at the end of the month.
Diolch yn fawr iawn to the children and school staff for the hard work that has gone into preparing their performances – pob lwc i chi gyd, ac mwynhewch yr haul!
Next, I would like to remind you all that the Employee Engagement Survey is now live.
The survey, which has been sent by email, can also be accessed by scanning the QR code on posters inside buildings, and should only take a few minutes to complete.
The survey is anonymous, and the results will help us as organisation to focus on the areas that matter most to you. The more open and honest your feedback, the more meaningful and effective our actions can be.
Any questions on this topic can be emailed to Engage@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk.
On a similar note, there is also still time to submit your responses to the Staff Travel Survey – all you need to do is tell us about how you travelled to and from work between April 2024 and April 2025.
The survey will help us to understand current staff commuting habits and where more support may be needed.
Active travel such as walking or cycling to work are not only great ways to help the environment and reduce our carbon footprints, but also helps us keep fit, happy and healthy.
As the month of May is also Bike Month in the UK, now would be a perfect time to get outside and get cycling – maybe even as part of your commute!
If you don’t have a bike, the Council also runs a year-round Cycle 2 Work Scheme.
The scheme, delivered in partnership with Cycle Solutions, allows staff to purchase a bike and accessories through monthly salary deductions, with no up-front cost and a wide range of bikes to choose from – including e-bikes.
For more information, visit the Cycle Solutions website to browse bikes and sign up.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention an exciting exhibition at the Art Central Gallery at Barry Library.
‘Puppets and Curious Narratives’ is a vibrant and imaginative display that is available to visit until 31 May 2025.
The exhibition features the work of three Wales-based artists — Peter Raymond, Barbara Leith, and Frankie Locke — who all met at the scenery, props and construction workshops at the Welsh National Opera Company in Cardiff.
The carefully crafted puppets by Peter Raymond were inspired by myths and contemporary tales, and the puppet costumes were then handmade by Barbara Leith and hand-painted by Peter.
Barbara Leith also showcases delicate mixed-media portraits to present charming figures in cabinets.
Complementing these works are dynamic paintings by the ceramicist and painter Frankie Locke, where she reimagined the puppets into animated scenes. Together, the trio’s work creates a dynamic visual experience.
This captivating new display is just one of many exhibitions that can be found at Art Central Gallery throughout the year.
More information of past, present and future exhibitions can be found here.
Thank you very much for your efforts again this week, they are always appreciated by me and the rest of the Strategic Leadership Team.
For those of you not in work, have a relaxing and enjoyable couple of days off and I may bump into some of you at Gŵyl Fach y Fro on the island on Saturday.
Diolch yn fawr iawn,
Rob