Dear colleagues, 

In a period of unprecedented change there has been one constant in recent years - our colleagues’ unstinting commitment to serving the communities of the Vale of Glamorgan. 2022 has certainly been another unique year for the Vale of Glamorgan Council. No sooner were we out of the pandemic than another crisis hit, this time in the form of the rapidly rising cost of living and energy price inflation. But as always, this organisation and our greatest asset - our people – rose to the challenge. 

This year we have done some wonderful things. The end of the year is always a good time to celebrate the work of our teams. Instead of the advent calendar and thank you messages we’ve used in previous years, for 2022 we’ve taken a closer look at a smaller number of services or projects that make a real difference in our communities, particularly at this time of year. Our Vale-Mas Tree presents six videos featuring colleagues from across the organisation, talking about the project or service that they’ve contributed to or lead on. If you haven’t already had chance to watch the short films you can see them now on StaffNet+. 

The series opens with Tom Narbrough talking about GLAM and supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues. Then Mark Davies discusses providing all young women and girls in the Vale with access to sanitary products through the Period Dignity project. Abigail Anderson and Levi Cullinane join us to talk about the Telecare Service and why it’s so important to our older residents. Owen and Gethin from Peterston Super-Ely CIW Primary School give a great insight into the work of our schools as well as their efforts to encourage pupils to walk to school with the WOW project. The work of our care teams is expertly spotlighted by Abisola Badru, who speaks about the rewarding nature of her work at Ty Dewi Sant Residential Care Home. And finally, we see what happens when our teams are able to pull together with a look at our Santa’s Cause campaign and learn who will benefit from the incredible generosity of our colleagues.

Visit the Season’s Greetings page on Staffnet+ and click on each of the baubles on the Christmas Tree to watch the videos. As always I would also encourage colleagues to share their own thank you messages if they wish to pay tribute to colleagues through our Staffnet+ Appreciation Page.

The projects highlighted in these films are only a small selection of the wonderful work that goes on across the Council. 

2022 has seen the launch of our Warm Welcome campaign to support residents across the Vale with warm spaces to access advice and support. 

The last twelve months have also seen phenomenal work to tackle food poverty done through initiatives such as Big Bocs Bwyd in our schools, the Penarth Food Pod established by our Housing team, and the launch of community partnerships such as the More than Food Hub as part of the Llantwit Food Project. 

Our work makes a huge difference to communities in the Vale. Increasingly we are also seeing it recognised on a national stage. Thanks to the innovation and hard work of our teams the Council has won a string of awards in the last year.  

Our Learning and Skills and schools colleagues were at the centre of the project that saw South Point Primary School scoop top awards at both the RTPI Cymru and RTPI UK awards over the course of the year. Two more Vale schools were also winners at the Welsh Heritage Schools Awards in July. 

Our Neighbourhood Services and Country Parks colleagues were pivotal in the Council winning no less than ten Green Flag Awards this summer, keeping us firmly established as one the top performing authorities in Wales.

Colleagues from across Corporate Resources played a role in the Council winning at the Ystadau Cymru awards earlier this month. An equally wide range of colleagues contributed to the Vale being Awarded with the Prestigious Race Equality Matters Trailblazer Status earlier in the year.  Meanwhile the tireless work of our Social Services teams has been spotlighted in many forums. Most notably with their successes at the annual Social Care Wales Accolade Awards. 

After seeing so many stories about our collective successes it was a personal highlight for both of us to review the nominations for and meet the eventual winners of our Staff Awards in September. The night at the Vale Resort was as always one to remember and was a fitting showcase for the individual talents and shared values that combine to make the Vale of Glamorgan Council so great. 

Our shared values shine through every day in the way we work together to overcome the increasingly complex challenges facing both our communities and the organisation itself. It would be impossible to list all the great examples of the Team Vale ethos but the collective response from our staff to supporting those less fortunate than themselves in the form of both the Miles for Ukraine and Santa’s Cause campaigns are perhaps two of the most memorable for this year. 

It is this shared desire to do what is right and help those who need us the most that gives us both great confidence for 2023. Christmas week isn’t the time to repeat what has already been said about what lies ahead. It is, however, an opportunity to pause for thought and remember the many challenges we have overcome in the past, how we have worked together, how we have stood up for those that we represent, and of the talented, tenacious, and kind colleagues we are lucky to work alongside.  

Christmas and New Year will not necessarily mean a break for everyone. We would like to pay a particular tribute to those front line staff who will continue to work over the next two weeks, supporting vulnerable people, and maintaining homes, public buildings, and public spaces so others can enjoy them.

To everyone else we hope you enjoy some time to rest, recuperate and relax with those close to you. 
Happy Christmas and a healthy new year to you all.

Nadolig llawen pawb a blwyddyn newydd dda.

Rob Thomas and Cllr Lis Burnett