Robs Weekly Round-up

17 February 2023

Dear colleagues,

One of the areas of our work that I am most proud of is huge strides we have made in recent years to become a Council, and an employer, that ensures inclusivity, diversity, and equality run through all that we do. I am proud of all we do to celebrate the people who make up our Council and so am very pleased to be able to share that the Vale is hosting an event to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March.

IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity and that is what our event will do. We are delighted that a number of successful women will speak at the event, including Heather Stevens CBE, Chair of the Trustees of the Waterloo Foundation and Kellie Beirne, Director of Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. The full cost of the event is being covered by our generous sponsors The Waterloo Foundation, ISG, and CJCH solicitors.

A number of places at the event have been reserved for women who work for the Council and if you would like to attend then please email Leader@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. Full details of the event are now available on StaffNet+.

Since being reopened by the Council in 2021 the Pavilion is once again a venue at the heart of the community. This was underlined this week with the launch of year-long residency by the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

I mentioned briefly last week that the pilot will see the college run parent and toddler music sessions, establish a small ensemble at the pavilion and put on concerts for the local community. The RWCMD has built an international reputation as a centre for artistic excellence, helping young adults hone their skills across the performing arts and related industries. Its presence at the Pavilion is a result of the successful Chamber Music Festival hosted last year. The festival’s directors commended the Council’s vision for the venue and recommended our team to the college. The residency that has followed illustrates the esteem in which the venue is now held, and I’d like to recognise the hard work of Phil Southard and the rest of the team in bringing this partnership together.

Supporting children, young people, and their families is a vital part of our work. It was great to see Deputy Minister for Social Services and Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt visiting our Flying Start team on Monday to see the great working being done through the Nibble and Natter sessions. These sessions see our multiagency Flying Start team working together to model to families how to enhance language and communication through everyday routines. The feedback from those taking part is always very positive and I’d like to thank Anna Pitcairn-Knowles, Lowrhi Thomas, Abi John and Claire Gamble for making this a success that’s now being recognised by Welsh Government. You can see Flying Start Manager Kathryn Clarke talking about the impact of the work on our social media channels. 

Another great example of this area of our work came to my attention this week. On 10 February the Communities for Work Team hosted an event to showcase all that is available to young people in terms of employment, education, volunteering and health and well-being support via the Council and our partners. 51 separate organisations attended the Memo Arts Centre for the event, which included taster sessions from Cardiff and Vale College as well as workshops delivered by tv and film producers and Cardiff City Football Club Foundation. Nearly 300 young people attended the event and I am sure they will have left more aware of their options and better equipped to choose the right path for them. Diolch yn fawr to the whole Communities for Work team who worked hard to ensure the event went smoothly, and in particular to Angelina Patrick who helped organise the event and secure employers to attend.

A quick reminder that we are approaching the deadline for the annual leave purchase scheme. The scheme gives staff the opportunity to purchase either one or two additional weeks of annual leave (pro rata for those who work part-time). It re-opened for applications at the start of the year and the closing date is Friday 3rd March.

Finally, congratulations to Naomi Meredith who will be representing the Council at Buckingham Palace in May. Each year the Council sends a representative to the Royal Garden Party. This year’s event is for those who have made a special contribution through their work with young adults, communities, diversity, or sustainability. Naomi’s name was drawn from a hat filled with those of other nominated colleagues by the Leader and Deputy Leader yesterday. Llongyfarchiadau Naomi. I hope you have a wonderful day. 

Thanks as always to everyone for their hard work this week. Diolch yn fawr pawb.

Rob.