Robs Weekly Round Up

02 August 2024

Hi everyone, Shwmae pawb.

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the excellent weather we have experienced over the last few days.

It finally feels like summer is here and with a bit of luck these sunny conditions will continue for a little while yet.

The rise in temperature has coincided with the start of the school holidays and the Council’s Family Information Service has compiled a list of free or low-cost activities available locally over the next five weeks.

Many of them are being organised by our teams, including Flying Start, Healthy Living, Sport and Play, Libraries and the Youth Service.

Mini Olympics Monday, Open Access Community Playscheme, Baseball and Softball games, National Play Day and a Skateboard Taster Class are among the events taking place next week that are staged by Council staff with no charge.

Well done to everyone involved in those sessions and the many more listed on our website. I’m sure those that attend will have a fantastic time. Diolch yn fawr am eich gwaith.

The warm weather also presents an excellent opportunity to ditch the car and explore more active forms of travel.

On that subject, and on the back of it being Cycle to Work Day yesterday, the Council is currently undertaking its Staff Travel Survey.

Every year, we ask Council employees about their transport habits as, along with all public sector bodies, we have to report our carbon emissions to Welsh Government.

How staff travel to and from work is included in our organisational carbon footprint.

This reporting helps us and Welsh Government track progress towards the Council’s Project Zero goal to become carbon neutral by 2030.

As we continue to encourage active travel and the use of public transport, this survey will help to understand current staff commuting behaviour and where additional support is needed to become more environmentally friendly.

Please take time to complete the questionnaire, which asks about travel patterns within a 12-month period from April 2023.

The Council has also adopted a Travel Plan, which aims to help staff chose sustainable forms of transport for their journeys to work, while information about our green ambitions is available on the Project Zero Hub.

Turning to another consultation, the Public Services Board (PSB) - made up of representatives from the Council, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Natural Resources Wales and other partners - is looking at how to help make the Vale a better place to grow older.  

As part of the Age Friendly Network, it wants the Vale to be a positive place for older people to live and work.  

The Age Friendly Vale Network is asking for feedback on the Age Friendly Vale Action Plan (2025 – 2028) so has launched a survey which runs until Sunday, August 11.

In October 2023, the Vale of Glamorgan became the fourth Local Authority area in Wales to be awarded Age Friendly Status by the World Health Organisation.

This recognises the serious commitment of partners and older people in working together to ensure the Vale is a place where people of all ages are supported to live and age well, especially those aged 50 and over.

Developing an Age Friendly Action Plan is the next step for the Age Friendly Vale Network, made up of PSB representatives, third sector organisations, community groups, and older people.

The draft Plan sets out the areas of focus for the next three years in line with the Age Friendly Charter which focuses on key areas such as transport, housing, health services, respect and social inclusion.

Paper copies of the survey are available in community venues including Barry, Penarth and Cowbridge libraries, it can be completed online or by calling 01446 700111.

As the calendar moves into August, we are in the middle of South Asian Heritage Month, which runs for 30 days from July 18

It ends on the anniversary of the partition, when the old state of India was divided into two separate countries, India and Pakistan, in 1947.

The aim is to raise the profile of British South Asian heritage and history and promote better understanding of the UK’s diversity through education, arts, culture, and commemoration.

This month is an opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the impact and contributions made by South Asian cultures on Britain.

South Asia is the base region of that continent, consisting of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

These countries have all been impacted by their relationship with Britain through war, colonisation and its empire.

Britain has a vast community of citizens whose heritage stems from these countries – around five per cent of the entire population, with nearly one in five people in London of South Asian heritage.

The theme of the month this year is FREE TO BE ME, which aims to celebrate the individual and varied ways people honour their roots and diversity.

If any member of staff identifies as South Asian and would like to share their story, the Diverse Network wants to hear from you.

Formed in 2020, the Diverse Network is a Council group which champions colleagues from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds.

It meets regularly and aims to promote an inclusive workplace, celebrating the varied heritage of staff and those living within our communities. 

Open to all, it strives for equality and offers members a social and supportive environment.

In recognition of the work carried out by Diverse, which has helped to make real strides in this area, the Council has been awarded Silver Trailblazer status by Race Equality Matters.

More than an award, this recognises organisations that have made an impact with work to tackle race inequality and accelerate change.

A panel of independent judges decide who should be given this title and I’m very proud that we are one of the recipients.

It reflects the Council’s aim to be tolerant, understanding and accepting of anyone no matter who they are or where they come from.

As many of you will be aware, we have also applied to become a County of Sanctuary, a move that expresses solidarity and compassion for those that have suffered forced displacement from other countries.

On an internal level, we want everyone to be proud and confident to come to work as their true selves and progress in this arena is of fundamental importance to me and my SLT colleagues.

Thank you all very much for your efforts this week – they are, as ever, very much appreciated.

I hope the weather stays fine this weekend and you enjoy a restful and relaxing couple of days off.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob