Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Father Christmas is making a welcome return to Llanelli Rotary Club's Grotto this weekend. The grotto will be based at Llanelli Indoor Market for the next two Saturdays. It will then move to the Tesco superstore in Llanelli for the countdown to Christmas (times and details in the poster above). Last year, the Rotary Club Grotto raised more than £3000 for local charities when it was based at the old BHS store in Trostre. 'Santa' is flying down from the North Pole to sit in the special Rotary Grotto which has been provided by Llanelli firm Sheds and Chalets. Father Christmas is being accompanied by some specially-dressed Rotary Club 'elves'. Rotarian Alison Evans said that last year's Grotto was such a hit with children that opening hours have been extended this year. Alison said: "Santa is full of the joy of Christmas and most of the young visitors who call in to see him at the Grotto are delighted with the experience. "This will be the t...

It's not quite climbing every mountain – but Carmarthenshire’s Leader is taking on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for local charities. Cllr Emlyn Dole is also welcoming people to join him – or set themselves their own challenges. He was spurred into action after attending an awards ceremony for participants in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, now in its 60th year. To mark the anniversary, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Diamond Challenge has been set up, which is open to all ages. People are asked to take on their own adventure, personal, or skill challenge, which can be anything from learning to knit to kayaking the Zambesi. Cllr Dole has chosen to take on the Three Peaks Challenge – Snowdon in North Wales, Cadair Idris in Mid Wales and Pen y Fan in South Wales. He will start with Snowdon on May 29, at 1085metres the highest mountain in Wales, a walk of around 10km. On June 1, Cllr Dole will climb Cadair Idris, a four to five kilometre walk, and a height of 893m. The last peak ...

Charities and community organisations are being urged to ask for help from the Mynydd y Betws Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Community Bureau is inviting applications from community, voluntary and third sector organisations as well as registered charities and town and community councils for the 2016/17 round of the Fund. They can apply for funding for new and innovative community projects which address local need under the following themes: Recreation, Education, Health, Environment, Energy Efficiency/Sustainability and Culture. Funded by wind farm developer ESB (Electricity Supply Board), money is available for projects being delivered in the following wards: Ammanford, Betws, Garnant, Glanamman, Llandybie, Pontamman, Penygroes, Saron, Tycroes and Quarter Bach. Over the last three years the Grant Panel has awarded approximately £850,000 to over 50 community regeneration projects in the Amman area, the total investment is an impressive £2.4 million...

The new chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council has announced his charities for his year in office. Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths has chosen the Wales Talking Books Project ( Llyfrau Llafar Cymru ) and Tenovus West Wales Cancer Care. He met representatives of the two charities in the Chairman’s Room in County Hall to discuss his support for them over the year ahead. The Wales Talking Books Project is based at Parc Dewi Sant in Carmarthen and offers a service for people who are blind or have sight problems. It consists of a team of volunteers, led by two full-time staff, who record books, magazines and local papers on cassettes or CDs and distribute them to hundreds of people throughout Wales. Up to 40 books a year are recorded. There is a campaign to reach more people, and the charity knows of nearly 1,500 people in Carmarthenshire alone who could benefit. Llyfrau Llafar Cymru needs to raise £50,000 a year to sustain its service. Llyfrau Llafar Cymru chair Sulwyn Thomas said: “We ar...

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council has raised nearly £11,000 for his chosen charities. Chair Cllr Terry Davies picked the British Heart Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust as his charities for his year in office. The £10,802 he has raised so far comes from various events such as his Charity Evening held at the Ashburnham, Pembrey, last November which raised £2,830 and taking part in the Walrus Dip on Boxing Day in Pembrey which brought in £1,112. Cllr Davies also presented two cheques for £1,000 to the two medical charities in memory of his brother Canon Islwyn Davies, Rector of Ystradgynlais, who died a year ago. The £2,000 was donated by Cllr Davies and his niece Helen.

The leading legal firm in West Wales, QualitySolicitors Redkite, has been busy distributing money to charitable causes. Donations in January amounted to more than £850. The firm has its own committee of staff members, who meet on a regular basis to decide on charitable donations. QS Redkite Managing Partner Luke Smith said: "We try to be as supportive as we can of many local charities. We try to vary our support as we are keen to play our part in helping different communities of interest in West Wales." January donations included -  £150 to Royal British Legion  £150 to the Christian Lewis (childrens cancer) Charity. £250 to the Laura Rees fundraising event. Laura, 23 from St Clears, died in a car accident between St Clears and Whitland.  She worked at the Glangwili Hospital Day Nursery. £100 to Greenhill School in Pembrokeshire to help them with their rugby tour to Canada. £100 to Sarah Goddard as a donation towards her BSES expedition to the Hima...

BBC News - Awema scandal: Charities must not lose out - Wales Council for Voluntary Action Work is underway to ensure grassroots charities in Wales do not lose out after a leading race equality body had its funding stopped. The All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (Awema) has been at the centre of allegations of financial mismanagement and bullying. The Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) says it is important others are not disadvantaged.

The Chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council has raised around £6,000 for his chosen charities so far. Cllr Ivor Jackson picked Macmillan Cancer Support, the Alzheimer’s Society and Plant Dewi, which works with children and their families in the Diocese of St David’s, as his charities for his year in office.  To date, the Chairman has raised over £5,900 from a number of events. There will be a charity ball before the end of Cllr Jackson’s year in office. Cllr Jackson said: “I am hoping to do the Walrus Dip at Cefn Sidan during the Christmas hoidays and am looking for sponsors."