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

A team of pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn in Carmarthenshire have been crowned runners-up at the National Finals of the Young Consumers of the Year Competition. The unique competition involves hundreds of schools across England, Scotland and Wales which rise to the challenge of becoming the nation’s top young consumers. Having beaten off competition from four local teams in the Carmarthenshire heat of the competition in January and a further 12 teams to become runners-up of the Welsh Finals in Llandrindod in March, the team of four pupils - Jack Pulman-Slater, Megan Barnard, Finn O’Connor and Katie Barnby – were through to the National Finals. They had to show off their knowledge on a range of subjects including Consumer Law, Health and Social Responsibility, Food, Safety, Environment, Legal Matters, Money and Finance and Europe. In a hotly contested final held during the Trading Standards Institute Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn competed against seven other teams repr...

Dairy producers in Carmarthenshire are to be congratulated for their success at the International Cheese Awards in Nantwich. The Awards, which have run since 1897, and are a part of the largest cheese show in the world, are held once a year at Dorfold Park, near Nantwich. An estimated 33,000 visitors were able to taste and buy the very finest cheeses from all four corners of the world. The Carmarthenshire Cheese Company won Gold for Single Cheese - Any variety that contains Savoury Additives, Hard Cheese other than Cheddar, Cheese produced in UK only. Sanclêr Organic won Gold and Bronze for Single Soft or Cream Cheese with Additives - other than Blue Veined Cheese. Business Development Officer Carmarthenshire County Council Barry Davies said: “This is a fantastic achievement for these Carmarthenshire producers at what is an international event. My congratulations go to them all.” Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Following the success rece...

Illegal Car Dealers and rogue traders were targeted by Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards Services team and other agencies in a joint initiative known as Operation Rogue Trader. Offenders who sell vehicles on public ground and lay-bys throughout the county were targeted due to the increasing number of complaints alleging the sale of unsafe and clocked vehicles. Many of the sellers in question hide behind a smoke screen purporting to be members of the public, when in fact they are dealers. By doing so dealers attempt to side step current consumer legislation designed to protect members of the public. Purchasing goods from a trader gives the public greater rights if things go wrong than if they were bought from a private individual. Traders selling cars by the roadside and not declaring themselves as such are not only deceiving their customers but are also trading unfairly as they have less overheads and are not paying rates. Additionally, some of the sites being used are dangerous as t...

Llanelli Rotary Club is delighted to welcome the current Rotary International Britain and Ireland (RIBI) President Jim Moulson to its weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, this lunchtime. Jim and his family have had their home in Paisley, Scotland’s largest town, since 1972. The elder of his two daughters is married and he has two grandchildren – Lewis and Rebecca who are 12 years and 7 years old respectively. Jim was a policeman from 1967 until he retired from the superintending ranks of Strathclyde Police in September, 2000, to commit himself to his responsibilities as District Governor in 2001 - 2002. Apart from his family, Rotary has been Jim’s consuming interest since he became a member of the Rotary Club of Paisley Callants in 1984. He had the privilege and most enjoyable pleasure of being president in 1994/95, joined the district team as club service chairman in 1996, and was elected as an assistant governor in 1998. Jim has served R.I.B.I. as a member of its Ex...

The Llanelli SMART project has seen its students reach their full potential. The project is run by Jobforce Wales, in partnership with Carmarthenshire Council’s Youth Service, with the aim of getting young people aged 14-16 years living in the Llanelli area to achieve success in a new learning environment. A celebration day was held on Thursday July 15 at Pembrey Country Park to celebrate the young people’s achievements and to present them with their certificates. Young people received OCN qualifications and Prince’s Trust Awards. The project has enabled the young people to develop essential skills, confidence, self esteem and respect towards others. Lindsey Thomas, Llanelli SMART Manager said:“The SMART staff has seen a dramatic improvement in the young people; they’ve worked so hard to get to where they are today and we are very proud of what they’ve all achieved.” Most improved student award went to 16 year old Alisha Llewellyn from Bryn and Keanu Johnstone aged 16 from Tyisha was p...

Pupils from Pantycelyn School have reached their goals thanks to a scheme run by Carmarthenshire Council’s Youth Service. During the past academic year, young people obtained a range of OCN qualifications including music sequencing, bike maintenance, photo editing and animation. Some of the projects were delivered in partnership by officers from the Reach the Heights Project – a Welsh Assembly Government project funded by the European Social Fund, aimed at engaging young people aged 11-19. Karen Williams, project organiser and School Based Youth Worker said:“Pupils from the school were referred to the project for various different reasons in order for us to help them achieve success in subjects not offered within the school. “The school was keen to see their pupils take advantage of the projects on offer and as a result every pupil who participated on the OCN scheme achieved a qualification. “Our aim is to pursue with the delivery of these courses and to ensure that more young people a...

Carmarthenshire's Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP) want to get children and young people involved in development of their new 2011 Plan. The plan will cover all the different services that children and young people may need to use; these will include education, youth services, leisure and health services. The Hywel Dda Health Board, Dyfed Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, Voluntary Associations, education staff and Carmarthenshire County Council are all part of the CYPP. Officers from these services have overall responsibility for the plan and their aim is to ensure that children are fully aware of their rights which are outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Councillor Gwynne Wooldridge, Executive Board Member for Education and Children’s Services said:“The services involved in the plan are there to listen to children and young people’s ideas and concerns which will allow them to provide all the help and suppor...