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

Four primary schools will be battling it out today (Friday, July 3) in a bid to win a business competition. Ysgol Betws, Ysgol y Bedol, Ysgol Gymraeg Teilo Sant and Ysgol Bro Banw are taking part in the Carmarthenshire Young Traders competition, which has been organised by Carmarthenshire County Council. The aim of the competition is for teams of up to 5 pupils from Years 5 & 6 to come up with a business idea, market it and sell their product. All four schools will be trading against each other in pitches in Ammanford Outdoor Market on Friday from 10am-2pm. The winner is the school which makes the most money on the day. They will receive a trophy during a presentation ceremony at 2.30pm. Each of the teams has been given £100 kindly donated by Ammanford Town Council and the Ammanford ‘On Track’ Partnership Group. Each school will get to keep any money made during the day. Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member with responsibility for the markets, Cllr David Jenkin...

Ammanford’s Ysgol Y Bedol is helping the environment by going green and having solar panels. The Welsh medium primary school in Garnant is currently undergoing the installation of a 50kWp solar PV system. Two hundred panels are being installed as part of the Egni solar PV cooperative project. The new system is expected to slash increasing electricity bills with computers and lighting feeding off the natural resource. Children will also benefit by learning about efficiency ideas that can be crucial skills going forward. Carmarthenshire County Council Leader, Cllr Kevin Madge, said: “These panels not only generate clean energy and save money but will also help educate the children on the importance of climate change and sustainability, as well as the impact they have on the environment. The money saved in electricity by installing these panels can be used for other vital resources for the school, such as books and stationery needed to help provide the best possible education for our ch...

Three more schools in Carmarthenshire will be offering a Flying Start to children in their areas from this autumn. Dafen, Ysgol y Bedol and Bynea primary schools will benefit from the investment which is a Welsh Government Early Years preventative programme. It is aimed at families with children who are under four years of age and is targeted in some of the most deprived areas in Wales. Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said he welcomed the news which would benefit so many children. “Flying Start is an excellent initiative which aims to make a real difference to the lives of children under four in the areas where it runs,” Cllr Madge said. “It is really good news for Carmarthenshire that three more schools will be able to offer children and families this opportunity.” The core elements of the Flying Start programme are: Free, quality, part-time childcare for two to three year olds. An enhanced health visiting service. Access to parenting programmes.  Ea...

Members of Carmarthenshire’s 50+ Forum steering group held their monthly meeting at Ysgol y Bedol, Garnant, and were welcomed by staff and pupils. Following a tour of the school – which includes classrooms, space for meetings, a gym and a recreational garden – steering group members sat down to discuss the development of a new healthy ageing action plan for the County. The plan will say what public sector organisations will be doing to encourage people to stay well and looking after themselves. Other hot topics included the developing role of steering group members as ambassadors for the Forum, and the role the group could play in encouraging older people to use modern technology. 50+ strategy and development officer Kevin Pett said: “The meeting was productive and there was healthy discussion on a number of topics. “Older people are the most likely group to be ‘digitally excluded’, meaning they are less likely to use things like mobile phones or the Internet. The steering group recogn...