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 Hello Subscriber,
Employability Bridgend are expanding its hubs across the county borough with the aim of expanding its reach in local communities.
Thanks to council funding, many facilities across the county borough have had their facilities upgraded and this will allow Employability Bridgend to set up hubs in more local areas than ever before.
For example, the ‘Reach Thriving Rural Communities Fund’ has enabled Heol-y-Cyw Community Centre to install broadband and purchase new computers, providing digital support for the local people.
The employability programme is designed to help those aged 16 years and over who are unemployed, are looking for more hours, a second or new job. The programme sources vocational qualifications, volunteering opportunities, as well as offers an opportunity to develop personal skills.
There are also new ‘drop-ins’ at the Westward Community Centre in Cefn Glas, as well as additional plans for Pencoed Library, which will be closed for exciting renovations this year – in the meantime, the Employability team will be based at Pencoed Miners’ Welfare Hall.
Employability Bridgend already offer support at 20 locations across the county borough and are committed to expanding its reach in local communities over the coming months.
For more information on Employability Bridgend, please visit the council’s website.
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 New school attendance campaign officially launched!
We have officially launched a campaign to highlight the importance of school attendance.
Backed by schools across the county borough, the campaign highlights the importance for children to attend school and return to the classroom following the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It focuses on the benefits of school beyond learning along with providing support and resources for parents of children who are struggling to attend.
It is vitally important that children across Bridgend County Borough attend school whenever possible. For example, with an attendance rate of 90 per cent during one school year, a pupil could miss over 100 lessons.
Parents and carers of school pupils are not permitted to withdraw pupils from school during term time and any request for leave must be approved by headteachers prior to the absence.
For more information on the campaign, you can visit the school attendance webpage on the council’s website.
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 Public urged to have their say on council spending priorities
Residents and businesses in Bridgend County Borough are being urged to have their say on the council’s spending priorities as the authority finalises its budget for the 2023-24 financial year.
A public consultation which opened on 19 December is aiming to gather as many public views as possible from people across the county borough to help shape important budgetary decisions.
We provide a vast range of services from residential and nursing care for the elderly to schools, parks, leisure centres, libraries, children’s social services and many more. The total net amount used to run these services annually is almost £460m.
Although this is a significant sum, it has not kept pace with the rate of inflation and the increasing demand for services over the last ten years due to UK Government’s policy of austerity.
To make your views known about the 2023-24 council budget, you can find the consultation at www.bridgend.gov.uk The survey closes on the 22 January 2023.
Fill in the survey online or, for a hard copy of the survey, or email consultation@bridgend.gov.uk, call 01656 643664 or write to Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB.
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 New recruitment drive for social workers focuses on work-life balance
We have recently launched a new recruitment drive for social workers which focuses on the real benefits of both living and working in Bridgend County Borough.
The ‘We put the care into your career’ campaign highlights the support that is on offer to social work staff in the local authority to help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Marissa, who relocated to the area from London said: “What attracted me to Bridgend, was the fact that I would get to be near the coast, and there was flexibility in my role. I could still enjoy working partly at home, and partly in the office. The hybrid model of working has really appealed to me. Now my work-life balance is so much better, as someone who wasn’t very good at separating out work from life, I now have opportunities that weren’t afforded to me in London.”
Joe, who has previously worked for several local authorities said: “The access to resources is phenomenal, I find it makes my job easier. I have been really, really impressed, and it’s exceeded my expectations. One of the best things for the team I’m in is I am able to do school runs, I am able to juggle my diary and I’ll do real life commitments, for myself, so I really feel that Bridgend care for their social workers. If you’re serious about having a career, you really should consider Bridgend.”
While the campaign focuses on the importance of maintaining a work / life balance, it also promotes living in Bridgend County Borough with the hope of attracting social work staff to relocate to the area, amidst a backdrop of a nationwide shortage of staff within the sector.
You can find out more about the benefits of living and working in Bridgend County Borough on the council’s jobs pages. A list of current social work vacancies can be found on the social work recruitment webpages, you can also view the videos from our social work staff on our YouTube channel.
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Youth centre services expanded to provide further safe spaces
Bridgend County Borough Council’s Youth Support Team has expanded its offer of safe spaces for young people within the local community.
The additional funding from the council will provide even more provision at the existing centres in Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen, Cynffig Comprehensive School and Pencoed Youth Engagement Centre, while also helping to establish two new centres in Bryntirion/Cefn Glas and Brackla.
The opening times of the two new centres are:
- Bryntirion and Cefn Glas Youth Centre - Monday (7.30pm to 9pm) at 3rd Scouts Hall, Bryntirion, CF314JU, and;
- Brackla Youth Centre - Friday (6.30pm to 8.30pm) at Brackla Community Centre, CF312PQ.
For more information on what support is available to young people in Bridgend County Borough, please visit the council’s website or contact the team on youthsupport@bridgend.gov.uk
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Creative pop ups help to boost Bridgend County Borough
We have been rejuvenating Bridgend Indoor Market with pop-up shops and activities thanks to a PopUp Wales initiative, which is part of the wider Elevate and Prosper project - funded by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund and the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Fund.
The project has been delivered by local creative regeneration agency Urban Foundry. This has provided opportunities from practical training for entrepreneurs, to festive workshops and live music.
Since its launch, PopUp Wales has supported over 30 small businesses and 20 voluntary organisations. The project is the first pop-up space initiative of its kind in South Wales and matches up temporary retail spaces with individuals and businesses who want a flexible, short-term, and affordable space to trial an idea.
Local businesses and initiatives such as Tia Robbins Art, Bridgend College, and Wheely’s Café have all taken advantage of the scheme and are successfully operating in their new spaces. In total, over ten pop-ups have been matched to empty units in Bridgend town centre, along with 100 per cent grant funding being distributed to seven small businesses and one organisation.”
If you are interested in a pop-up space, please visit the PopUp Wales website.
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Rebel Business School returns to Bridgend County Borough
An award-winning business school is returning to Bridgend County Borough, offering free support to entrepreneurs of the future.
The Rebel Business School, in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, will be delivering their popular course at the Halo Life Centre from the 20 - 24 March 2023.
The free course will help local start-ups throughout the county borough to get their ideas off the ground and existing businesses to grow.
A spokesperson for Rebel Business School said: “We have helped over 17,000 people via our courses through partnerships with local housing associations and councils. Over the last few years, we have continually proved that starting a business has changed and needs to be taught differently.”
Each day of the course runs from 10am - 3pm and covers topics including how to start a business for free, sales and marketing, how to build a website with no money, finding customers on social media and the Rebel guide to the legal stuff.
Please visit our website, for more information on Rebel Business School.
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 Give blood and save lives!
The need for blood has never been more important. Can you help? Welsh Blood Service need more people from the Bridgend area to sign up as donors to help patients across Wales. Appointments are available in Bridgend at the Heronston Hotel (CF35 5AW) on:
Please be advised that if you have recently had a Covid-19 vaccination, then you must wait two days before making a blood donation.
Book your appointment to help save lives today.
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 We are recruiting!
We have several exciting job opportunities available and are currently recruiting for the following positions:
- Temporary Project Officer - Transformation and Customer Services
- Business Planning and Performance Officer
- Customer Services Team Leader
- Energy Manager - Communities Directorate
Find out more about current vacancies and apply online today.
Sign up to our new weekly jobs bulletin to be the first to know about our latest job opportunities.
The bulletin will be sent straight to your inbox, all you need to do is sign up online.
Find out more and sign up online today!
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Emergency support is available
We would also like to remind residents that a range of emergency support continues to be available:
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