Neath Port Talbot College signs UK's first green building charter

Gwenda Thomas AM today commended Neath Port Talbot College for signing the UK's first green building charter, committing themselves to support progress towards a built environment that contributes low or zero net carbon emissions as quickly as practically possible.

' I am delighted that once again, Neath Port Talbot College are at the forefront of nationwide initiatives along with many leaders in the construction industry in Wales. It is imperative that we must take responsibility for the future of the built environment to help alleviate carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption.'

'Read a Million Words Together' Campaign

Gwenda Thomas Welcomes ‘Read a Million Words Together’ Campaign

Gwenda Thomas AM today welcomed the major new campaign to encourage boys to read launched by the Deputy Minister for Skills, John Griffiths.

Gwenda Thomas stated ‘This is a much needed initiative targeting boys between the ages of 9 and 14 who are reluctant readers and need appropriate, exciting reading material, along with the support of teachers and family members, to provide motivation and remove the stigma of reading being ‘uncool’.’

‘GET INVOLVED IN ENTERPRISE WEEK’ CALL

Local businesses, schools and voluntary organisations across Neath are being urged to take part in next week’s Enterprise week, which aims to encourage and celebrate all aspects of enterprise in the area.

Labour AM for Neath Gwenda Thomas is calling on anyone with an interest to organise an event or get involved with a range of activities which are being planned to mark the week-long initiative which begins on Monday, 17th November.

This year’s event will also be part of the first ever Global Entrepreneurship Week. With more than 70 countries taking part, it will address big global issues including poverty reduction and climate change. More than 200 Enterprise Week events are already being planned across Wales, with the support of the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government.


Gwenda Thomas AM said:

“Enterprise Week is a fantastic initiative encouraging people to not just have ideas but to endeavour to make them happen. This can include from simply changing a viewpoint or outdated procedure in the workplace through to actually starting up a new business or social enterprise.

We have so much local talent and enthusiasm in Neath I am really pleased to see different groups getting involved, so that our children and young people are given both an awareness of business and enterprise and a chance to develop the necessary skills. I hope that this year’s Enterprise Week helps to unleash young people’s enterprising ideas and address some of society’s biggest issues, from poverty reduction through to climate change.

The Labour-led Assembly Government has also made sure that practical help and expert advice will be at hand to assist Welsh businesses and entrepreneurs meet their ambitions and face the challenges of the global economic downturn.

By bringing together businesses, schools, government and voluntary organisations, I am confident that Enterprise Week will help us to turn the corner and get more and more people involved and thinking about how can use their enterprise skills in many areas of their life.”

Anyone interested in arranging an event for Enterprise Week or attending one of the many events being held across Wales can find out more by visiting http://www.enterpriseweek.org.uk”

Closure of Neath Guardian's Office

Gwenda Thomas AM today expressed her concerns over the loss of Neath Guardian’s local editor and office due to a range of cuts instigated by Trinity Mirror, the paper’s owners.

“ I have written to the Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror registering my opposition to the closure of the office and the amalgamation with the Glamorgan Gazette and the Port Talbot Guardian. This will be a great loss to the members of the community which rely on this publication for local news,” stated Gwenda Thomas.

“I know that the editor, reporters and staff have worked hard to build up a rapport with the people and businesses in Neath, as well as myself and other political representatives, and feel that the loss of our local office will damage the fluidity of reporting and interaction required to produce a quality, topical, local paper.”

“I have asked for their comments on this strategy, as a matter of urgency,” said Mrs. Thomas.

ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT LEADS THE WAY IN PAYING BILLS ON TIME

Local Labour AM Gwenda Thomas today welcomed figures which show that the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government is leading the way in paying its bills to Welsh companies in record time.
According to the latest figures, the Assembly Government took an average of 5.89 days to pay for invoices between April and October this year, with fewer than five per cent of payments taking longer than ten days.
The Labour-led Assembly Government also recently agreed to increase the proportion of payments made within ten days and to work to ensure that the thirty day target for payments is met across the public sector in Wales.
Gwenda Thomas AM said:
"The Assembly Government’s excellent record of paying its bills on time will be welcome news to businesses across Wales during the current global economic difficulties. It’s good to see Labour in the Welsh Assembly once again leading the way and showing how it should be done.
I also welcome the fact that the Assembly Government wants to improve its payment record even further and I want to see all public sector bodies in Wales playing their part in improving the time in which they pay their bills.
Paying their bills on time is one of the best ways that public bodies like Councils and Government Departments can help our smaller and medium sized businesses get through these global economic difficulties.
The Assembly Government’s payment record is also in stark contrast to the way in which the Tories are acting in some parts of Wales. I am glad to see that the Labour -run Neath Port Talbot Borough Council pays over 93% of its bills in 30 days, this compares with Tory-led Monmouthshire's poor record of only paying 40% in 30 days. The Tories claim to be the party of business, what help are they giving to business by taking so long to pay their bills?
This just goes to show how big the gap is between what the Tories say and what they do when they are in power at any level. "

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Neath Guardian Column October 2008

I was privileged to be at the launch of Action for Children (Gweithredu dros Blant) on the 9th of October. Action for Children has replaced the National Childrens Home; they changed their name to one that better describes what they do and value – Action for Children. They are committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential. These vulnerable children and young people are in life least able to defend themselves. This is where organisations like Action For Children do such excellent work.
Action for Children helps nearly 170,000 children, young people and their families through nearly 450 projects across the UK. In Neath they do excellent work providing community short break services for disabled children, young people and their families, family outreach services ranging from early preventative support to intensive work with families where there are serious concerns for children's safety or welfare; they also run a referred playgroup in the Pontardawe area.
This re-launch coincides with a major change for children and young people’s policy in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government will shortly assume greater powers to make laws to meet the needs of vulnerable children and their families. These new powers will enable the focus to be on the most vulnerable, but this cannot be done in isolation, we need the help of partners such as Action For children.

Another great privilege was to be invited to the first Neath Port Talbot Golden Hearts Awards on the 14th October, these are to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contribution of those who provide social care in the borough. There were many nominations for individuals and teams in the private, public and voluntary sectors, the number and quality of these nominations was outstanding. It was marvellous to see so many examples of dedication, commitment and innovation. The host was Derek Brockway the weatherman, and entertainment was provided by Andrew Harley and Neath Male Choir, they were all excellent.
All the awards were moving in showing people’s dedication but I was very touched by the Young Carers Award presented to unpaid carers under the age of 18 who care for a parent or other family member. These young people are superb examples of the youth of today and fill me with hope for the future.
However we must do all we can to ensure that children and young people do not have inappropriate levels of responsibility.
Gwenda Thomas is Deputy Minister for Social Services.

Provision of Treatment Centres for wet age related macular degeneration using Lucentis

Gwenda Thomas AM welcomes the provision of a wet age-related macular degeneration centre using Lucentis in the Amman Valley, Ammanford;

Gwenda Thomas AM said: “This will be of great value to my constituents in the Upper Amman Valley and surrounding areas who will attend for treatment in this centre. This shows the commitment of the Labour led Welsh Assembly Government in delivering its commitments to health care”.

Retention of the General Medical Practice in Resolven

Following lobbying by Gwenda Thomas AM in her role as a constituency Assembly Member and Councillor Des Davies of Resolven, Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board has decided to retain practice facilities in Resolven.
Gwenda Thomas AM said “I really welcome the decision by Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board to retain the GP Practice in Resolven. Councillor Davies and I put forward a really strong case to retain the practice. In conjunction with this there are plans to provide a new Primary Care Centre in Glynneath which will offer a broader range of services for the people of the Vale of Neath. This is part of the investment being put into medical services by the Labour led Welsh Assembly Government. ”