This Sunday (June 17) families across the county will be marking Father’s Day, but it’s not only birth fathers who will be celebrating.

A number of adoptive parents will also mark the occasion having given vulnerable children a loving home.

Robert* is one of hundreds of people who have adopted a child with support of Adoption Mid and West Wales – a collaborative of adoption teams covering the four local authorities of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

He will be celebrating his first Father’s Day this year having adopted with his wife after they struggled to conceive, and has spoken of the ‘privilege’ he feels to become a dad and why he encourages others to come forward.

“So let’s start with a fundamental issue. I will never know how it feels to father a child that is a product of my genes and DNA. My family bloodline stops here. Lots of people have told me in the past that a birth child is a beautiful fusion of your physical characteristics and the ultimate expression of the love a couple has for each other (although the last person to tell me that is now divorced). My wife and I went through fertility treatment in pursuit of this apparent ideal, and in the end the gift the consultants gave to us was there absolute certainty that it was not going to succeed.

“This opened the door to us going down the adoption route, which led to a beautiful 11-month old boy being brought into our lives. He has been with us over a year now, and in all honesty I see no difference in what I do with my little buddy and what other dad friends do and the joy they share. We laugh the same, muck about the same, cry the same, teach him silly things while mummy despairs. I genuinely believe I feel the same as they do too. I love him with all my heart, would do anything to protect him and want to make sure he grows up to be a healthy and well-rounded human being.

“He is a happy little chap and is developing well, if anything I feel like he is ahead of children his age (see I’m a competitive boasting parent the same). When I come from work and he shouts “Daddy” with his arms outstretched, excitement in his face and joy in his eyes, he certainly doesn’t appear to have any doubts about our bond as father and son. I won’t pretend that this has all been plain sailing, and the fact our marriage has been built on solid foundations helps my wife and I get through tough moments. The ability to laugh together helps a lot too! It is true we are at the start of our adoption journey in comparison to a lot of others out there, and everyone’s experiences are different. There will be difficult moments ahead – that I am sure of – and the knowledge we have gained about therapeutic parenting is being used on a daily basis. There is also so much joy to come too, through watching our little man develop as he shares our interests, values and outlook on the world.

“I certainly don’t feel a sense of loss from not having a birth child, instead I feel privileged to be able to start a family through adoption. I’m sure if I spent too long thinking about all the fundamental aspects of it all I could quite easily wind myself up. But do you know what? I’m having too much fun to care.”

Adoption Mid and West Wales has adoption teams covering the four local authorities of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. Their aim is to make sure that children grow up as part of a permanent, loving family from childhood through to adulthood.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s social services departments provide a range of services and resources to help families to care for their children but, where this is not possible, their Adoption Service finds permanent alternative families.

In the last year (2017-18) 29 adopters were approved – these include married couples, unmarried couples, single people and same sex couples – but there is always the need for more adopters to come forward as demand for adoption placements has increased this year.

Cllr Glynog Davies, executive board member for education and children’s services, said: “It doesn’t matter whether you already have children, whether you’re single or a couple, whether you’re married, unmarried or in a civil partnership, the most important things are their personal characteristics, resilience, insight into a child’s needs and ability to commit to becoming parents, rather than any factors such as employment, housing or marital status.”

For more information please visit www.adoptionmwwales.org.uk

Myths about adoption:

1. I can’t adopt because I’m not married
There are adopters from all walks of life – single, in couples, same sex couples – it is about having the capacity, time and commitment to provide the love and care for children.

2. I need to own my own home to adopt
You can be an adopter without owning your home, but you will have to a have space and stability to offer – whether you are a tenant or home owner.

3. I’m too old to adopt
Adopters have to be 21 years old or older. There is no upper age limit and we take account of each applicant’s individual circumstances on a case by case basis, including her/his health, lifestyle and support network.

4. I can’t adopt because I already have a child
You can. Different children have different needs. Some adopted children benefit hugely from the relationship they build up with adopters’ birth children and vice versa. For others a household with no other children will suit them better. That’s why we need a range of prospective adopters.

5. There aren’t any babies available for adoption
The majority of children needing adoptive families are aged between 2 and 5 years of age. However we do sometimes need adopters for very young children.

Link to Adoption Mid and West Wales –

http://www.adoptionmwwales.org.uk

national-adoption-week from Cyngor Sir Gâr | Carms Council on Vimeo.

By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants.

From April 2019, the National Assembly for Wales will be able to vary the rates of income tax payable by Welsh taxpayers.

Responsibility for many aspects of income tax will remain with the UK government, and the tax will continue to be collected by HMRC for Welsh taxpayers.

Here is how the process for setting Welsh rates of income tax will work –

From April 2019, the UK government will reduce each of the three income tax rates: basic, higher and additional rate, paid by Welsh taxpayers by 10 pence.

The National Assembly for Wales will then decide the three Welsh rates of income tax, which will be added to the reduced UK rates.

The combination of reduced UK rates plus the Welsh rates will determine the overall rate of income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers.

If the National Assembly for Wales approves each of the Welsh rates of income tax at 10p, this will mean the rates of income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will continue to be the same as that paid by English and Northern Irish taxpayers.

However, the National Assembly for Wales may decide to set different rates ‘to reflect Wales’ unique social and economic circumstances’.

Internet link to Welsh Government website –

https://gov.wales/funding/fiscal-reform/welsh-taxes/income-tax/?lang=en

Meanwhile, the UK government has published a report, Universal Credit: supporting self employment which considers the issues faced by self employed claimants.

The report considers the impact of the Monthly Income Floor (MIF) earnings requirement.

To be eligible for Universal Credit (UC) claimants must earn the MIF.

However, the MIF assumes self employed claimants earn a regular income at least equal to the National Minimum Wage, and makes no provision for those with income and expenditure that vary from month to month.

The report states that the MIF has been designed with monthly paid employed individuals in mind rather than the self employed who may have more volatile earnings.

It also considers the current system which allows self employed individuals to be exempt from meeting the MIF for the first 12 months of self employment and whether this is sufficient.

The report urges the Government to extend the exemption period.

Link to internet and Universal CreditSelf Employed report –

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmworpen/997/997.pdf

Finally, it has previously been reported that the Enterprise Management Incentive State Aid approval lapsed on 6 April 2018.

On 15 May EU approval was granted however HMRC have not confirmed expressly that this approval will be backdated to 6 April 2018.

The Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) allows selected employees (often key to the employer) to be given the opportunity to acquire a significant number of shares in their employer through the issue of options.

An EMI can offer significant tax advantages as the scheme allows options to be granted to employees which may allow the shares to be received without any tax bill arising until the shares are sold.

HMRC had previously warned that EMI share options granted in the period from 7 April 2018 until EU State Aid approval is received may not be eligible for the tax advantages afforded to option holders.

We await official confirmation on the position from HMRC.

Please contact the team at Clay Shaw Butler for specific advice on this issue.

Internet link to Europa press release –

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEX-18-3803_en.htm

You can find out more about money matters on the Clay Shaw Butler website (under our news for business section) –

http://www.clayshawbutler.com/news/latest-news-for-business

We have a strong and experienced team with great local knowledge all geared-up to helping you get the very best from your finances – whether that is as an individual or as a business.

We stay ahead of the game by putting great store by continual professional development for our staff.

With Investors In People status at Clay Shaw Butler, we care passionately about making sure our staff have all the tools they need to serve you, our customers.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler are on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

Update on Out of Hours Service in Carmarthenshire – Friday 15 June 2018

Press release from Hywel Dda –

We are currently experiencing a shortage of GPs to cover the Out of Hours service in Carmarthenshire overnight tonight and on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Efforts are continuing until the last possible moment to fill the shifts affected. Clinical staff will be available to make an assessment of your condition and refer you to an appropriate destination should an urgent face to face review be required.  In the meantime, there are other services that can help you if you are unwell:

for health information and advice, including online symptom checkers, please visit NHS Direct Wales: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk

call 111 – they can help to signpost you to the right service, for example a GP, nurse, pharmacist or Minor Injury Unit, they also provide health information on a wide range of conditions for self care if appropriate

attend a minor injury unit, available at Glangwili Hospital, Prince Philip Hospital and Llandovery Community Hospital

ONLY in an emergency for serious or life-threatening conditions should you dial 999

Joe Teape, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “I apologise for any concern or inconvenience caused to Carmarthenshire residents. Unfortunately we continue to experience GP shortages at this time and we appreciate the efforts our staff, GPs and partners from across the Hywel Dda area are making to ensure we can provide safe services for our patients.”

A marine biologist from Aberystwyth University joins an international study into the impact of climate change on the Arctic Ocean’s ecosystem which sets sail this week.

Dr David Wilcockson from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences is heading to the Barents Sea on board RRS James Clark Ross as part of the £16 million UK flagship research programme Changing Arctic Ocean, which is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

During the month-long voyage, Dr Wilcockson will work with scientists from institutes across the UK, Norway and Germany to look at the effects of warming on the Arctic Ocean, from the surface of the ocean to the seafloor, as part of the Arctic PRIZE project.

Dr Wilcockson joins the mission as an expert on rhythmic behaviour in marine animals. His study will focus on plankton, tiny marine animals that underpin the food chain in the oceans.

Caught using specially adapted nets known as plankton trawls, Dr Wilcockson will study their daily migration in the water, when they are active and inactive, and how they respond to changes in light and temperature.

His findings will be added to scientific models that are being developed to predict how the ecology of the Arctic Ocean is likely to change.

Dr Wilcockson said: “We know that warming of the oceans is making the ice retreat and that is having a knock on effect on the physical and chemical properties of the water, and that in turn we believe is affecting the ecology. Understanding how the plankton might respond to these changes will give us an idea of how this is likely to affect animals higher up the food chain, such as fish, seals and whales.”

Warming oceans
With warmer winters across the polar region, the Arctic Ocean is now experiencing year-on-year record lows of sea ice.

These changes are having an unprecedented impact on how the Arctic ecosystem operates.

The retreat and thinning of Arctic sea ice is a key driver of change, increasing the amount of light in the ocean and encouraging mixing that brings deeper, nutrient-rich waters to the surface.

These are two key determinants of productivity in the Arctic Ocean that the entire food chain relies on.

It is important to understand how climate change is altering these properties and to quantify their impacts on the Arctic ecosystem if computer models that predict future change are to be improved.

Arctic PRIZE
Scientists from the Arctic PRIZE programme are spending a month at sea measuring the physical, chemical and biological properties at different depths in the Barents Sea.

Their aim is to identify if significant changes are happening on a seasonal basis that alter the way plankton behave.

These organisms form the lower part of the food chain and are vital to the survival of larger animals, such as fish and seals.

Their growth during the spring/summer transition is dependent on the right nutrient mix in seawater and sufficient light.

Climate change may alter the timing, location or amount of growth by the plankton, even drawing in different plankton species from more southerly locations, with unknown consequences for the rest of the food chain.

A central part of the scientists’ work involves collecting automated instruments that have been moored at sea for the last 12 months.

These will be redeployed for a further year to collect vital data on how changes in sea ice are affecting important parameters in seawater, like light intensity.

The scientists will also collect an autonomous glider that has been monitoring the open water south of the ice edge since January – deep in the polar night.

It has been collecting data on the physical, chemical and optical properties of the water during the critical transition period from winter to summer.

This allows the scientists to identify how the plankton are responding to seasonal change in an environment influenced by warming.

Professor Finlo Cottier, from the Scottish Association for Marine Science and lead investigator of the Arctic PRIZE project, is the Principal Scientific Officer on the cruise: “We are working in partnership with Norwegian scientists, particularly in Tromsø, to observe how the Arctic ecosystem responds during the winter to summer transition as the sea ice retreats to the north. Together we are refining our understanding of these Arctic environments. One of our key questions is whether there will be more biological productivity in the Arctic Ocean as ice reduces in area and becomes thinner. We have a very integrated programme of work that connects the physical environment of ice, water and light to the chemistry to the organisms in the water column and to the seafloor communities.”

Dr Kim Last, co-investigator on the Arctic PRIZE project and based at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, is participating on the cruise: “The Arctic is rapidly changing, with ice retreat resulting in an ocean of warmer, fresher and lighter water. We know that some zooplankton are shifting habitat ranges northwards, but migrating could come at a price. Heading north the day/night cycle is altered and this in turn will affect their biological clocks that control everything from their behaviour to their genes. Our aim is to understand how resilient they are to such change.”

The ultimate goal of the Changing Arctic Ocean programme is to generate a better understanding of the Arctic so computer models can more accurately predict future change to the environment and the ecosystem. Within the programme there are four main projects with more than 80 scientists combined, from 18 UK research institutes.

The four projects cover different aspects of the programme’s goals: how change in the Arctic is affecting the food chain, from small organisms at the bottom to large predators at the top (ARISE), how warming influences the single main food source at the bottom of the food chain (DIAPOD), the effect of retreating and thinning sea ice on nutrients and sea life in the surface ocean (Arctic PRIZE) and on the ecosystem at the seafloor (ChAOS).

Photo: Dr David Wilcockson

Links:

Arctic PRIZE
https://www.changing-arctic-ocean.ac.uk/project/arctic-prize/

Study at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/

Dr David Wilcockson

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/staff-profiles/listing/profile/dqw/

The latest podcast from Phil Evans and Robert Lloyd has just been released.

The Big Cwtsh: Episode 19 is now on Soundcloud.