A former primary school in Carmarthen has been transformed into a nursery, creating 20 jobs.

Welsh-speaking Cywion Bach, has moved into the former Idole village school which has undergone significant renovation work following support from Carmarthenshire County Council’s Rural Enterprise Fund.

A sensory room and new outdoor play area form part of the spacious refurbished building, which accommodates children from aged three months to 11 years. An after school and holiday club is also available for older children up to 11 years.

Outdoor spaces including an onsite forest have been developed for children to explore and experience the natural world through hands-on activities.

Carmarthenshire County Council leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “The council is delighted to have provided funding support to Cywion Bach nursery to develop a vibrant new business. Providing new jobs for people in Carmarthenshire is a key priority for the executive board and I was pleased we are able to support this venture which is also providing first class childcare facilities in the Carmarthen area.”

The council’s Rural Enterprise Fund is available to enterprises and sole traders for the development of new and existing business premises, where jobs are created as a result of the scheme. 

Nursery owner Heather Thomas said: “We are extremely grateful to Carmarthenshire County Council for the financial help we have received in order to achieve our goal.  The ethos of this exciting venture is to provide quality childcare through the medium of Welsh with the focus centred on the natural environment. We believe that fresh air and physical activity is vital for wellbeing, fitness, health and development. In addition to this, we feel that a child that grows up with bilingual skills is gifted with educational, cultural, social and spiritual opportunities.”

If you wish to apply or receive further information about the Carmarthenshire Rural Enterprise Fund visit the council’s website 

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The success of an Aberystwyth University alumnus at the 2018 National Eisteddfod will be celebrated at an evening of poetry and music at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Thursday 22 November.

Gruffudd Owen, the winner of the National Eisteddfod Chair, will be a guest at Cicio’r Bar, a new series of poetry and music evenings established by Eurig Salisbury, Acting Head of the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies, and Dr Hywel Griffiths, winner of the 2015 National Eisteddfod Chair and a lecturer at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences.

Joining Gruffudd will be winner of the Prose Medal at this year’s National Eisteddfod, Manon Steffan Ros.

As well as poetry readings from Eurig and Hywel, Gruffudd will read a selection of his work including excerpts from his winning Eisteddfod entry. Manon will perform as part of the Blodau Gwylltion duo, with guitarist Elwyn Williams.

Eurig Salisbury said: “Across the country, great nights are being held which provide a platform for Welsh poetry and music. That is the idea behind Cicio’r Bar – it will bring all the excitement of the poetic scene to the town in the form of a series of regular evenings over the year. What better way to do that than by congratulating and celebrating the success of two of the main winners of this year’s National Eisteddfod?”

Originally from Pwllheli, Gruffudd graduated in Welsh from the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University in 2007 before going on to complete an MPhil degree in Aber in 2011.

Now an editor on the popular BBC Cymru soap opera Pobl y Cwm, Gruffudd had a very successful Eisteddfod in Cardiff Bay, winning both the Siwper Stomp and the main Stomp Werin prize as well as the Chair.

His winning work, on the theme of ‘Porth’ (Gateway), was described by the competition’s adjudicators as one that “took our breath away – not because it’s refined or rich, not because it’s extremely elaborate and multi-layered – but because it is so trenchant in the way it deals with experiences which are a way of life for the digital generation.”

Manon Steffan Ross is originally from the Ogwen Valley. Her prize-winning and best-selling novel Llyfr Glas Neboreceived high praise by the Prose Medal adjudicators. Sonia Edwards said: “Sometimes, in a large impressive race, a horse appears from nowhere and overtakes everyone and everything.  It sets itself apart from the others and stays there until the very end.  This creates excitement and sends shivers down the spine.”

Tickets for Cicio’r Bar are £7 and are available from the Arts Centre Box Office or online. The evening takes place in the Arts Centre’s Performance Studio on Thursday 22 November 2018 and starts at 7:45 pm.

The second in the series will be held on Friday 8 February 2019.

Links:

Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/cymraeg/

Aberystwyth Arts Centre
https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/

Cicio’r Bar
https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/talks-spoken-word/cicior-bar

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Aberystwyth University is one of five UK Universities to have partnered with the British Council to offer scholarship opportunities to Malaysian students.

The ‘GREAT Scholarships 2019 – Malaysia’ scheme encourages and supports individuals to pursue higher education in the UK. 

The scheme is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council, and participating universities in the UK. It provides funding opportunities to prospective students from a selected number of countries who will enrol into UK universities in the autumn of 2019. 

The inaugural GREAT Scholarships 2019 – Malaysia scheme offers ten taught postgraduate scholarships to qualifying Malaysian students, totalling almost £100,000.  

The UK attracts more than 17,000 Malaysian students every year, most of whom head to the UK to pursue their undergraduate studies. In recent years, trends suggest that a growing number of Malaysian students are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK. Currently, the number of postgraduate students accounts for about 15 per cent of the total number of Malaysian students in the UK. 

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said: “Aberystwyth University has had strong academic links with Malaysia for many years and the GREAT Scholarships scheme will further strengthen the unique bond between us. With our long-standing reputation for teaching excellence and world-leading research, we are delighted to be part of this inspiring collaboration with the British Council and look forward to welcoming postgraduate students from Malaysia to join our international academic community.”

The four other UK universities which will offer opportunities under the scheme are Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Kent, the University of Stirling, and the University of Warwick. 

Sarah Deverall, Director of the British Council in Malaysia said: “Postgraduate studies in the UK are more appealing as the duration of the programmes are relatively short. Most UK postgraduate degrees take only one year to complete, making the overall cost much more affordable compared to other countries.  Malaysia is a key country for the five universities that have chosen to partner with the inaugural GREAT Scholarships 2019 – Malaysia. These universities have been welcoming Malaysian students to their campuses for years and they value the diversity and academic contribution that Malaysian students bring.” 

The GREAT Scholarships are only available for one-year postgraduate taught programmes in the UK for the 2018/19 academic year. Malaysian students intending to apply for the scholarships must have received an offer of entry from any of the five participating universities mentioned above and must satisfy all entry requirements for the chosen course as stated by the respective university. 

For more information about the GREAT Scholarships 2019 – Malaysia, please visit: www.britishcouncil.my/study-uk/scholarshipsE

Photo:Left to right: Dr Marco Odello (Aberystwyth University), Ms Andrea Fordham (Queen’s University Belfast), Mr Imran Hashim (University of Warwick), Ms Sarah Deverall (British Council) and Ms Sue Hopkinson (University of Kent) at the launch of GREAT Scholarships 2019 – Malaysia in Kuala Lumpa on 21 October 2018.Credit: British Council

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The team at Jenkins Bakery have started releasing their range of Christmas products.

The festive goodies are being released at intervals to Jenkins Bakery shops.

Jenkins Bakery operations director Russell Jenkins said: “Christmas is a great family time and, as your traditional, quality family baker, we like to think we know what products work best over the festive period.

“We wish our customers a very Happy Christmas and hope they enjoy our festive products.”

Christmas goodies include –

Victorian Christmas Pudding

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Viennese Mince Tartlets

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Puff Mince Pies

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Christmas Slab

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Christmas Cake, 6.5 inch, traditional

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Christmas Gift Cake

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RICE KRISPIE SANTA

£1.20

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CHRISTMAS CAKE SLICE

£1.20

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YULE LOG ENDS

£1.15

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MARZIPAN DAINTIES

£1.50

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TRUFFLE PUDS

£1.20

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TRUFFLE LOGS

£1.20

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SANTA BISCUITS

£0.95

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ELF BISCUIT

£0.95

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RUDOLPH CUP CAKES

£1.20

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CHRISTMAS TREE BISCUITS

£1.15

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FESTIVE MUFFIN

Price to be confirmed.

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Householders in Newcastle Emlyn and the surrounding areas are being urged to have a clear out.

A waste and tyre amnesty is being held at the mart car park on Saturday, December 1, from 8am-12pm.

Most household waste can be taken along including, unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, as well as black bags.

A maximum of four domestic tyres can also be disposed of; however, tractor or lorry tyres will not be accepted.

The following hazardous waste items will not be accepted e.g. paint (only empty paint tins accepted), fluorescent tubes, batteries, chemicals, gas bottles, asbestos, trade waste, construction waste, agricultural waste, glass e.g. panes of glass or furniture containing glass.

Residents are advised to please separate their waste and to bring proof of address or they will be refused entry.

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Arrangements over the Christmas holiday period for bus services operated on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council, including the Carmarthen Park and Ride, Bwcabus and Carmarthenshire’s Dial-a-Ride have been made available.

• Monday, December 24– Normal services will operate except evening journeys on services 129, T1, and X13 will terminate early.
• Tuesday and Wednesday December 25 and 26 – No services
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday December 27, 28 and 29 – Normal services will operate but with Saturday timetables on services 124 and 128
• Sunday, December 30 – Normal Sunday services
• Monday, December 31 – Normal services will operate except evening journeys on services 129, T1, and X13 will terminate early.
• Tuesday, January 1 – No services
• Wednesday, January 2 – Normal services will resume

For information on bus services which are operated commercially or on behalf of other County Councils, please contact the bus operators directly or Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000 or at www.traveline.cymru

Passengers wishing to book journeys for travel on Carmarthenshire’s Dial-a-ride services on December 27, 28, 29, 31 and January, 2 2019 must do so on 01267 228 326 by 12 noon on December 24.

Passengers wishing to book journeys for travel on the Bwcabus service during the holiday period should note that the call centre opening hours may be reduced on some days during the holiday period – for further details contact 01239 801 601 or go to www.bwcabus.info

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