Luke Morgan has spoken about his shock at being named in Warren Gatland’s Wales squad for the Autumn Series.

Morgan has made a huge impression over the opening weeks of the season, scoring four tries in five games since making his return to the full fifteen-man game from Wales Sevens, where he is the record all-time try scorer.

Speaking after hearing the shock news, Morgan said it was something he’d always dreamt of.

“It was completely out of the blue. It’s something you dream of growing up as a boy, so to have that experience given to me now is just an amazing thing to have.”, he said.

“Obviously, I’m delighted to have that call up so we’ll just have to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

 “I actually found out about the selection through Owen Watkin when I was coming out of the gym. He showed me and congratulated me, so that was definitely a nice experience.”

Shock is definitely the feeling of the hour for the uncapped Luke Morgan, who joins nine of his fellow Ospreys team mates in the selection, as he continued: “I’ve had a good run of games, but it is a big shock for me, coming into my first year of fifteens and getting into the Wales squad.”

Having already experienced the International environment with Wales Sevens, Morgan said,“It will be a totally different experience to what I’m used to with the Wales Sevens, but I am used to being in and around the Vale and on the training pitches etc., so that I suppose will be the same. However, the whole environment with different players, different coaches and a different level of rugby, will be a new experience for me.

“Joining the Ospreys and converting to the fifteens game has gone far better than I expected. I was given the chance against Munster, and I took it with both hands.  I will also try and take this opportunity with Wales with both hands, and try to show everyone what I can do.

“The next challenge for me now will be to go away and have a good few weeks in camp to hopefully get my name in the hat for selection for the first game. Coming back from that into the region for the Ospreys, it will be a big thing for me to get back into that starting side.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board wishes to thank staff, as well as partner agencies and the community for the joined up approach and team working across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire during the weekend’s floods.

Multi –agencies including county councils, police, fire and rescue and others, worked together on the response to the adverse weather and have now formally moved to the recovery phase. 

Health services were largely unaffected and despite flooding in parts of Carmarthen town centre only a very small number of staff were unable to attend work – keeping hospitals and essential community services operating.

 Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “We are grateful to our staff, who work 365 days of the year, and also to our partner agencies across the three counties who worked together this weekend, through the elements, to keep people safe and provide emergency assistance when needed.”

People are reminded that in adverse weather, road disruption and advice is available on websites and social media from relevant local authorities (county councils) and police, so that people have the most up-to-date, authoritative advice when making any journeys. 

If there is a change to the way the public need to access health services, the health board would make announcements on its website and social media, or contact specifically affected patients directly depending on the specific circumstances. Anyone in an emergency situation should dial 999 for assistance as usual.

To follow partner agencies news updates, see:

Carmarthenshire County Council: http://newsroom.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/

Pembrokeshire County Council: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Ceredigion County Council: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/news

Dyfed Powys Police: www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/newsroom/Hywel Dda Health Board: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk 

A huge clean-up operation is underway to deal with the aftermath of the worst flooding Carmarthenshire has seen in decades.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s operational team has now switched its efforts from emergency response to recovery and supporting affected communities and businesses.

Additional resources have been put in place to collect ruined carpets, furniture and other waste, with cages and skips being dispatched to worst hit areas. People are advised to check with their insurers before disposing of any items.

Dehumidifers have been provided to as many homes as possible.

A hardship fund has been established for residents most in need of financial support, and housing officers will be visiting homes and helping people to complete and submit insurance claims.

Business support officers are also making contact with retailers and businesses to support them, and rate relief is also being sought from Welsh Government.

Highways, cleansing and refuse crews continue to sweep and clean debris left by the receding floods, and inspections will take place on all affected road surfaces, verges and bridges.

Specialist teams are being drafted in to support crews, including divers to inspect underwater structures and areas that have experienced land slide.

The council continues to urge people to take extra care and to allow extra time for their journeys as a number of diversions will remain in place.

Carmarthenshire County Council Chief Executive Mark James said: “Our staff have been working hard to respond in extremely difficult conditions. Now that the flood waters have subsided we have shifted our focus from response to recovery and we are doing all we can to support everyone affected.

“A full assessment of the damage is underway, and, as well as working with partner agencies, we are also speaking with Welsh Government to ensure appropriate resources are in place.”

APPLY FOR SUPPORT FOR FLOOD RECOVERY

 Related Links

• Storm Callum – situation updates
• Carmarthenshire’s worst flooding for over 30 years
• Flooding

The first transgender model in the UK to be appointed as the face of an international fashion brand, is set to address a conference for transgender people and their allies hosted at Aberystwyth University this week.

Munroe Bergdorf is the key note speaker at All Our Trans Tomorrowswhich takes place at the University’s Medrus conference centre on Wednesday 17 October 2018.

Initially held in November 2017, the conference is the first of its kind in Wales and features keynote speeches and workshops from transgender activists and academics.

Free to delegates, the 2018 conference will focus on supporting transgender and non-binary people, and exploring how cisgender people can be good allies.

Speakers include the writer, artist and stand-up comedian Shon Faye from Stonewall, and Jack Jackson, Stonewall Trans Role Model of the Year 2018.

Delegates will also hear from Carole Bell from the Welsh Specialised Services Committee who will discuss the gender identity services available in Wales, and counsellor Susie Lane.

John Harrington from Student Support Services at Aberystwyth University and Holden Holcombe, who is studying for a PhD at the School of Art will discuss what universities can do for trans students, and Law and Criminology PhD student Megan Talbot will address the question of what to do when the Law fails transgender people.

Sponsored by law firms Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP and Blake Morgan LLP, the conference has already proved very popular with almost all sessions fully booked.

The conference is organised by staff and students at Aberystwyth University with the support of Prism, Welsh Government’s LGBT network.

Ruth Fowler, Equalities Officer at Aberystwyth University and chair of the organising committee said: “I am thrilled that the conference is taking place again this year at Aberystwyth University, with inspirational speakers such as Munroe Bergdorf and Shon Faye. My thanks to the organising committee and to our sponsors Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP and Blake Morgan LLP who have made all this possible. One of our sponsors will be at the conference on the day for individuals to come and talk to them about a career in law, so this is particularly exciting for our current students. The conference is the first of its kind in Wales and I’m so glad to be championing trans equality here at Aber.”

All Our Trans Tomorrows was shortlisted for the Equality and Diversity Category of the Universities Human Resources (UHR) Awards earlier this year, and has been shortlisted for an award in the 2018 Chartered Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD) Wales Diversity and Inclusion Initiative category.

Further details about the conference are available on the All Our Trans Tomorrows website.

Photo:Munroe Bergdorf, the first transgender model in the UK to be appointed as the face of an international fashion brand, will deliver the keynote address at All Our Trans Tomorrows

Links:
All Our Trans Tomorrows
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/equality/all-our-trans-tomorrows-2018/

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
https://www.bclplaw.com/

Blake Morgan LLP
https://www.blakemorgan.co.uk/

Lecturers from Aberystwyth University’s Department of International politics have created a series of Welsh-medium education resources for students studying A level Politics.

Dr Huw Lewis and Dr Elin Royles received a grant from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to produce a package of resources including e-handbooks for teachers and pupils, as well as a series of short videos. 

The new resources will be launched by the Llywydd (Speaker) of the National Assembly of Wales, Elin Jones AM, at a special event to be held at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay at 12:30 on Wednesday 17 October 2018.

Dr Elin Royles, Senior Lecturer at Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics said: “There is a shortage of Welsh-medium resources in areas of the curriculum, including politics. We are therefore pleased that the expertise within the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth is helping to meet the demand from teachers and students alike for material in this field of study. We hope that the resources here will be an asset not only in terms of providing Welsh-medium content but also by putting political themes and concepts into a Welsh context.”

Dr Dafydd Trystan, Registrar of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said: “It’s encouraging to see that Welsh universities are working in partnership with the Coleg Cymraeg to create Welsh-medium materials that are suitable for A-level students. Ensuring suitable resources for learners in post-compulsory education – be they in school, college, university or in the workplace – is key and forms a core part of the Coleg’s work over the next five years. A wide range of such resources can be accessed by visiting the Coleg’s online Resource Library.”

As well as launching the learning resources in the Senedd on 17 October 2018, Dr Lewis and Dr Royles will also be holding a day of workshops and activities for sixth form students from Bro Myrddin, Ystalyfera and Gwynllyw secondary schools. 

Dr Huw Lewis, a Lecturer at Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics, said: “Holding sessions such as this in the Senedd is invaluable and provides a real opportunity for sixth formers to see democracy in action. It also gives them the opportunity to question Assembly Members and test out some of the ideas they have been discussing as part of their course. We are grateful to the Assembly for the welcome extended to us as a Department, and to the schools joining us as we unveil this new package of resources.” 

The resources have been produced in conjunction with the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) Subject officers and will be available on the Department of International Politics website at Aberystwyth University and on Porth, the Coleg Cymraeg e-learning platform.

The resources are being launched during the centenary year of Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics – the first department of its kind in the world and the first department to offer a degree in International Politics through the medium of Welsh.

Photo: Dr Elin Royles and Dr Huw Lewis from the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University

Links:
Department of International Politics
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/interpol

International Politics Centenary
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/interpol/about/centenary

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol

www.colegcymraeg.ac.uk

Welsh Joint Education Committee

www.wjec.co.uk

The latest podcast from Phil Evans and Robert Lloyd.

The Big Cwtsh (Episode 31) is now on Soundcloud.