Carmarthenshire Youth Council is backing the UK’s largest youth consultation.

Members attended the official launch of Make your Mark at an event in Cardiff.

Young people will vote to decide which five top issues affecting young people across the UK will be debated at the Annual Sitting held in the House of Commons in November.

Thomas Vaughan-Jones from Llandyfan is Carmarthenshire’s UK Youth Parliament member and will be representing the views of the young people in the county and Wales.

The ballot runs from now until the beginning of October.

Last year more than 950,000 young people took part in the national ballot.

Thomas, 14,  will be leading on the Make your Mark by training other members and getting support from secondary schools, youth projects and organisations across the county to get as many young people as possible involved in the ballot.

The Youth Council will be offering to visit as many secondary schools and youth projects in Carmarthenshire as possible to encourage them to get involved and have their say on a UK level.

Thomas said: “I’m really happy to have been elected as Carmarthenshire’s 2018 member for the UK Youth Parliament and want to continue to listen to young people’s ideas and views, making sure that I represent Carmarthenshire on a national and UK platform. I’d urge all young people aged between 11 and 18 to get involved and take part in the ballot.”

Cllr Glynog Davies, executive board member responsible for education and children’s services, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people in our county to have their say and make sure that the issues they are passionate about are raised on a national level.”

You can vote online www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk or by paper ballots which are available from Carmarthenshire Youth Council participation@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Working parents of three and four year old children in Carmarthenshire could be eligible for up to 30 hours a week of government funded early education and childcare for up to 48 weeks of the year.

The Child Care Offer for Wales will be piloting in Carmarthenshire from January 2019 on a phased basis.

Parents who are employed or self-employed and earn on average a weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage could be eligible for the offer.

The Welsh Government have confirmed a phased roll out in Carmarthenshire from January 2019 for eligible parents.

The eligible wards for the first phase of the roll out are Glanymor, Bigyn, Tyisha, Lliedi, Llwynhendy, Dafen, Hengoed, Elli, Felinfoel and Bynea.

Cllr Glynog Davies, Executive Board Member for Education and Children’s Services, said: “I am delighted that the Child Care Offer for Wales is coming to Carmarthenshire, it’s a great scheme and I’m sure it will be of benefit to a number of hardworking parents and their children too.”

For more information, visit the Carmarthenshire Family Information Service website or phone 01267 246555.

Carmarthen’s Biggest Student Shopping Event is returning to Carmarthen next Thursday (September 27).

More than a 1,000 students are expected to descend on the town to take up exclusive discounts of up to 30% off at over 40 of the town’s most popular retailers between 6-9pm, at the Student Sellout.

This is the third year the event has been held in the town

It is being organised by a partnership of local businesses, Carmarthenshire County Council, Carmarthen Town Council, local public services, Trinity Saint David Student’s Union and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Alongside the shopping there will be live music from local bands, entertainment including a climbing wall, bowling alley and rodeo bull; street food traders and bar offers in various locations across the town.

Students can collect their wrist bands from the registration tent on Red Street from 5pm.

The Leader of the council, Cllr Emlyn Dole, said: “Once again this is going to be a great event.

“It’s a great chance for those students who may never have been to the town before to have a look at the great mix of high street and individual shops we have in the town whilst also picking up some bargains with these exclusive deals that are available for this one evening only. Previous events have proved to be very successful and I’m sure that this year will be no exception. I’d like to thank all the businesses who have supported the event.”

All students can pre-register for a free wristband simply go online to register.

If you haven’t pre-registered you can still go along to the event. Find the ‘Register Now’ desk on Red Street. Remember to bring a valid NUS or Student ID card with you – without this, you can’t be issued with a wristband, which gives you entry to the event and exclusive discounts.

New facilities have been introduced at Pembrey Country Park to cater for the growing number of families holidaying at the park.

The campsite, which caters for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents during the summer season, is growing in popularity year on year.

New figures have revealed camping is up more than 30 per cent*, and many weekends over this summer were a complete sell-out.

A number of new features have been added to cater for the growing number of guests who want to enjoy the great outdoors, most recently a new amenity block.

The block provides separate male and female toilets along with a family toilet and shower room, disabled toilet and shower room, and a washing up area.

There is also a new Elsan point allowing easier waste disposal.

Also new for the 2018 summer season are 63 electric tent pitches providing 16 amp sockets, and services including running water and grey waste disposal.

Events and Accommodation Coordinator Louise Walters said: “Due to a number of factors, including the beautiful weather and the introduction of our online booking system last year, we have seen an increase in occupancy of 33 per cent compared to the same period last year, with many weekends being completely sold out for the first time.

“Bank holidays have always been our busiest time on the campsite, and we always advise that these dates are booked well in advance, but with the fantastic summer we’ve experienced, this has been the case for most weekends since Easter.

“We have this year, for the first time, been able to offer electric to tent pitches. We have been trialling this since April with huge success and these pitches are often the first to sell out.

“The new amenity block ensure we can offer the best possible experience and cope with the increasing demand on services. We’ve had a very positive response to them, in particular the new disabled rooms, family rooms and washing area.”

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, Executive Board Member for culture, sport and tourism, added: “It is wonderful to see the growing success of Pembrey Country Park which has been recognised as a major visitor destination in Wales. We are delighted to be investing in new facilities to improve the experience for our guests.

“Of course, the success of the park means that local businesses also feel the benefit – people travel from miles around to camp here, but they also visit and spend their money in local attractions, shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes.

“No doubt that Pembrey Country Park has contributed to our record-breaking tourism figures, but it also continues to be enjoyed by generations of local families too. It is a fantastic place to spend quality time together.”

Pembrey Country Park caters for all types of camping, with 320 natural grass pitches, including electric and non-electric pitches set amongst 500 acres of park and woodland, alongside an eight-mile sandy beach.

For more information, to check availability or book online, visit www.pembreycountrypark.wales

* March-July 2017 compared with March-July 2018