Fairwater & Pentrebane Labour News

🚍 Record Number of Young People Sign Up for Cheaper Bus Fares 🙌

A record number of young people are taking full advantage of the Welsh Government's new £1 bus fare scheme, with over 26,000 new MyTravelPass applications since the scheme launched in July — a 38% increase! 👏

From 3 November, the scheme will be extended to 5–15-year-olds, meaning even more young people can benefit from affordable, unlimited bus travel across Wales.

The initiative helps young people access education, training, work, and leisure while supporting our efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce poverty, and encourage public transport use. 🌱

🚌 Single fares: £1
🎟️ Day tickets: £3 for unlimited travel on participating services

Find out more and apply here ➡️ https://mytravelpass.tfw.wales/

🌟 Host a Play Shack in Your Community! 🌟

Cardiff Council and Children’s Play Services are inviting expressions of interest to host a Play Shack – a small but mighty 2x2 metre container packed with loose parts and endless possibilities for play!

Whether you're a school, community group or local organisation, this is your chance to bring imaginative, inclusive play right to your neighbourhood.

🧸 What’s inside?

Tyres, crates, keyboards, guttering, and all sorts of curious items that spark creativity and joy. No two play sessions are ever the same!

🤝 More than play – it’s a space for connection, community and collaboration.

📅 Expressions of interest open from 6th October and close 17th October.

💬 Join the online Q&A sessions on 6th & 13th October – message [email protected] for the link.

Let’s make Cardiff a city of play, one shack at a time!

Starting reception is a big step – new shoes, new friends, new routines 👣

But it can also come with new costs.

If your child has just started reception, you could get £125 with the Schools Essential Grant to help with costs like uniforms and school supplies.

👉 Apply now: https://orlo.uk/dboNN

📢 Cardiff launches new guidance to help keep schools safe

Cardiff Council has released new Weapons in Schools and Educational Settings Guidance – the first of its kind in Wales – to help keep pupils and staff safe.

✅ Focused on prevention, safety and support, the guidance was co-produced with schools, young people, South Wales Police, youth services, governors and more.
✅ Welsh Government has welcomed the guidance and is exploring how it can benefit schools across Wales.
✅ Commended by the Police & Crime Commissioner, the guidance helps schools deal with concerns in a calm, consistent way while supporting young people to remain in education.

Key aims:
🔹 Keep all children and staff safe
🔹 Support all children to stay in education
🔹 Prevent young people from carrying weapons

The guidance includes specialist training for Violence Prevention Leads in every school, safe search procedures, wellbeing support for pupils and staff, and clear tools for recording and responding to incidents.

This is part of Cardiff’s wider efforts to build safe, supportive and inclusive schools – from the Respect Campaign, to preventative education through the Curriculum for Wales.

👉 Together, we’re creating schools that are secure, welcoming, and focused on the wellbeing of every child.

🌍✨ Big Cardiff Tidy – Fairwater Litter Pick ✨🌍

📅 Date: Monday, 6th October 2025
🕥 Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 Meeting Point: V21 Sbectrwm Centre, Bwlch Road, CF5 3EF

Join us for a community litter pick in Fairwater, organised by V21 – Vision 21 Cyfle Cymru, as part of the Big Cardiff Tidy! 💪

After the tidy, everyone is invited back to Sbectrwm Centre for free tea and biscuits as a thank you for your efforts. ☕🍪

✅ All equipment will be provided
🌱 Everyone welcome – bring your friends and family!

This is a fantastic chance to come together, make a real difference, and enjoy some time outdoors.

📩 For more info, contact: [email protected]

👉 We’d love to see you there!

📢 Time to Apply for Your Child’s Secondary School Place

Applications open today – Monday 22 September 2025 for children starting secondary school in September 2026.

✅ Remember:

- Apply on time (before the deadline: Monday 17 November 2025)
- Use all 5 school preferences to increase your chances
- Provide important details (siblings, additional needs, etc.)

✨ Cardiff Council’s Admissions Team has created 7 simple tips plus an animation for children and families to explain how the process works and why using all five choices matters.

🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4RSry70veE

ℹ️ The guidance covers:

- Visiting school websites & reading Estyn reports 📖
- The importance of applying before the deadline ⏰

🌐 Find advice, the 7 tips, and the animation here: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Schools-and-learning/Schools/Applying-for-a-school-place/help-to-apply/Pages/default.aspx

📌 Apply for a school place here: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Schools-and-learning/Schools/Applying-for-a-school-place/Secondary-school/Pages/default.aspx

Support is also available at Council Hubs across the city or by calling C2C on 029 2087 2087.

The information is available in several languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Czech, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, and Welsh.

Has your child started college or sixth form?

Remind them they have 13 weeks to apply for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and get full backdated payments worth hundreds of pounds.

Read more here: https://orlo.uk/Gjlvu

🛝 Chorley Close Play Area – Update & Have Your Say 🗣️

Your local Councillors, Claudia Boes and Saleh Ahmed, recently applied for funding for Chorley Close Play Area, which was closed for safety reasons.

They are pleased to provide an update following a recent meeting.

The council is exploring:

Resurfacing repairs
✅ Replacing/adding play equipment (under-5s, plus 1–2 items for 5+)
✅ Cycle stands 🚲
✅ Tree planting via Coed Caerdydd 🌳
✅ Tackling dumping/litter 🚮
✅ (If needed) slightly expanding the fenced play area to fit new kit

Next steps:
✅ Parks’ landscape architect will design a concept plan
✅ The council will consult residents via a leaflet drop with a QR code and a website for comments & updates
✅ Councillors will share results once the consultation closes

The council has also flagged drainage as an issue. Funding for improvements is scheduled for 2025/26 and the final budget will be set after the council confirm the scope and get costings (resurfacing, equipment, etc.)

📣 Your input matters. Once the consultation goes live, Claudia and Saleh will follow up with the QR code and website link to share your views.

🚀 Transform Your Community — Apply for £25K Grants Now!

Community groups across Wales can now apply for Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme grants of up to £25,000 💰

This funding helps voluntary and community organisations to:
🏢 Improve or develop local buildings
🛠️ Buy equipment that benefits local people
🤝 Create spaces that bring communities together

Since 2015, the programme has supported nearly 500 projects with over £70 million invested in community spaces across Wales. 🌍✨

📅 Applications are open now — don’t miss out!

🔗 https://www.gov.wales/community-facilities-programme

🎉 FREE Cardiff Jobs Fair – Over 60 Employers! 🎉

Looking for your next opportunity? 🚀 Cardiff Council’s Into Work Service is hosting a FREE Jobs Fair in partnership with Careers Wales, Maximus and DWP. There’s something for everyone!

📅 Thursday, 18th September 2025
📍 Sports Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9SW
⏰ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

👉 Connect with 60+ employers, trainers & service providers from a wide range of sectors — including admin, apprenticeships, hospitality, and entry-level roles.

✨ What’s new this year?
✅ Live Job Application Area – apply for open roles on the day with support from our digital team.
✅ CV Advice Surgery – get expert feedback to boost your chances.
✅ Business Demos – from Avon beauty tutorials to fitness showcases by care providers.

🙌 Don’t miss this chance to network, learn, and take the next step in your career.

💡 Why Attend?
✔ Meet employers face-to-face
✔ Gain insights & training advice
✔ Explore roles for all levels

🎟️ Get tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-jobs-fair-tickets-1217805291409