Literacy levels raised with the help of local businesses

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 19, 2012

Literacy levels have shot up in a number of schools across the city as a result of a successful Council reading scheme.

The Reading Power business volunteer’s initiative is an innovative scheme where volunteers from local businesses visit schools to read with students.

It is part of the Council’s literacy strategy which was launched in 2010 to help improve standards in reading and writing across schools in the city.

The campaign has seen impressive results, with standards of literacy rising at all the schools where the volunteers are involved.

One of the schools involved in the scheme is Glyn Derw High School, which has been supported by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and has seen dramatic improvements. In some cases pupils have increased their reading age by more than three and a half years in just one year.

For example an 11 year old who was previously assessed to have a reading age of an eight year old has, in just one year, caught up to the reading age they should have as a result of the scheme.

Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Julia Magill said, “I am delighted and encouraged by these results. Literacy plays a fundamental role in people’s lives and as a Council we recognise the importance of raising standards so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

“Poor literacy has a dramatic effect on both an individual’s life and wider society. Our schools are working hard to tackle the issue of poor literacy, and have embraced this campaign. We want to help parents and carers understand the importance of good reading and writing skills to help children succeed in the future, and the business volunteers are providing vital support with that message.”

More than 160 volunteers from local businesses and organisations have given time and support to 14 schools in the city, spending an hour a week in a school reading with pupils.

The feedback from volunteers based in secondary schools is that they have noticed clear progress in the students they read with, especially in terms of reading fluency and comprehension, concentration, confidence and enthusiasm.

Another example at one our excellent primary schools St Mary the Virgin Primary School, supported by Admiral, achieved 100 per cent functional literacy this year for their Year 6s.

Ten local Cardiff businesses, who have expressed an interest in signing up to the scheme, are set to attend a function tonight with the Council Leader Heather Joyce, who is strongly supporting the initiative and Cllr McGill.

It is hoped that the recruitment of more businesses will enable the initiative to expand into more schools in the city.

Cardiff Council Chief Executive Jon House, who helped to establish support for the scheme through his meetings with businesses, added: “The support and commitment from Head-teachers, local businesses and organisations working closely in partnership has had an extremely positive impact on students taking part. The excellent work the teachers and volunteers do is key to the good progress we are making and hope to continue.”

Council and police tackle Cathays burglaries

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 20, 2012

Cardiff Council and South Wales Police are joining forces to target the security of private rented accommodation in the Cathays Community Ward.

The Cathays Community Ward is subject to the Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), which covers over 1000 properties in the area. The purpose of the scheme is to improve the standard of rented property within the Cathays area. Additional Licensing also aims to tackle wider community issues such as property security. Therefore, a set of specific security standards for HMOs in Cathays were agreed between Cardiff Council, South Wales Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue. Despite this, the area has one of the highest crime rates for burglaries in all of Cardiff.

Nevertheless, working in partnership, Cardiff Council and South Wales Police have now identified a number of streets in the area targeted by burglars in the past few years. In addition, a list has been compiled of properties where licensing works are outstanding as well as HMOs which appear licensable but where no licence has been applied for.

The aim is to work with landlords to make multi-occupied rented accommodation in the area more secure based on intelligence from police reports for means of entry.

Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, said: "Anyone who has been the victim of burglary, or an attempted burglary, knows how distressing this experience can be. As a partnership we want to reduce the number of residents that fall victim to this type of crime by being proactive and putting a range of preventative measures in place.”

Over 50 inspections have been arranged jointly between Cardiff Council and South Wales Police in Cathays.  These will allow the Council to comply outstanding licensing and security works in already licensed HMOs and identify HMOs which still require a licence. The Police will focus their attention on educating landlords, agents and tenants on how to keep a property secure and raise the profile of neighbourhood policing.

Chief Inspector Steve Murray, Community Safety, said: “Cathays tends to have one of the highest rates of burglary of the city because of the high number of multi-occupancy properties. Combined with the arrival of students to the area, this provides rich pickings for criminals who know that most students will have valuables such as laptops and iPods that can be easily carried and sold on.”

“Our community safety department will be accompanying council officers on visits to houses in the area checking that security is up to standard and also to educate occupants.”

“Burglary can be an extremely traumatic experience and South Wales Police is committed to preventing break-ins and arresting those responsible. We ask residents to take the simple steps of locking doors and windows to significantly reduce their chances of being a victim of burglary.”

For more information about HMO Licensing visit:

http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2867,3424,5082,4949&parent_directory_id=2865

Young and old share skills to mark older persons day

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 31, 2012

Cardiff Council in partnership with Cardiff’s Older Person’s Forum and Cardiff’s Ethnic Minority Elders Group is marking Older Person’s Day on Monday 1st October with a number of events to help people think differently about older people, in particular, to challenge stereotypes and to share skills and experience.

The first of the activities, an intergenerational street dance session arranged in partnership with Sport Cardiff, takes place during lunchtime on Friday 28th September at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff. The session aims to highlight how different generations can learn from each other by getting younger people to teach older people to street dance.

On Monday 1st October, an event will take place at Peter Lea Primary School to celebrate an Intergenerational Project in which older people shared stories from their own lives with pupils at both Peter Lea Primary School and Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr – many focusing on World War Two and other events that happened when they were children themselves. Older volunteers worked with pupils on creative projects to retell their stories through music, art and drama. The result of their efforts will be shown at the celebratory event and attended by Cardiff West Assembly Member, Mark Drakeford, and Cardiff Council Cabinet Member, Luke Holland

A session at Cardiff’s International White Water Rafting Centre takes place on Thursday 4th October when 10 lucky volunteers who attend will be able to experience the thrills of rafting at Cardiff’s award winning centre. The event is free with all equipment supplied by the centre and experts on hand to offer advice and assistance.

The final event is an opportunity for members to attend a Tea Dance hosted by Stan Stennett at St David’s Hall on Friday 5th October from 1.30pm.

The benefits of the activities can be significant for all involved. They:

* encourage older people to remain active as they age, remaining engaged with society and feeling valued. This in turn can help tackle the increasing isolation and loneliness experienced by many older people

* encourage children and young people to become active and involved citizens. Working across generations can address the negativity felt by adults towards young people and produce better motivated and more successful young people

* bring the young and the old together to learn from and about each other. By sharing skills and experiences, we can increase understanding and respect between younger and older generations.”

Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health & Wellbeing, Councillor Luke Holland, said: “Older people make an enormous contribution to our society and I am keen to promote positive initiatives to combat stereotyping and age discrimination. In addition, community safety is a key concern for many older people. Therefore, projects that make people feel safer are increasingly important. People get to know each other better so they are less fearful. Also, by working together, young and older people’s groups are able to plan how their neighbourhoods can become safer and reduce the risk of the young offending.”

CARDIFF NEWS: Cardiff Council plays vital role as Paralympic teams use city as pre-Games training camp

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 24, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Central Transport Services has been helping the Chinese Paralympic teams get around the city during their stay in Cardiff in the lead up to the London Games.

China is just one of several Paralympic teams who are using facilities in Cardiff for their pre-Games training camp, as they make their final important preparations.

The rowing and wheelchair racing teams have been using both Cardiff International Sports Stadium (CISS) and the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre during their stay in the city.

In order for them to travel back and forth to practices they required specially adapted minibuses which Cardiff Council provided in partnership with Welsh Government and the Community Transport Association Wales (CTAW).

The specialist transport was used to collect the athletes on arrival from Heathrow together will all their equipment including wheelchairs, racing wheelchairs, luggage and rowing boats before taking them to the Olympic Park and Eton Dorney for the start of the Games.

Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr Ralph Cook said: “Cardiff is honoured to have been selected by so many Paralympic teams who chose the city as their pre-Games training camp.

“During their stay it was vital they had access to the correct transport in order to take them to and from practices, during one of the most important periods of their careers.

“I am pleased that Cardiff Council has been able to support the Chinese team during their stay in the city and I wish them all the best of luck for the Games.”

Cardiff angling club offers free fishing trip

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 15, 2011

A Cardiff fishing club has cast out a line to the local community by providing a free organised fishing trip.

Fairwater and Pentrebane Community Angling Club has been working in partnership with Cardiff Council’s Leisure Services, Ely Garden Villagers and drug and alcohol charity Kaleidoscope.

The club was established two years ago by Gary Smith, an employee of Fairwater Leisure Centre. Since then, organisers plan several fishing trips throughout the year to Sevenoaks Fishery, Pontyclun.

During the trips people are taught how to catch fish such as carp and bream as well as learning the skills to look after the fish properly and put them back into the water safely.

The initiative aims to bring communities together whilst providing recovering addicts with support and imaginative opportunities so they may build self-confidence.

The 60 member strong club was established two years ago and also attracts families and young people from the local areas.

The initiative is funded by Communities First and through sponsorship and fundraising. Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Judith Woodman said: “The community angling club offers invaluable opportunities to learn the skills needed to enjoy this wonderful outdoor activity.

“The partnership between the club, Ely Garden Villagers, Communities First and Kaleidoscope has meant that this hobby can be made more accessible to individuals who will benefit from it as well as engaging other members of the community.”

Kaleidoscope aims to provide life enhancing services to people on the margins of society. They provide support to people with drug and alcohol problems, enabling them to make positive changes in their lives.

Communities First is the Welsh Assembly Government’s flagship programme to improve the living conditions and prospects for people in the most disadvantaged communities across Wales.