#baglan — Public Fediverse posts

BRITON FERRY: Two years on, the Wales Coastal Path closure on the estuary has become a political football — as 20 Labour councillors demand action over sinkholes that nobody will pay to fix

Twenty opposition Welsh Labour councillors from Neath Port Talbot have written to the new Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability demanding urgent action and funding to reopen long-closed sections of the Wales Coastal Path through Baglan, Briton Ferry and Sandfields West — a stretch that has now been fenced off for more than two years over fears of subsidence and sinkhole collapse.

The letter, sent this week to Plaid Cymru MS Llŷr Gruffydd — who took on the newly created rural resilience portfolio when Plaid Cymru formed Wales’s first ever Plaid-led government earlier this month — lands at the heart of a long-running political dispute over who should pay to fix a deteriorating path on land owned by the Welsh Government and maintained, until 2023, by the council.

Campaign led by three local councillors

The campaign for the path’s reinstatement has been led by Cllr Josh Tuck (Baglan), Cllr Gareth Rice (Briton Ferry) and Cllr Rob Wood, whose wards either border or contain the closed section. This week’s letter to the Cabinet Minister has been signed by 17 of their Welsh Labour colleagues from across the borough.

Cllr Rice’s ward of Briton Ferry contains the stretch of path that runs alongside the Briton Ferry estuary — where the original closure was made in April 2023 after the path was deemed too dangerous to use.

Closed since April 2023

According to the council’s own official response to a 2024 enquiry from Aberavon and Maesteg MP Stephen Kinnock, the section was closed in April 2023 because of “subsidence connected to the formation of sinkholes, which unfortunately made the path hazardous to use.”

The same letter, written by NPT’s Head of Planning and Public Protection Ceri Morris, set out a longer history of problems. Repair schemes had been carried out approximately every four years since 2012 to fill or bridge the sinkholes that were continually forming in the area — but those works “did not address the wider problem that is affecting the adjacent land.”

By early 2023, the council said, officers had noticed new cracks opening up along the path. “The Authority considered it had no option other than to close the path on safety grounds,” the letter said.

Walkers were redirected along the cycle route from The Quays Offices, passing through the industrial estate to pick up the Wales Coast Path connection at Purcell Avenue.

Walkers using eroded unofficial route around closure

More than two years on, councillors say walkers are increasingly bypassing the official closure altogether and using an unofficial route through eroded ground alongside the fencing — raising fresh concerns that the closure may be creating new safety risks rather than removing them.

The letter from the 20 councillors describes the closures as “a visible symbol of neglect along a key part of our coastline” and says that despite repeated questions to Neath Port Talbot Council from elected members, no clear timetable has ever been provided for restoration.

March 2024: borehole testing

The council’s 2024 response confirmed that NPT had used Wales Coast Path funding in March 2024 to carry out “an extensive bore hole testing scheme to ascertain the extent of the issues in this area.” Officers were said to be reviewing the final report to ascertain whether the route remains feasible for future use as the Wales Coast Path.

But the council was clear that reopening depends on funding from above. “Whilst it was not the Authority’s intention to permanently close this section of the path, ultimately it comes down to whether funding becomes available from Welsh Government,” Mr Morris wrote.

The official council position has been that NPT itself cannot continue to fund repeated repair schemes indefinitely — and that even if it did, the underlying subsidence affecting the adjacent land would mean the path could only be reopened on a temporary basis without a wider intervention.

A funding dispute the council says rests with Welsh Government

The closure has happened entirely under the current Plaid Cymru-led rainbow coalition, which took control of Neath Port Talbot Council in 2022 — meaning the path has been fenced off for almost the whole of this administration’s time in office.

Council leader Cllr Steve Hunt has previously stated publicly that the path “has nothing at all to do with NPTCBC” because the underlying land is in the ownership of the Welsh Government — placing responsibility for any repair work with whoever forms that government.

David Rees, who served as Welsh Labour MS for Aberavon until losing his seat at the May 2026 Senedd election, said in 2024 that he had been told by NPT that the council needed money from Welsh Government to fix the path, while Welsh Government had stated that the council had already received maintenance funding. “It is unlikely to re-open until this is resolved as the argument of people’s safety will be dominant,” he said at the time. Two years on, his prediction has held: the path remains closed.

“A flagship national asset”

The Wales Coastal Path is an 870-mile route around the entire Welsh coastline, launched in 2012 as the first dedicated long-distance walking route to cover an entire country. It is jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, with day-to-day maintenance delivered by local authorities. The Welsh Government also owns the adjacent land affected by the subsidence — making it both funder and landowner in the dispute.

The letter from the 20 councillors describes the path as “internationally recognised” and intended to be “a source of pride for Wales” — but says that large sections through Baglan, Briton Ferry and Sandfields West remain “inaccessible, fenced off and deteriorating.”

A cross-party political map

The letter has been copied to all six Members of the Senedd for the new Afan Ogwr Rhondda constituency, which covers the affected communities under the new D’Hondt voting system introduced for the May 2026 election.

Those six MSs are Sera Evans, Alun Cox and Elyn Stephens, all of Plaid Cymru; Benjamin Hodge McKenna and Steve Bayliss, both of Reform UK; and former Welsh Labour cabinet member Huw Irranca-Davies, who was elected Llywydd of the Senedd earlier this month and is now politically impartial.

Cabinet Minister Llŷr Gruffydd, MS for Clwyd, only took on the rural resilience brief on 13 May after First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth appointed his first cabinet. The portfolio includes responsibility for Wales’s outdoor and natural environment infrastructure.

‘We loved watching the birds and wildlife’

Baglan residents Gaynor and Graham, both members of the RSPB, said the loss of the path had stripped local people of a free, accessible community asset.

“The coastal path at Briton Ferry has always been a lovely, easy, flat walk for people of all ages,” they said. “Walkers from Neath and Port Talbot used it, not just residents of Baglan and Briton Ferry. It’s a local asset that’s free to use, and obviously helps people’s fitness, mental health and well-being. Apart from meeting people socially along the way, it really needs to be reinstated.

“For us personally, we loved watching the birds and wildlife as we are both members of the RSPB. In these challenging times it would be great to have somewhere that’s free to enjoy.”

Three areas of damage

The councillors set out three distinct impacts of the closures.

On health and wellbeing, the letter says the closures have cut off vital routes for walking, cycling and daily exercise relied upon by residents for years.

On active travel, the closures have severed key walking and cycling connections between Baglan, Briton Ferry, Sandfields and the wider Swansea Bay coastline.

And on local business and tourism, the councillors say visitors have been diverted away from the area’s seaside businesses, undermining wider Welsh Government ambitions around tourism and outdoor recreation.

“Unacceptable and unworthy”

Calling for a “clear programme for restoration and reopening,” the councillors describe the current position as “unacceptable for local communities and unworthy of a flagship national route such as the Wales Coastal Path.”

“Its continued closure damages confidence in public infrastructure and undermines wider Welsh Government ambitions around tourism, wellbeing and active travel,” the letter states.

The 20 signatories

Alongside Cllr Josh Tuck, Cllr Gareth Rice and Cllr Rob Wood, the letter is signed by Cllr Carol Clement-Williams (Baglan), Cllr Suzanne Paddison (Sandfields West), Cllr Sarah Thomas, Cllr Laura Williams, Cllr Mike Harvey, Cllr Lauren Heard (Neath East), Cllr Stephanie Grimshaw (Aberavon and Baglan Moors), Cllr Saifur Rahaman and Cllr Alan Lockyer (Neath North), together with the Welsh Labour ward councillors for Margam and Taibach and for Port Talbot.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SENEDD ELECTION 2026: Plaid Cymru largest party, Reform UK historic breakthrough, Welsh Labour reduced to nine seats
The full result of the May 2026 Senedd election and the political map that produced this government.

More news from Baglan
Our latest coverage from across Baglan and the wider Neath Port Talbot area.

Active travel coverage from Swansea Bay News
Our ongoing coverage of walking, cycling and active travel infrastructure across south-west Wales.

BAGLAN: Stephen Kinnock MP writes to Whitbread CEO to demand a rethink on Bagle Brook closure

Stephen Kinnock MP has written to Whitbread CEO Dominic Paul calling on the company to think again before closing the Bagle Brook Beefeater in Baglan — adding his voice to a campaign that has been building since the closure was announced.

Kinnock, who represents Aberafan Maesteg, says he is joining the campaign to save the pub — following local councillors Josh Tuck, Carol Clement-Williams and Susanne Renkes, who have already written to Whitbread’s CEO demanding answers over the decision.

In his letter, Kinnock describes the Bagle Brook as “a well-established and much-valued part of the local community” that is “frequented by large swathes of residents on a regular basis.”

He says for many people it is far more than simply a place to eat or drink — it is a social hub and a focal point of community life, with generations of local families having enjoyed it as a welcoming, family-friendly environment.

The MP also highlights the economic contribution the pub makes, describing it as an important source of employment for local people whose livelihoods depend on it.

He warns that losing such a long-standing establishment would be “a serious blow — not only to those directly employed, but to the wider local economy and supply chain.”

Kinnock argues that pubs and restaurants like the Bagle Brook are essential to community cohesion — offering spaces for social interaction, celebrations and support networks, and helping to combat isolation and strengthen local identity.

“Removing such an asset risks leaving a significant gap that is unlikely to be easily replaced,” the letter warns.

He urges Whitbread to carefully reflect on the wider impact of the decision and to explore all possible alternatives to closure — and says he would welcome the opportunity to work constructively with the company “to find a way forward that safeguards this important community facility.”

Whitbread has responded to the local political pressure. In a letter to the councillors, the company said it was unable to address specific questions while the consultation was ongoing, but confirmed it expected the process to close in summer.

The company said the closures were part of a plan to become “a pure-play hotel business focused on Premier Inn”, adding that a number of restaurant sites would be converted into approximately 600 additional hotel rooms, with the remainder expected to be sold as going concerns. It said it expected to retain “a significant proportion” of affected staff through redeployment, though it acknowledged the proposals would result in around 3,800 job losses from a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.

The Bagle Brook is one of four local restaurants facing closure as part of Whitbread’s decision to axe up to 3,800 jobs across its UK estate — a move that sent shockwaves across south Wales when it was announced.

In Llanelli, a parallel campaign is under way to save the Sandpiper — another Whitbread venue facing the axe, with the community describing the news as “a bombshell for all concerned”.

With an MP now formally in the correspondence, the pressure on Whitbread to respond publicly is increasing. Whether it will be enough to change the company’s mind remains to be seen.

More on the Whitbread closures

Four local restaurants face closure as Whitbread axes up to 3,800 jobs
How the announcement broke — and which local venues are affected.

Councillors demand answers from Whitbread CEO over Bagle Brook closure
The local political pressure that preceded Kinnock’s intervention.

‘A bombshell for all concerned’ — community rallies to save the Sandpiper
The parallel campaign in Llanelli to save another threatened Whitbread venue.

BAGLAN: Councillors demand answers from Whitbread CEO over Bagle Brook Beefeater closure — and urge rethink

Three councillors representing Baglan have written directly to the chief executive of Whitbread to demand answers over the planned closure of the Bagle Brook Beefeater – and to urge the company to reconsider.

Joshua Tuck, Carol Clement-Williams and Susanne Renkes, all councillors for Baglan on Neath Port Talbot Council, sent the letter to Whitbread CEO Dominic Paul on 2 May – the day after Swansea Bay News revealed that the Bagle Brook was among four local restaurants facing closure as part of the company’s nationwide restructuring.

In the letter, the councillors described the Bagle Brook – which has served the Baglan community since 1979 – as far more than a restaurant. “For many people locally, this is far more than simply a restaurant,” they wrote. “The Bagle Brook has become an important part of community life in Baglan. It is a place where families gather to celebrate milestones, friends meet to catch up over food and drinks, and local residents come together to maintain the social connections that are so important to community wellbeing.”

The letter praised the dedication of staff at the restaurant, describing them as “well regarded amongst patrons for their professionalism, warmth and dedication” and saying they had helped make it “the valued local institution it has become.”

The councillors acknowledged the commercial pressures facing the hospitality sector but said the impact on local jobs and community life must be given equal consideration. “While we understand commercial pressures exist, we believe that the impact on local jobs, livelihoods and community life must be given equal, if not greater, consideration than profitability,” they wrote.

They put a series of specific questions to Dominic Paul, asking whether Whitbread intends to sell the Baglan site as a going concern, whether there are plans to convert the restaurant space into additional Premier Inn hotel rooms, and whether any form of food and drink offering would remain on the site for local residents and visitors.

The councillors also demanded clear assurances about the futures of staff currently employed at the Bagle Brook – asking how many local jobs are at risk, what measures are being taken to protect them, and what efforts will be made to redeploy staff into alternative roles within Whitbread where possible.

The letter concluded with a direct call to the company’s leadership. “We urge Whitbread to reconsider the closure of the Bagle Brook, or at the very least provide full transparency about its future plans and meaningful support for the staff and community affected,” the councillors wrote.

The letter in full

2nd May 2026

Dominic Paul, CEO
Whitbread PLC

Dear Mr Paul,

We are writing as local councillors representing residents in Baglan and the wider Port Talbot area to express our deep disappointment and concern regarding the proposed closure of the Bagle Brook Beefeater.

For many people locally, this is far more than simply a restaurant. The Bagle Brook has become an important part of community life in Baglan. It is a place where families gather to celebrate milestones, friends meet to catch up over food and drinks, and local residents come together to maintain the social connections that are so important to community wellbeing.

In an era where many traditional community spaces have disappeared, venues like the Bagle Brook play a vital role in bringing people together. It has served as an accessible, welcoming meeting place for residents of all ages and backgrounds, and its loss would be deeply felt by many across our community.

We also want to place on record our appreciation for the hardworking staff at the Bagle Brook. The team are well regarded amongst patrons for their professionalism, warmth and dedication. Staff are consistently described as welcoming, polite and willing to go the extra mile to ensure customers have a positive experience. They have helped make the restaurant the valued local institution it has become, and they deserve recognition for that contribution.

We recognise that the hospitality sector is facing significant challenges, including rising costs and wider economic pressures. Whitbread has publicly cited higher business costs as part of its wider restructuring plans, which could see nearly 200 restaurant closures and around 3,800 jobs affected across the UK and Ireland.

However, while we understand commercial pressures exist, we believe that the impact on local jobs, livelihoods and community life must be given equal, if not greater, consideration than profitability.

We would therefore welcome urgent clarification on the future of the Baglan site specifically:

• Does Whitbread intend to sell the site as a going concern?
• Is the plan to convert the restaurant space into additional Premier Inn hotel rooms?
• Will any form of restaurant, pub or eatery remain on the site for local residents and visitors?

We are also particularly concerned about the staff currently employed at the Bagle Brook and would ask for clear assurances regarding their futures:

• How many local jobs are currently at risk at this site?
• What measures are being taken to protect those jobs?
• What efforts will be made to redeploy existing staff into alternative roles within Whitbread where possible?

At a time when communities such as ours are working hard to strengthen community bonds and protect places where people can come together, decisions like this have a significant local impact.

We urge Whitbread to reconsider the closure of the Bagle Brook, or at the very least provide full transparency about its future plans and meaningful support for the staff and community affected.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Tuck, Councillor for Baglan
Carol Clement-Williams, Councillor for Baglan
Susanne Renkes, Councillor for Baglan

Whitbread announced on Thursday that it would close all of its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre branded restaurants as part of a plan to become a pure-play hotel business. The company said the proposed reduction to its 30,000-strong workforce remained subject to employee consultation, and that it hoped to retain a significant proportion of those affected through redeployment across its 15,000 annual vacancies.

Whitbread has not yet responded publicly to the councillors’ letter.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Four local restaurants face closure as Whitbread axes up to 3,800 jobs across UK estate
Our original report on the Whitbread closures across the Swansea Bay area.

Four local restaurants face closure as Whitbread axes up to 3,800 jobs across UK estate

Four restaurants across the Swansea Bay area are among nearly 200 set to close after Premier Inn owner Whitbread announced plans to cut up to 3,800 jobs as part of a sweeping five-year overhaul of its business.

The Swansea Vale Brewers Fayre on Upper Fforest Way in Llansamlet, the Waterfront Beefeater on Langdon Road in Swansea’s SA1 maritime quarter, the Bagle Brook Beefeater on Pentwyn Baglan Road in Baglan, and The Sandpiper Brewers Fayre on Sandy Road in Llanelli are all included in the list of sites affected by the restructuring.

Whitbread confirmed the proposed changes on 30 April as part of a new five-year plan that will see it exit its remaining branded restaurant estate entirely and replace all 197 sites with a more efficient food and beverage model linked more closely to its Premier Inn hotels. Around 110 branded restaurant sites are expected to be sold as going concerns over the next 24 months, while the remainder will be converted or closed.

The company said the proposed reduction to its 30,000-strong workforce remains subject to employee consultation, and that it anticipates retaining a considerable proportion of those affected through redeployment. The firm’s previous restructuring programme in 2024 resulted in around 1,500 redundancies.

Chief executive Dominic Paul said the plan would transform the business. “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term,” he said. “This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.”

Unite, the union representing workers across the business, said it would seek urgent discussions with Whitbread and provide support to affected members – after claiming staff first learned of the redundancies through media reports rather than from their employer. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the cuts as “cruel” and called on the company to enter formal consultations immediately.

Unite national officer Colenzo Jarret-Thorpe added: “It is disgraceful that Whitbread employees heard about the job cuts through the media. The company did not even have the decency to let its staff know first.”

As part of the restructuring, Whitbread plans to sell 1.5 billion pounds of freehold property to fund future growth, reducing its freehold ownership to between 30% and 40% – making it a majority leaseholder for the first time since the Premier Inn chain was founded in 1987. The company is targeting 2 billion pounds of free cash flow by its 2031 financial year, and intends to increase its total hotel room count to 96,000 by that date, up from approximately 86,600 currently.

The announcement follows Whitbread’s pre-tax profit of 298 million pounds for the year ending February 2026, representing a 19% decline on the previous year. Overall revenues remained unchanged year-on-year at 2.9 billion pounds, though UK sales climbed by 1%.

The closure of The Sandpiper is the latest blow to Llanelli’s hospitality sector, which has suffered a string of losses in recent months. The Bryngwyn and Ali Raj restaurants closed on the same day in January, prompting hundreds of tributes from customers sharing decades of memories. The Tinhouse taproom followed in February, and the four-star Stradey Park Hotel closed with immediate effect in March, leaving staff without jobs and couples fearing for their wedding deposits.

Whitbread itself has already been reducing its footprint in the area. The Pemberton Beefeater in Llanelli – which sat next to the Premier Inn at Parc Pemberton Retail Park, close to Parc y Scarlets stadium – closed in July 2024, with plans to demolish the site and revamp the wider development. The Sandpiper Brewers Fayre on Sandy Road, also in Llanelli, is now set to follow.

The closures come as rising business rates and national insurance costs continue to squeeze the hospitality sector across Wales. Welsh Government introduced 15% business rates relief for hospitality businesses in 2026, but CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – has warned the measure still leaves Welsh venues at a significant disadvantage compared with England, where the relief stands at 75%.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Two much-loved Llanelli restaurants close on the same day as customers share heartbreak
The Bryngwyn and Ali Raj both closed in January 2026 amid mounting hospitality pressures.

Much-loved Llanelli taproom The Tinhouse to close as hospitality pressures mount
The popular town centre taproom closed in February 2026.

Llanelli rallies around as businesses offer lifeline to Stradey Park Hotel staff and customers
The four-star hotel closed with immediate effect in March 2026.

SWANSEA: Flagship M&S store confirms May 30 closure date as council leader hints at Debenhams news
Another major closure hitting the Swansea area this week.

More business news from Swansea Bay News
The latest business and employment stories from across the Swansea Bay region.

Swansea children’s charity team up with Traitors star and Ospreys players for kids mental health sessions

The rugby and Traitors stars helped Ospreys in the Community celebrate their Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Action for Children with a huge event at the Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea. 

Over 550 primary school children joined the celebrations and were treated to rugby sessions, physical exercise and games as well as mental health workshops. 

Volunteers from Action for Children, EE, Ospreys in the Community, Wales Hockey and students from Gower College all gave up their time to deliver a memorable day for the children with Traitors star, Andrew Jenkins, giving talks on improving mental health. 

Ospreys stars Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry were also on hand to take part in interviews with the children in the stadium press room.

The charity teamed up with the rugby region’s community arm, supported by the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership, 4 years ago to deliver a combination of classroom-based Cognitive and Dialectical behavioural therapy (CBT and DBT) techniques and physical exercises such as touch rugby on the playground.

Bouncing Back Plus started in September 2021 and the partnership has delivered the programme in 73 schools to 3575 across the Ospreys region.  Of those who took part, 97% indicated an increase in their level of confidence following the programme, 97% indicated an increase in their ability to cope in stressful situations while 97% now know who to ask for help as a result of Bouncing Back Plus.

Omowunmi and Praise from Sea View Community Primary School in Swansea have taken the Bouncing Back Plus programme in the last year and were at the celebration. 

Omowunmi said: ‘It’s been really helpful because I can help other people and myself when I feel a bit stressed or panicked.  The best thing was the finger breathing, hot chocolate breathing and the Mexican wave, they were all really fun.  I would like to see other children do this a lot, as it really helped me.’ 

Praise added: “In my everyday life, I use Bouncing Back most of the time because sometimes I feel like I’m not good at things and I get annoyed or angry so the hot chocolate breathing calms me down.  We also learned about endorphins, so it’s really helped me in the way I think about the things I do.  I really want other children to join in as it’s really helped me, and it will help other children too.”

Christina Williams manages the Bouncing Back Plus programme for Action for Children in the region and said: “We are exceptionally proud of our Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Ospreys in the Community and it’s been brilliant celebrating with over 550 children who’ve benefitted from the programme.  We’ve been running Bouncing Back Plus for nearly four years and the results here have been amazing.  The importance of early intervention on the mental health of young people cannot be overstated so getting everyone together for a day of fun activities has been wonderful.

“The children have been able to interview professional rugby players, Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry, asking them questions in the press room about the impact physical activity has on their mental health and the struggles and pressures they face alongside doing what they love. Additionally, the young people had a Q&A session with Andrew Jenkins from the BBC hit show, The Traitors. They discussed emotional resilience and the pressures of being a celebrity. Giving the children these opportunities to explore the stadium whilst looking after their emotional wellbeing is invaluable.”

Tom Sloane, Head of Community at Ospreys in the Community, said: “To see over 550 children having a great day out at our stadium was fantastic.  We know the positive benefits Bouncing Back Plus has on our children and with all the challenges social media brings as well as the current challenging economic conditions, that’s been absolutely critical.  They’ll have had an experience like no other, seeing behind the scenes, the changing rooms and having so much fun with all the staff from Ospreys in the Community, EE, Action for Children, Wales Hockey and Gower College that I hope it inspires them for years to come.”

(Lead image: Action for Children)

#ActionForChildren #AndrewJenkins #Baglan #BouncingBackPlus #Mayhill #mentalHealth #Ospreys #OspreysInTheCommunity #SeaViewPrimary #TheTraitors #YsgolBaeBaglan

Swansea children’s charity team up with Traitors star and Ospreys players for kids mental health sessions

The rugby and Traitors stars helped Ospreys in the Community celebrate their Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Action for Children with a huge event at the Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea. 

Over 550 primary school children joined the celebrations and were treated to rugby sessions, physical exercise and games as well as mental health workshops. 

Volunteers from Action for Children, EE, Ospreys in the Community, Wales Hockey and students from Gower College all gave up their time to deliver a memorable day for the children with Traitors star, Andrew Jenkins, giving talks on improving mental health. 

Ospreys stars Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry were also on hand to take part in interviews with the children in the stadium press room.

The charity teamed up with the rugby region’s community arm, supported by the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership, 4 years ago to deliver a combination of classroom-based Cognitive and Dialectical behavioural therapy (CBT and DBT) techniques and physical exercises such as touch rugby on the playground.

Bouncing Back Plus started in September 2021 and the partnership has delivered the programme in 73 schools to 3575 across the Ospreys region.  Of those who took part, 97% indicated an increase in their level of confidence following the programme, 97% indicated an increase in their ability to cope in stressful situations while 97% now know who to ask for help as a result of Bouncing Back Plus.

Omowunmi and Praise from Sea View Community Primary School in Swansea have taken the Bouncing Back Plus programme in the last year and were at the celebration. 

Omowunmi said: ‘It’s been really helpful because I can help other people and myself when I feel a bit stressed or panicked.  The best thing was the finger breathing, hot chocolate breathing and the Mexican wave, they were all really fun.  I would like to see other children do this a lot, as it really helped me.’ 

Praise added: “In my everyday life, I use Bouncing Back most of the time because sometimes I feel like I’m not good at things and I get annoyed or angry so the hot chocolate breathing calms me down.  We also learned about endorphins, so it’s really helped me in the way I think about the things I do.  I really want other children to join in as it’s really helped me, and it will help other children too.”

Christina Williams manages the Bouncing Back Plus programme for Action for Children in the region and said: “We are exceptionally proud of our Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Ospreys in the Community and it’s been brilliant celebrating with over 550 children who’ve benefitted from the programme.  We’ve been running Bouncing Back Plus for nearly four years and the results here have been amazing.  The importance of early intervention on the mental health of young people cannot be overstated so getting everyone together for a day of fun activities has been wonderful.

“The children have been able to interview professional rugby players, Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry, asking them questions in the press room about the impact physical activity has on their mental health and the struggles and pressures they face alongside doing what they love. Additionally, the young people had a Q&A session with Andrew Jenkins from the BBC hit show, The Traitors. They discussed emotional resilience and the pressures of being a celebrity. Giving the children these opportunities to explore the stadium whilst looking after their emotional wellbeing is invaluable.”

Tom Sloane, Head of Community at Ospreys in the Community, said: “To see over 550 children having a great day out at our stadium was fantastic.  We know the positive benefits Bouncing Back Plus has on our children and with all the challenges social media brings as well as the current challenging economic conditions, that’s been absolutely critical.  They’ll have had an experience like no other, seeing behind the scenes, the changing rooms and having so much fun with all the staff from Ospreys in the Community, EE, Action for Children, Wales Hockey and Gower College that I hope it inspires them for years to come.”

(Lead image: Action for Children)

#ActionForChildren #AndrewJenkins #Baglan #BouncingBackPlus #Mayhill #mentalHealth #Ospreys #OspreysInTheCommunity #SeaViewPrimary #TheTraitors #YsgolBaeBaglan

Swansea children’s charity team up with Traitors star and Ospreys players for kids mental health sessions

The rugby and Traitors stars helped Ospreys in the Community celebrate their Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Action for Children with a huge event at the Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea. 

Over 550 primary school children joined the celebrations and were treated to rugby sessions, physical exercise and games as well as mental health workshops. 

Volunteers from Action for Children, EE, Ospreys in the Community, Wales Hockey and students from Gower College all gave up their time to deliver a memorable day for the children with Traitors star, Andrew Jenkins, giving talks on improving mental health. 

Ospreys stars Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry were also on hand to take part in interviews with the children in the stadium press room.

The charity teamed up with the rugby region’s community arm, supported by the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership, 4 years ago to deliver a combination of classroom-based Cognitive and Dialectical behavioural therapy (CBT and DBT) techniques and physical exercises such as touch rugby on the playground.

Bouncing Back Plus started in September 2021 and the partnership has delivered the programme in 73 schools to 3575 across the Ospreys region.  Of those who took part, 97% indicated an increase in their level of confidence following the programme, 97% indicated an increase in their ability to cope in stressful situations while 97% now know who to ask for help as a result of Bouncing Back Plus.

Omowunmi and Praise from Sea View Community Primary School in Swansea have taken the Bouncing Back Plus programme in the last year and were at the celebration. 

Omowunmi said: ‘It’s been really helpful because I can help other people and myself when I feel a bit stressed or panicked.  The best thing was the finger breathing, hot chocolate breathing and the Mexican wave, they were all really fun.  I would like to see other children do this a lot, as it really helped me.’ 

Praise added: “In my everyday life, I use Bouncing Back most of the time because sometimes I feel like I’m not good at things and I get annoyed or angry so the hot chocolate breathing calms me down.  We also learned about endorphins, so it’s really helped me in the way I think about the things I do.  I really want other children to join in as it’s really helped me, and it will help other children too.”

Christina Williams manages the Bouncing Back Plus programme for Action for Children in the region and said: “We are exceptionally proud of our Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Ospreys in the Community and it’s been brilliant celebrating with over 550 children who’ve benefitted from the programme.  We’ve been running Bouncing Back Plus for nearly four years and the results here have been amazing.  The importance of early intervention on the mental health of young people cannot be overstated so getting everyone together for a day of fun activities has been wonderful.

“The children have been able to interview professional rugby players, Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry, asking them questions in the press room about the impact physical activity has on their mental health and the struggles and pressures they face alongside doing what they love. Additionally, the young people had a Q&A session with Andrew Jenkins from the BBC hit show, The Traitors. They discussed emotional resilience and the pressures of being a celebrity. Giving the children these opportunities to explore the stadium whilst looking after their emotional wellbeing is invaluable.”

Tom Sloane, Head of Community at Ospreys in the Community, said: “To see over 550 children having a great day out at our stadium was fantastic.  We know the positive benefits Bouncing Back Plus has on our children and with all the challenges social media brings as well as the current challenging economic conditions, that’s been absolutely critical.  They’ll have had an experience like no other, seeing behind the scenes, the changing rooms and having so much fun with all the staff from Ospreys in the Community, EE, Action for Children, Wales Hockey and Gower College that I hope it inspires them for years to come.”

(Lead image: Action for Children)

#ActionForChildren #AndrewJenkins #Baglan #BouncingBackPlus #Mayhill #mentalHealth #Ospreys #OspreysInTheCommunity #SeaViewPrimary #TheTraitors #YsgolBaeBaglan

Swansea children’s charity team up with Traitors star and Ospreys players for kids mental health sessions

The rugby and Traitors stars helped Ospreys in the Community celebrate their Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Action for Children with a huge event at the Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea. 

Over 550 primary school children joined the celebrations and were treated to rugby sessions, physical exercise and games as well as mental health workshops. 

Volunteers from Action for Children, EE, Ospreys in the Community, Wales Hockey and students from Gower College all gave up their time to deliver a memorable day for the children with Traitors star, Andrew Jenkins, giving talks on improving mental health. 

Ospreys stars Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry were also on hand to take part in interviews with the children in the stadium press room.

The charity teamed up with the rugby region’s community arm, supported by the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership, 4 years ago to deliver a combination of classroom-based Cognitive and Dialectical behavioural therapy (CBT and DBT) techniques and physical exercises such as touch rugby on the playground.

Bouncing Back Plus started in September 2021 and the partnership has delivered the programme in 73 schools to 3575 across the Ospreys region.  Of those who took part, 97% indicated an increase in their level of confidence following the programme, 97% indicated an increase in their ability to cope in stressful situations while 97% now know who to ask for help as a result of Bouncing Back Plus.

Omowunmi and Praise from Sea View Community Primary School in Swansea have taken the Bouncing Back Plus programme in the last year and were at the celebration. 

Omowunmi said: ‘It’s been really helpful because I can help other people and myself when I feel a bit stressed or panicked.  The best thing was the finger breathing, hot chocolate breathing and the Mexican wave, they were all really fun.  I would like to see other children do this a lot, as it really helped me.’ 

Praise added: “In my everyday life, I use Bouncing Back most of the time because sometimes I feel like I’m not good at things and I get annoyed or angry so the hot chocolate breathing calms me down.  We also learned about endorphins, so it’s really helped me in the way I think about the things I do.  I really want other children to join in as it’s really helped me, and it will help other children too.”

Christina Williams manages the Bouncing Back Plus programme for Action for Children in the region and said: “We are exceptionally proud of our Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Ospreys in the Community and it’s been brilliant celebrating with over 550 children who’ve benefitted from the programme.  We’ve been running Bouncing Back Plus for nearly four years and the results here have been amazing.  The importance of early intervention on the mental health of young people cannot be overstated so getting everyone together for a day of fun activities has been wonderful.

“The children have been able to interview professional rugby players, Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry, asking them questions in the press room about the impact physical activity has on their mental health and the struggles and pressures they face alongside doing what they love. Additionally, the young people had a Q&A session with Andrew Jenkins from the BBC hit show, The Traitors. They discussed emotional resilience and the pressures of being a celebrity. Giving the children these opportunities to explore the stadium whilst looking after their emotional wellbeing is invaluable.”

Tom Sloane, Head of Community at Ospreys in the Community, said: “To see over 550 children having a great day out at our stadium was fantastic.  We know the positive benefits Bouncing Back Plus has on our children and with all the challenges social media brings as well as the current challenging economic conditions, that’s been absolutely critical.  They’ll have had an experience like no other, seeing behind the scenes, the changing rooms and having so much fun with all the staff from Ospreys in the Community, EE, Action for Children, Wales Hockey and Gower College that I hope it inspires them for years to come.”

(Lead image: Action for Children)

#ActionForChildren #AndrewJenkins #Baglan #BouncingBackPlus #Mayhill #mentalHealth #Ospreys #OspreysInTheCommunity #SeaViewPrimary #TheTraitors #YsgolBaeBaglan

Swansea children’s charity team up with Traitors star and Ospreys players for kids mental health sessions

The rugby and Traitors stars helped Ospreys in the Community celebrate their Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Action for Children with a huge event at the Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea. 

Over 550 primary school children joined the celebrations and were treated to rugby sessions, physical exercise and games as well as mental health workshops. 

Volunteers from Action for Children, EE, Ospreys in the Community, Wales Hockey and students from Gower College all gave up their time to deliver a memorable day for the children with Traitors star, Andrew Jenkins, giving talks on improving mental health. 

Ospreys stars Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry were also on hand to take part in interviews with the children in the stadium press room.

The charity teamed up with the rugby region’s community arm, supported by the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership, 4 years ago to deliver a combination of classroom-based Cognitive and Dialectical behavioural therapy (CBT and DBT) techniques and physical exercises such as touch rugby on the playground.

Bouncing Back Plus started in September 2021 and the partnership has delivered the programme in 73 schools to 3575 across the Ospreys region.  Of those who took part, 97% indicated an increase in their level of confidence following the programme, 97% indicated an increase in their ability to cope in stressful situations while 97% now know who to ask for help as a result of Bouncing Back Plus.

Omowunmi and Praise from Sea View Community Primary School in Swansea have taken the Bouncing Back Plus programme in the last year and were at the celebration. 

Omowunmi said: ‘It’s been really helpful because I can help other people and myself when I feel a bit stressed or panicked.  The best thing was the finger breathing, hot chocolate breathing and the Mexican wave, they were all really fun.  I would like to see other children do this a lot, as it really helped me.’ 

Praise added: “In my everyday life, I use Bouncing Back most of the time because sometimes I feel like I’m not good at things and I get annoyed or angry so the hot chocolate breathing calms me down.  We also learned about endorphins, so it’s really helped me in the way I think about the things I do.  I really want other children to join in as it’s really helped me, and it will help other children too.”

Christina Williams manages the Bouncing Back Plus programme for Action for Children in the region and said: “We are exceptionally proud of our Bouncing Back Plus partnership with Ospreys in the Community and it’s been brilliant celebrating with over 550 children who’ve benefitted from the programme.  We’ve been running Bouncing Back Plus for nearly four years and the results here have been amazing.  The importance of early intervention on the mental health of young people cannot be overstated so getting everyone together for a day of fun activities has been wonderful.

“The children have been able to interview professional rugby players, Luke Scully, Connor Moyse and Rhys Henry, asking them questions in the press room about the impact physical activity has on their mental health and the struggles and pressures they face alongside doing what they love. Additionally, the young people had a Q&A session with Andrew Jenkins from the BBC hit show, The Traitors. They discussed emotional resilience and the pressures of being a celebrity. Giving the children these opportunities to explore the stadium whilst looking after their emotional wellbeing is invaluable.”

Tom Sloane, Head of Community at Ospreys in the Community, said: “To see over 550 children having a great day out at our stadium was fantastic.  We know the positive benefits Bouncing Back Plus has on our children and with all the challenges social media brings as well as the current challenging economic conditions, that’s been absolutely critical.  They’ll have had an experience like no other, seeing behind the scenes, the changing rooms and having so much fun with all the staff from Ospreys in the Community, EE, Action for Children, Wales Hockey and Gower College that I hope it inspires them for years to come.”

(Lead image: Action for Children)

#ActionForChildren #AndrewJenkins #Baglan #BouncingBackPlus #Mayhill #mentalHealth #Ospreys #OspreysInTheCommunity #SeaViewPrimary #TheTraitors #YsgolBaeBaglan

Gig Cymraeg, yn y Tyn!!
The Gentle Good! 🎤 🎸🎻🎶 #Baglan #PortTalbot @ghbonello

Happy rainy Monday. Hoping for one of these later 😊
A crock of gold at #BaglanMoor ?
#SwanseaBay #Baglan
#Rainbow #Wales

Happy rainy Monday. Hoping for one of these later 😊
A crock of gold at #BaglanMoor ?
#SwanseaBay #Baglan
#Rainbow #Wales

Happy rainy Monday. Hoping for one of these later 😊
A crock of gold at #BaglanMoor ?
#SwanseaBay #Baglan
#Rainbow #Wales