Neath Port Talbot Local News & Events

02/11/2024

Available to book for Autumn Rugby Internationals. Contact...👇

01/11/2024

Aberavon Rugby Club | This Saturday 2nd November 24' at the Talbot Athletic Ground you can watch some youth rugby.🏉👇

We have Taibach Youth versus Gorseinon Youth - 2pm KO. This is free entry.

After this game, join us in the clubhouse for England v New Zealand at 3.10pm.

01/11/2024

Neath Port Talbot Council | Free Christmas parking arrangements in each of our town centres have been chosen!

The agreed-upon days for this year, as voted by local businesses across all three town centres (Neath, Pontardawe and Port Talbot) are:

🔵Saturday 23rd November

🔵Saturday 30th November

🔵Saturday 7th December

🔵Saturday 14th December

🔵Saturday 21st December

The free Christmas parking offer relates to Neath, Port Talbot and Pontardawe Town Centre Pay & Display car parks.

31/10/2024

Neath Port Talbot Wellbeing After Stroke Project - NPT WASP | The Signposting Support Service within NPT Wellbeing After Stroke Project has been life changing for so many stroke/brain injury survivors and their loved ones.👇

If you would like to access this service please email [email protected] or call Rachel on 07541760872.

NPT WASP is a partnership between Neath Port Talbot Stroke Group and Neath Port Talbot Mind funded by The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol

31/10/2024

𝐒𝐨𝐜ia𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬 | ‘Superwoman’ care worker Samantha scoops silver in national industry awards...👇

A college leaver who was inspired to work in social care after becoming the main carer of her autistic brother has won a coveted national award in recognition of her efforts.

Samantha Evans, who lives in Neath, joined Integra Community Living Options, part of National Care Group Ltd, two years ago as a support worker at Caewern Lodge, Neath – a six-bed home for adults with complex mental health needs.

Last month, the 22-year-old was promoted to Team Leader and now has double cause to celebrate after scooping a coveted silver gong in the Wales Care Awards 2024, dubbed the ‘care industry Oscars’.

Supported by lead sponsor Ontex Healthcare, and organised by care industry champions Care Forum Wales, the awards recognise the outstanding work of those in the care sector.

Samantha triumphed in the Residential Care Practitioner Award category and received her silver award at a glittering ceremony at Holland House Hotel in Cardiff which was hosted by radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad.

Dubbed ‘superwoman’ by her colleagues for her endless enthusiasm and passion for her work, Samantha says she feels privileged to have found her true vocation in life – just two years after completing her health and social care course at Neath Port Talbot College.

“My 12-year-old brother has autism and so I’ve grown up around mental health issues and learning difficulties,” she said.

“While I was at college, I became his named carer while my mother worked. Because of this, I just wanted to be able to make a positive difference and create a safe place for the small community that I’m a part of.

“Although the support we offer is different to my brother’s needs, seeing the way some approached his care gave me a purpose to help make other vulnerable people feel safe and heard.

“It’s a very rewarding job – and the best thing I’ve ever done. I have progressed faster than I could have imagined which is all thanks to my manager Rebecca and the staffing team who have been so kind, helpful and supportive.

“I came here knowing nothing and she has taught me everything she knows and then some.

“I feel very lucky to have come straight into a job that I can honestly see myself spending the rest of my working life in.”

Samantha, an avid baker renowned for her strawberry cheesecake, currently supports five adults living with a range of complex mental health difficulties. She connects and engages with the people she supports through cake baking and other creative activities such as positive story boarding to mark personal achievement milestones. She even redecorated the former snug into a Welsh themed room with one of the residents to celebrate and promote Welsh culture.

She was nominated for the gong by registered manager Rebecca Cardy who described her as a valued member of the team who takes everything in her stride.

“Since starting the role in 2022, she has quickly found her feet and championed for positive change,” she said.

“Encouraging individuals to achieve personal outcomes, whilst her upbeat approach naturally motivates the wider team. She is continually assisting senior staff and myself as manager, with tasks beyond her remit. Always doing so with a smile and without being asked.”

Samantha said she was fully behind the awards and their celebration of the sector.

“It’s such an easily forgotten sector and so it feels good for people to be recognised,” she said.

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the standard of entries was extremely high.

He added : “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.

“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights and in the months and years to come.

“This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales. We take our hats off to them.”

31/10/2024

Swansea Bay NHS | Morriston Hospital’s Echocardiography Department is going from strength to strength - and that’s official.👇

The department is currently celebrating renewed accreditation from the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) following an inspection to ensure they are adhering to exacting rules.

Inspectors looked at a raft of processes including machines, operators, quality of reports and scope of echo procedures, as well as staff training, qualifications and accreditation.

The glowing report that followed should come as no surprise to those who know the service as it became one of the first in the UK to meet the BSE criteria when first introduced in 2007.

Cardiac ultrasound scanning – echocardiography, or simply echo – allows physicians to look at the size, structure and function of the heart, and is the most frequent specialist cardiac investigation.

It involves putting a small amount of gel on the patient’s chest, then placing a probe on the chest and obtaining moving images of the heart.

A routine full echo scan takes 40-45 minutes to complete.

When the service was established in Morriston in 1995 it consisted of just one room and two echo cardiographers.

Today, it has a team of 11 and three trainees, working out of seven rooms - three for outpatients and two for inpatients plus a dedicated scanning room in the Acute Medical Unit and a room for the heart failure service in Gorseinon Hospital.

Patients can be scanned in the department or at their bedside.

The service has grown considerably over the years with heart disease, or its detection, becoming more prevalent with more patients coming through the service.

Ailsa Wallis, Service Manager for Clinical Physiology at Morriston Hospital, said: “Echo is one of the single most wanted tests in cardiology for a patient who comes into the hospital – we carry out around 14,000 scans every year.”

Ailsa welcomed the renewed accreditation.

She said: “This accreditation just shows the effort that all staff put into the service and the dedication that staff have for their patients’ needs.

“It’s a recognition of the high standards that we have achieved providing a high quality service – it’s a strict criteria of what we have to deliver to be able to hold this accreditation.

“This May we welcomed Dr Charlotte Thornton, a newly appointed consultant with interest in cardiac imaging, who is already making a positive mark on standards in the department.

“This continued accreditation has been due to the hard work and commitment of the whole team, I feel privileged to work alongside this amazing team.”

Adam Fowell, head of echocardiography, said: “I’m very proud of our staff. We have an excellent team of cardiac physiologists behind our echo service.

“Now our service is busier than ever but we have not only maintained high standards through this period, we have more and more physiologists in advanced echo procedures.”

Cardiac consultant, Dr Adrian Ionescu, said: “We were the first in the UK to be accredited with the new more rigorous rules - we revised countless versions proposed by the BSE, and then they administered us the procedure for accreditation as a ‘test case’.

“We have been re-accredited with flying colours ever since, and now we hold accreditation for all the classes of echo, and we are proud of that, as it’s not such a commonly-bestowed mark of quality and achievement.”

Main picture caption from left to right: Joanna Etheridge, Luke Williams, Sophie Jones, Karen Wood (echo co-ordinator), Daniel Thrift, Kim Medwell, Julie Jones, Ailsa Wallis (Head of Clinical Physiology), Sarah Patterson, Adam Fowell (Head of Echocardiography), Daniel Benjamin and Laura Humphreys. All are highly specialist echocardiographers unless otherwise stated.

31/10/2024

Many Tears Animal Rescue | Hello …. I’m Navy but called Bonnie here in foster with Jean and David...👇
I’m a big cuddle girl apparently, no trouble at all !
I’ve been here a while and not had one application or inquiry . … fortunately I don’t know that bit! Foster Mum doesn’t know why no one is interested in me cause I’m lovely and the lady who writes the updates says she would take me home anytime apparently, if she didn’t have so many already!
I’m easy going, sleep on the bedroom floor at night and jump up on the bed in the morning for a hug !
Other dogs are fine, big and small, male and female, but not sure about the cat . I’ve got the hang of the harness now, but working on the lead business . Clean in the house, excellent recall.
Foster Mum says I would need a kind friendly dog in my new home to keep me company, adopters who are there for me most of the time and a garden with grass. I like going for walks too and always come back when called. I am a big girl at about 17 kg but that’s just more to hug !
https://www.manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=41873&fbclid=IwY2xjawGQjAtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZONW8te8SgIcg1tdpUpd5t1MbfQZgVoCHxBPzTH2q75_8Uirf1PEhmWUA_aem_quMopKaGRnk9IbDYg5myKA

31/10/2024

Bulldogs Boxing & Community Activities | Are there any builders / labourers willing to give up a days work for Charity ? We have a Remembrance monument that requires erecting by 8th Nov and could do with a hand . very similar to the picture below . all materials are in place we just need the manpower to help...👇

30/10/2024

***FOUND - ST THOMAS***👇

Female, brown, cocker spaniel found on Beaumont Crescent, St Thomas.

Unfortunately we have been unable to get through to the owners on the numbers on her chip. If you think this is your dog please contact the practice out of hours on 01792 200900 or from the morning 01792 205000.

30/10/2024

Just published the latest edition of the newsletter "NPT Town Talk". If you would like to have a read, just click on the link below. Even better you can have a read and sign up by email to receive it weekly to your inbox/email every Wednesday morning. 😀

This past weekend many churches in our community held an Harvest Thanksgiving Service. I think it’s a fair to say having a faith in one’s life comes further down our list of things on our minds, with many forgetting about God totally. Whilst listening online to a local service held at Bethlehem...

30/10/2024

'Neath Port Talbot Council | 🚨 Scam alert 🚨👇

We've been made aware of a number of scam text messages claiming to be from the Department for Work and Pensions and Home Office. The messages relate to cost of living payments and winter heating subsidies and ask people to provide their personal information via a link.

If you receive a text message or email like this, do not click the link. Instead, report and block the number as a scam.

You will never be asked to provide personal information via a text message or email.

25/10/2024

The Paint Pot | PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY SPACES...
Please see our updated availability for next week below. We still have space in all of our workshops (Tuesday afternoon l, Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday evening).
Message us to secure your PYOP space for next week 💌

25/10/2024

South Wales Police | The 100th use of nasal naloxone to save a life by South Wales Police officers and PCSOs has taken place. 👮‍♀️👮🏼‍♂️
The emergency antidote is used in cases of overdoses caused by he**in and other op**te or opioid substances and is carried by around 700 police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables.
This week, its milestone 100th positive use was recorded, just over two years since chief officers gave front line officers access.
Of the 100 positive uses, 36 have taken place in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, 32 in Mid Glamorgan and 32 in Cardiff and the Vale.
The number of employees volunteering to carry it has also continued to grow since its introduction. More information: link in comments below.👇

24/10/2024

REEL Cinema Port Talbot | You wanted more Port Talbot so we're bringing you more! We've just added a 1pm show on both 14th and 15th December - get them while you can! 🚂 🍪

Book now: https://bit.ly/3YjJhen

24/10/2024

Me, Myself and I Neath Port Talbot | Visitors and Staff had the best day yesterday with Ospreys In The Community! We got to think back to what sports we used to play, played sport word association games and even got to have a go at curling! Everyone's competitive sides definitely came out but we all had so much fun🥌💙

24/10/2024

National Lottery Good Causes | 🏉 Stephen Jones coaches the only wheelchair rugby league club in the world to have three teams playing in the various leagues system, thanks to the work he’s done with North Wales Crusaders Wheelchair Rugby League over the years. Stephen and his team are also an important resource for the national squad, with 16 members competing for their country. Stephen’s a Game Changer for Wales’ national team and the future of the sport itself.

Sport Wales The National Lottery North Wales Crusaders Wheelchair RL and Disability Sports Club

24/10/2024

RNLI Port Talbot | A team of just over 30 wonderfully committed volunteers keep our station shop open 7 days a week. They are so proud to meet with our visitors and supporters and love the products we have to offer (they buy a lot too!) Here is a short video to showcase the shop and the lovely gifts available..👇

24/10/2024

Action for Happiness It’s okay to find difficult times difficult. You don’t need to pretend things are fine...👇

23/10/2024

Ignite your community connection! 🔥 NPT Town Talk, our latest weekly edition, is HERE 👇. Join us and discover vibrant voices, powerful events, and opportunities to shape our town. Subscribe free today and be the change! 🚀 .

🍂 It’s official, pumpkin season is here. Dive into a delightful day of autumn fun at Porthcawl Pumpkin Patch, where you can roam through a vibrant sea of plump pumpkins just waiting to be chosen! Feel the crisp air on your cheeks as you search for the perfect one to take home. With prices star...

21/10/2024

How to...👇

21/10/2024

Visit the big purple bus on Wednesday 23rd &Thursday 24th October 2024 in Neath Town Centre...👇

21/10/2024

🔴⚫️JOIN THE MIGHTY QUINS⚫️🔴👇

🏉No Subs to pay

🏉 free kit provided

🏉Free food after matches

🏉WRU Qualified Coaches

🏉Learn a new skill along with learing to play rugby

🏉Learn a new discipline

🏉Make forever friends.

🏉Age range:- year 6 or year 7

Looking for new players, whether you have never played before or a player getting back into it, maybe you don’t get enough playing time at your existing club, everyone of all abilities welcome 🔴⚫️🔴⚫️

21/10/2024

RNLI Port Talbot | Yesterday Sunday 20 October with the first named storm of the winter reaping its brutal force on Aberavon it was the case of another type of lifeboat emergency. When any of our volunteer crew ask for help we all respond. In this case a house move in the pouring rain. The R in RNLI standing removal this morning. While part of our crew helped lug furniture and house hold goods the other half cleaned the station from top to bottom house keeping of a very different type but every bit as essential to saving lives at sea.👇

21/10/2024

Margam Youth Centre | 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 ⚽️

A reminder that our Margam Womens side are still training weekly and on the lookout for more women to join the team.

No matter your abilities or experience playing football, everyone’s more than welcome to come down and give it a try.

Next training session is this coming Tuesday. For all details, see the graphic below 💙