All posts tagged: Wales

Wales unveils new plan to combat AMR in animals

Wales unveils new plan to combat AMR in animals

Published by skeptic

Wales’ next steps in tackling antimicrobial resistance in animals have been unveiled, including £2m of funding and a new expert advisory group. The Welsh government has published its final review of the 2019-2024 AMR in Animals and the Environment Implementation Plan. Building on five years of progress, this is Wales’ first coordinated approach to addressing AMR in the food and farming industry and in wider society. The next steps of the plan – over the next five years – will include a new Wales AMR Animal Health Group, established to provide expert guidance to farmers and vets. Growing concerns of AMR in animals Antimicrobial resistance in animals is an increasing concern that poses significant risks to both animal and human health. It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites in animals become resistant to the drugs used to treat infections, often due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine. This resistance can develop through the routine use of antibiotics in food animals to promote growth, prevent disease, or …

Wales to pilot Children Missing Education register

Wales to pilot Children Missing Education register

Published by skeptic

The Welsh Government has announced that the pilot programme for the Children Missing Education (CME) database will commence next month. Wales Humanists has welcomed the Welsh Government’s proactive approach in addressing the issue of children missing from education as this initiative aims to ensure that all children in Wales receive a suitable education by identifying those who may be missing out. ​ Currently local authorities (LAs) are under a duty to ‘make arrangements to enable them to establish (so far as it is possible to do so) the identities of children in their area who are of compulsory school age but are not registered pupils at a school, and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school.’ But the Welsh Government is concerned that LAs may not know of children in their areas, leading to safeguarding risks. Some children may be missing education for religious reasons. By introducing a duty on LAs to compile a register, it is hoped that they will be more likely to act to make sure such pupils receive …

James Corden on Why Brits Are Mourning the End of ‘Gavin & Stacey’

James Corden on Why Brits Are Mourning the End of ‘Gavin & Stacey’

Published by skeptic

What started as an inconspicuous boy-meets-girl tale swiftly became a cult classic in the U.K. On Wednesday night, Gavin & Stacey aired its final episode on the BBC. James Corden and co-creator Ruth Jones began this journey years ago, long before Corden had made any impact in the U.S. with appearances in Ocean’s Eight (2018), Cats (2019) and, of course, on The Late Late Show. The Wales and Essex-set sitcom became a career springboard for the pair, solidifying their status as comedy greats in a competitive industry as Gavin & Stacey went on to enjoy a healthy 17-year lifespan. In every U.K. household, Gavin & Stacey is a staple of British television. It began with a man from Billericay in Essex, Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne), and a young woman, Stacey West (Joanna Page), from Barry in Wales. They fall in love talking over the phone while working for the same company at miles-apart branches and when they first meet in episode one, they hit it off. As the show follows their blossoming relationship (and eventual …

Wales urges Ministry of Justice to ‘expedite’ legal recognition of humanist marriages

Wales urges Ministry of Justice to ‘expedite’ legal recognition of humanist marriages

Published by skeptic

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in Wales, Jane Hutt MS, has called on the UK Government to grant legal recognition to humanist marriages in England and Wales without delay. A letter to the Marriage Minister Lord Ponsonby urges the UK Government to ‘expedite progress in looking at this issue’. Humanists UK has welcomed the intervention. Humanist marriages are already legally recognised in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, and Guernsey, but not in England and Wales. Marriage law is not devolved to Wales but is a matter for the UK Government for both England and Wales. The Welsh Government has long supported legal recognition of humanist marriages, and in 2021 told the UK Government that this issue should be resolved now, or else devolved. Legal recognition in England and Wales has been under constant UK Government review since 2013. The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act gave it the power to enact legal recognition of humanist marriages through secondary legislation. But in the years since, it has not done this. Instead the matter has been reviewed three times, …

Abortion safe access zones come into force in England and Wales

Abortion safe access zones come into force in England and Wales

Published by skeptic

In a major victory for a longstanding Humanists UK campaign, safe access zones around all hospitals and clinics providing abortions in England and Wales are implemented from today. The move means people accessing or providing abortions can do so free from harassment and intimidation. Humanists UK has campaigned on this issue as part of the ‘Back Off!’ campaign – which it helped to launch in 2015 – and welcomed the implementation as a crucial step towards protecting abortion care access. Safe access zones will make it an offence to influence, obstruct, or harass anyone within a 150-metre radius around any premise providing abortion services, and anyone found guilty of breaking the law will face an unlimited fine. This covers acts such as handing out leaflets, protesting against abortion rights, shouting at individuals, or physically restricting someone’s access to a clinic or hospital. Instances will be dealt with on a case-by-base basis, with police and prosecutors evaluating the intent and recklessness of the person involved. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published clear guidance to prosecutors …

Nearly half of children born in Wales in 2002-3 classed as having special educational needs – this may have negatively affected their attainment

Nearly half of children born in Wales in 2002-3 classed as having special educational needs – this may have negatively affected their attainment

Published by skeptic

Nearly half of people born in Wales in 2002-2003 were classed as having special educational needs (SEN), our new research has indicated, raising questions about the system used to diagnose a generation of Welsh children. Our report for the Nuffield Foundation found that 48% of this group, who are now aged 20 to 22, were identified as having SEN at some point before they turned 17. In some cases, this may have negatively affected their educational outcomes. Pandemic disruptions meant complete data was only available for this year group. However, we also identified several factors that made some children born in Wales between 2002 and 2008 more likely to receive an SEN diagnosis – including being a boy, being born in summer, and being on free school meals. Our findings suggest children from these groups may have been over-identified (and those not in these groups potentially under-identified). A new system for identifying educational needs was introduced in Wales in 2020, and the number of children being diagnosed has since fallen significantly – it was 20% …

Nearly half of children born in Wales in 2002-3 classed as having special educational needs – this may have negatively affected their attainment

Nearly half of children born in Wales in 2002-03 classed as having special educational needs – this may have negatively affected their attainment

Published by skeptic

Nearly half of people born in Wales in 2002-03 were classed as having special educational needs (Sen), our new research has indicated, raising questions about the system used to diagnose a generation of Welsh children. Our report for the Nuffield Foundation found that 48% of this group, who are now aged 20 to 22, were identified as having Sen at some point before they turned 17. In some cases, this may have negatively affected their educational outcomes. Pandemic disruptions meant complete data was only available for this year group. However, we also identified several factors that made some children born in Wales between 2002 and 2008 more likely to receive a Sen diagnosis – including being a boy, being born in summer, and being on free school meals. Our findings suggest children from these groups may have been over-identified (and those not in these groups potentially under-identified). A new system for identifying educational needs was introduced in Wales in 2020, and the number of children being diagnosed has since fallen significantly – it was 20% …

Tenby to Llandudno: 10 of the best family-friendly beaches in Wales – in pictures | Holidays To Remember In Wales

Tenby to Llandudno: 10 of the best family-friendly beaches in Wales – in pictures | Holidays To Remember In Wales

Published by skeptic

Tenby, Pembrokeshire You’re spoilt for sandy choices around this much-loved seaside town, with a total of four beaches on offer. So how do you pick which one to pitch up on? While North beach is the most famous, thanks to its views of the harbour, South beach arguably has the most to offer. Not only is it the largest stretch of sand, but it also boasts a shallow slope to the water, generally calm seas, lifeguards through the summer months, and a good section of it is dog-friendly all year round. Source link

Sun, sea and spare cash: three budget-conscious family getaways in Wales | Holidays To Remember In Wales

Sun, sea and spare cash: three budget-conscious family getaways in Wales | Holidays To Remember In Wales

Published by skeptic

Whether you’re looking to build sandcastles and soak up the sun on the seashore, get active with adrenaline-pumping pursuits, or simply want to get out in nature with the kids in tow, Wales has you covered. The best part? You don’t need to break the bank, thanks to a wealth of budget-conscious options from accommodation to activities. Here are three budget-friendly Welsh holiday suggestions … For beach fun: the Gower peninsula Take one glance at the beaches of Gower and you’ll instantly see why the peninsula was declared the UK’s first area of outstanding natural beauty back in 1956. The beaches here are not only stunningly beautiful but they are also a great place for family fun, thanks to the safe, clean swathes of sand. Pitch your tent at the five-star Three Cliffs Bay holiday park where you’ll get a camping spot with your own electricity, water, a picnic table and fire pit, plus you’ll have access to shared modern shower and toilet facilities. With tent poles firmly in place, head to any of the …