Jordan Davies aged 16 from Maesteg, was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the prestigious Commandant-in-Chief award in honour of his involvement with the local branch of St John Ambulance and his efforts to overcome his disabilities.

He joined the organisation just 18 months ago, accompanied by his Family Link carer Diane Jenkins, and was nominated by the branch leader who felt his growing confidence, hard work and attitude made him a deserved recipient.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Family Link scheme provides opportunities for children and young people with physical or learning disabilities to try new activities and enjoy new experiences by spending time with another family on a regular basis.

Jordan has benefited from fortnightly short breaks with Diane, her husband Leighton and 15-year-old son Liam since September 2004. Last year, Diane decided to take Jordan to St John Ambulance every Thursday evening to develop his skills and increase his independence.

In fact, Diane is so dedicated that she takes Jordan to St John Ambulance outside of her Family Link responsibilities and has even joined the organisation herself. Now they both enjoy participating in first aid duties at public events held around Bridgend.

At the invitation of his mother, Diane travelled to London with Jordan where he met Princess Anne, the Commandant-in-Chief of St John Ambulance Cadets, during an emotional day for the whole family. Diane said:

“We are all incredibly proud of Jordan. This is the third award that he has won in the past eight months, having been selected as Cadet of the Year at the Maesteg branch and Valleys to Coast Young Person of the Year recently. Jordan has even been invited back to Buckingham Palace for a summer garden party next year where he will meet the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, so he’s quite the ‘celebrity’!”

“Jordan has always wanted to work as a primary school teaching assistant and his role at St John Ambulance, both as a cadet and as a helper with the younger Badgers group, is giving him the boost to go ahead and achieve this goal. Without doubt, the organisation has given him the confidence to cope with the daily challenges associated with his learning difficulties, and for that we are extremely grateful.”

Jordan is already putting his newly found confidence to positive use; he is currently studying a childcare course at ITEC in Bridgend, is on a nine month work placement at the new Caerau Primary School and is about to start a two year course with Caerau Youth Works.

Councillor Alana Davies, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The Cabinet and council are very proud of Jordan’s achievements which demonstrate the world of difference that Family Link carers can make to a disabled young person’s life. It is clear from Jordan’s experience that the scheme is very successful in providing positive long-term relationships between the child, their family and the carers and their families. Not only do carers give children and young people the chance to take part in activities that most non-disabled children take for granted, they also give parents a flexible short break from the demands of caring.”

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BCBC’s recycling collection partners May Gurney have revealed there was a ‘pumpkin peak’ in the week after Halloween, collecting an additional 12 tonnes of food waste on top of usual food recycling rates.

Residents were asked to leave their pumpkins out with their brown food bins for recycling, resulting in an impressive surge. Now BCBC and May Gurney want householders to have a green Christmas too, by ensuring all festive food leftovers get recycled.

Councillor Phil White, BCBC’s Cabinet Member for Communities and the council’s recycling champion, said: “First and foremost I’d like our residents to really think before they shop this year. Over the Christmas period around 230,000 tonnes of festive food worth an eye-watering £275m is thrown away across the UK. Christmas is already an expensive time of year so I’d like households to consider whether they need to buy so much.

“If you do find yourself with leftovers, please use your brown caddies to recycle food waste. All food waste can be recycled, from mince pies to a whole turkey carcass! By wrapping food in newspaper or the compostable bags we provide and then putting them out for weekly recycling means the food is not hanging around in your black bag causing smells and attracting pests.”

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Bridgend County Borough’s latest landmark school has been officially opened today.

Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School has been open to its 750 pupils since September but today a special ceremony attended by officials and dignitaries including the First Minister Carwyn Jones, the Archbishop of Cardiff, Most Reverend George Stack, the Leader of BCBC Councillor Mel Nott and representatives of those who have completed the project, was held to celebrate the impressive new building.

Funding for the £20m new school has been provided by the Welsh Government, the Archdiocese of Cardiff and Bridgend County Borough Council.

Its relocation to Brackla means its former site in Tondu can now be redeveloped for another world-class new school, Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen.

Councillor Alana Davies, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Here at Archbishop McGrath we have a wonderful educational facility for the students and an excellent resource for the wider community as we are also able to offer the sports facilities for use outside of school hours.”

Council Leader Mel Nott, said: “Not only is this a very attractive building, it’s also very efficient and I know a great deal of work and planning has gone into its design.

“I hope the students will be really inspired by their new school.”

The new three-storey school features fully equipped class rooms, science labs, music suites, an all-weather pitch and multi-use games areas

A large entrance hall doubles as an amphitheatre-style drama area with seating provided by a specially designed staircase, and the school will incorporate community sports facilities and changing rooms.

Rev Dr Philip Manghan, Headteacher, said: “All those involved in the design and build of the new school have been outstanding in their artistry and craftsmanship. Pupils and staff played a significant part in the development of the building. The key at all times has been the desire to design and construct a building that enhances the experience and quality of learning for the learner.”

The building is especially environmentally friendly and has achieved a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Excellent’ rating by using high levels of insulation, recyclable materials, solar hot water heaters and high efficiency boilers. It also harvests rainwater for flushing toilets.

It offers around 8,500 square metres of space, including informal learning spaces and areas for use by the community, all laid out over an 8.11 hectare site.

Its sports facilities for use by the school and the local community, include an all-weather pitch, multi-use games areas, hard play areas and grass pitches to the local area.

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The 19-year-old came through the ranks at Bridgend Athletic and Bridgend college, trains with the Ospreys full-time and is a regular starter for Bridgend each week and has made a huge impact this year during his first season in the Principality Premiership.

Bridgend Head Coach, Steve Tandy, who also coaches Luke at the Ospreys, is pleased with Morgan’s progress.

“Luke joined us just after Christmas last year and in fairness he has been scoring tries left right and centre for us,” he said.

“This season he has been working hard and has improved again on last year. He’s really energetic and finishes tries well.

“He’s really pulled it out of the bag for us the past month and he’s becoming very consistent and helping us to win games. He’s great with ball in hand and we’re very pleased with the way he’s playing at the moment, he deserves this award.”

Speaking after being presented with his award, Morgan commented: “I’m delighted to have received this award. It’s great to have recognition for doing well after putting in the hard work. I’m really enjoying playing at Bridgend and we’re doing pretty well so far so I’m just hoping I can carry on scoring tries for the team.

“Playing on the wing I really enjoy having the ball in hand and I’ve had that opportunity at Bridgend this season. Hopefully I will continue to play well and work hard at improving my game further.”

Sue Parks, Manager of Principality Building Society branch in Bridgend, presented Luke with a cheque for £100.

“We’re delighted that the prestigious Player of the Month award for October has gone to a talented local player,” she said. “Bridgend RFC has shown great determination on the field since re-joining the league and it was exciting to see them beat previous champions Neath in just the second month of the season. It was a pleasure to meet Luke in the branch and we wish him and the team all the best in the coming months – they certainly have the talent to succeed.”

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Nantymoel, Ogmore Vale, Bryncethin, Bridgend, Laleston and Pyle are the communities that the relay route will pass through.

Residents from across the borough are being encouraged to share in the celebrations and welcome the Olympic Flame and the achievements of the Torchbearers as they pass through these areas.

Nantymoel, Ogmore Vale, Bryncethin, Bridgend, Laleston and Pyle are six of over 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in South Wales to devise the route.

Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Councillor Mel Nott said: “This is a very exciting time for residents and local communities in Bridgend County Borough. Seeing the Olympic Flame as it passes through is an opportunity for us all to celebrate and share in the spirit of the Olympics whilst marking the countdown to the start of the games in July 2012.

“I’d encourage everyone to support the members of our community who have been chosen to run through the borough with the Olympic Flame by joining in the celebrations on 26 May.

“I’m especially hoping that our young people will support the Torch Relay as it passes through our communities. For many of them this will be the first Olympic Games they remember which is why I was excited to come to Bryncethin Primary to share our good news and encourage the pupils to cheer on the Flame next May.”

He added: “Bridgend County Borough Council is also hosting the Olympic Following the Flame exhibition which is a celebration of Wales’ contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bridgend has a strong history of producing some of sport’s biggest names from Lyn The Leap to JPR and the exhibition will be open to the public from 31 October to 11 January 2012.

“We are also looking forward to Paul Deighton, Chief Executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games visiting Bridgend later this month where we will able to show him how Bridgend is embracing London 2012.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Nantymoel, Ogmore Vale, Bryncethin, Bridgend, Laleston and Pyle will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in Bridgend County Borough to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK. This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Bridgend County Borough to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.

The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay, will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on the morning of 19 May 2012. On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.

In announcing the villages, towns and cities LOCOG has realised the aspiration of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour’s journey time of 95% of the population. In fact, over 95% of the population will be within just 10 miles of the Olympic Flame next summer. The street by street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.

People are invited to view the interactive map at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap to find their nearest community through which the Olympic Flame will be carried.

On the final day of the Olympic Torch Relay, it is LOCOG’s intention that the Olympic Flame will travel down the River Thames as it makes its way to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers each of whom will have a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community. In December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer and final Torchbearer places will start to be confirmed from February 2012 onwards.

Today LOCOG launches two new public participation programmes. The ‘Local Leaders’ initiative is an invitation to people to take the 2012 Games into their community and create their own celebrations next year, for the Olympic Torch Relay and other key moments during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. People are encouraged to sign up to the Local Leader programme at www.london2012.com/localleaders to receive further information on a range of themed celebration ideas focusing on the Opening Ceremony evening, gardening, quizzes and barbecues and be in the front row to receive free London 2012 event materials to support events.

Also launched today is the ‘Get Set for the Olympic Torch Relay’ education resource, available to all schools registered with Get Set, London 2012’s official education programme. The aim of the resource is to provide schools with cross-curricular resources aimed at teachers working with 3 to 16 year olds to aid learning around history of Olympic Torch Relays, the design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and the Torch itself. A further education resource will launch next year to encourage schools to plan a welcome for the Olympic Flame and show support for the Torchbearers.

Lloyds TSB, official Education Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, have launched their Flame Followers schools programme which compliments the Get Set resources, and gives schools once-in-a-lifetime opportunities be right at the heart of the excitement and celebrations of the Relay.

PIC: Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Cllr Mel Nott with school children from Bryncethin Primary School celebrating the torch relay announcement.

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‘Tell Us Once’ works by giving people the option of updating several departments and organisations all at the same time through a single point of contact.

The information is then shared in a secure, co-ordinated manner so that multiple records can be updated, removing the need for people to make several phone calls or visits to different offices and locations.

The service is being introduced in stages starting this week and will initially be offered to residents who visit Bridgend Register Office to report the death of a relative or the birth of a new baby.

If a member of the public decides to take advantage of ‘Tell Us Once’, the information they provide will be passed on to council departments including Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Electoral Services, the Bridgend Library and Information Service, Adult Social Services, Family Information Service and the ‘Blue Badge’ scheme.

At the same time, the information will be shared with organisations and services that include the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus, HM Revenue and Customs, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Identity and Passport Office, Child Benefit, the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service, and child or working tax credits.

To make use of ‘Tell Us Once’, people can drop in to Bridgend Register Office at Ty’r Ardd in Sunnyside, but it is important to note specific documentation will need to be brought in. Ideally this will include national insurance numbers, details of any relevant benefits (if known), driving licences, passports and personal details including information about next-of-kin family members.

Cllr Mel Nott, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council (pictured), said: “The ‘Tell Us Once’ project is going to make it a lot easier for people to contact the local council or a Government department in future. It will be especially useful for people who are grieving the loss of a relative, and will help reduce the chance of an inappropriate letter being sent out by a service that may not be aware of the change in their circumstances.

“The intention is to develop and roll ‘Tell Us Once’ out over a period of time to cover many other services. Once it is fully operational, it will mean that people will only have to inform both local and central Government about changes in their circumstances a single time.”

Cllr Huw David, Cabinet Member for Resources, added: “The ‘Tell Us Once’ initiative will deliver many benefits. These include improved customer service, greater efficiency and relevance of information held by organisations such as the council, fewer opportunities to commit fraud and faster back-office administrative processes. It will also have financial benefits as it will help reduce overpayments in benefit and the subsequent cost of recovering that money.”

The new Bridgend Registry Office and new Local and Family History Research Centre opened their doors at Ty’r Ardd for the first time this year as a result of an investment in a full refurbishment of the building by the Labour Council.

For more information about the new service please contact Bridgend Register Office on 01656 642391 or email registrar@bridgend.gov.uk

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The modern facilities include: sports hall; activity studio; multi-use games areas; state-of-the-art floodlit artificial turf sports pitch; grass playing fields and changing facilities.

The centre will be used by the school during the day but will support an extensive programme of club and community use at evenings and weekends. Initially a facility for local sports clubs and sports clubs relocating from Bridgend Recreation Centre, the centre will in the future offer a range of courses, classes and holiday activities.

Meanwhile, the council’s proposal to work with a partner to deliver local leisure services are also on track.

Councillor Lyn Morgan, Labour Cabinet Member for Wellbeing said: “This is a fantastic new sports facility for Bridgend delivered only because of investment by this Labour Council. As a council we recognise the need for continued investment in our leisure centres and pools with a particular focus on the development of Bridgend Recreation Centre. There are ongoing negotiations with a small number of leisure operators who through a partnership could bring capital investment into our leisure buildings. 

“There is also significant change scheduled for leisure provision in Bridgend County Borough and it’s important for our customers to know why we are doing this. We want to create a sustainable future for our facilities and continue to develop services that will meet customer expectations and attract new users.  It’s anticipated that an announcement on a partnership may be made in January 2012 as we enter the Olympic year.”

To celebrate the contribution of Bridgend athletes and Wales to the Olympic and Paralympic games an exhibition entitled ‘Following the Flame’ will be based at Bridgend Recreation Centre from mid October. 

The exhibition intends to inspire over 3,000 school children but will also be available at set times to the public and other interested groups. The exhibition includes a range of memorabilia including Tanni Grey Thompson’s wheelchair, Simon Richardson’s gold medal, the Olympic torch previously carried by Muhammed Ali in Atlanta and more.

The council operates eight leisure centres with five swimming pools. For further information on the range of facilities and activities available, visit www.bridgend.gov.uk/leisure

Since its election in 2008 the Labour run Bridgend County Borough Council has opened a state of the art swimming pool and fitness centre at Ynysawdre, carried out major investment to modernise Maesteg Swimming Pool and opened the new sports centre at Brackla.

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Thanks to votes from the public, BCBC beat rivals Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Newport City Council in the Local Authority Partnership category of Cinch’s Wales Recycling Awards.

BCBC made the shortlist after impressing judges with the fantastic recycling performance over the last year, delivered in partnership with May Gurney. The average household now recycles12kg of waste each month – 50 per cent more than this time last year.

Cllr Phil White, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Our residents have helped to make Bridgend such a recycling success story and now they’ve helped us to win this award too – so I would like to thank each and every one.

“Residents have made a real effort at home to increase the amount they recycle and this took us from being the second worst recycling borough in Wales to one of the best. Now, not only are we the most improved in Wales, we’re also the proud winners of a Cylch award!”

Bridgend County Borough Council’s recycling scheme also reached the finals of the prestigious APSE awards, as well as national recycling industry awards edie and Green Apple and the CIPR Pride awards.

Cylch is the Wales Community Recycling Network and provides information, advice and support to existing and emerging community recyclers across Wales.

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Designed to provide vulnerable local people with specialist equipment that can help them carry on living within their own homes, the service offers a wide range of aid including equipment to assist with nursing and physiotherapy care.

As well as allowing children and adults of all ages to avoid having to go into a care home to receive specialist support, it also helps people avoid lengthy hospital stays and supports intermediate care and rehabilitation programmes that assist people with regaining their independence.

Now Cabinet has agreed proposals for providing the service in partnership with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Cwm Taf Health Board, and Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil county borough councils.

The move follows guidance from the Welsh Government over the integration of community equipment services and is designed to allow the partner organisations to pool their resources and provide better support for vulnerable people.

Councillor Lyn Morgan, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, said: “As well as boosting the level of our resources, working in partnership will also help to maintain an all-Wales standard for integrated community equipment services.”

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The Great Welsh Leek Relay was first held last year to help raise the issue of food miles ahead of Feastival, the Wales Alternative Food Festival.

Now the relay has returned and will again be headed by double Olympian marathon runner Steve Brace and his team of elite athletes.

The team will run, cycle and swim the length of Wales with a freshly picked leek from a field in Buckley in North Wales, all the way down to Bridgend in time to open Feastival.

The relay will kick off in Bangor on Tuesday 27 September, weave its way down to Portmeirion by Wednesday 28, then on to Aberaeron by Thursday 29.

It will leave Swansea on 30 September on a short leg to officially open Feastival at lunchtime on Friday 30 September.

Steve said: “The idea was to show how food over great distance does not travel so well. It was such an unusual thing to do and a great way to promote the beauty of Wales while raising awareness of the food miles issue. We’re delighted to be involved with this unique Welsh event again this year, and so looking forward to seeing the huge support that we get en route. It helps massively.”

Feastival, the Wales Alternative Food Festival is organised by Bridgend County Borough Council and is being held in Bridgend town centre on 30 September and 1 October.

Councillor David Sage, Deputy Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “It’s great news that the leek relay is returning and we look forward to welcoming Steve and his team with this very unusual, very Welsh baton! It’s a fun way of raising the serious issue of food miles.

“Visitors to Feastival will be pleased to know they can enjoy plenty of great, local produce which has not had to travel nearly so far.”

Feastival has a whole host of new flavours this year including ‘Marmite on toast’ artist Nathan Wyburn, the Egg Drop Championship, a ‘Leek Lobbing’ competition, Little Italy and Chefs on Stilts.

You can check the leek relay’s progress as they snake their way down through Wales on twitter http://www.twitter.com/followtheleek or #leekrelay

Full details of the event and the Facebook page can be accessed via www.walesalternativefoodfestival.com

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