We know Winter can be a tough time for people, rising food and fuel costs can make it difficult to heat your home and provide a hot meal for you and your family. To help, Bridgend County Borough Council and the Welsh Government have been able to financially support a number of ‘warm hubs’ across Bridgend county.
A Warm Hub is a warm, safe space where residents can go to enjoy a warm drink and/or food, a few activities and the chance to meet and socialise over the Winter months.
Find your nearest Warm Hub below, we’ve split it into areas within Bridgend County to help you find your local one.
An opportunity for safeguarding training for BAVO members who work directly with individuals, in both one-to-one and group settings has arisen. Delivered by SCVS staff, the course will provide you with all of the basic safeguarding knowledge to protect the people you work with from neglect, abuse & harm.
This course is heavily subsidised and therefore BAVO can offer it for FREE to member groups*.
📅 Date: 06/02/25
⏰ Time: 09:30am – 4:30pm
📍 Location: BAVO Office
🏢 112-113 Commercial Street, Maesteg, CF34 9DL
Please note: only 12 places available.
Social Care Wales has led the development of the National Safeguarding Training Standards. These standards have been co-produced by a multi-agency national development group, along with other groups focusing on specific aspects of the work. These include training and workforce specialist task and finish groups, a professional representative subgroup, and a focus group with All Wales People First members.
The standards were developed to address several key issues:
This training is designed for Group B practitioners who work directly with individuals, either in group settings or one-to-one. Group B staff or volunteers within an organisation have specific responsibilities towards the people they support and require a higher level of knowledge than those in Group A, due to their direct involvement with individuals.
The training content for this group focuses on four key areas:
This training can also serve as a refresher for staff who have previously completed Safeguarding Level 2/Group B training.
This course is designed to convey key values and essential principles in safeguarding individuals. It provides foundational knowledge for those who deliver care or support. Participants are encouraged to pursue additional training and learning tailored to the needs of the individuals they support, whether children or adults.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
* T&Cs apply: failure to attend without 48 hours notice will result in a £25pp charge being invoiced. You can send an alternative person in your place without incurring a charge.
The Mayor’s Citizenship Awards are the most prestigious annual community awards celebrating exceptional citizens within Bridgend County Borough. Awards are open to all citizens who live or work in the county borough.
Nominees have to live, work, or be sited locally, and have shown the kind of values that make Bridgend great. They might have:
Find out more information and make your nomination below.
Join us for a free Falls Awareness Training session, delivered by Layla from Care & Repair. This training is tailored specifically for small, voluntary-run groups to provide a basic understanding of key topics around falls prevention and safety.
📅 Date: Monday, 13th January
⏰ Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
📍 Location: BAVO
The session will include:
This is a fantastic opportunity to build awareness and equip your group with valuable knowledge to reduce the risk of falls and their impact.
Spaces are limited, so please email alisonmawby@bavo.org.uk to confirm your interest or attendance. Your response will help us plan and ensure the session goes ahead.
Don’t miss out—join us to learn how to make a positive impact in your community!
Further to the email BAVO sent to MPs and Senedd Members in November, and our representation on behalf of our local sector with WCVA, WCVA has sent a short briefing to Welsh MP’s ahead of second reading of the National Insurance Contributions Bill and the Committee Stage on the 17th of December.
The briefing calls for MPs to raise the sector’s concerns about the increase, and also calls for support for amendments that would exempt the voluntary sector from the increase.
Please feel free to share and use it to inform any representation your own group may wish to make.
BAVO will be closed from Christmas Eve until January 2nd, 2025
We understand the holidays can be challenging, so we’ve compiled this guide detailing community centres, foodbank opening times, and other available support.
Address: 13 Ewenny Road, Bridgend, Mid Glam, CF31 3HN
Phone: 01656 451446
Email: barc.bridgend1@gmail.com
Facebook: BARC Community
Christmas Opening Hours:
Normal working hours resume on Monday, 6th January.
Address: 46-48 Dunraven Place, Bridgend, CF31 1JB
Phone: 01656 647 891
Christmas Opening Hours:
Email: hello@baobab-bach.org
Phone: 07544 026265
Website: Baobab Bach Pantries
Christmas Closure: Closed from 23rd–27th December.
Reopening:
Normal hours resume on Monday, 6th January.
Phone: 0808 8000 300
Availability:
Open Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm throughout the Christmas period, including Bank Holidays.
Bridgend County Borough Council is pleased to offer a comprehensive training session on Adult Safeguarding, tailored for individuals in Group C under the All Wales Safeguarding Standards. Facilitated by Mike Lewis, the training will equip participants with the skills and confidence to recognise and refer safeguarding concerns, explore current policies and practice issues, and utilise the All Wales Safeguarding Procedures effectively.
Who’s eligible?
Roles and responsibilities:
Group C practitioners are those who have direct responsibility for safeguarding people who:
An overview of Adult Safeguarding
By the end of the training participants will:
Dates available (please choose ONE):
Wed 22nd January 2025
Friday 7th February 2025
Monday 17th March 2025
Wednesday 30th April 2025
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Tuesday 17th June 2025
Tuesday 15th July 2025
Location: Halo, Bridgend
Times: 09:15am for 9:30am start – 4:30pm finish
Target Group: Group C under the All Wales Safeguarding Standards
Nomination Form: Please complete the nomination form here and email it to SCWDP@bridgend.gov.uk no later than 4 weeks before start of each course.
Lunch will not be provided.
Refreshments will be provided.
If you require any further information, please email SCWDP@bridgend.gov.uk
Applications from voluntary and community groups and not-for-profits that want to help improve the lives of those who may be struggling to keep warm this winter are still open.
The funding can support community organisations and venues that are currently acting as a warm hubs in their areas so that they can continue or extend their work. The panel will also consider applications for new warm hubs where there is no existing community warm hub provision or activity.
How much money can I apply for?
The total amount available is limited to circa £68k, so please only apply for what you need. Value for money will be considered by the panel. You can apply for up to a maximum of £2000.00
Examples of eligible spend includes but is not limited to:
Who is eligible for the grant?
The Warm Hub Grant is available to community groups and not for profit organisations serving the communities of Bridgend County Borough.
Other information:
The Warm Hub fund is being administered by BAVO – the umbrella body for community and voluntary groups in Bridgend County, and is funded by Welsh Government and Bridgend County Borough Council.
Take a look at our funding guidelines here before completing the application here.
Please note: the new deadline is 14/01/25.
For further details call BAVO, T: 01656 810400 or email: grantsadmin@bavo.org.uk
Through the Weston Charity Awards, unrestricted grants of £6,500 are available for up to 22 ambitious charities.
To be eligible to apply, you must have:
Your charity must also be working to alleviate disadvantage in one or more of the following fields:
Charities that have applied previously can apply again, but only if there has been significant changes in their circumstances. Winners will be selected based on their willingness to benefit from Pilotlight 360. The leader of the charity applying must be willing to travel to central London for a minimum of four out of ten meetings.
For more information and instructions on how to apply, click here.
Practice Solutions are reaching out on behalf of the Welsh Government to ask if you or your organisation can help make a real difference for people in Wales living with persistent pain. The Welsh Government’s Persistent Pain Clinical Implementation Team is creating a People’s Panel as part of their Living with Persistent Pain in Wales plan. This panel will play a vital role in improving the services and support available to those affected by long-term pain.
The impact of persistent pain
Persistent pain—lasting over 12 weeks, like long-term back pain or nerve pain—affects an estimated 12-25% of people in Wales. While some people manage it well, others face major impacts on their daily lives, affecting not only them but also their families, friends, and communities. Welsh Government wants to understand the real experiences of people with persistent pain, whether or not they are using healthcare services, to ensure that policies truly meet their needs.
About the People’s Panel
The People’s Panel will bring together individuals living with persistent pain and those who support them, such as carers and family members. Panel members will share their experiences, insights, and ideas to help improve understanding and shape more supportive, effective services across Wales.
Who can join?
We’re looking for people from all walks of life, including:
How your organisation can help
If you work with individuals who live with persistent pain or those who care for someone affected by it, please share this opportunity with them. Welsh Government would love to hear from anyone interested in sharing their insights to help improve pain support in Wales.
Next steps
You can easily join the People’s Panel by filling out the short interest form here. Welsh Government will then follow up with more details, including an invitation to an online information session on Thursday, 28 November 2024, at 10:00am.
Yesterday (19 November) BAVO’s Community Navigator team received a visit from Welsh Government and local health care officials.
The cohort included Nicola Evans, Head of Health Inequalities and Healthy Communities; Jonathan Morgan, Chair of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board; Krysia Groves, who is working on the core competencies for the national framework of social prescribing and Cllr. Jane Gebbie, Deputy Leader for Bridgend County Borough Council, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Chair of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board.
The visit gave our Community Navigator team the opportunity to showcase the impactful work they do, visiting various community groups and projects such as the Squirrel’s Nest, a Men’s Shed based in Tondu.
Cllr. Jane Gebbie labelled the Squirrel’s Nest as “absolutely inspirational”, describing it as a “caring, welcoming, warm space” where people have the opportunity to “develop and nurture themselves”.
In addition, Jonathan Morgan praised the Squirrel’s Nest for its “fantastic job” in helping people improve their wellbeing in a way that is “practical, supportive and focused on their wellbeing needs”.
The next stop took the group to Wyndham Boys and Girls Club where there was an opportunity to meet members of Mental Health Matters Wales’ Wellbeing Hub and Tanio’s Breathing Spaces.
They had the chance to sit and talk to members informally on a one-to-one basis, with participants giving insight into the reasons they attend the groups and exactly how going along has been key to supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
Jonathan Morgan described the visit as a “real privilege” and relished the opportunity to spend time with the groups and see the impact they have on so many people’s lives.
As well as visiting these community groups, Bridgend Food Bank opened its doors, giving them a glimpse behind the scenes at their facility whilst explaining the referral process and the measures they take to help people besides providing emergency food, such as working with Citizen’s Advice and signposting to other services.
This visit not only highlighted the incredible work done by the foodbank, but also the huge demand put on foodbanks due to issues such as the cost-of-living crisis.
Overall, the visit was a huge success, with Nicola Evans stating that “seeing the work that’s being done really brings to life what we’re trying to achieve through the framework for social prescribing and it shows you the value of working together and how it can change people’s lives”.
