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Source: https://swanseastandard.com/feed/

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<title>How to Choose an Air Compressor Company for Your Business in Swansea</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/24/how-to-choose-an-air-compressor-company-for-your-business-in-swansea/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/24/how-to-choose-an-air-compressor-company-for-your-business-in-swansea/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Keith Evans-Hurley]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:45:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Misc News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517423</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Compressed air is a vital utility for many industries. From powering pneumatic tools on production lines to supporting food processing, construction, and engineering, businesses depend on compressed air to keep operations running smoothly. While investing in the right compressor equipment is important, selecting the right company to install, maintain, and service that equipment is just […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Compressed air is a vital utility for many industries. From powering pneumatic tools on production lines to supporting food processing, construction, and engineering, businesses depend on compressed air to keep operations running smoothly. While investing in the right compressor equipment is important, selecting the right company to install, maintain, and service that equipment is just as critical.
For businesses in Swansea, choosing the right partner can mean the difference between reliable performance and costly downtime. This article explains what to look for in an air compressor company, why local knowledge matters, and how to make the best choice for long-term efficiency and peace of mind.
<h2>Why the Right Service Company Matters</h2>
Air compressors and their associated systems are complex. When they fail, the impact is immediate. Downtime delays projects, halts production, and increases operating costs. That is why a quality service company is more than just a repair provider.
The right company will:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deliver preventative maintenance to reduce the risk of breakdowns
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Provide system audits and leak detection to minimise energy waste
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ensure compliance with UK safety regulations
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Offer full installation, upgrades, and system expansions as needed
</li>
</ul>
Rather than reacting to faults, a good partner will help you anticipate issues and optimise your compressed air system for long-term performance.
<h2>Key Qualities to Look For</h2>
When evaluating air compressor companies in Swansea or the wider South Wales area, consider the following criteria.
Technical expertise: Engineers should be experienced in all aspects of compressed air systems, including compressors, dryers, filtration, and pipework.
Range of services: Look for a provider that covers installation, repairs, audits, leak detection, compliance support, and long-term maintenance plans.
Efficiency focus: With energy costs rising, the best companies help reduce consumption by detecting leaks, optimising performance, and recommending energy-efficient technology.
Reliability and responsiveness: A nearby company should be able to respond quickly to breakdowns and carry out scheduled servicing without long delays.
Trust and transparency: Clear pricing, service documentation, and proven experience with similar businesses in the region are all signs of a reliable partner.
<h2>Why Local Knowledge Matters</h2>
There are significant advantages to choosing a company with a strong local presence.
Quick response: In emergencies, proximity ensures faster callouts and less downtime. 
 Industry familiarity: A provider who regularly works with businesses in Swansea will understand the specific needs of regional industries. 
 Lower costs: Reduced travel time often translates into more cost-effective service. 
 Accountability: A local company values its reputation within the community, which encourages high service standards.
For Swansea businesses, a nearby service partner is not only more convenient but also more invested in supporting long-term relationships.
<h2>Choosing the Right Partner</h2>
When weighing up your options, ask questions such as:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Do they provide preventative maintenance tailored to your site?
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Can they supply spare parts quickly?
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Do they offer system design and installation as well as servicing?
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How do they help improve energy efficiency and reduce running costs?
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What references can they provide from businesses in South Wales?
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
Choosing the right air compressor company in Swansea is about more than finding someone to fix equipment when it breaks. It is about selecting a partner who ensures your systems run reliably, safely, and cost-effectively for the long term.
If your business is looking for an experienced, regional partner with a full range of services, <a href="https://www.controlgear.net/">Control Gear</a> is a strong example of the kind of company that can deliver the expertise and reliability you need.
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>You buy. We donate Amazon donation campaign with The Multibank returns to support families facing hygiene poverty in Swansea this autumn</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/24/you-buy-we-donate-amazon-donation-campaign-with-the-multibank-returns-to-support-families-facing-hygiene-poverty-in-swansea-this-autumn/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/24/you-buy-we-donate-amazon-donation-campaign-with-the-multibank-returns-to-support-families-facing-hygiene-poverty-in-swansea-this-autumn/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:30:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Charity]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517419</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When customers purchase two qualifying products on Amazon.co.uk, a third item will be donated to The Multibank charity automatically at no additional charge. The You buy. We donate programme runs until 12 November, supporting the Cwtch Mawr Multibank in Swansea. The Multibank was co-founded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Amazon. You […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[When customers purchase two qualifying products on Amazon.co.uk, a third item will be donated to The Multibank charity automatically at no additional charge. 
 
The You buy. We donate programme runs until 12 November, supporting the Cwtch Mawr Multibank in Swansea. The Multibank was co-founded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Amazon. 
 
You buy. We donate launches as research reveals nearly one in four adults in Wales have concerns about affording basic hygiene essentials in the months ahead. 
 
You buy. We donate aims to generate more than 200,000 product donations for families across the UK. 
 
Amazon has teamed up with some of the country’s leading household brands like Colgate, Johnson & Johnson, Neutrogena and Sanex to deliver more than 200,000 vital hygiene products for families in Swansea and around the UK who are struggling to make ends meet. The products are being distributed to families in Swansea by Cwtch Mawr Multibank as part of the latest Amazon You buy. We donate campaign.
 
Until 12 November, Amazon and its supplier partners will donate a third item to The Multibank for every two qualifying products customers buy on Amazon, with no extra cost involved. Customers simply need to visit <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/?_encoding=UTF8&node=212926004031&ref_=cct_cg_B2D1_1a1&pf_rd_p=d37f1fc6-9213-4cad-b99b-506164daf0ba&pf_rd_r=VCYR3Z03QC4WS12W1R0H" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this page</a> on Amazon to take part.
 
The products will be distributed to families in Swansea by Cwtch Mawr Multibank, part of a national network of charities co-founded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Amazon. 
 
Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown co-founded The Multibank after he saw firsthand the severe poverty and deprivation affecting his local community in Fife, Scotland. Six Multibanks now operate across the UK, having provided more than 12 million essential items to over 800,000 families nationwide to date. 
 
The You buy. We donate campaign follows research commissioned earlier this year by Amazon that shows that more than a quarter (28%) of adults in Wales have worries about affording basic hygiene products like toothpaste, soap or laundry detergent over the coming months. The findings also revealed that 14% of adults in Wales have cut back on or skipped buying hygiene essentials altogether. Nearly all adults in Wales (93%) said that being clean and well-presented matters enormously for their children’s confidence and mental wellbeing.
 
Eugenie Teasley, Head of Impact, Amazon UK, said: “Our customers were overwhelmingly supportive of our first You buy. We donate campaign earlier this year and as winter draws closer and families face increasingly difficult times, we wanted to team up once again with our partners in support of The Multibank in Wales and across the UK. The You buy. We donate campaign offers Amazon customers the opportunity to make a huge difference to the lives of families in need while buying their everyday essential items. Everyone at Amazon is looking forward to donating these important products to Multibanks across the UK, helping people in need access essential products.”
 
Cherrie Bija, Chief Executive at Faith in Families, added: “In the last year alone, we’ve worked with over 120 referral partners and given out over 800,000 essential items to the people we support. We work with organisations supporting some of the most vulnerable people who find themselves in desperate need, often through no fault of their own. The products they receive through our partnership with the Multibank and Amazon make a huge difference, whether that’s having toothpaste to clean their children’s teeth or having blankets to stay warm. We are extremely grateful to Amazon customers supporting the You buy. We donate campaign which will make an enormous difference to those in need.”
 
Brands participating in You buy. We donate include Colgate, Sanex, Palmolive, Listerine, Neutrogena, Johnson & Johnson, Johnson Baby, Aveeno and Aveeno Baby, Mama Bear, OGX and by Amazon. 
 
Transport logistics specialists Palletline will provide free logistics support, handling the storage and distribution of donations to Multibank regional hubs across the UK, with Amazon providing additional transportation routes. 
 
To find out more visit: aboutamazon.co.uk/news/community/amazon-you-buy-we-donate 
 
]]></content:encoded>
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<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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<item>
<title>“OUTRAGEOUS” THAT INCREASED DIGITAL SKILLS FUNDING IS GOING TO ENGLAND</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/22/outrageous-that-increased-digital-skills-funding-is-going-to-england/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/22/outrageous-that-increased-digital-skills-funding-is-going-to-england/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Web Contributer]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Plaid Cymru]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Political News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sioned Williams]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517416</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sioned Williams MS says First Minister “doesn’t recognise the importance and significance of made in Wales programmes such as Technocamps” Today in a question to the First Minister, Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, criticised the Welsh Government over its decision to fund an English University to provide online […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3>Sioned Williams MS says First Minister “doesn’t recognise the importance and significance of made in Wales programmes such as Technocamps”</h3>
Today in a question to the First Minister, Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, criticised the Welsh Government over its decision to fund an English University to provide online digital skills training at the expense of a Welsh organisation already providing high quality face to face training.
Technocamps, which is based out of Swansea University in Ms Williams’ region, supports digital upskilling of children and adults across Wales through hubs in all Welsh universities.
Founded 22 years ago, Technocamps has since delivered over 5,000 workshops, reaching learners and teachers all across Wales through direct, bespoke and bilingualengagement in schools and on university campuses.
Technocamps recently learned their Welsh Government funding was cut and instead £1.4million, under the Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme, is going to York University in England to provide on-line resources with only “face-to-face sessions in priority areas”.
<a name="v1_Hlk164949108"></a>Ms Williams’ asked the First Minister Eluned Morgan how the Government considered this to be an adequate, cost-effective replacement for in-person, bespoke, made in Wales digital skills support. In response, the First Minister defended the decision to award increased funding to an institution outside of Wales.
Ms Williams quoted founder and patron of Technocamps, Beti Williams MBE, who has launched a petition to continue funding Technocamps, citing the reliance that many teachers in Wales have on the programme, given the pace at which digital technology is advancing, and who has accused the Welsh Government of “disrespecting” Wales.
Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:
“I have had the pleasure of visiting a Technocamps workshop at Swansea University and I saw how they deliver on the Government’s strategic goals for digital education. 
“When the Digital Competence Framework was introduced, they delivered 10 hours of workshops in 97% of the nation’s secondary schools to embed it. And when the Digital Technology qualifications were introduced, they provided bespoke, in-person training for over 200 teachers struggling with the transition from the ICT curriculum.
“Funding for digital skills couldn’t be more critical in this age of AI and replacing a successful made in Wales programme which provides in-person bespoke local support with one provided by an English University is an outrageous decision, particularly given that research by NESTA suggests that the approach offered by York University is one that might deepen inequalities and hierarchies rather than empower more people to get involved in STEM. 
“In her answer, it’s disappointing that the First Minister failed to recognise the importance and significance of successful made in Wales programmes such as Technocamps, which already offers this support across Wales, and is so highly commended by teachers. 
“At a time when Welsh Universities are in financial crisis, it’s an additional slap in the face that increased funding for digital skills training has gone to a university in England.”
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Woman jailed after arson at Swansea McDonald’s</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/22/woman-jailed-after-arson-at-swansea-mcdonalds/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/22/woman-jailed-after-arson-at-swansea-mcdonalds/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:00:49 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[South Wales Police]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517413</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A woman from Swansea has been jailed after setting a fire inside the city centre’s McDonald’s restaurant. 39-year-old Leah Hocking, of no fixed abode, entered the fast-food restaurant at Castle Square on March 4, before proceeding to light a fire on a table. She also stole a mobile phone from another diner at the eatery […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A woman from Swansea has been jailed after setting a fire inside the city centre’s McDonald’s restaurant.
39-year-old Leah Hocking, of no fixed abode, entered the fast-food restaurant at Castle Square on March 4, before proceeding to light a fire on a table.
She also stole a mobile phone from another diner at the eatery during the same visit. During her arrest, Hocking then aimed multiple kicks at a police officer.
On July 28 she pleaded guilty to arson, theft and assault by beating of an emergency worker. She also pleaded guilty to criminal damage under £5,000 after admitting to damaging the door of a city centre coffee shop on the same day.
Hocking was last week sentenced to six months in prison.
PC Abbi Crocker said: 
“Leah Hocking’s behaviour was mindless and she did not care whether she caused harm to herself or to others.
“That kind of irresponsible and anti-social behaviour is not at all welcome on the streets of Swansea. 
“People like her make good, law-abiding people fearful of coming to the city centre out of worry for being targeted for no apparent reason. She deserves her spell in prison.”
 
]]></content:encoded>
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<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1517413</post-id> </item>
<item>
<title>Free School Meal Costs Soar</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/free-school-meal-costs-soar/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/free-school-meal-costs-soar/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:30:46 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517410</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The cost of forking out for school kitchen and dining hall upgrades so that every primary pupil gets a free meal has almost doubled in Swansea. It was originally expected to cost £5.86 million but the final bill is now anticipated to be £11.48 million due to construction prices rising sharply and more work being […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The cost of forking out for school kitchen and dining hall upgrades so that every primary pupil gets a free meal has almost doubled in Swansea.
It was originally expected to cost £5.86 million but the final bill is now anticipated to be £11.48 million due to construction prices rising sharply and more work being needed than first thought, among other things.
The council has previously committed a big chunk of Welsh Government funding to the work, which will allow it to meet the Welsh Government’s universal free school meal policy, but a report before cabinet said it was currently £3.29 million short.
Cabinet members have now agreed to commit to the remaining £3.29 million, taking the total to £11.48 million. All the funding to date has come from the Welsh Government and the council has again asked it to stump up the shortfall identified, otherwise the council will need to cover the remaining costs.
Cllr Robert Smith, cabinet member for education, skills and lifelong learning, said upgrading school catering facilities was a “much-needed investment”.
The Welsh Government announced its intention four years ago to extend free school meals from those who qualified to all primary pupils, with a phased roll-out so that councils could upgrade school kitchens and serving areas and buy new equipment.
Speaking at the time Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles said an extra 196,000 pupils would benefit in Wales and that the policy would raise the profile of healthy eating, enhance social skills at meal times and improve behaviour and attainment.
Education officers in Swansea said 10,877 primary school meals were served on a particular day they were collating figures for in 2022 and that 3,688 of them were free ones. The officers said the daily figure was expected to rise to 16,841 when the new policy was fully implemented and every pupil was eligible.
The latest cabinet report said 74 schools have benefited from new catering equipment and electrical upgrades, which came in on budget at £2.32 million. Costs have soared though at four schools where a lot more investment has been needed – Waun Wen primary, Brynhyfryd primary, Townhill primary and Mayals primary – with a lesser increase at St Joseph’s Cathedral primary.
The work at these five schools is expected to be completed at various times between now and the end of 2026 although one of them is being re-tendered because the chosen contractor pulled out and another is due to be tendered this month.
Costs have risen, said the cabinet report, because original budgets were based on Welsh Government “size standard rates” which proved to be “inadequate”. It added that re-tendering contracts combined with more upgrade work being needed than first thought and additional design and drainage requirements increased costs further.
Council leader Rob Stewart said it was important that the work took place so that pupils had a hot meal in school, especially in areas where they might otherwise not have one during the day. “It’s absolutely the right thing to do,” he said.
]]></content:encoded>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1517410</post-id> </item>
<item>
<title>£2 Million School Demolition Costs</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/2-million-school-demolition-costs/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/2-million-school-demolition-costs/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:30:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[More News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea Council]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517407</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Knocking down a secondary school in Swansea and removing its asbestos is expected to cost £2 million and take a year. Council chiefs in Swansea have approved a £2 million sum to demolish the former Daniel James Community School, Mynyddbach, with work anticipated to start in January 2026 and finish in December. Once that’s done […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Knocking down a secondary school in Swansea and removing its asbestos is expected to cost £2 million and take a year.
Council chiefs in Swansea have approved a £2 million sum to demolish the former Daniel James Community School, Mynyddbach, with work anticipated to start in January 2026 and finish in December. Once that’s done a new Bishop Vaughan Catholic School is earmarked for the site.
Cabinet members approved a report setting out the £2 million demolition project which said six contractors had submitted tender bids.
It added that two community organisations which used the former school’s playing fields and parts of the site had been consulted and would continue to be so.
The report also said there was a risk of additional asbestos being identified despite an “early invasive survey” having taken place. Should this occur, it said, the budget would need amending.
Asked about this by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, and whether any of the non-hazardous material would be used to prepare the ground for the new-build Bishop Vaughan Catholic School, a council spokesman said: “A demolition asbestos survey has been carried out at the site by qualified experts. All materials containing asbestos have been identified as reasonably as possible.
“A licensed contractor will safely remove the asbestos, and a specialist company will oversee the entire process, including air quality checks.”
He added that more than 80% of the remaining concrete, bricks and timber would be crushed on site and reused to fill gaps or level the ground for future development. Leftover materials would be taken away and recycled.
“This will also reduce heavy vehicle traffic around the site, avoiding disruption to nearby roads,” added the spokesman.
The Welsh Government is to contribute £1.7 million to the £2 million project with the council funding the remainder.
Council leader Rob Stewart thanked the Welsh Government for its contribution and said preparing the site for a new school would make good on a Swansea Labour pledge.
He said Labour, when in opposition more than a decade ago, had opposed the closure of Daniel James Community School and campaigned to keep it open.
“The community were left without a school in their area and many of the pupils were forced to travel outside of their core locality to get their education,” he said. “We don’t believe that’s right, and that’s why we are taking all steps necessary to restore secondary education in that area.”
Daniel James Community School was placed in “special measures” by the Welsh Government in 2010 following a critical inspection and closed two years later.
The plan is for Bishop Vaughan Catholic School to relocate from its current home just under a mile away in Clase to the flattened Daniel James site.
Subject to planning and funding there’ll be capacity for 1,400 pupils, vocational skills will be part of the offer, and the aim is for it to open in 2029-30 with pupils and staff remaining at the current Clase site until then.
]]></content:encoded>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1517407</post-id> </item>
<item>
<title>Swansea volcanologist joins global deep-sea mission to uncover earthquake secrets</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/swansea-volcanologist-joins-global-deep-sea-mission-to-uncover-earthquake-secrets/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/swansea-volcanologist-joins-global-deep-sea-mission-to-uncover-earthquake-secrets/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:00:36 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea University]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[A Swansea University volcanologist is set to explore one of Earth’s most mysterious underwater landscapes as part of a groundbreaking international expedition off the coast of Japan. The mission will investigate “petit-spot volcanism”—a little-known phenomenon that may influence earthquake behaviour—by drilling into the Japan Trench near the epicentre of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. Dr Katie […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A Swansea University volcanologist is set to explore one of Earth’s most mysterious underwater landscapes as part of a groundbreaking international expedition off the coast of Japan.
<figure id="attachment_1517399" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1517399" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1517399" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-560x420.jpeg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-80x60.jpeg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-696x522.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-scaled.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-265x198.jpeg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-500x375.jpeg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1517399" class="wp-caption-text">OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA</figcaption></figure>
The mission will investigate “petit-spot volcanism”—a little-known phenomenon that may influence earthquake behaviour—by drilling into the Japan Trench near the epicentre of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.
<img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517400" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-300x199.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-768x510.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-2048x1360.jpg 2048w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-632x420.jpg 632w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-696x462.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-500x332.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/k.j.preece/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr Katie Preece</a>, Senior Lecturer in Volcanology, will join scientists from around the world on the<a href="https://iodp3.org/expedition/502/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3) Expedition 502</a><a name="v1_Hlk210814810"></a>.
<figure id="attachment_1517401" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1517401" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1517401" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-560x420.jpg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-80x60.jpg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-696x522.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-265x198.jpg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-500x375.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1517401" class="wp-caption-text">DCIM100MEDIADJI_0011.JPG</figcaption></figure>
The team will retrieve a 225-metre core of rock and sediment from close to the subduction zone to better understand how these volcanic features affect seafloor sediment and tectonic activity.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517402" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-243x300.jpg" alt="" width="243" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-243x300.jpg 243w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-scaled.jpg 829w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-768x948.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-1244x1536.jpg 1244w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-1658x2048.jpg 1658w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-340x420.jpg 340w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-324x400.jpg 324w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-696x859.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-1068x1319.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-405x500.jpg 405w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px" />
Dr Preece will serve as a sedimentologist aboard the state-of-the-art research vessel <a href="https://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/e/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chikyu</a>, where she will help describe and interpret the core samples as they are retrieved.
Dr Preece said: “This is an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on a global scale. Petit-spot volcanism is still poorly understood, and this expedition will provide the first complete sequence of rock samples from these systems.”
Beyond this new role, Dr Preece’s research focuses on reconstructing eruption histories and understanding how volcanic systems evolve. Combining fieldwork with laboratory techniques, including petrology, geochemistry and geochronology, she investigates how magma behaves before and during eruptions.
Her previous fieldwork has taken her to volcanoes in Indonesia, Ascension Island and Armenia, but this will be her first time participating in an IODP expedition.
Following the voyage, Dr Preece will lead post-expedition research analysing the textures and chemical composition of the recovered rocks. Her work will help scientists understand how petit-spot activity alters the subducting tectonic plate and contributes to Earth’s deep geochemical cycles.
Expedition 502 is a collaboration between 17 countries. Like many IODP missions, it presents significant technical and scientific challenges, with drilling operations taking place in some of Earth’s most extreme environments. In this case, the drill site lies beneath nearly 5.5 kilometres of water.
Dr Jude Coggon, <a href="https://www.ukiodp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">UK IODP Programme</a> Coordinator, said: “We are very proud to have three excellent UK scientists sailing on this expedition, as well as another participating in shore-based research.
“Over the past 50+ years, scientific ocean drilling has pioneered development of technologies for sampling the seafloor beneath the deep ocean, and explored this frontier to repeatedly transform our understanding of how our planet works. Expedition 502 is an exciting endeavour, which will help us to understand how this recently discovered style of volcanism impacts fundamental Earth processes, including megathrust earthquakes and the carbon cycle.”
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1517404</post-id> </item>
<item>
<title>Fylcanolegwr o Abertawe yn ymuno â chenhadaeth fyd-eang yn y môr dwfn i ddatgelu cyfrinachau daeargrynfâu</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/fylcanolegwr-o-abertawe-yn-ymuno-a-chenhadaeth-fyd-eang-yn-y-mor-dwfn-i-ddatgelu-cyfrinachau-daeargrynfau/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/fylcanolegwr-o-abertawe-yn-ymuno-a-chenhadaeth-fyd-eang-yn-y-mor-dwfn-i-ddatgelu-cyfrinachau-daeargrynfau/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:30:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Newyddion Lle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea University]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517398</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Mae fylcanolegwr o Brifysgol Abertawe ar fin archwilio un o dirweddau tanddwr mwyaf dirgel y Ddaear fel rhan o alldaith ryngwladol arloesol oddi ar arfordir Japan. Bydd y genhadaeth yn ymchwilio i “folcanigrwydd petit-spot” – ffenomen anhysbys a allai ddylanwadu ar ymddygiad daeargrynfâu – drwy ddrilio i mewn i Ffos Japan ger uwchganolbwynt Daeargryn Tohoku […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Mae fylcanolegwr o Brifysgol Abertawe ar fin archwilio un o dirweddau tanddwr mwyaf dirgel y Ddaear fel rhan o alldaith ryngwladol arloesol oddi ar arfordir Japan.
<figure id="attachment_1517399" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1517399" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1517399" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-560x420.jpeg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-80x60.jpeg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-696x522.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-scaled.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-265x198.jpeg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-500x375.jpeg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1517399" class="wp-caption-text">OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA</figcaption></figure>
Bydd y genhadaeth yn ymchwilio i “folcanigrwydd petit-spot” – ffenomen anhysbys a allai ddylanwadu ar ymddygiad daeargrynfâu – drwy ddrilio i mewn i Ffos Japan ger uwchganolbwynt Daeargryn Tohoku 2011.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517400" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-300x199.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-768x510.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-2048x1360.jpg 2048w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-632x420.jpg 632w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-696x462.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-500x332.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Bydd <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/cy/staff/k.j.preece/">Dr Katie Preece</a>, Uwch-ddarlithydd mewn Folcanoleg, yn ymuno â gwyddonwyr o bob cwr o’r byd ar <a href="https://iodp3.org/expedition/502/">Alldaith 502 y Rhaglen Drilio yn y Cefnfor Ryngwladol (IODP3)</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517402" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-243x300.jpg" alt="" width="243" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-243x300.jpg 243w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-scaled.jpg 829w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-768x948.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-1244x1536.jpg 1244w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-1658x2048.jpg 1658w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-340x420.jpg 340w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-324x400.jpg 324w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-696x859.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-1068x1319.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-405x500.jpg 405w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px" />
Bydd y tîm yn hôl craidd craig 225 metr o hyd a gwaddod o ardal sydd yn agos at y parth islithro i ddeall yn well sut mae’r nodweddion folcanig hyn yn effeithio ar waddod gwely’r môr a gweithgarwch tectonig.
<figure id="attachment_1517401" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1517401" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1517401" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-560x420.jpg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-80x60.jpg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-696x522.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-265x198.jpg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-3-500x375.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1517401" class="wp-caption-text">DCIM100MEDIADJI_0011.JPG</figcaption></figure>
Bydd Dr Preece yn waddodegydd ar y llong ymchwil o’r radd flaenaf o’r enw <a href="https://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/e/">Chikyu</a>, lle bydd hi’n helpu i ddisgrifio a dehongli’r samplau craidd wrth iddynt gael eu hôl.
Meddai Dr Preece: “Dyma gyfle anhygoel i gyfrannu at ymchwil arloesol ar raddfa fyd-eang. Does dim llawer o ddealltwriaeth ynghylch folcanigrwydd petit-spot o hyd, a bydd yr alldaith hon yn darparu’r dilyniant cyflawn cyntaf o samplau creigiau o’r systemau hyn.”
Y tu hwnt i’r rôl newydd hon, mae ymchwil Dr Preece yn canolbwyntio ar ailadeiladu hanesion ffrwydradau a deall sut mae systemau folcanig yn esblygu. Gan gyfuno gwaith maes â thechnegau labordy, gan gynnwys petroleg, geocemeg a geocronoleg, mae hi’n ymchwilio i sut mae magma yn ymddwyn cyn ac yn ystod ffrwydradau.
Mae ei gwaith maes blaenorol wedi mynd â hi i losgfynyddoedd yn Indonesia, Ynys y Dyrchafael ac Armenia, ond dyma fydd y tro cyntaf iddi gymryd rhan mewn alldaith IODP.
Ar ôl y daith, bydd Dr Preece yn arwain ymchwil ôl-alldaith yn dadansoddi gweadau a chyfansoddiad cemegol y creigiau a gasglwyd. Bydd ei gwaith yn helpu gwyddonwyr i ddeall sut mae gweithgarwch petit-spot yn newid y plât tectonig islithrol ac yn cyfrannu at gylchoedd geocemegol dwfn y Ddaear.
Mae Alldaith 502 yn gydweithrediad rhwng 17 o wledydd. Fel llawer o deithiau IODP, ceir heriau technegol a gwyddonol sylweddol, a chynhelir gweithrediadau drilio yn rhai o amgylcheddau mwyaf eithafol y Ddaear. Yn yr achos hwn, mae’r safle drilio yn gorwedd o dan bron 5.5 cilomedr o ddŵr.
Meddai Dr Jude Coggon, Cydlynydd <a href="https://www.ukiodp.org/https:/www.ukiodp.org/">Rhaglen IODP y DU</a>: “Rydym yn falch iawn o gael tri gwyddonydd rhagorol o’r DU yn hwylio fel rhan o’r alldaith hon, yn ogystal ag un arall sy’n cymryd rhan mewn ymchwil ar y lan. 
“Am fwy na 50 mlynedd bellach, mae drilio gwyddonol yn y cefnfor wedi arloesi datblygiad technolegau ar gyfer samplu gwely’r môr o dan y cefnfor dwfn, ac wedi archwilio’r ffin hon i drawsnewid yn barhaus ein dealltwriaeth o sut mae ein planed yn gweithio. Mae Alldaith 502 yn ymdrech gyffrous, a fydd yn ein helpu i ddeall sut mae’r arddull hon o folcanigrwydd a ddarganfuwyd yn ddiweddar yn effeithio ar brosesau sylfaenol y Ddaear, gan gynnwys daeargrynfâu “megathrust” a’r cylch carbon.”
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1517398</post-id> </item>
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<title>Learners with additional needs left out of Wales’s climate education, new report reveals</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/learners-with-additional-needs-left-out-of-waless-climate-education-new-report-reveals/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/21/learners-with-additional-needs-left-out-of-waless-climate-education-new-report-reveals/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea University]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517386</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Children with additional learning needs (ALN) are being left behind in Wales’s climate and sustainability education—despite national promises to make environmental learning part of every child’s experience—according to a new report from Swansea University and Keep Wales Tidy. The research shows that pupils in special schools and alternative provision settings often miss out on meaningful […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Children with additional learning needs (ALN) are being left behind in Wales’s climate and sustainability education—despite national promises to make environmental learning part of every child’s experience—according to a new report from Swansea University and Keep Wales Tidy.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517387" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-560x420.jpg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-80x60.jpg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-696x522.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-265x198.jpg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-1-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-500x375.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The research shows that pupils in special schools and alternative provision settings often miss out on meaningful climate learning opportunities.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517388" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-560x420.jpg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-80x60.jpg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-696x522.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-265x198.jpg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-2-Credit-Ysgol-Penyrheol-STF-Specialist-Teaching-Facility-500x375.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Shannon O’Connor, co-author of the report and Research Associate at Swansea University, said: “By amplifying the voices of ALN educators, this research paves the way for collaboration across education and policy. Inclusive climate education must be accessible to all—only then can we truly support learners to become ‘ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world’, one of the four purposes defined in <a href="https://hwb.gov.wales/curriculum-for-wales" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Curriculum for Wales</a> (Welsh Government, 2022).”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517389" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-scaled.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-315x420.jpeg 315w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-696x928.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-3-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-375x500.jpeg 375w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
Funded through a <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/business-and-industry/collaborate/funding-opportunities-/smart-and-knowledge-transfer-partnerships/smart-partnerships/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SMART Partnership</a> between Swansea University and <a href="https://keepwalestidy.cymru/eco-schools/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keep Wales Tidy’s Eco-Schools programme</a>, the team explored climate education across ALN settings in South Wales—from the M4 corridor to Pembrokeshire.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517390" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-560x420.jpeg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-80x60.jpeg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-696x522.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-scaled.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-265x198.jpeg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-4-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-500x375.jpeg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Surveying 26 settings, including special schools, specialised training facilities, and pupil referral units, the researchers uncovered recurring challenges:
<ul type="disc">
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">A lack of tailored resources</li>
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">Limited staff training</li>
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">An absence of peer networks for sharing ideas</li>
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">Teachers feeling isolated and unsupported</li>
</ul>
These barriers reflect a wider national and global issue: without inclusive approaches, learners with ALN risk being sidelined from shaping climate solutions.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517391" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-scaled.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-315x420.jpeg 315w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-696x928.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-5-Credit-Ysgol-Hendrefelin-375x500.jpeg 375w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said: “If we want a fairer, greener future, we need to make sure everyone is included in the conversation, and to ensure every learner has the tools they need to affect positive change.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517392" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-scaled.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-315x420.jpeg 315w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-696x928.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-6-The-Innovate-Project-375x500.jpeg 375w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
“Learners with additional needs are not being given the same access to knowledge, experiences, or support, and that’s not good enough.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517393" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-scaled.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-315x420.jpeg 315w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-696x928.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-7-The-Innovate-Project-375x500.jpeg 375w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
Despite the challenges, the report also highlights promising practices already underway. Sensory-based outdoor learning, adapted Eco-Schools initiatives, and creative projects—such as climate-themed art and ‘preloved’ fairs—are helping make sustainability education more accessible.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517394" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-scaled.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-315x420.jpeg 315w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-696x928.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-8-The-Innovate-Project-375x500.jpeg 375w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
Gemma Sayce, a teacher from Ysgol Hendrefelin, a local authority-maintained special school in Neath Port Talbot, said: <a name="v1_Hlk210658221"></a>“Engaging learners with climate change education gives them a fair chance to understand today’s biggest challenges and build a lifelong commitment to protecting our planet. Embedding it across all Areas of Learning empowers them to make informed, responsible choices for a more sustainable future.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517395" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-scaled.jpeg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-315x420.jpeg 315w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-696x928.jpeg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Image-9-The-Innovate-Project-375x500.jpeg 375w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
James, a pupil from the same school, shared: “I liked learning about climate change and our planet. Now I know more ways to help stop pollution—and I want to save the seas.”
To close the current gap, the report recommends:
<ul type="disc">
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">Co-creating climate resources with ALN educators and learners</li>
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">Offering specialised training so staff feel confident and supported</li>
<li class="v1MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">Updating policies to include ALN and alternative provision in Wales’s climate education strategy</li>
</ul>
The researchers hope these findings will inspire a shift in how climate education is delivered—so every young person in Wales can learn about, engage with, and help shape a more sustainable future.
Read the full report: <a href="https://online.flipbuilder.com/keepwalestidy/veyp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Curriculum for Wales champions environmental learning, Climate Change and Sustainability Education in Additional Learning Needs and Alternative Provision Settings”</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1517386</post-id> </item>
<item>
<title>From Swansea to the Himalayas. Fourteen Local Trekkers Conquer Nepal to Support Families in Poverty</title>
<link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/20/from-swansea-to-the-himalayas-fourteen-local-trekkers-conquer-nepal-to-support-families-in-poverty/</link>
<comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/10/20/from-swansea-to-the-himalayas-fourteen-local-trekkers-conquer-nepal-to-support-families-in-poverty/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:30:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Charity]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1517381</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Fourteen extraordinary individuals from Swansea have returned home after conquering theMardi Himal Base Camp Trek, a gruelling, high-altitude climb to 4,500 metres in Nepal raising over £19,000 for Swansea charity Faith in Families. What began as a bold challenge soon became a life-changing experience. The team battled steep climbs, freezing nights, and thin air but their motivation […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="v1elementToProof">Fourteen extraordinary individuals from Swansea have returned home after conquering theMardi Himal Base Camp Trek, a gruelling, high-altitude climb to 4,500 metres in Nepal raising over £19,000 for Swansea charity Faith in Families.</div>
<div><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517382" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-560x420.jpg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-80x60.jpg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-265x198.jpg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-500x375.jpg 500w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sue-and-Hermione-rotated.jpg 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517383" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-1024x1021.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-768x766.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-1536x1531.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-421x420.jpg 421w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-696x694.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-1068x1065.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-500x498.jpg 500w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-2-scaled.jpg 1027w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
<div></div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">What began as a bold challenge soon became a life-changing experience. The team battled steep climbs, freezing nights, and thin air but their motivation never wavered. Every step was for the hundreds of children and families in Swansea who face poverty, trauma, and hardship every day.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Led by Faith in Families CEO, Cherrie Bija, the group included business leaders, parents, and professionals united by one goal: to raise vital funds and awareness for families in need across the city.</div>
<div><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1517384" src="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-560x420.jpg 560w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-80x60.jpg 80w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-696x522.jpg 696w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-scaled.jpg 1068w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-265x198.jpg 265w, https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trek-Team-1-500x375.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” said Cherrie Bija. “The climb was slow, continuous, and emotional but every step reminded us why we were there. Families in Swansea face struggles every day, and we wanted to carry that message to the highest place we could.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof"></div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">A Challenge of Grit, Heart, and Purpose</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">The trek, organised by Tribal Tracks, took the group deep into Nepal’s Annapurna region through mountain passes, remote villages, and icy slopes. Under expert guidance, they pushed through exhaustion and altitude sickness to reach the base camp, overlooking the world’s most breathtaking peaks.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Faith in Families supports over a thousand children every week through projects like theirCommunity Cwtches, Cwtch Mawr Multibank, and Brighter Futures providing safe spaces, essentials, and emotional support for families living in crisis.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“It pushed me further than I thought I could go,” said Philip White, owner of White’s Carpentry. “When things got tough, I thought about the families back home who climb their own mountains every day. That’s what kept me going.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof"></div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Fourteen Voices, One Purpose</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Each trekker brought something different to the mountain and came home with a story of strength, compassion, and perspective.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Karen Devonshire, Chair of Trustees at Faith in Families, celebrated her 60th birthday on the trail.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“Turning 60 in the Himalayas is something I’ll never forget. It was tough, emotional, and incredible, a reminder that age should never stop you from making a difference.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Scarlet Le Roux, owner of The Little Tiler, said:</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“I knew it would be hard, but I didn’t expect it to be so moving. When things got tough, I thought about the children we were helping and that gave me strength.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Mandie Bennett, owner of Schoolhouse Daycare and Teilo’s Tots Day Nursery, shared:</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“Every step reminded me why I do what I do for the children who deserve safety, laughter, and love. The climb was tough, but knowing it would help give more children a brighter start made it one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Dr Sue West Jones and her daughter Hermione Vaikunthanathan-Jones, aged 18, took on the trek together.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“Hermione stormed the trek I’m so proud of her,” said Sue. “I’m also really chuffed with my own achievement. Doing it together made it truly special.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Jonathan Healings, of Schmidt Kitchens Swansea and Mumbles Post Office, added:</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“It was cold, relentless, and emotional but standing there, knowing we did it for Swansea’s children, was incredible.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">And for Jane Storer, a Welfare Rights Specialist, the challenge carried deep meaning.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“The climb was brutal at times, but I kept thinking our families face tougher climbs every day. That’s what kept me moving.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof"></div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Beyond the Mountains: Real Change for Swansea Families</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">The £19,000 raised will have a direct impact across Swansea:</div>
<ul>
<li>£10 can fill a family’s fridge with fresh food for a week.</li>
<li>£20 can buy shoes for a child in need.</li>
<li>£50 funds a one-to-one support session for a child struggling with anxiety or trauma.</li>
<li>£70 can provide childcare so parents can retrain or find work.</li>
</ul>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Faith in Families’ CEO, Cherrie, summed it up best:</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“This trek wasn’t about adventure. It was about resilience for our team and for the families we serve. It showed that when we walk side by side, we can overcome anything.”</div>
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<div class="v1elementToProof">In Partnership with Tribal Tracks</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">The expedition was led by Tribal Tracks, a specialist adventure company that designs meaningful, ethical charity treks around the world. Their guidance, preparation, and support made it possible for each trekker to achieve something extraordinary both for themselves and for Swansea’s families.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">“The team’s spirit, courage, and humour never faltered,” said a Tribal Tracks representative. “They climbed for something far greater than a summit they climbed for change.”</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof"></div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">A Legacy of Hope</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">Faith in Families hopes this milestone will inspire more people to take on challenges that make a difference.</div>
<div class="v1elementToProof">To learn more about Faith in Families’ projects, including the Community Cwtches and Cwtch Mawr Multibank or to donate, visit <a id="v1OWA3c3dee6a-9c9a-2a83-1cf1-9a18026a960b" class="v1OWAAutoLink" title="https://faithinfamilies.wales" href="https://faithinfamilies.wales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.faithinfamilies.wales</a>.</div>
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