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Benefits Information

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As part of Swansea Council’s drive to help people in Swansea prepare for the UK Government’s changes to the welfare system, the benefits message is going mobile.

Around 80 vehicles in the Council’s fleet are being fitted with bilingual stickers with the words, “your benefits are changing” to help warn people who may be hit by the changes.  Swansea Council and other organisations across Wales have been working hard to get the message across.

Members of staff from the Benefits Service have been explaining the changes to people face to face, while Housing staff have visited more than two thousand council homes.

Swansea Council Leader David Phillips who is also the Cabinet Member for Anti-Poverty said: “Swansea, along with local authorities across the UK has had to thoroughly prepare for these changes which will not only have a huge impact on a large proportion of Swansea households, but we are expecting a knock on effect on Council departments as the changes bed in.

“Council staff and partner organisations have put in a mammoth effort to make sure the message reaches people and to help them plan for the changes as much as possible.

“For example, Swansea is the first Welsh local authority to forge a groundbreaking partnership with the local Credit Union (LASA) setting up new account packages to help people adjust to the changes and help them budget.”

You can find out more about what the changes are by visiting the:Your Benefits are Changing’ website. You can also ring them on 0300 303 1073 or you can text Change to 80018 to find out if your Housing Benefit will be reduced.

Council tenants who need help or advice should ring the rents team on 534094 or email

rentsteam@swansea.gov.uk

 

rentsteam@swansea.gov.ukrentsteam@swansea.gov.uk

Beyond Bricks and Mortar Programme

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PROTECTING the past is helping shape the future for Swansea workers.

Young men from across the city are gaining employment, training and skills at the highest levels while helping revive Swansea’s landmark Guildhall. It’s all part of the major programme to refurbish the Grade 1 listed building in a way which protects its past while making it functional for future use.

By being part of Swansea Council’s innovative Beyond Bricks and Mortar programme the project has aimed from the start to benefit local firms and secure and create local jobs. It is giving young people at the start of their careers the chance of a life time to learn their craft while restoring fine plasterwork, fittings and woodwork as well as meeting the challenges of conservation while installing modern electrics, heating, lighting and ICT provision.

And it’s meant that apprentice carpenter Tom Morgan, aged 18, from Hafod, was able to secure an apprenticeship with Guildhall contractors and local company John Weaver Contractors. He said: “This project is giving me great experience. There is so much variety in the carpentry here I am gaining skills I could not get elsewhere. When you are starting out it is also important to have work close to home because you cannot afford to travel and stay away.”

Repairing  or replacing wood crafted by the original carpenters has also  helped former apprentice Gareth Morgans, aged 23, gain a prestigious Heritage Gold Skillcard which will open doors for the rest of his career.

The 23-year-old from Winch Wen, who was inspired to take up carpentry after woodwork classes at Birchgrove Comprehensive, said: “This is a really special building and project to work on.

“Although I have worked on a variety of sites I am learning so much here. We are making it right for the future but keeping as much of the original as we can and making the new match the old.”

Council's Cabinet member,said “I am delighted to see the great care being taken by those working on this building as they make their own mark on its future while preserving the past. They are laying the foundations for successful careers while giving the Guildhall a future as offices from which Council staff deliver services to the public and space for public events, conferences and performances."

Ian Hawkins, Managing Director of Hafod-based John Weaver construction, , said:  “This prestigious project has enabled John Weaver, as a local company to secure existing jobs and offer specialist training for both apprentices and those engaged in workplace experience schemes, it has also provided an opportunity to enhance the skills of  those who have completed apprenticeships. Through the range of challenges this project has presented we have gained further expertise which will put us in a unique position as a premier conservation contractor when bidding for future work.

They are working closely with contractors and CADW to ensure that the original features are preserved, restored or replaced with great care while enabling the building to meet the requirements of modern use.

future.”

Dylan Thomas Centre nets world famous football writers

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IT’S not just world famous players like Robin van Persie and Carlos Tevez coming to Swansea these days -  top football journalists are making a beeline for the city too.

ESPN, London Times and Wall Street Journal writer Gabriele Marcotti is the latest to have signed-up for an evening of football fun and discussion at the Dylan Thomas Centre on Saturday March 16 at 7.30pm.Due to his fluency in both English and Italian, Marcotti writes for and contributes to various publications in both languages.

In the United States, Marcotti's known for his work in Sports Illustrated and The Wall Street Journal, he also writes for Champions Magazine, The Times in England, and the Sunday Herald in Scotland, having previously written for the Daily Mail and the Financial Times". In Italy he is a columnist for La Stampa and is the London correspondent of Il Corriere dello Sport.

After working for talkSPORT radio for six years, Marcotti switched to Radio 5 Live, co-presenting the Friday edition of 5 Live Sport alongside Mark Pougatch to preview the weekend’s fixtures in the Premier League and beyond. When Colin Murray began hosting 5 Live Sport on Friday nights, Marcotti moved to the Sunday night 6-0-6 programme.[2]

He often appears on the sports betting television station, SportsXchange and is sometimes interviewed on Sky Sports News and BBC's Football Focus, particularly when big stories break on Italian football such as the 2006 match-fixing scandal. He has also appeared as a pundit on ITV's UEFA Champions League highlights show, and is a regular guest on ESPN's PressPass.[3]
Podcasts

Marcotti took over the job as host of The Times' podcast, TheGame, in August 2007, along with Guillem Balagué, replacing Danny Kelly. He had previously been a main contributor to the podcast for 2006-07 season. The following season he remained a prominent contributor to the programme, although Phill Jupitus took over as the host. Midway through the 2009-10 season, Jupitus left the show to concentrate on other work and Marcotti was re-appointed to the role of host indefinitely.

Marcotti is now also a regular guest on US based football show Beyond the Pitch where he gives regular updates on La Liga, English Premier League along with all the latest transfer news.

Gabriele Marcotti has written a number of high-profile football books, including biographies on Paulo Di Canio and Fabio Capello. He’ll be taking part in a question and answer session within hours of the Premier League Swans taking on Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.

Other footballer writers taking part include Blizzard editor Jonathan Wilson and Philippe Auclair - the England correspondent for France Football. The event will be compered by Marcus Speller from sports podcast, The Football Ramble.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The success of the Capital One Cup-winning Swans is doing wonders for Swansea. The success of the team is putting the city on the map right across the world. This means major international sports magazines and broadcasters are coming to Swansea in their droves and writing great things about our great city and its people.

“The line-up of writers at the Dylan Thomas Centre brings together some of the biggest names in the football-writing world. The event will be a treat for football fans and anyone interested in sports journalism.”

Jonathan Wilson will also speak about his latest book, The Outsider - The History of the Goalkeeper.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/dylanthomas or from the box office on 01792 463980.

Philippe Auclair’s books include a biography on Thierry Henry.