Category: Kids

We Have Had A Very Busy Year

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

 

As you are reading this, we are probably very busy planning our end of term events and getting ready for our end of term party.

We have had a very busy year with 44 children on our books. I can’t believe how quickly time is passing by. It only feels like yesterday we were singing our Christmas and Easter concerts!

We were lucky enough to obtain a large grant to extend our garden in the Spring term. This was given by the Early Years Grants panel at the Vale of Glamorgan. We now have a large safe space in which to plan and play, which also benefits the Village Hall.

We have been planting our outside space planters in the garden and the planters at the front of the Village Hall, to make the front a little attractive as you approach the front doors. However, we would now like to incorporate more fun play in the garden to enhance this. If there is anyone out there who can supply some spare guttering, to make water play walls, using wooden pallets already donated, then please let us know by emailing us and we will collect.

The group closes on Friday 19th July at 1pm for the Summer holidays and will re-open on Tuesday 3rd September for a stay and play from 9:15am until 11:45am. We will also be taking contracts for those who wish to join us up until April 2025.

Our children will return on Wednesday 4th September from 9am, when we will operate mornings only for the remainder of the week.

Our full services resume with the afternoon and all day care from Monday 9th September at 9am.

If you would be interested in our wrap around care to Gwenfo Nursery in September, then please email your interest. Although closed through the holidays, I will be popping in and out of email to check on messages.

Please view our website, www.wenvoeplaygroup. co.uk where you will find useful information and our photo gallery of the children at play over the past year. You will also find links to the 30 Hour Childcare Offer and Tax Free Child Care Offer on our site.

Many children (the term after their 3rd Birthday) are attending 17.5 hours a week funded by; The Childcare offer for Wales at the Playgroup. For further information contact the Childcare offer for Wales helpline to get up to 30 Hours funded childcare Tel: 03000 628628

Many families are setting up Tax Free Child Care accounts to pay their fees. This is where you can set up an account and pay money in and the Government will contribute. For example; for every £8 you put in, the Government will pay in £2. Many children under 3 are paying for their fees this way and many families who take up the Childcare offer for 30 hours

of funded care, may pay any extra fees such as transition or top up fees outside of the funded hours.

The Vale of Glamorgan Family Information Service is most helpful with information on the above;. Call: 01446704704 or email fis@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk for further information.

Many thanks to our Committee for their support over the past year and to the staff who make the Playgroup the safe, welcoming place it is.

Thanks to all those who have supported the Playgroup by attending the events and donating your valuable time from the community. Your support is very much appreciated

Barry Scout Fete

 

1st WENVOE SCOUTS

Barry Scout Fete 

 

Barry Scout Fete will be held in the Barry Fete in Romilly Park on Sat 6 July 12-5. This is a grand event with Arena Acts and Competitions both by the young people involved in Scouts and Guides locally, but also professional groups stalls selling food and fun activities. We are still looking for old plates for Wenvoe Scouts Smash a Plate Stall. Programmes will soon be on sale and include a lucky number, which will be drawn on the day. If you would like programmes let me know and remember if you cannot attend then you can let me have the lucky numbers and I will include them in the draw. Funds raised will come to Wenvoe Scouts to enhance our activities and equipment for children locally involved in Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Last year the Scouts and Guides made a huge human fleur-de-lis and broke the world record with more than 445 people.

We are also still looking for members of the Wenvoe Community to be Trustees for our Board. The Board is a team of volunteers, who work together, as charity trustees, to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally. At the heart of their role is a focus on strategy, performance and assurance

Effective Trustee Board governance helps our volunteer leaders deliver fantastic programmes that give young people skills for life. Training is available on-line and the Board meets one evening per term plus an AGM per year. In particular we need a Treasurer to keep our accounts, a Secretary to keep the minutes and a Chair to oversee the Trustee Board.

More information about Scouting and volunteering https://www.scouts.org.uk/ or email me for a chat.

Waiting list contact

1stwenvoe.join@penarthanddistrict.org.uk

Jane Fenton-May   Group President jfm@fentonmay. org

 

Any Old Plates You Can Donate

 

1st WENVOE SCOUTS

 

Have you got any old plates you can donate to the Scouts for the Smash a Plate Stall at the Barry Fete in Romilly Park on Sat 6th July? So let us know and we can collect them and save the date so you can come and enjoy the fun. The Barry Scout and Guide Fete started 100 years ago and combines arena events put on by members of the local Scout and Guide groups and professional entertainers with stalls and rides. We will be selling programmes nearer the date, which include a lucky prize draw number.

At our AGM in April, the young people told us about the things they do in meetings, which they enjoy. These included wall climbing, camping, cooking, crafts, swimming galas, team games, mosque and RNLI visit and visits to the coast guard helicopters including a trial in the rescue hoist. They also visit Cardiff food bank and are now making regular collections particularly of soap, shampoo and biscuits, which the Bank often have limited supplies. It is amazing the range of activities they do and our thanks go to the leaders for organising the young people to have so much fun, while learning new activities. The section Beavers (6-8), Cubs (8-10½) and Scouts (10½-14) are all full currently but we do have a waiting list. Explorers are for 14-18 years in Penarth. We cannot open a starter Squirrel Drey (4-6), until we have confidence that we have secured on going Beaver leadership. We have got two new volunteers to take over in the summer.

We were sad to say goodbye to Ian Moody, our President, who restarted the village Scouts 48 years ago and ran the Scout group for nearly 4 decades. Scouting has changed in that time, including adjustments to the age groups and spreading up and down. Regulations and training is more controlled. Programming and badge schemes more sophisticated and uniforms more comfortable- all in response to feed back from young people. I started Beavers (6-8) soon after Scouting extended the age range 34 years ago. At that time Scouting was only for boys and there was nothing for the younger boys in the village and lots of choices for girls including an active Guide Group; regretfully the different sections of the Guides gradually closed. Fortunately the Scout Movement started admitting girls just in time for my daughter to join Beavers and move up through Cubs (8-10 ½) and Scouts. At one time she was the only girl. Now the genders are about equal.

The leaders are all volunteers and we have had many excellent Leaders and Assistants and have training, mostly on line, which is accredited Youth Training. We always need additional help either on a regular or ad hoc basis to ensure that we can hold meetings regularly. Sue O’Neil was working alternate weeks as a Assistant Cub Leader and she has now sadly left. The Cubs gave her a tribute and she will be missed.

The Scout Group is a charity and as a result the Wenvoe Group Scout Council at the AGM adopted a new constitution, which aligns more to the Charity Commission’s requirements. We now need a Board of Trustees, who oversee the finances and the governance of the Wenvoe Scouts. Unfortunately no one volunteered to be on the Board or to take up the posts of Chair, Treasurer or Secretary. In order to ensure the Group continues to be compliant we do need people to step forward to take up these positions; parents, members of the local community, relatives, people with experience of such work. Working with young people can be extremely rewarding and you experience their joy and excitement. If you or anyone you know feels they might be able to help let me know. The Board meetings are termly.

Running the Group is costly – rent, equipment, insurance, central costs linked to training and programme development. We used to get extra funds through the Cardiff Area Scout Post. Following Covid restrictions caused cancellations and this will not be revived. We are looking for ways and people to help us raise money. This means that we can broaden the experience and spread the costs.

More information about Scouting and volunteering https://www.scouts.org.uk/ or email me for a chat.

 

Waiting list contact:-

1stwenvoe.join@ penarthanddistrict.org.uk

Jane Fenton-May Group President

 

jfm@fenton-may.org

 

 

News – May 2024

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

The Playgroup operates from the Village Hall and has been operating for over 50 Years. We are registered with Care Inspectorate Wales to care for 30 Children at any one time from the age of 2 Years 4 months. We open 9am until 1pm Monday to Friday and on Wednesday and Thursday we offer care until 3:15pm.

Wrap around care: We collect children daily at 11:20am from Gwenfo Nursery and on into lunch club until 1pm and on Wednesday and Thursday until 3:15pm. We also support children across from our morning sessions to afternoon Nursery for 1pm daily.

30 Hour Funded Childcare Offer Children from Cardiff and The Vale are benefitting from this offer. 12.5 hours are used for LEA Nursery and 17.5 hours per week can be allocated to time with us here at Playgroup. This offer is for children the term after their 3rd Birthday. To find out more, please visit our website

Tax Free Childcare: We accept payment via the Governments Tax Free Childcare. Many parents at this time use this method to pay fees for all ages, or use alongside the 30 Hour Funded Childcare to top up their extra hours/transition fees. Families set up a Tax-Free Childcare account and for example; for every £8 the family pay in; Welsh Government pay in £2. For further information go to www.gov.uk/tax -free-childcare. Further information can be found on our website 

Our Statement of purpose and Admissions Policy & Procedure can be found in ‘DOCUMENTS’ on our website, which may be useful for times and prices. However; if you want to know more, please email or phone. All contacts are on our website.

We have many children staying with us in September 2024 and a high waiting list. Should you wish to be added to our list for 2024 or 2025 please email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com.

We are holding an open afternoon on Tuesday 14th May from 2pm until 3:30pm. Please come along and see what we can offer or view our group. We look forward to meeting you.

 

District Master Chef Night

 

WENVOE SCOUTS

 

As I write, our Scouts are preparing for a District Master Chef night. Last year they won the District Scout cooking competition. Not a mean feat on camping stoves! In the summer they will take part in the All-Wales Camp. The Beavers and Cubs are looking forward to the Area Swimming Competition, having successfully won trophies in the last few years.

Wenvoe is a very vibrant community with lots of clubs and activities but there are not many things for our young people. The Scout Programme aims to help them to learn new skills including outdoor activities and crafts while working in teams, and experience leadership while having fun. Along the way, they earn badges, which cover a wide range of topics. In order to deliver the programme safely, we need adult volunteers to work as leaders and helpers and ad hoc coaches with the sections – Beavers (6-8), Cubs (8-10½) and Scouts (10½-14). We also need Trustees to work behind the scenes to ensure it all runs smoothly and to provide Governance. There is training for leaders. Much of this can be done online and through support from District and Area Scouting. Being involved, is extremely rewarding as you watch the children develop their potential.

We always need new helpers but again we are appealing specifically for people to take on the Beaver group as our current group of leaders are leaving in July. Without leaders we will have to suspend meetings. Ideally it would be good to have people starting to get involved over the summer term. We also need a new Treasurer, Secretary and Chair to lead the Trustees’ team. If you are interested, please contact me to find out more, ideally before our AGM on 16th April, where you could come and meet the team.

At present all our Sections are full but let me know if you have anyone who wants to join, and they will be added to the waiting list: jfm@fenton-may.org

On 6th July in Romilly Park, we will be taking part in the Barry Scout Fete running stalls and in the Arena. We will hold a smash the crockery event and so we would like you to let us have those unwanted plates, so that we can raise money whilst people are having fun. Even if you do not have anything, save the date, and come to the event. It has been organised since 1933 and is a fun day out with something for all the family. If you cannot come you can still support us by giving us a donation https://www.justgiving.com/firstwenvoescouts

On behalf of all the Wenvoe Scout Group, have a wonderful Easter and enjoy the coming of spring.

Jane Fenton-May, Group Chair

 

News – October

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

The Playgroup operates from the Village Hall and has been operating for over 50 years. We are registered with Care Inspectorate Wales to care for 30 Children at any one time from the age of 2 years 4 months. We open 9am-1pm Monday to Friday and 9am-3.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

Wrap around care: We collect children daily at 11:20am from Gwenfo Nursery and on into lunch club until 1pm and on Wednesday and Thursday until 3:15pm. We escort children across from our morning sessions to afternoon Nursery for 1pm.

30 Hour Free Childcare Offer: Children from Cardiff and Vale are benefitting from this. 12.5 hours are used for LEA Nursery and 17.5 hours can be allocated to time with us here at Playgroup. This is for children the term after their 3rd Birthday.

Tax Free Childcare: We accept payment via the Government’s Tax Free Childcare. Many parents at this time use this method to pay fees, or use alongside the 30 Hour Free Childcare to top up their extra hours/fees. Families set up a Tax-Free Childcare account and for example; for every £8 the family pay in, Welsh Government pay in £2. Visit www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

GWENFO PRIMARY PTFA

  Gwenfo School News – September Notes

GWENFO PRIMARY PTFA

Gwenfo Primary are holding their first PTFA meeting of the year on Friday 22nd September at 2.45pm at the school. Parents, teachers and friends associations support schools to raise funds for additional equipment, trips and resources for the children. If you have a little spare time, lots of energy and ideas for fundraising then we would love to hear from you. We are looking to set a calendar of events for the year ahead so don’t worry if you can’t commit to everything it will just give us an idea as to the kind of events we can aim for! A warm welcome awaits you at the first meeting of the year.

Volunteers – We are also looking for volunteers to support us in activities around the school. We would love to be able to involve more friends from the village. We can arrange for the relevant safeguarding checks and would love to hear from you if you have an interest in outdoor spaces and gardening, accompanying us on school trips, supporting children with their reading, helping out at PTFA events or simply being an extra pair of hands every so often! If there are any community groups who would like to link up with the school please do contact us too. Please pop in for a chat, or email gwenfops@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Vacancies – We have a number of vacancies at the school both permanent and temporary. We are looking for midday lunch supervisors who work from 11.40-1pm daily and also breakfast provision supervisors who work from 7.50-8.50am daily. Adverts will be circulated via the Vale of Glamorgan website soon but if you are interested in a position please email the school and we will send out application forms and further details when the jobs go live.

Nicola Starke, Headteacher,

Gwenfô Church in Wales Primary School Tel:02920 593225

 

AUTUMN TERM REOPENING

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

The Playgroup re-opens for the Autumn Term on Monday 11th September at 9am. We offer wrap around care with Gwenfo Nursery 5 days per week.

Monday Tuesday and Friday until 1pm

Wednesday & Thursday until 3:15pm

Prior to this we have the open mornings, stay and play on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th September from 9am until 11:45am. Should you be interested in viewing or joining the group, please feel free to drop in.

We do have a couple of places available from September, due to families moving away from the area. Please contact us should you wish further information.

Fees may also be paid via the Welsh Government’s Tax Free Childcare and the 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer. Please enquire and secure a place with us, prior to applying for the funding. Links are available on our website.

Wenvoe Playgroup is a registered charity and owned by the community. For further information on who we are, please view our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk and view our Statement of Purpose, Admissions and Operational Plan.

Other policies and procedures are available to view, along with our Gallery, where you can view the children in their Playgroup setting.

You can call us on 02920597494 or 07859 907976 during opening hours or email us anytime wen-voeplaygroup@btinternet.com

 

WENVOE SCOUTS – AUGUST

 

WENVOE SCOUTS

On 1 July in Romilly Park, Barry, the young people in Scouts from Wenvoe, Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan had a fun time doing activities with family, friends and other onlookers watching. They proudly paraded the group flags as well as raising money by making and selling campfire doughnuts and running games. We hope to make this a regular event, so look out for announcements for next summer’s fete.
On 12 August, we plan to have a car wash in the Gwenfo Primary School Car Park so lookout for signs around the village. This will be an event to support the Wenvoe local group financially. You can also help by donating via Just Giving. If you can, please add Gift Aid. https:// www.justgiving.com/firstwenvoescouts
We are looking for new leaders for our ‘vibrant’ / active Beaver Group from September onwards. The current leaders have built up a strong group of Beavers that enjoy a broad range of activities centred on the badge programme. Sadly, the current leaders’ work/life balance means they have had to reduce their commitment. Unless we can get regular commitments, the colony will be suspended. The current Beavers really enjoy the Colony meetings, so this would be a shame.
Beavers usually meet on Monday from 6.00-7.00pm during term time and the colony is made up of boys and girls ages 5 ¾ to 8 years. There is a broad programme leading to Badges and the young person can expand their knowledge by “having fun and making friends” – the Beaver Motto – and then progressing up through the different sections of the Scout Group. Leaders are all volunteers and are provided with robust training, mainly online, to support their work. The training is recognised as Youth Training. There will be local support to ensure that transition is smooth.

If you are interested in becoming a leader or helping on a regular rota please contact me or speak to Heulwen, our Cub Leader. Seeing all those happy faces during a meeting makes a worthwhile reward.

 

Jane Fenton-May, Chair Wenvoe Scout Group

jfm@fenton-may.org

 

WENVOE PLAYGROUP

WENVOE PLAYGROUP

At the time of writing this our caterpillars are beginning
to turn into Butterflies and will take flight in
the next few days.
We have been enjoying a good story ‘Jack and the
Beanstalk’ and have started planting our
‘Beanstalks’ (runner beans in pots out in the garden).
As they grow we will monitor their growth on
charts.
We are learning how things change in the environment
and we are thoroughly enjoying our outdoor
space in the glorious weather at this time.
We would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Dave
Pritchard for fixing and painting our decking. We
would also like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to
Dave and Barry Oliver for cementing our new notice
board into the ground. We can now begin to display
and share in the community. THANK YOU BOTH.
We are so grateful for your community spirit.
There are many volunteers in the community, whom
we rely on to keep the Playgroup operating successfully.
Darren Bellamy has put up with me for many
years in operating a successful website for us, thanks
Darren.
Thanks to our Playgroup Management Committee;
Russell, Robyn, Louise, Abi and Helen, for raising
much needed funds and supporting the needs of the
Charity. Without a Committee, Playgroup would
cease to operate as a Registered Charity. Thanks to
you all.
Many parents are talking about the Playgroup which
continues to grow successfully. From September
2023 we find ourselves very busy and propose to be
full for the year ahead.
It’s never too early to put your child’s name on the
waiting list. We have lists started up to April 2025 at
this time. Should you plan to send your children to
the Playgroup in September 2024, then I urge you to
add your enquiry to the waiting list. Playgroup has
an equal opportunity policy, which means we are
open to all and not just Wenvoe. We have children
from the Vale and Cardiff.
With the ’30 Hour Free Childcare Offer’, many use
our wrap around services with Gwenfo Nursery for
the term after their child’s third birthday.
Many use the Tax Free Childcare to pay top up fees
above the Government’s 30 Hour and also to pay
fees for those under 3 years. You can find links to
both on our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk
We enrol children from the age of 2 years and 4
months, so if interested in September 2024, it’s always
best to put your name on our waiting lists,
even if your plans change nearer the date.
Why not have a look at our wonderful website
www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk where you can
find more about us, along with photographs of the
group.
Have a wonderful Summer everyone and we look
forward to our new families joining us in September.
Sandra & Team

 

 

1 2 3 … 16