March 2026 - Page 8 of 10 - AberdareOnline

Ombudsman warns on gap in Wales between number of people identifying as carers and those in receipt of formal needs assessments

Team @ AberdareOnline10 March 202606 mins

Despite improvements in post-assessment communications and practical support for carers, a gap still remains between the number of people who identify as carers and those receiving formal needs assessments in Wales. These are the findings of a follow up report published by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, looking into how Welsh local authorities identify, assess and support unpaid carers. The original investigation,…

Re-uniform Recycling Winner Crowned

Team @ AberdareOnline10 March 202610 March 202605 mins

A school in Rhondda Cynon Taf has been crowned recycling champions! Tref-Y-Rhyg Primary School scooped the top prize in Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s School Re-uniform Recycling Competition, collecting over 1.5Kg of school uniform per student – that’s equivalent to 6 school jumpers each, for all of the children! They were closely followed by Coedpenmaen Primary…

IFS: Welsh health and educational systems are underperforming

Team @ AberdareOnline10 March 2026017 mins

Five years on from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, waiting lists for pre-planned NHS treatment are finally falling in Wales. But they remain far higher than pre-pandemic, and have taken longer to start falling than in England. Meanwhile, A&E waiting times are, if anything, still rising. School absences remain 50% higher than in 2019,…

IFS Report: Welsh Public Services Underperforming After Decades Of Labour–Plaid Rule

Team @ AberdareOnline10 March 202610 March 202607 mins

The latest report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies has confirmed what the Welsh Conservatives have been saying for years: despite Wales receiving higher levels of funding per person than England, health and education outcomes in Wales continue to lag behind the rest of the UK. The report suggests that the issue is not simply…

Builder bucks for Beddau RFC

Team @ AberdareOnline10 March 202610 March 202604 mins

A South Wales rugby club’s Under Sevens’ side is the latest winner of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions funding. Beddau RFC secured £2,000 from the accredited five-star builder’s East Wales business, based a few minutes’ drive away in Llantrisant, with the cheque presented to its players in March. The club, which can trace its origins back…

Welsh Conservatives Bring Forward Senedd Debate to Fix Our Economy

Team @ AberdareOnline9 March 20269 March 202605 mins

The Welsh economy is lagging behind the rest of Britain after 27 years of Labour, propped up by Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats. Employment in Wales remains the lowest in the UK, the number of people on Universal Credit has increased in Wales, the unemployment rate in Wales stands at 4.5 per cent, and…

Council Claims Leadership on Fly-Tipping – But Past Waste Controversies Raise Questions

Team @ AberdareOnline9 March 20269 March 202607 mins

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has declared itself one of Wales’ leading authorities in tackling fly-tipping, but critics say the authority must also answer questions about its own handling of waste in several controversial cases. New Welsh Government figures covering April 2024 to March 2025 show 18 fly-tipping prosecutions in Rhondda Cynon Taf, out of a…

Trecynon man jailed for assaulting three children

Team @ AberdareOnline9 March 202602 mins

A man has been jailed for assaulting three children in the park, following a South Wales Police investigation. Luke Jancouski, 39, of Trecynon has been sentenced to one year and six months in prison following his conviction. The sentencing took place on Thursday March 5 at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court where Jancouski pleaded guilty to two counts…

260 Girls Take to the Pitch at Caerphilly Football Festival

Team @ AberdareOnline6 March 20266 March 202603 mins

A total of 260 girls from across Caerphilly County Borough came together for a Girls’ Football Festival at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, led by Sport Caerphilly. A total of 260 girls from across Caerphilly County Borough came together for a Girls’ Football Festival at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, led by Sport Caerphilly. The…

Estyn praise for Hirwaun Primary School

Team @ AberdareOnline6 March 20266 March 202602 mins

A recent Estyn report has praised the school for its calm, nurturing and modern learning environment, where pupils feel valued and respected. Staff make excellent use of the modern building’s open spaces, and the strong, caring relationships between pupils and staff really shine through. The curriculum was highlighted as a major strength — rooted in…