Here's your Friday update, covering: New Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff begin their term of office; Cardiff Market renewal plans; Cardiff Dogs Home Lottery funding boost; Corpus Christi praise from Estyn.

New Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff begin their term of office

Cardiff councillor Bablin Molik, who has become the 118th Lord Mayor of Cardiff, has named UCAN Productions - a performance and creative arts charity for blind and partially-sighted children - as her chosen charity for her term in office.

Cllr Molik will be assisted in the key ambassadorial role for the city by Cllr Jane Henshaw who is the new Deputy Lord Mayor.

Both councillors took up their new positions at Cardiff Council's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, May 25th.

Cllr Bablin Molik said: "It is a great honour to become the 118th Lord Mayor of Cardiff. I am the 16th female Lord Mayor, the first woman of colour and the first Muslim Lord Mayor of Cardiff. As well as the civic duties that will be bestowed upon me, I am very keen to get out into the community to champion my chosen charity which will be UCAN Productions. Cardiff has so much to offer, and I look forward to the busy schedule ahead of me. Already a wide series of events are being organised so that we can visit as many communities across the city as possible."

The Lord Mayor acts as the lead ambassador for the city's civic functions, and as the chairperson at Full Council meetings.

Cllr Molik is a councillor for Cyncoed and Lakeside. She was first elected to the council in 2017 and was re-elected in 2022. Her husband, Molik Musaddek Ahmed will become the Lord Mayor's Consort.

Married with two teenage daughters, Cllr Molik moved to Wales as a six-year-old child from Bangladesh. She was educated in Cardiff, attending Marlborough Primary School, then Corpus Christi Roman Catholic School before studying for A Levels at St David's Roman Catholic Sixth Form College. Cllr Molik has a BSc Degree in Biochemistry and a PHD in Eye Biology from Cardiff University.

The new Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Jane Henshaw, is a councillor for the Splott ward. Originally from Wrexham, Cllr Henshaw moved to Cardiff in 2014 and was first elected to the council in 2017. Her daughter, Angharad Anderson will become the new Deputy Lord Mayor's Consort.

Mother of four children with four grandchildren, Cllr Henshaw has a BA Degree in English and History and is delighted to become the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff for the coming year.

Cllr Henshaw said: "It is an honour to be awarded the title of Deputy Lord Mayor and I will support Cllr Molik in her role, as well as assist with the busy schedule of civic functions that we have ahead of us."

Cllr Molik takes over as Lord Mayor from Cllr Graham Hinchey and Cllr Henshaw takes over as Deputy Lord Mayor from Cllr Abdul Sattar.

Plans for renovation of historic Cardiff Market revealed

Plans for a multi-million-pound renovation of Cardiff's historic Central Market that would protect, preserve and future-proof the Grade II* Listed building, restoring original design features, and introducing a new ground floor seated area for food have been revealed.

Opened in 1891, the market is steeped in history and following the renovation, Cardiff Council, who own the market, are also intending to better present and share its history with the 2.2 million visitors it attracts every year, using visual story points and projections.

The plans, which are subject to funding being successfully secured and planning permission being granted, include:

•                     the restoration of the Trinity Street and St Mary Street entrances.

•                     restoration of the roof, original windows and external elevations.

•                     replacement of glazing and tiles.

•                     restoration of the market interior, including improvements to the historic stalls.

•                     removal of a 1960s ‘false floor' at the Trinity St entrance to reveal the original design.

•                     roof-mounted solar panels, and integrated battery storage.

•                     repairs to the H.Samuel market clock.

•                     a new 70-seat eating area on the ground floor.

•                     a new activity and education room.

•                     drainage improvements.

•                     the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting.

Cabinet Member for Investment & Development, Cllr Russell Goodway, said: "Customers have been visiting Cardiff Market for more than a century and our extensive renovation plans aim to ensure a viable and sustainable future for the building, preserve and enhance its heritage, and ensure it remains the bustling heart of the city centre for many years to come."

The market, which is home to 61 eclectic independent businesses including traditional greengrocers, butchers and fishmongers, street food stalls, artisan producers, clothing, music and hardware stalls and more, will remain open throughout the works, with some traders relocated into nearby accommodation on a temporary short-term basis.

If successful, the works are currently expected to begin in Summer 2024 and take approximately two years to complete.

Volunteering at Cardiff Dogs Home gets National Lottery funding boost

Cardiff Dogs Home has received a £95,000 grant from the National Lottery to support its thriving volunteer project, which currently sees between 30 and 40 new volunteers inducted each week.

Every year the award-winning team at Cardiff Dogs Home care for hundreds of lost or stray dogs while they wait to be reunited with their owners or found a forever home. Volunteers play a significant role in that team, helping carry out many different tasks, but mainly taking the dogs out for walks.

The National Lottery grant will help fund a Volunteer Co-ordinator role, as well as volunteer training, regular meetings and a volunteer facility at the Cardiff Council run Home.

Cabinet Member with responsibility for Cardiff Dogs Home, Cllr Dan De'Ath said: "Volunteering with dogs brings many benefits to volunteers, but our volunteers are also really valuable for the dogs we look after, helping us keep them fit, healthy and ready for their forever home. This National Lottery funding will help our volunteer programme continue to thrive for another three years."

Andrew Owen, Head of Funding at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: "National Lottery money makes a real difference for people and communities across Wales. Thanks to National Lottery players, Cardiff Dogs Home will be able to bring people in Cardiff together to support and engage with their community through volunteering opportunities where they live."

Corpus Christi Catholic High School praised after Estyn visit

One of Cardiff's largest Catholic schools has been praised by inspectors for its "caring and nurturing community" and for seeking to "enrich pupils' lives through faith and extremely high-quality care, support and guidance".

In its latest Estyn report, carried out in March this year, inspectors said that a notable strength of Corpus Christi Catholic High School in Lisvane was its ethos that contributes positively to pupils' wellbeing, behaviour and engagement in learning.

They added that the school has a "well-established vision for pupil and staff wellbeing, which is underpinned by its Catholic ethos and centred upon all members of the school being attentive, compassionate and truthful. Leaders and staff at the school promote this vision consistently and pupils appreciate the high levels of support they receive."

Cllr Sarah Merry, Cardiff Council's cabinet member for education, said she was delighted with Corpus Christi's inspection. "It's clear that Patrick Brunnock and his team are having a real impact on the school. Their innovations are making a difference in the areas of disaffected pupils and it's pleasing that Estyn has recognised this in inviting the school to share its ExCel expertise with others.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Corpus Christi in the future as it strives for even better results in the future."

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