Here is your Friday update, covering:
- Cardiff Hubs and Libraries have finger on the pulse!
- New research highlights expertise and support provided by social workers in Cardiff, in attempt to encourage more people to foster
- Windsor Clive Primary School awarded for excellence in children's health and wellbeing
- Travel advice for Wales vs Australia on 17 November in Cardiff
Cardiff Hubs and Libraries have finger on the pulse!
Hubs and libraries across Cardiff are extending their health and wellbeing offer, with the launch of a new blood pressure monitor scheme.
In the same way as library card holders can borrow books and other resources from facilities across the city, members of the public can now take advantage of the new loan scheme that will allow them to keep track of their blood pressure.
The scheme is the latest health and well-being initiative from the Hubs and Libraries service, working in partnership with Cardiff and Vale Local Public Health Team and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and supports the goal of delivering activity to help reduce health inequalities across the city.
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure but many don't realise it. If untreated, high blood pressure over a period of time can lead to a number of health problems including stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, vascular dementia and diabetes.
Being more aware of their blood pressure can enable individuals to make positive lifestyle changes such as such as getting active, keeping to a healthy weight, eating healthily, stopping smoking or taking medication, to avoid these negative outcomes.
New research highlights expertise and support provided by social workers in Cardiff, in attempt to encourage more people to foster
With over 7,000 young people in care across Wales, the need for more Foster Carers is increasingly pressing.
Foster Wales Cardiff needs more foster carers in our community to ensure local children can stay close to their families, friends, and schools, providing them with the stability and support they need. By increasing the number of foster carers, we can help more children thrive in familiar surroundings.
In January the national network of 22 Welsh local authority fostering teams, Foster Wales, launched a campaign to recruit an additional 800 foster families by 2026.
Foster Wales Cardiff joined the campaign, ‘Bring Something to the Table,' to share realistic experiences from the fostering community to respond to common barriers to enquiries.
Some of these include a lack of confidence, misconceptions around criteria, and a belief that fostering doesn't fit with certain lifestyles.
Windsor Clive Primary School awarded for excellence in children's health and wellbeing
Windsor Primary School in Ely has been recognised as a Thrive School of Excellence for putting the health and wellbeing of children and staff at the heart of everything it does.
The award is the highest level of achievement and celebrates the commitment of schools that make a positive impact on children, young people and the wider community.
The school has been commended for the establishment of three ‘hive' rooms which provide children with a calm, safe place where they can go to learn, complete their work or connect with a Thrive Practitioner during a ‘check out' - this when a child is finding it difficult to regulate their emotions and needs to talk to an emotionally available adult.
The school also operates a Thrive Lunchtime Club (TLC) where children can choose to visit when they feel they need to and provides a range of multi-sensory and mindfulness activities.
Parents and families can access Thrive courses delivered by the school's Family Thrive Practitioners, providing support and techniques to gain an understanding of their child's social and emotional development.
Travel advice for Wales vs Australia on 17 November in Cardiff
Wales will be taking on Australia on Sunday 17 November at Principality Stadium.
With the kick-off taking place at 4.10pm - there will be a full city centre road closure from midday until 8.10pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely.
The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy due to this rugby match - so please plan ahead - and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at the former Toy's R Us site car park in the Sports Village - CF11 0JS.
For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook.
Gates open at 2.10pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.