To see Magnet’s pop-up Aberafan Centre newsroom in action check out this video Magnet with Little J.

It was created by our pals at Cardiff University’s Centre for Community Journalism and the psychological creative agency Behaviour.

Together they’re working on a project called Little J, an online tool that will help the public become reporters who work alongside theirr hyperlocal news team to create the stories that matter to the community.

Incident

Whether you’re tired of the mess on your streets, want to review your local restaurant, or have witnessed an incident that needs reporting, Little J is a quick way to get your community in the know.

After the initial testing of Little J with the people of Port Talbot and Magnet’s pop-up newsroom last month, organisers a’re now tinkering under the hood to plug-in all the feedback.

GOOD news for Port Talbot … Magnet is going to launch a print edition.

The monthly title will be delivered free to 20,000 homes every month from this summer. A small-circulation pilot issue is planned for the coming weeks.

It’ll carry news and information about Port Talbot, its people, organisations, local hopes and a broad range of opinions.

Top class

It will be written by the people of Port Talbot, paid for by advertising from the area and edited by top class local journalists.

The Magnet print edition will build on the success of its website and social media platforms which have built strong followings since they launched three years ago.

As an independent, not-for-profit cooperative, Magnet’s key aims are to aid community cohesion, to collaborate widely, to help develop local skills, to complement existing media provision and to create work.

Winning

As we announced on Facebook this week, the print edition has been made possible by Magnet being a winner in a prestigious national competition.

Shelley Rigdon.

Now mother-of-four Shelley Rigdon, aged 34, has been honoured for her courage and determination with a prestigious national learning award.
Shelley received the Essential Skills for Life Award, part of the annual Inspire! Adult Learning Awards held to mark the start of Adult Learners’ Week (May 18 to 26). Hundreds of events are held across the country to encourage people to improve their lives or job prospects by starting to learn something new.
The week is organised by adult learning organisation NIACE Dysgu Cymru, with the backing of the Assembly Government and the European Social Fund.
When Shelley’s husband Akbar was killed, she was left to raise her children – then aged between three and 13 – without the literacy skills needed to deal with day-to-day life and support them with their schooling.
After more than three years struggling to get by in Birmingham, where she had been living with Akbar, she decided to return to Port Talbot, where her extended family still live.
Arriving back in South Wales, she signed up for literacy classes and, despite the upheaval of a house move that took three months to complete because of shortage of cash for a removal van, Shelley never missed her classes.
Having struggled with literacy all her life, Shelley was even afraid, following her husband’s death, to order his headstone, in case she misspelt the inscription.
But just four months after returning to Wales, Shelley is ahead with her reading and writing skills, and is helping her children with their schoolwork.
Speaking of her Inspire! Award win, Shelley said:” I feel really emotional about winning. I am so proud of myself for achieving so much.
“I would never have been able to learn again if it wasn’t for the support of my family and the help from my tutor, who has been so lovely in encouraging me to keep going through the hard times.”
Shelley’s tutor, Joanna Griffin from Adult Community Learning, said: “When Shelley joined the programme, she could barely read or write, and her confidence was extremely low.
“Shelley is a truly amazing example of how the cycle of illiteracy can be broken, and she is a living example of how learning can empower an individual to achieve things they never thought possible.
“I am extremely proud of her and am so happy that she has won this Inspire! Award. She is a true inspiration.”

Take-up of the MMR vaccine is not high enough, say doctors

Swansea, Neath and Bridgend are also falling short as the number of measles cases continues to rise in the areas covered by the ABMU health board. Doctors have called the latest figures “concerning”.

The number of measles cases in the Swansea outbreak has now reached 1,074 with the hardest hit group being 10 – 18 year olds.

But only 381 vaccinations were given at drop-in clinics last weekend – a steep drop from the previous four weeks when more than 7,500 vaccinations were given.

“The introduction of the MMR in 1988 dramatically reduced the number of measles cases and deaths,” said GP Dr Dai Lloyd. “Unfortunately, in 1997 unfounded and totally flawed research frightened parents into thinking the MMR was not safe and the numbers of measles cases and deaths began to rise.

“The MMR is the only vaccination for which we have proof it provides effective and safe protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

“As a family GP I am well aware of the devastating effect these diseases have on an individual and their family. Please do not settle for anything less than the MMR for protection.”

MMR drop-in clinics will be held on Saturday (13 May 2013), 10am – 4pm at Neath Port Talbot hospital as well as Princess of Wales hospital, Bridgend and Singleton and Morriston hospitals in Swansea.

The vaccination team will visit Neath Port Talbot College’s Neath campus on Thursday, 16 May and the Afan campus on Friday 17 May.

A former Port Talbot RAF Air Cadet has received a prestigious military award.

Gethin Davies, formerly of the town’s 499 Squadron, received the Sword of Honour during the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.

His mother, Christine, head of business, tourism and hospitality at Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC), said: “We’re overjoyed that Gethin has received this honour. We’re very proud him and his achievements.”

Infantry

The former NPTC A Level student is joining infantry regiment The Royal Welsh.

Five years ago, he won the Dacre Sword for best Air Training Corps cadet and was in Welsh cycling’s youth development squad.

He was sponsored by the Red Arrows to achieve his private pilot’s licence and was a cadet instructor in flying in Swansea.

Summit

He climbed a new route to the summit of Island Peak in Nepal in 2011. After a year travelling and gaining sports qualifications in Australia, France, Austria and America, he joined the RAF but his position was made redundant after graduating as a pilot officer.

He transferred to the Army where he was posted to the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Welsh and then to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Photo Gethin Davies at the Sovereign’s Parade ceremony at Sandhurst.

Port Talbot residents thinking about forming a community organisation are being urged to tap into new assistance.

The NPT Homes’ Tenant and Leaseholder Innovation Group (Talig) is to offer training and support.

Group chair Eddie Rawles said: “The Talig team is looking forward to meeting some local groups which have already been identified.

“We’ll work with them over the coming months to develop a best practice guide to help with their development and to provide training and information on how they can evolve.”

NPT Homes’ tenant empowerment officer Kathryn Cook said: “I encourage anybody who’s part of a local group or looking to form a new one to get in touch for advice and support on setting up, running or sourcing training opportunities to benefit the group and its members.”

Talig has received grant funding to deliver the training and support.

More info Phone 01639 505904, email involved@npthomes.co.uk.

Photo Community groups in action.

Port Talbot Town are 90 minutes from Europe.

They beat Carmarthen Town 1-0 in today’s Welsh Premiership play-off-semi-final to clinch a final place against Bala Town.

That game will kick-off at 3pm next Saturday (May 18) at Port Talbot’s GenQuip Stadium.

The prize is a place in the 2013-14 Uefa Europa League.

More details BBC Online

Port Talbot Town Website

European-backed business assistance has helped an Afan Valley enterprise through tricky times.

Skyline Cycles and Café, based in Glyncorrwg, called on Workways after being hit hard by the economic downturn and cycle track closures caused by forestry disease sudden oak death.

The EU-supported organisation helped out with recruitment and marketing issues.

Positive

Skyline managing director Steve Moorwood said: Steve said “Workways offered encouragement in the down times. They were very positive about what we do.

“They helped us recruit new members of staff and supported us with a whole host of things, putting us in contact with the right people.”

As well as receiving assistance with the recruitment of six members of staff, Workways helped Steve to access React funding for employees who had been previously made redundant.

Support

Steve was also put in contact with the NPT Business Development Team from whom he received marketing support.

One new member of the Skyline team recruited through Workways is 25-year-old Leah Squibbs from Glyncorrwg.

Having been made redundant from her previous job, Leah was notified about a vacancy at the Skyline Café. She got the job.

Excellent

Councillor Ali Thomas, leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “It’s excellent to hear of the support Workways is providing.

“The organisation works closely with businesses, advertising vacancies to its pool of job ready participants, shortlisting candidates, organising recruitment days and exploring business support avenues.”

Workways is backed with £12.6m from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government. The project is led by Neath Port Talbot Council in collaboration with other councils.

Photo Leah Squibbs and Steve Moorwood.

Business magazine Insider brought together developers, enterprise bosses, Neath Port Talbot Council and others to discuss opportunities and challenges in developing the area’s economy.

Topics discussed included regeneration projects, regulations, transport and attracting investment.

Comments included:

David Stacey Director, Deryn Property Investments
“Neath Port Talbot has an enormous amount of land at its disposal, when you compare it with what Swansea and Cardiff have left. It’s a huge opportunity. We have invested in the Harbourside area because the council and Welsh Government put a link road in, and because they are going to regenerate Port Talbot Parkway station. It’s logical that the area is going to be regenerated.”

Leo Bedford Fund manager, Regeneration Investment Fund for Wales
“Rather than just build a set of houses, a new warehouse or a commercial development in isolation, if you start with a district heating system for your housing, you are already a lot of the way to meeting your code on sustainability. These things are value for money over a certain period. The capital element is the difficulty.”

Geoff Henderson Chairman, Netalogue
“Most of our customers are outside Wales. You get to a point with any new client when they want to come and see you. That’s something of a challenge. If they come by road, they battle with the tolls, tunnels and getting off the M4.If they come by rail, they get off at Port Talbot railway station, which is a dreadful advertisement for the area.”

More details click here

Photo Action from the Insider round table discussion. Pic Insider