enfys- autumn edition
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Autumn Edition of EnfysTRANSCRIPT
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Enfys
Autumn 2012
Your Views Your News Your Magazine Your Views Your News Your Magazine
Inside this issue:
Tales of Summer fun
Regular Office Updates
TWWW FAQs
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Editor’s Welcome
Welcome to the Autumn issue of Enfys.
Inside you will find the regular office updates
and announcements as well as a wonderful
feature with tales of Mair’s Australian adventure.
We also have some fab snaps from the
Eisteddfod and Jane’s trip to the Olympic Park!
As ever a massive thanks to everyone who con-
tributed content. We couldn’t make Enfys hap-
pen without you.
The Enfys Team
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What’s Occurring?
It’s been a busy few months in Anchor Court, with
new arrivals, planning for the Eisteddfod and
many a buffet. Our love of cake is well known!
The Marketing team have been working flat out over the past
couple of months planning the Eisteddfod and Dress to Progress
campaign with fantastic results. A much needed break
was had when some us went out for a meal to celebrate
John, Anwen and Chris’ birthdays which all fall in a sin-
gle week!
We have welcomed Christine and Helen into the office,
adding yet another department to the ranks in Anchor
Court.
We also had 2 successful buffets, one to celebrate the Jubi-
lee and another to raise funds for Elena’s Beach Canter in
aid of Ty Hafan and the new breast clinic at Llandough hospi-
tal. (We raised £90) Both were hugely successful with quiz-
zes, raffles and mountains of food. Anwen’s mother’s Jubilee
cake was a particular highlight.
Many a holiday has been had. Jane has been regaling us with tales of
her Olympic trip to London. Needless to say many of us are green with
envy, which is sure to increase when Christine returns from New York.
Natasha spent a week in a tent at Download festival (it
was very muddy). Katy has recently returned from a
mammoth trip to the USA, Debs is still sporting a tan from
Portugal, and Maria and Emma are soon jetting off to
America. Phew! Quite a bunch of jetsetters aren’t we?!
Anchor Court
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What’s Occurring?
Exciting times in Colwyn Bay with the news of
Amy’s pregnancy and welcoming two new
starters, Delyth Phillipps as Project Of-
ficer and Siân Richings as Project Trainer
who have swelled our numbers here in North
Wales to 8. Both Siân and Delyth are fluent Welsh speakers and Siân
will be available to deliver some courses in Welsh whilst Delyth will be trying to
engage with more of the rural Welsh businesses to get them on the Evolve pro-
gramme.
We have had a busy few months with all our courses being full and we have
also started holding peer mentoring sessions on a variety of subjects which has
proved really popular with our participants.
We recently held another Team Development day at the Quay Hotel in De-
ganwy which proved to be both fun and productive. The aim of the day was to
develop a sense of team by acknowledging our successes and planning for the
future. It was also a good way for everyone to share any issues or worries and
for the whole team to come up with ideas and solutions. The whole team con-
tributed to the day and people were offered slots to discuss elements of their
roles they find tricky; the rest of the team helped them think up solutions.
It’s also amazing what you learn about each other by playing
silly games over lunch! I’m betting not many people know that
Carl has never dated a welsh girl (shame on him), that Jane
once sat next to Bennie from Crossroads on a tube, (Only
those of a certain age will appreciate that!) or that Quita sold
make up to Adam Ant!
North Wales
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What’s Occurring?
We were involved in the Communities Can Confer-
ence held in the Eirias Rugby stadium which was at-
tended by 200 women and businesses and looked
at the role of coaching and mentoring in the community.
Susie did a presentation on Evolve which proved very
popular and Jane entertained them with her singing.
A very cold April Saturday saw us in Tesco’s foyer targeting
women shoppers for the Ascent programme. It was lovely talking to the ladies
(and the men) but were amazed how many people approached us with money
in hand asking who we were collecting for. One lady was very keen on what we
did and I really wanted to sign her up but at the age of 87 she didn’t feel it was
beneficial to her.
Amy has attended two conferences: one in Brussels and one in Finland, result-
ing in a successful partnership with a company in Belgium called ‘Jump’ which
supports women in a similar way to Chwarae Teg. It was also an opportunity to
share with Women in Finland what Chwarae Teg does here in Wales.
Jane found her summer sunshine on her Mediterranean cruise, I found mine in
Australia and Dewi found his in Croatia but for the rest of us as
far as the sunshine is concerned we are still waiting!
North Wales Continued
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Spotlighted
Lucy had her PhD graduation on the 19th July
having passed her PhD in ethnomusicology
(the anthropology of music) last year. Lucy’s
thesis was on the influence of Soviet Politics
on Mongolian film music during the Socialist
era (1924-1900).
Congratulations Lucy!!
The Way We Work Campaign
August saw a request for nominations from CT staff
as to who they thought was an outstanding exem-
plar of the ‘Ambassador for Chwarae Teg’ aspect of
TWWW. Katy has reviewed the nominations and has
chosen Christine O’Byrne as the outstanding exem-
plar this month. Congratulations to Christine and all
those that received nominations.
Don’t forget that September is focusing on ‘Working Together’. Please send your
nominations to [email protected]
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Green Feature
Green Dragon Update
Since achieving our Level 2 award,
things have been quiet on the Green
Dragon front. The Green Champions are
continuing to monitor the energy usage
and waste levels in all CT office and I am
working on the recommendations in our
audit report to ensure that we retain our
Level 2 award at reassessment next
March.
Tash
Green News
The UK has been named as the top ranking
among the world’s 12 largest economies for
reducing pollution in industry, transport and
buildings.
A report launched in Washington by the
American Council for an Energy Efficient
Economy placed the UK ahead of countries
such as America (who were 9th), Germany,
Italy and China.
The 22nd of Sept. is World Car
Free Day. Why not try walking,
cycling or jumping on a bus to
help lower our carbon footprint!
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Employee Forum Update
Following the initial meeting of the Employee Forum it was agreed that 2 yearly
meetings would not give the forum enough opportunity to put the thoughts and
concerns of CT staff to SMT.
As a result an interim meeting was held in June, the minutes of which are avail-
able on SharePoint.
Going forward, the next meeting is due to take place on the 3rd October so
please see your reps with any feedback on the minutes form previous meetings
or any topics you want to see discussed in October.
Remember this is your forum and it is designed to give you the opportunity to
see the issues you care about discussed in a frank and confidential environ-
ment.
Don’t forget you can also send ideas and sugges-
tions into the Bright Ideas staff suggestion scheme
for discussion at SMT.
Send your ideas to [email protected]
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TWWW FAQ
What is it again?
‘The way we work’ is a framework that all staff can use to help them
be the best they can be in their role. Within the framework there are
5 themes: Ambassador for Chwarae Teg, Working together, Com-
municating positively and effectively, Personal responsibility and
Leading the way. Under each of these themes, there are positive
indicators to support staff in evaluating their practice and the prac-
tice of others. Please note this list is not exhaustive; there may be
other positive indicators you can think of that you choose to use in-
stead.
Yes, I get that bit but what is the purpose?
The reason for creating ‘The way we work’ was that staff had asked for an internal framework
to ensure that we are not only able to offer feedback on performance in roles but also on the
way we do what we do. This framework should give people the tools to highlight areas of ex-
cellence at work in themselves and their colleagues and also areas for personal develop-
ment. The way we work should not only be used once a year in appraisals and it is not in-
tended for managers only; it is for all of us to use daily be that with peers, managers and SMT
alike.
So, what is this campaign then?
After its launch at Chwarae Teg’s 20th anniversary celebrations, some staff members have
fed back that they are unsure how to implement the framework in their day to day business.
The working group decided that more awareness needed to be raised and what better way to
do this than for us to showcase the excellent work that goes on, sometimes seemingly unno-
ticed every day. Last month, we had 17 examples of exemplar employees sent to us under
the theme of ‘Ambassador for Chwarae Teg’! All of those staff will receive recognition for their
commitment and one of them will be chosen as our exemplar employer under this theme
(with an M&S voucher on its way to them). We will be using this format with a different theme
every month and reminders will be sent to staff via email and on payslips.
How do I offer feedback to management though?
The way we work should be used in exactly the same way by all colleagues, no
matter what their level of seniority is. We would always encourage staff to com-
municate positively and effectively on any issue that concerns them and in the
first instance, it is better to raise that with the individual directly so that, in the
case of constructive feedback, they have the opportunity to have their say and/or
improve their performance.
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TWWW FAQ
‘The way we work’ should help colleagues with difficult conversations and
the more the framework is used, the more we will encourage a culture of
open feedback amongst staff. If staff do not feel comfortable raising a con-
cern with their line manager or do not feel that their concern has been re-
solved, they can always speak to the HR team, an Employee Forum repre-
sentative, a member of the Senior Management team or the Chief Executive
in confidence but we would hope that the problem does not need to escalate
this far. Further information on giving and receiving feedback for all staff will follow shortly so
that people who may have concerns around this, have the opportunity to raise them.
Anything else I should know?
Yes, ‘The way we work’ team is currently working on integrating the framework
into appraisal documents which will be available on SharePoint very soon.
There is also a lot of work going on behind the scenes to build ‘The way we
work’ into our recruitment and probationary processes and through our website
so the framework can be discussed with all potential staff and new employees
as they start their journey with us at Chwarae Teg.
My question hasn’t been answered, who can I ask?
You can speak to your fellow colleagues or a manager and if you are still un-
sure and would like further clarity, Maria and Amy are happy to take your ques-
tions either via phone, Skype or email at: [email protected] . This is also
the email address to send your nominations through to each month.
As a reminder, the campaign will look at the following themes over the coming months:
August Ambassador for Chwarae Teg
September Working together
October Communicating positively and effectively
November Personal responsibility
December Leading the way
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Policy & Research Team Update
The new Policy & Research team, Christine O’Byrne and Helen Reed, has set its priorities
for the rest of the year and is busy responding to consultations, attending meetings and
most importantly, guiding Chwarae Teg’s key piece of research to fruition. The work contin-
ues to be varied and challenging and both Christine and Helen are enjoying their new roles
and working together.
Women in the Workplace Research
The research into women’s roles in the Welsh workplace is well underway and initial drafts
have been received! This is only the third project of its kind that Chwarae Teg has under-
taken since our inception in 1992. The aim is to establish what progress has been made
over the last 20 years and to investigate the steps required to support women to contribute
fully to the economy. We are delighted to report that Jane Hutt has agreed to launch the
research report and the team are busy exploring options for suitable venues. The launch
has been scheduled for the 21st November and Christine will keep you updated on plans
for the launch and let you how you can get involved in disseminating this research. It is so
important that we make the most of this research and that its key messages are circulated
as widely as possible. Communication and dissemination plans are being refined and we
will consult you for your suggestions in due course.
Women’s Poverty Matters!
Christine has put together a very thought provoking video on youtube which may be useful
to you in your work. Please take a look:
English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q11xCpmf-6g
Welsh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hN_rbBNVvhE&list=HL1342440955&feature=mh_lolz
We have sent this to all Assembly Members to raise awareness of Chwarae Teg’s work.
We have also tried to keep the debate around women’s poverty going amongst our net-
works by using Chwarae Teg’s social media channels?
Linked In and Facebook groups: Womenspire
Tweet using the hashtag: #wompov
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Business Development Hub Update
We are looking forward to a very productive busy Autumn … here’s a flavour of what we’ll be
up to.
We’ll be facilitating the Regional Work-life Balance Networks in October at venues in
Cardiff, Llandudno and Swansea.
Click here for more information about the network including dates and venues. If you know
any employers interested in coming along we’d love to see them.
Chwarae Teg Solutions – Training and Consultancy
Our Autumn programme of open courses is now on our website and we are running a se-
ries of engagement activities across Wales to promote Solutions consultancy including
partnering with the Wales Audit Office and Consult Capital.
Click here for more information about Chwarae Teg Solutions
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Business Development Hub Update
Do you know who Chwarae Teg’s Corporate Members are? Have a look at the home
page of our website and checkout the scrolling logos. Click here
We’ll be visiting our regional offices over the coming months to update you all on Chwarae Teg’s membership scheme. In the meantime you can find more information
here
We’re also looking forward to delivering two Business Enterprise projects in September.
We’ve teamed up with Get Mentoring a UK wide initiative established to recruit and train
thousands of business mentors from the micro, small and medium-sized business sector who would be willing to volunteer one hour a month to support a business mentee. Our first shout-out across Wales to those who have 'been there and done it' to pass on their valuable experience to SME’s attracted 60 potential mentors.
Find out more about Get Mentoring click here
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Business Development Hub Update
We’re also been commissioned by BETS, WG to deliver a series of workshops across Wales
for Business Advisors who support women from the black, minority, ethnic communities
wanting to start up new businesses. We are working in partnership with EBSP and the
workshops aim to bridge the gap between the mainstream business support provider organi-
sations and women from BME communities living in Wales.
For more information contact Jane [email protected]
To find out more about what we’re up to please get in touch or stop by for a cuppa if you’re
in Anchor Court. There may be cake!
Emma [email protected]
Jane [email protected]
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A Golden Twelve Hours
What a fab day! I was lucky enough to get tickets to some of the London 2012 venues in-
cluding the Riverbank with its smurf turf!
I arrived at the Olympic Park at Stratford at 7am on Sunday morning to be greeted by very cheery games makers and passing through airport style security staffed by the
Welsh Guards was surreal.
I played hockey when I was younger so to see it played at international level was very exciting. The players hit lumps out of each other especial-ly when the Blacksticks played the Hockeyroos. I’m told this is hockey’s
equivalent of the Six Nation’s Wales v England match!
The Olympic Park is enormous filled with spectacular venues including the Velodrome. After an amazing day enjoying the park we headed off
to Tower Bridge and its Olympic Rings. A golden 12 hours!
Jane wasn’t the only Business Development Team member to enjoy the Olympics. Trish and family also enjoyed a day out at the Olympic Park and Will and Alastair certainly
seemed to get into the Team GB spirit!
London 2012 Survival Kit
Jane Nyhan
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Staff Experiences
Mair’s Australian Adventure
On the 1st May 2011 our youngest son Karl left for Australia with a nonchalant wave and a ‘see
you later’, leaving us standing in Manchester airport bereft with thoughts of never seeing him
again. (Bit of a drama queen I know!)
He soon settled in to his new job and we spoke on Skype regularly and I was fine until New Year
’s Eve when while watching the fireworks over Sydney Opera House we (or if I’m honest ‘I’) de-
cided I missed him so much and we just had to go and visit him. We booked our flights for the
19th March and off we went trying not to look like Greece was the furthest we had ever flown!
We had an overnight stop in Singapore which enabled us to do a quick whiz round the sights on
one of the red Tourist Bus that seem to be common in every major city before going back to the
airport for the next leg of the journey. The ‘dreaded’ flights turned out to be quite pleasant and
relaxing and in no time at all we arrived in Sydney to be met by our son looking every bit the
Aussie with his sun tan, shorts and flip flops (or thongs as they are known in Australia). I of
course burst into tears at seeing him but then I am his mother.
Karl lives his life at ninety miles an hour and no sooner than we had dropped off our bags at his
flat in Balgowlah he had us walking along Fairlight beach to Manley for breakfast of eggs bene-
dict on the waterfront – the best way to beat the jet lag apparently! We then caught a bus into the
city via the Sydney Harbour Bridge and our first glimpse of the iconic Opera House. We walked
through Darling Harbour like the awe filled tourists that we were, and then visit-
ed the Chinese Gardens and me, being a little bit obsessed with taking photo-
graphs wherever I go immediately started our photograph collection - well this
was a trip of a lifetime and we were in Sydney, click, click.
I didn’t think jet lag was a problem until that evening when we were enjoying a nice glass of wine
and I fell asleep as I bent down to pick it up, almost ending up on the floor. I Thought it best to
give up at that point and was sound asleep my 8.30pm.
The best way to get around Sydney is by ferry and from Manley the
ferry travels across the bay and into Circular Quays between the
Opera House and the bridge - beat that for a journey to work each
day! Obviously I took one or two photos of the Opera House and
bridge and quite often while on the ferry I would just sit in awe not
quite believing that we had made this trip over 10,000 miles and here
we were on the Pacific Ocean looking over to Sydney!
I can’t remember the last time I visited a zoo but I felt it
had to be done - well you can’t leave Australia without
seeing at least one Kangaroo and Koala! Taronga Zoo
is on its own island and the ferry takes you across the
bay then a cable car takes you up to the top entrance of
the Zoo and you walk through the zoo back down to the
ferry.
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Staff Experiences
It was a fabulous day and I managed a few more photographs of the natives, namely wombats,
koalas and kangaroos as well as Tasmanian Devils. (Not to be investigated too closely, a bit too
vicious for my liking)
The best bit of wildlife was seen locally – the massive Huntsman spiders
were everywhere and although allegedly the big ones were harmless I had
no intention of getting close enough to find out. The trees were filled with
brightly coloured parakeets and noisy cockatoos and while sitting reading
in the garden I looked up to see a kookaburra watching me from the wash-
ing line - totally unfazed by my excited oohs and aahs!
While standing on a street, map in hand a passer-by approached and asked if
we needed any help. We explained we were looking for The Rocks (the oldest
part of Sydney) and he duly gave us directions before adding ‘pop in to the Lord
Nelson on your way past, you ‘pommies’ probably know a thing or two about
him, and it’s a good glass of beer’, obviously we did as we were told! When we
decided to visit Weringwah shopping mall for some retail therapy I asked the
bus driver to let us know when we got there as we didn’t know the area - he
looked at me and in a broad ‘aussie’ accent said, ‘it’s a bloody big place full of shops, you can’t
miss it’ and he was right but he did wink at me as I got off the bus so I didn’t feel too silly.
The two weeks were nowhere near long enough to see everything and in no
time at all it was time to go home. Leaving Karl was emotional and of course I
cried again but he had told us he wouldn’t come back so it was hard not know-
ing when we would see him again.
The ‘trip of a lifetime’ was over but no sooner than we on the plane we had decided we just had
to go back. As soon as we got home the ‘aussie fund’ was to be reinstated and we would start
planning for the next ‘trip of a lifetime’, Australia 2014…………….
Mair Rowlands
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Tash’s Cocktail
Corner
Key West Cooler
1/2 shot midori
1/2 shot archers
1/2 shot Malibu
1.2 vodka
3 shots of orange juice
2 shots cranberry juice
Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the
midori into the bottom.
Shake the archers , Malibu and or-
ange juice and pour slowly into the
glass.
Shake the vodka and cranberry juice
before pouring slowly into the glass.
If you pour carefully each layer should
float
Bramble
50 ml Gin
Juice of 1
lemon
Sugar
Crushed ice
1/2 shot Crème de Mure
Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar
with ice then pour into a tumbler over
crushed ice.
Drizzle the Crème de Mure over the top
of the ice.
Garnish with a blackberry and enjoy.
Tangerine Dream
Mix 3 shots grapefruit juice, 3 shots orange juice and 2 shots of Lemon juice in a
glass. File with ice and enjoy!
Please enjoy these drinks responsibly
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Announcements
We have had so many birthdays over the past few
moths, far too many to list everyone here. Best wish-
es are sent to all who have celebrated theirs in May,
June, July and August!!
The past few months has seen quite a lot of change in Chwarae Teg. While we
said a fond farewell to some team members we also welcomed a whole raft of
new starters.
Sian Richings—PTO Colwyn Bay
Kelly Foster—PTO Treforest
Huw Thomas—PTO Llanelli
Emma Thomas—PTO Llanelli
Kim Talbot—PTO Llanelli
Helen Reed—Policy Support Officer
Louisa Cooper—Project Administrator—Llanelli
Dawn Colyer—Project Liaison Officer
During October we will say a temporary farewell to Amy who will start her materni-
ty leave at the beginning of October. We look forward to welcoming Amy back in
2013.
We shall also say a fond farewell to Katy who will be taking up the post of CEO
with Business in Focus. We wish Katy well in her new role.
Birthdays
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Announcements Ctd
The best day of your life
Is the one on which
You decide
Your life is your own.
No apologies or excuses
No one to lean on
Rely on or blame
This gift is yours………
It is an amazing journey
And you alone
Are responsible
For the quality of it
This is the day
Your life really begins
Mair Rowlands
Congratulations to
Leanne who got married
on the 10th August!
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Creative Writing
That’s Well Cool I recently attended a friend’s wedding up in a beautifully rural part of Lincolnshire. A four-strong group of us made the long car journey, where we were able to experience a few choice highlights of the UK’s travel network. Lengthy tailbacks on the M60 ring road, a Mini barely holding on to some scaffolding poles tied to a roof rack and Burger King fries that were cold and suspiciously square shaped to name but a few. After a good night’s sleep in our ‘country house’ hotel (which was bizarrely located in the centre of a town, next door to Spar) we made our way to the wedding. Following the lovely service in a recently refurbished old chapel, the group headed over to the recep-tion at a nearby country inn. Next came the disorientation, confusion and anxiety related to any wedding: the seating arrangements. Having finally found our assigned spaces, we sat down next to another group of 4 people and quickly got chatting. It turns out that the other group were all colleagues, working for a large engineering company in the North East. As two of our group also work for an engineering firm in Deeside, conversation rapidly took on a more technical nature. Shot blasting machinery, programmable logic controllers, non-contact AC electric testers and crane lifts were amongst the rather weighty subject matter discussed. Eventually I was of course asked where I work. After a (hopefully) brief introduction and explanation, it was at this point that the Equality & Diversity training I’d received in Car-diff earlier in the week became very useful. Particularly the section on ‘politely managing encounters with equality sceptics’ that was covered. After some reasonably healthy dis-cussion, one member of the group left the table to get a drink making it abundantly clear that he was still quite the sceptic. An hour or so later, we met once again in the buffet queue. This time he had his young son with him, who was about 6 or 7 years old, complete with scuff-marks on the knees of his trousers after repeatedly sliding across the wooden floor. The sceptic took great pleasure in telling his son “Jamie, this man works for a company and they ONLY help women. Not us. Things are APPARENTLY not fair!” “Really?” the young boy looked up at me, with big inquisitive eyes. “Erm….. yeah” I cautiously answered him. “You help women cuz it’s not fair?” he looked up again. “Yeah” I answered, then asked “So what do you think about that?” “That’s WELL cool, fair play!” he exclaimed. Fair play…. Chwarae Teg…. So it seems even the children of rural Lincolnshire are aware of the great work we do. Long may it continue. Dewi Jones
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A Day out at the Eisteddfod
Debs, Anne and I were lucky enough to be allocated to work at the Eisteddfod
on the Thursday. Not only did we have glorious sunshine (I had the sun burn
to prove it!) it also happened to be the day that the Cardiff Blues players were
at their stand signing autographs.
In between handing out many leaflets, newsletters, pens and wrist bands we
managed to find the time to go and meet some of our favourite Rugby stars
and got to hold the 6 nations trophy!
All in all a very successful day!
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Dates for your Diary
8th September - International Literacy day
18th September - World Water Monitoring
Day
19th September - International Talk like a
Pirate Day
21st September - International Day of
Peace
5th October - World Teachers’ Day
8th October - World Space Week
31st October - Halloween
1st November - All Saint’s Day
11th November - Remembrance Day
30th November - St Andrew’s Day
10th December - Human Rights Day
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Last but not least….
A big thank you to everyone
who has contributed to
Enfys.
The next edition of Enfys is scheduled for December 2012
and will be full of Christmas cheer!!