The RSPCA has launched an emergency appeal to find foster homes for hundreds of young horses as the number in their care has doubled in the past year.

They are currently looking after 600 ponies and horses which have suffered neglect and cruelty and almost half of them are youngsters.

To tackle the growing horse crisis the RSPCA has launched the Stable Future appeal to find fosterers to temporarily look after some of the 270 youngsters which are too young to be ridden.

Liz Handford, from Carmarthenshire (pictured), has fostered five horses for the RSPCA. She said:

“It’s very rewarding. If you’re fostering, you just get the fun part; it’s all about playing and having fun with the horses. You get the pleasure of having young horses around; seeing them, grooming them and watching them develop. It’s a real privilege and a pleasure.”

Foster carers must have experience handling horses, grazing and be able to take in a youngster for a minimum of six months. To apply log onto www.rspca.org.uk/stablefuture or call 0300 123 8000 for an application form.

Animal lovers who can’t take on a foster horse can also help by donating spare tack, rugs and equipment to the RSPCA or making a donation to our equine centres. Log onto the website to find out how.

The £20m Fund is delivered as part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The RCBF is jointly funded by Defra and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and provides grants to communities to establish superfast broadband in hard-to-reach areas.

How to Apply?

The second Expression of Interest round is open between 10 May and 6 July 2012. Full details of how to apply can be found on the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)website http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/rural-community-broadband-fund.

Who can Apply?

You can apply if your community is in a rural location identified as being in the 10% hard to reach area covered by your Local Authority’s Local Broadband Plan (LBP), or if the 10% area is still not clear, you need to demonstrate that you will be in the 10% of hard to reach areas in your LBP when finalised.

Come and celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at EJ’s bar and restaurant at Vauxhall, Llanelli SA15 3BD with friends, family, neighbours – from babies to grannies – all are welcome. The fourth annual Big Lunch will fall on the same 4-day bank holiday weekend as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Link to location map

There will be a Sunday Carvery 2-course meal and entertainment.

Ticket prices are £10.00 adults / £7.00 children

Please contact Rhian at Age Cymru Sir Gâr on 01554 784080 if you would like to attend – its recommended to buy tickets in advance.

As well as eating together there will be live entertainment from musician Meirion Jones and comedian Eirwen Malin. There is also a raffle and auction of prizes including

• bed and breakfast at the Plough, Rhosmaen,
• 6 tickets for a tour of the Millennium Stadium and
• high tea for two at the Stradey Park.

“Some 10 million people came out in sunny 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee so we hope a large number of people will take part in The Big Lunch for the first time in 2012 – as we celebrate together we remember the huge contribution our monarch has made in her later years and the huge contribution all older people make to society. The Big Lunch is all about community, friendship and fun!”

£3 per day or £10 for a week

• Earth Elements Box
• Air Elements Box
• Fire Elements Box
• Water Elements Box
• Obstacle course
• Physical Box
• Puppets
• Sensory Box
• Circus
• Nature Box
• Sand Play
• Tug of War rope
• Cooperative blanket
• Role play (4-6 yrs)
• Dressing up Box (age 4-5 & 6-8)

£6 per day or £15 for a week

• Den kit
• Soft Play
• Large Games – ‘jenga’ ‘connect 4’
• Coconut shy
• Stocks
• Badge Maker (need to purchase components)

Available to purchase –

• Garden den kit £7.50
• Outdoor den kit £50
• Barrel of Play £30
• 50 Badges £7.50

Contact us for further details

• Phone 01267 245555
• Email purpleroutes@cavs.org.uk
• www.purpleroutes.co.uk

Delivery £10 per trip

Download flyer

Produced by Carmarthenshire Carers Service, phone 0300 0200 002, email carers@cavs.org.uk.

Newyddion Cynhalwyr Sir Gâr yn cael ei gynhyrchu gan y Gwasanaeth Gofalwyr Sir Gaerfyrddin, ffôn 0300 0200 002, e-bost carers@cavs.org.uk.

The People’s Health Trust, the charity in charge of distributing the estimated £50m a year of good cause money from the new Health Lottery, has announced its first small grants programme.

Funding from the Healthy Communities programme is available for health-related projects in each of the 51 local lottery areas that make up the Health Lottery in England, Scotland and Wales. Organisations with annual turnovers of less than £75,000 can apply for up to £10,000.

The 20 per cent of ticket sales that will be put towards good causes will be allocated to different areas each week. Sometimes more than one area will be chosen.

For more information please see the link below.

http://www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk/index.php/apply-for-funding

Download Guidance Notes

Do you look after a relative or friend who is sick, disabled, frail or has a problem with alcohol and/or drugs?

IF YES… then you know how help from your GP and their practice can make all the difference.

The Royal College of General Practitioners, in partnership with The Carers Trust, are looking to find GPs and/or Practice Teams who provide the best support to unpaid carers.

Nominate your GP or Practice Team for this special award by telling us how they support you in your caring role. To obtain a nomination form either email: scourt@rcgp.org.uk or telephone on 029 20 504854.

Download more details

The nomination form will ask for the following information:

1. your name, address and telephone number
2. your Doctor’s name or Practice Team’s contact details
3. how they support you in your caring role

The closing date for entries is Friday 22nd June 2012

You can also write to:

Caring About Carers Award 2012
RCGP Wales
FREEPOST SWC3779
Cardiff
CF10 4GZ

Alternatively you can email caringaboutcarers@rcgp.org.uk

PLANED is a community-led development organisation which improves quality of life in rural communities of Pembrokeshire, by helping communities to be more sustainable and supporting diversification of the rural economy.

PLANED is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We have over 20 years experience of working with communities across Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Download CEO Application pack

For further information view www.planed.org.uk and supporting documentation provided.

Application Process:

• 31st May 2012 @ 5:00pm – Deadline for applications
• 12th June 2012 – PLANED mini Open Day from 8:00am – 1:00pm – shortlisted candidates are welcome to attend this event
• 18th June 2012 – Formal interviews at PLANED offices in Narberth, to include a short presentation to the interview panel.

The Minister is inviting all interested parties to help shape the vision for a sustainable Wales. Proposals include placing a legal requirement on all public services in Wales to put sustainable development at the centre of everything they do, reporting annually on their progress; and the establishment of a new independent body to provide advice and guidance to organisations.

The consultation document can be downloaded from the Welsh Government website http://wales.gov.uk/topics/sustainabledevelopment/?lang=en

The consultation runs from 9 May to 18 July 2012.

Consultation Events

As part of the consultation process we will be hosting four events at key locations across Wales to seek public views on the proposals. We will then develop a White Paper, which will again be put out for consultation, before the Bill is introduced into the National Assembly for Wales.

Key Consultation Events 2012

• Monday 28 May: Technium, Pembroke Dock
• Wednesday 13 June: Bangor University, Bangor
• Friday 15 June: Wrexham University, Wrexham
• Monday 25 June: Park Inn Hotel, Cardiff (formerly Jury’s)

For further information on the events and how to register, contact sustainable.development@wales.gsi.gov.uk

The application form and guidelines can be found on Countryside Council for Wales’ website:

http://www.ccw.gov.uk/about_ccw/ecosystem_resilience_and_diver.aspx

The purpose of the Ecosystem Resilience and Diversity Fund in 2012-13 will be to explore the ecosystems approach. The focus will be on projects that:

• deliver positive outcomes for ecosystems health, diversity and resilience;
• address ecological coherence; and
• target at least one aspect of an ecosystem approach.

The full criteria are set out in Annex 1 of the application form

• All enquiries about project proposals should be directed to the WBP group contacts identified in the application form (Annex 2)
• General enquiries should be sent to the following e-mail address erd.fund@ccw.gov.uk
• This fund operates outside CCW’s main grants programme and is delivered using procedures agreed by WG.
• The application window is 8 May to 1 June 2012
• The assessment of applications will be carried out by representatives from the WBP Ecosystem Groups, Species Expert Group and the Invasive Non native Species groups
• Successful projects will be able to start in mid July 2012 and must be completed by 8 March 2013