May 2020 press releases

Contact tracing starts on Monday with testing for key workers and care homes
Contact tracing is rolling out in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot from Monday, starting initially with testing for key workers and care homes.

Plans for high-tech Swansea building recommended for approval
Plans for a groundbreaking Swansea city centre building that allows innovative tech and creative businesses to establish and grow could be given planning permission tomorrow, June 2.
Swansea construction specialists to give historic site big future
A Swansea firm is to build one of the city's key regeneration projects.

Parking permits extended for three months
Swansea residents with parking permits are to get an automatic three-month extension on their permits.

Full-time for foodbank that opened two hours a week before crisis
Before the coronavirus crisis the foodbank at St Thomas Church in Swansea opened for two hours on a Tuesday where it would be lifeline for as many as 15 families on a busy week

Children Centres doing more than keeping little one entertained
Staff at Swansea's two Children Centres have been working hard to keep little ones entertained during lockdown.
Broadway junction improvements restart
Work to improve a busy interchange in Swansea has started back up.
Emergency childcare settings supporting 500 pupils a day
Emergency childcare settings at schools in Swansea have remained open this week during what is usually half-term to ensure that key workers can continue to do their jobs.
Karina joins new team at Parkway care home
Swansea Council has brought the former Parkway care home in Sketty back into commission to create additional residential social care beds and ease pressure on the NHS as a result of the coronavirus crisis

Welsh businesses look to play a part in Swansea schools construction
More than 50 businesses eager to be part of three school construction schemes have been discussing the opportunities available to them.

Recycling sites reopen in Swansea
Residents in Swansea have returned to the city's recycling centres for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown.

Video thanks for primary school staff
Staff at a Swansea primary school have an extra spring in their step and some even shed a tear after pupils and parents sent them a video message thanking them for their support during lockdown.

Thousands of businesses benefit from £43.7m in grants
Almost 3,500 city small businesses have been given more than £43.7m in grants to help support them through the Coronavirus pandemic.

Keep busy during locked-down half term with the Swansea online one-stop activity shop
Swansea Council is helping parents who are looking for lockdown ideas to keep their children's minds and bodies active this Whitsun holiday.
Loughor Bridge upgrade set to start shortly
WORK is set to start this Tuesday on an essential £250,000 refurbishment of the busy Loughor Bridge.

Council agrees deal with Debenhams to secure store's future
Swansea Council has agreed a deal with department store Debenhams to help secure its long-term future in the city centre.

Stay Home plea for bank holiday weekend
Swansea Council is asking people to stay at home over the bank holiday weekend to save lives and protect the NHS.
City rangers back up to full-time operation
Swansea's city centre rangers return to full-time duty this weekend.

Visit our recycling sites on Tuesday only if it is essential
Residents are being asked to play their part in keeping the Recycling Centres operating safely in Swansea by not turning up all at once on the first day the five sites re-open next Tuesday.

5,000 successfully apply for free school meal switch
More than 5,000 parents and carers whose children are eligible for free school meals have successfully applied online to receive direct payments to their bank accounts to provide lunches themselves.

Half-term fun goes online
Half-term holiday events are going virtual next week, with a range of opportunities on offer to help keep children entertained at home.
Foodbank experience handy as new pop-up service launches
The people behind a successful Swansea foodbank are bringing their expertise to a new facility.
Tim's fund-raising push tops £3,000
Swansea Council officer Tim Moss pushed on beyond £3,000 in his extra effort to help the area fight coronavirus.
Major road re-surfacing scheme set for the weekend
Swansea Council is taking advantage of quieter road conditions to carry out a £80,000 resurfacing project this weekend on the A483 southbound between Junction 47 and the Cadle roundabout.

Recycling centres to reopen in Swansea
Recycling Centres in Swansea will reopen to the public on Tuesday 26 May and will look very different to how they were before the lockdown.

Awards recognition for youth activity schemes
Two successful Swansea projects have been honoured in a prestigious UK awards scheme that promotes the positive effects of sport and activity.
Pension fund set to invest in green energy production
Swansea Council's award-winning pension fund has taken another big step in its work towards becoming one of the greenest funds of its kind in the UK.

Community volunteer praised for life-saving action
A community volunteer has helped to save the life of an elderly man she has been delivering food to since the coronavirus crisis hit Swansea.

Free lifelong learning courses reach Australia
Swansea's Lifelong Learning is offering all its courses in the summer term online and free of charge and it has not gone unnoticed on the other side of the world.

Powerful link with the industrial north is revitalised
A powerful Swansea link with a northern industrial heartland has been revitalised.

Contractors back on site on cycle route schemes in Swansea
A number of key cycle network schemes, halted because of coronavirus restrictions, are back up and running in Swansea.

Chance to bid for work on Swansea schools construction
Welsh businesses eager to be part of three Swansea school construction schemes are being invited to find out what opportunities will be available.

Call for creative pupils to brighten school building site
Contractors set to start work on a brand new home for a Welsh medium primary school in Swansea are appealing to its pupils and other children living nearby to help brighten up the building site.

Greater choice introduced for free school meals
Parents and carers in Swansea whose children are eligible for free school meals are to have the choice of continuing to receive weekly food bags, having direct payments to their bank accounts to provide lunches themselves or they can opt out of the scheme entirely should they wish.
Kingsway contractors set to move back on site
A small number of work crews are planning to restart work on The Kingsway Infrastructure Project.
Long-serving councillor becomes Lord Mayor
Two of Swansea's longest-serving councillors have become Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

Day centre officers join residential care staff
Staff who usually work at Swansea Council's Birchgrove Day Centre have temporarily swapped jobs to help provide care at a council residential home.
Foodbank recipients now volunteer to help community
Former foodbank recipients are now turning to volunteering to help others though the coronavirus crisis.

Botanical Gardens are getting tender loving care during lockdown
Singleton Park's Botanical Gardens is one of our city's much-loved destinations that's been closed to the public during the pandemic.
Bereavement services in Swansea praised
Council bereavement staff in Swansea have been praised by local funeral directors for their support since the coronavirus outbreak.

Council arranges pet food addition to foodbank supplies
Swansea residents who make use of the city's foodbanks and who are also pet owners have access to additional items thanks to the support of businesses.

Progress made on major school investment projects
Steady progress is continuing on two major school investment projects in Swansea.

Council housing wardens provide lifeline to older tenants
Older people living in sheltered accommodation are being reminded they are not alone thanks to Swansea Council wardens.

Market traders' hub feeding hundreds of happy customers
Our city's award-winning indoor market traders are keeping the flag flying and hundreds of residents fed with local produce during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Music classes tune-up at virtual school
Swansea Music has gone online to keep young musicians busy during lockdown with bite-size lessons, fun games, quizzes and PlayAlong and SingAlong opportunities.

Testing unit for health and social care staff opens at Liberty Stadium
Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea Council and Swansea City FC have joined up to support our communities through the coronavirus crisis.
Council resumes bulky waste collections
SWANSEA'S bulky waste collection service is back on from today following a review of our city's environment services.

Care homes ready to welcome first residents
Council teams have pulled out all the stops to open up two care homes to help provide additional support for people leaving hospital and those who need a bit more short-term help when they are finding it difficult to remain independently at home.

Aerial photos show Swansea indoor arena taking shape
Dramatic new images show how a 3,500-capacity arena is taking shape between Swansea's city centre and marina.

Foster family aim to lift spirits in lockdown
A foster family in Swansea have been using their time in lockdown to try and spread and little hope and happiness to people in their community.

Swansea Market to undergo £439,000 improvement work
Swansea's award-winning indoor market is set for an improvements package that will see almost £440,000 spent on the venue.

Art world comes to Swansea as gallery seminars go online
A Swansea gallery has gone online to bring together artists, cultural historians, museum professionals and academics from around the world.
24/7 effort turns old factory into new hospital - in just a month
Work to transform a former Swansea Bay motor factory into a high-tech hospital ready for hundreds of beds has been completed in just over a month.
Let's celebrate VE Day at home, says 98-year-old veteran Ioan
World War II veteran Ioan Valentine is calling on residents to celebrate VE Day from the safety and comfort of their own homes tomorrow.

Cabinet agrees to appoint contractor for school's make-over
Swansea Council's Cabinet has agreed to appoint a contractor to deliver a £13.8m investment in new and improved buildings and facilities at Bishopston Comprehensive School.
Bulky waste collections and other environment services to return
SWANSEA Council is re-starting bulky waste collections, stepping-up litter-picking and a number of other environment services.

Cabinet decision paves way for more homes as power stations
PLANS that could see the Swansea Bay City Region pioneer energy-saving homes as power stations (HAPS) have taken another step forward.
Homeless to get support during pandemic
Swansea Council's Cabinet has approved a £400,000 project that will help ensure nobody needs to be homeless in our city during

Volunteer Army supporting every community in Swansea
An army of more than 1,600 community volunteers are now helping vulnerable and isolated people across Swansea.

Stay connected with the Info-Nation team
OUR city centre's much-valued young people's advice service Info-Nation is #HereForSwansea continuing to provide support for local communities online.
More vulnerable residents to be offered support by the council
Swansea Council is standing-by to provide support to more people who are being advised by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Wales to shield themselves for 12 weeks from coronavirus.

New cycling and walking route map helps keep residents local
Swansea Council has developed a walking and cycling route map to help guide residents along local routes in their communities.

Ben is helping bring communities together to tackle coronavirus
This time last year Ben Davies-Thompson was supporting our city's group of young Sports Ambassadors, working with them to support their communities to find out how joining in sport can transform lives.

Head back in time for VE Day
City residents are getting the chance to go back in time for VE Day this week.
Tim pushes on to new fund-raising heights
Swansea Council officer Tim Moss is adding new muscle to the fight against coronavirus.

Join in with the VE Day commemorations
City residents are being urged to join in with the rest of the UK on Friday for a virtual commemoration of VE Day.
City Deal area aims to lead way in homes as power stations technology
Helping tackle fuel poverty by equipping over 10,000 homes with energy efficiency technology, a pioneering project earmarked for South West Wales could soon take another step forward.

Parking permit extension for city centre workers
Swansea Council is giving city centre workers who own annual parking permits three extra months free.

Teachers making thousands for PPE items for frontline staff
Teachers across Swansea are producing thousands of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers on the frontline of the fight against Covid-19.
Exciting plans for landmark Swansea city centre building
The new owner of Swansea's grade two listed Albert Hall has announced exciting plans for its future.
Foodbank founder: We're providing a vital service - non-stop
Supporters of a Swansea foodbank that launched shortly after Christmas had little idea how vital their service would soon become.
Nobody needs to be homeless during pandemic, says council
Swansea Council and its partners are intensifying their efforts to ensure nobody needs to be homeless in our city during the Coronavirus pandemic

Bethan's new role offers a lifeline to the vulnerable
In normal times Bethan Lee's main job includes the management of community library services that, among other things, delivers books to the housebound, the buying of books for our city's libraries and a raft of other things besides.

Contractor set to be appointed for £13.8m school make-over
A CONTRACTOR is set to be appointed to deliver a £13.8m investment in new and improved buildings and facilities at Bishopston Comprehensive School.

Get ready to join the VE Day commemorations
CITY residents are being urged to join in with the rest of the UK on Friday for a virtual commemoration of VE Day.

Young children continue to receive a Flying Start during lockdown
Help, advice and support for families in the Flying Start programme is continuing in Swansea despite the coronavirus lockdown.
Child & Family Services here for Swansea
Front line staff in Swansea Council's Child and Family Services Department are still here for Swansea to take referrals and give advice to those who need it.