Tuesday 11 December 2012

Hello Cardiff! From your new Student Liaison Officer

Hey everyone, my name is Emma Robson and I’m very happy to introduce myself as Kieran McCann’s successor and the new Student Liaison Officer.

I’ve lived in Cardiff for the past three years, studying Criminology and Sociology at Cardiff University, and after graduating this summer I am delighted to start my career with Cardiff Council and the three Universities. Throughout my time at University, I was lucky enough to be involved with the Student Volunteer Police Initiative, the Get It Out For Cardiff campaign and Cardiff Universities Raise and Give (RAG) Society so I already have insight into the key issues affecting the Cardiff community. I’m keen to further this work and create similar initiatives that ‘kill two birds with one stone’ by tackling issues such as litter and waste, whilst raising vital funds for charity and improving community relations.


My background and experience hopefully show that I am passionate about student welfare and making a difference to everyone within the community. Kieran has done a fantastic job improving community relations throughout Cardiff already. I am very excited to take the new Cardiff Student Community Plan forward and have many ideas of how we can do that. I am confident that by working together we can improve the quality of life for everyone living, working or studying within our Cardiff community.


Giving out housing advice at Cardiff Students Union
 I’ve been busy over the past month re-establishing links and relationships and getting to know the student community. I have been working with the Universities and Student Unions to advise students not to rush when looking for a house in the private sector, as well as providing advice on tenancy contracts, housing standards and living in the Cardiff community. In other news, the Environmental Champions and Police Student Volunteers have been out and about educating students about correct waste and recycling procedures, and encouraging students to 'Lock It, Hide It, Keep It’ with crime prevention advice.


Stay In Touch

Find out more about what has been going on with Issue 10 of Unity News, found here: cardiffdigs.co.uk/unity.htm

Watch this space for new and exciting campaigns and initiatives targeting cycling, waste and safety (to name a few!), as well as a redesign and relaunch of Cardiff Digs! In the mean time, add us as a friend on our new facebook page www.facebook.com/cardiffdigs or follow us on twitter @cardiffdigs, to keep up to date with all the news across the city relating to students and the community.



Wednesday 22 August 2012

Kitchen equipment weighs in at over 1 ton

Kitchen equipment comes weighing in at over 1 ton

Cardiff’s student population has again responded in style to the call to Get It Out for Cardiff this year. The scheme to collect and re-use unwanted items that previously would’ve been destined for the streets or landfill has been a resounding success.


Pre sort out

During the sort out

After; Beautifully sorted

The kitchen equipment sort out took place this week at Cardiff Self Storage and the total stands at 1.14 tonnes

Kitchen bric-a-brac such as utensils and cutlery collected for resale was sorted and weighed by Megan David the new welfare and community sabbatical officer, Tim Roberts from waste management, Richard Mills from Cardiff Council and Kieran McCann, Student Liaison Officer.

The team were surprised at the quality and quantity of the donations. Plates came out as a clear weight leader with 301kg others items included saucepans (164kg), Glasses (114kg), Cutlery (70kg), Chopping Boards (45kg) and Utensils (55kg)

This makes for a potential record breaking re-sale target.

The three re-sales will take place: at Cardiff Student Union; 21st and 25th September (10am in Solus) and the 15th September at Cardiff Metropolitan UWIC llandaff campus (next to the izone)

Glasses and Cups sorted for re-sale
All are welcome to come along and pick up a bargain, any money raised will be donated to charity. So please spread the word that you don’t need to arrive in Cardiff with any new kitchen equipment it will all be available at heavily reduced prices in the re-sales.

The space needed to store all these items was considerable but Cardiff Self Storage kindly stepped into the breach and stored all the items.


Cultery ready for the three re-sales

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Student Liaison Officer

An exciting opportunity to become the city’s Student Liaison Officer has become available.


https://jobs.cardiff.gov.uk/jobdetails.aspx/3513/Student_Liaison_Officer/?sSectorLook=566

Closing date: 17/08/2012

Cardiff’s Student Liaison Officer is jointly funded by Cardiff Council along with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and the University of Glamorgan.

Employed by Cardiff Council, you will implement the Cardiff Student Community Plan. The aim of the position is to lessen the impact of the large student population on the City’s neighbourhoods while helping to improve the student experience particularly in relation to housing, health and well being.

You will be contracted to work 4 days per week (29.6 hours) but will need to be able to work flexibily often during evenings and weekends in order to make the position a success.


The role relies of strategic partnership working. Working with a management group comprising the three Universities and Council you will set the agenda, liaise, report and make recommendations on how to develop this post.

The successful candidate will need to have highly developed interpersonal and relationship skills that enables you to work with and communicate with numerous stakeholders. You must have a passion for making a difference to people’s lives and thrive in developing the strategic direction of this post.

This post is temporary up to 12/07/2014.

For an informal discussion on the position please contact Mr Kieran McCann on 029 2087 1808.

Friday 3 August 2012

You say tomato I say Get It Out!!



A can of tomatoes donated through the Get It Out For Cardiff Scheme has been tracked from donation point to a family in need.

The Get It Out For Cardiff re-use scheme set up 20 end of term Green Zones across the city’s student halls of residences and Unions. The Green Zones comprised of a collection for the YMCA Housing Association, Food for FareShare Cymru and Kitchen equipment for storage at Cardiff Self Storage and re-sale at the start of term with proceeds to charity.

Kieran McCann and Lucy Prisk GIOFC re-use organisers


These compliment the newly installed YMCA HA re-use banks and now Cylch Wales Community Recycling Network whose members include FareShare Cymru and YMCA HA have been tracking a can of tomatoes from a student kitchen, via a donation green zone in a hall of residence, through the FareShare Cymru depot and on to Foodbank Cardiff.

The can was destined to end up in the hands of one of Foodbanks volunteers who gave it out along with a crate of other food donated through Get It Out to people in extreme food poverty or homelessness.

Get it Out for Cardiff is the Cardiff Council initiative in association with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan University which helps students to clear out their rubbish at the end of the academic year. The aim is to re-use and recycle as much of it as possible utilising Green Zones and YMCA HA re-use banks.

The zones and banks are located around partner organisations; Cardiff University, Cardiff Students Union, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Glamorgan University, Liberty Living and Victoria Halls.

Already over 7 tonnes of material has been donated and saved from landfill through the YMCA HA, 384 kilos of food was donated to FareShare Cymru and the kitchen equipment is being sorted ready to smash last years re-sale target for the start of term which last year raised £780 for the Lord Mayor’s charity. The final totals will be known at the start of term.

Get It Out For Cardiff is a Keep Cardiff Tidy partnership. The re-use campaign is lead by the city’s Student Liaison Officer, Kieran McCann and Lucy Prisk from waste management. Kieran Get It Out organiser said:

“To see the process and end result of our student donations benefiting vulnerable members of our local communities is a joy. This really showcases ongoing partnership commitments to civic pride and dedications to re-use. Thank you to all who kindly donated and to all our partners for making this such a huge success”

The photos track the can from a Local store, brought by students but unused in their Student kitchen to a door step donation from Students to Get It Out Volunteers and into one of 20 Green Zones set up for the campaign. From the Green Zone FareShare cardboard boxes it is collected by Get It Out For Cardiff organisers and taken to FareShare warehouse, where it is sorted into crates with other emergency supplies for families for delivery to Foodbank. Foodbank on Cryws Road Baptist Church then distributed via a voucher system to those in need.


All photos credited to Kath Hilsden, Girl About Cardiff.




Megan David, Community and Welfare Sabbatical Officer at Cardiff Student’s Union said: “It is really great to see the success of the “Get It Out For Cardiff” scheme achieved by the help and the donations of students across Cardiff. Cardiff Students Union is very proud to be part of a local project, benefiting the lives of members of the community which also highlights the importance of sustainability”



Megan David and fellow housemates donating food


Campaign information including pin point google maps of the locations of the Green Zones and YMCA banks can be founds via the website:

http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm

For more information contact Kieran McCann kmccann@cardiff.gov.uk
All photos credited to Kath Hilsden, Girl About Cardiff.












Tackling Doorstep Crime



Cardiff Council’s Trading Standards team is campaigning to raise awareness of doorstep crime, rogue trader and distraction burglaries throughout Cardiff.

Doorstep criminals use a variety of tactics to deceive residents to get into their homes. They frequently claim to be from the water board, an electricity company, local council or other organisations and they will try to pressurise or confuse the person who answers the door. Often they may carry an official looking Photo-ID, and wear an official looking jacket or overall.

Rogue traders are also just as likely to knock on the door without any warning as they are to be invited to the home. The key way to identify a rogue trader is the way they devise their contracts, or rather, the things they fail make clear in them. Critically, any contract concluded at residents’ homes legally has to have cancellation rights provided in writing; a failure to do this is a criminal offence. Similarly, a failure to offer a reasonable price constitutes a banned practice under Trading Standards legislation.

Most worryingly, many rogue traders approach home-owners by offering to do regular maintenance work; this work is often entirely unnecessary, and the trader can even cause damage that wasn’t there before.

In the case of distraction burglaries - a crime often linked to rogue trading - whilst the home-owner is at the door, an accomplice may be entering the premises elsewhere, quickly searching for cash and small valuables they can sell on. In other cases, the distraction can even lure the homeowner away from specific rooms whilst the criminals carry out their theft.

Cabinet Member Councillor Lynda Thorne, who is responsible for Housing, Communities and Social Justice in Cardiff, said: “Tackling cold callers and putting a stop to these truly despicable doorstep crimes is a key priority for this administration and, on a personal level, something I feel very strongly about.  “These are calculated crimes carried out by unscrupulous people who are only interested in making a profit, quite literally at the expense of others.”

“The price that is paid by those who have been targeted by door step criminality is not just limited to financial loss but also includes emotional trauma and scarring, which can be equally if not more difficult to address. Everyone can do their bit to help and we would therefore encourage communities to work with us on this.

Keeping an eye out for neighbours and loved ones, particularly if they are elderly or vulnerable, and reporting any suspicious activity to us won’t cost you a thing but it may well help to save someone from losing their life-savings or suffering the emotional pain of becoming a victim.”

Trading Standards recommends the following tips to avoid the Rogue Traders:

Before they knock at the door:

· Consider setting up a password with your utility suppliers

· Trading Standards and South Wales police support a 'Nominated Neighbour' scheme whereby vulnerable members of the community can nominate a neighbour who will check the callers' identity and then return with the caller

· Consider installing a wireless intercom with a Bogus Caller Button or Pendant Buttons with the Community Alarm Service at Cardiff Council

· Do not be afraid to chain your door or speak to caller while your door is locked

· If in doubt, keep them out

When they knock at the door:

· Be wary of any business literature that only gives a mobile phone number. They are difficult to trace

· ID Cards are very easy to fake on a computer. Use a phone number from the telephone directories or directory enquires to see if the caller is genuine

· If you let someone in – stay with them at all times

· Never part with money, documents or other things whatever they say

· Get more than one estimate for work

· Official organisations usually write first. Have you had a letter?

· If you feel afraid, harassed, threatened or intimidated by a caller, call the Police on 999 straight away

Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Ashley Govier added:

“Our strategy for tackling this issue is wide ranging and we intend to cut these criminals off from all angles and at all levels. By working with other agencies and the wider community we will make Cardiff a no-go area for the people involved in this type of crime.”

South Wales Police Detective Chief Supt, Stuart Mckenzie said: "The information the public provide us with is critical in the successful detection and prevention of such crimes. I would urge anyone who comes across such operators to contact the police so we can stop these people from profiting at the expense of innocent people.”

For more information, or to arrange a free informative talk for your community group,

contact Cardiff Trading Standards on 02920 872 059, or Tradingstandards@cardiff.gov.uk

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Cardiff Rivers Group 50th event

Cardiff Rivers Group undertook their 50th event on Saturday as they helped residents in Llanrumney collect litter and remove Himalyan Balsam from alongside the River Rhymney. Photos can be


15 volunteers travelled to East Cardiff to help local residents and Communities First tackle the vast swathes of invasive Hiamlayan Balsam that threatens the native species and wildlife. They also litter-picked the riverside path and all rubbish was disposed of by Cardiff County Council’s Parks Department. Communities First thanked the volunteers with refreshments and cakes to celebrate their great achievement!





Louise Tambini of Cardiff Rivers Group said, “Today, was a milestone event for Cardiff Rivers Group. When we started the group almost 3 years ago, we did not know how long we would last or what we would achieve, so I am absolutely delighted that we have reached our 50th event and are stronger than ever!

We held our AGM last week, which was very well attended and have events planned for the rest of the year. We now have over 270 volunteers on our database and are very active across Cardiff in a range of environmental activities. Other groups and organisations frequently request our help and we are only too happy to help out like-minded people. I really hope we are still here to celebrate our 100th event!”

Cardiff Rivers Group formed in 2009 as part of the ‘Tidy Towns’ project: a partnership between Keep Wales Tidy and Welsh local authorities. Funded by the Welsh Government it supports the people of Wales to improve the quality of their local environment.

Cardiff Rivers Group are always looking for new volunteers, so if you would like to lend a hand, please contact Louise Tambini on 07824 504790 or e-mail louise.tambini@keepwalestidy.org.

Photos from the event can be viewed here

More information on Cardiff Rivers Group and their activities can be found on http://www.cardiffriversgroup.blogspot.com/

Keep Wales Tidy is a registered Environmental Charity working for the improvement of the Welsh environment. Visit our website for more information; http://www.keepwalestidy.org/


Wednesday 11 July 2012

cardiffdigs survey; two weeks remain

Thank you to those who have already completed the cardiffdigs survey we’ve had some great feedback which I’m very grateful for. There is only two weeks left to complete, with the chance to win an ipad:


http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/



It is essential that we get a good range of partners completing this survey so that I can spend time during August making amendments and updating the site.

Please complete the survey and let me know how we can improve the site, what information you think we are missing, what we can do better. Please be candid with your responses.

cardiffdigs.co.uk is a one stop website for student housing and living needs, addressing the needs of students and the community. The website is funded by a partnership made up of Cardiff Council with the three universities; Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan.

Your feedback it greatly appreciated. On completion you can enter into the prize draw for the chance to win an ipad http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/

Thank you for your help



Thursday 5 July 2012

Writing Cardiff



Students from Cardiff University's Centre for Lifelong Learning have been attending a weekly creative writing course at The Cardiff Story Museum http://www.cardiffstory.com/



On Monday July 16th they will be reading examples of their work. Come along to hear poetry, short prose pieces and dramatic monologues: stories about Cardiff, tracing its development from a coal port to a tourist destination, and its rich cultural history.

Free Event
Monday 16th July 2.30pm

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Cardiff Cycle Challenge is back

Register for Cardiff Cycle Challenge – cycle for as little as 10 minutes to win a £500 bike, hot air balloon ride, luxury spa day and many more prizes!





Cardiff Cycle Challenge is back and we’d like to invite you all to take part. If you haven’t cycled for years, don’t worry, you can cycle for as little as 10 minutes and you don’t have to cycle to work – any journey by bike counts!

The Cycle Challenge is a FREE and EXCITING 3 week competition to see which workplace can get the most staff cycling from 2 – 22 July. There are a host of prizes for new and existing cyclists that are being given away – win a £500 bike, hot air balloon ride, luxury spa day and more! There will also be try-a-bike sessions so that you can take part if you don’t have your own bike

It takes just 2 minutes to register. Go to http://www.cardiffcyclechallenge.org.uk/, click Register, then enter your details. (It you took part last year, you don’t need to register again.)

If you ride a bike for the first time in a year or encourage someone else to you can win a Cineworld cinema ticket. They’re giving away 200 tickets!

Get registered and ready to get pedalling on 2 July. It’s all about which department can get the most people taking part. Best of luck!

For more information, visit http://www.cardiffcyclechallenge.org.uk/

Cheryl Owen
Travel Plan Officer
http://www.keepingcardiffmoving.co.uk/
chowen@cardiff.gov.uk




Get It Out For Cardiff is Back with a Bang

Thank you to South Wales Echo who ran this story through their Go Green pages:


The award-winning recycle and re-use scheme, Get It Out for Cardiff (GIOFC) is back for its 8th year and off to a flying start http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm




Get it Out for Cardiff is the Cardiff Council initiative in association with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan University which helps students to clear out their rubbish at the end of the academic year. The aim is to re-use and recycle as much of it as possible utilising three re-use schemes.

The final extra recycling and waste collections in Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa will take place this weekend on Saturday 30th July.

In an exciting new partnership, GIOFC has teamed up with the YMCA who are providing re-use banks at key campus and hall of residence sites to collect clothes, shoes, bags, textiles, small electrical items, books, CD’s/DVD’s at the end of term and all year round, an important first for GIOFC.

This is underlined by the fact that these new banks have already collected over 4 tonnes of reusable items since they were installed in April. The items collected will be used by the YMCA to directly reinvest in projects and services for homeless people at the Cardiff YMCA Housing Association.

21 Green Zones are in operation across the city university sites where people can donate clothing, food (tins, packets, jars etc), small electrical items, books, CD’s, DVD’s and kitchen items (plates, mugs, utensils, pans etc) Any food collected will be re-distributed by Fareshare Cymru to relieve food poverty in our communities.

Kitchen items collected will be stored over the summer by our partners Cardiff Self Storage and sold at the start of term at heavily discounted prices with all proceeds going to charity.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Ashley Govier said, “GIOFC is a fantastic and innovative campaign run by a highly committed partnership team. Through this scheme, we work closely with Cardiff’s universities to give students a great opportunity to recycle, reuse and dispose of their waste in a responsible manner while making a valuable contribution to their communities and charities through our partners, Fareshare Cymru and the YMCA.

“The fact that the YMCA collection banks will be in place all year allows everyone to donate a wide range of items that may have ended up in landfill. Everyone benefits from this scheme and it’s excellent so much has been collected already, a record-breaking year could well be on the cards. The whole community can play an important part in making Cardiff a cleaner, greener and more sustainable city.”

Student Liaison Officer and GIOFC organiser, Kieran McCann said, “Over 4 tonnes is an amazing start to our campaign, thank you to all our partners who have been tirelessly promoting the Get It Out charity collections, hosting green zones and re-use banks, to the YMCA team for all their hard work collecting and especially a thank you to all the students and local residents who have been so generous with their donations”.

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Get It Out For Cardiff final weekend thank you



Thank you to all those that correctly presented extra waste and recycling for collection over the weekend on Saturday morning as part of the third and final Get It Out For Cardiff campaign clear out. Waste and recycling teams were working hard to help keep the streets clean.

Please ensure that bins and bags are now not left on the pavement and brought back into your property boundary. Cathays, Roath, Gabalfa you have an opportunity to put out recycling and food waste as part of your usual Wednesday collection tonight from 4.30pm for your Wednesday 4th July collection, please no black bins or bags.

The Get It Out For Cardiff charity re-use scheme is still taking place, with over four tonnes already collected we are hopeful that we're on our way to a record breaking year.

Any charity donations as part of the re-use scheme can still be taken to the Green Zone in Cardiff Student Union’s main reception or in the YMCA re-use banks next to the Union by the Cathays railway footbridge or at the Roy Jenkins Hall opposite the co-op on city road. Other Green Zones and YMCA banks are located here: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm

Friday 29 June 2012

Get It Out For Cardiff third and final waste collection




Cathays, Roath, Gabalfa you have one final extra waste and recycling collection tomorrow morning as part of the Get It Out For Cardiff scheme. Please put out your additional waste and recycling this evening from 4.30pm for an early Saturday morning collection (30th June). Bins and bags must be taken out of your frontages and placed on the pavement to ensure collection.


This is your third and final opportunity to present extra waste and recycling. Thank you to all those that have been correctly presenting extra waste and recycling for collection.

Any charity donations as part of the re-use scheme can still be taken to the Green Zone in Cardiff Student Union’s main reception or in the YMCA re-use banks next to the Union by the Cathays railway footbridge or at the Roy Jenkins Hall opposite the co-op on city road. Other Green Zones and YMCA banks can be located here: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm





Update from Cathays Policing team



This is a message from the Neighbourhood Policing Team at Cathays in Cardiff.

During a recent PACT meeting it was highlighted that persons are removing black bin liners from wheelie bins and are then searching through their contents. This has occurred prominently around the rubbish collection days for the Cathays area of Cardiff.

We would like to advise residents that the Cathays Neighbourhood Policing Team, working in partnership with the Cardiff City Council Waste Enforcement Team take this matter very seriously and have recently reported two persons for this antisocial behaviour.

Yesterday afternoon a male person was arrested at Rhymney Street, Cathays and in the first such case in Cardiff, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of theft. That individual was subsequently remanded in custody overnight to appear at court today.

May we remind residents to only place your wheelie bins/black bags outside your property at the designated time for rubbish collection.

May we also remind residents not to place any information into the rubbish that you wish to remain confidential. If you need to dispose of letterheads and bank statements then can you please ensure that they are destroyed and disposed of in the correct manner.

May we also suggest that if you would like to donate items of clothing to charity it may be advisable to take the charity bags directly to the registered charity shops of your choice or use the Get it Out For Cardiff charity banks next to Cathays railway station next to Cardiff Student Union or in front of the Roy Jenkins Hall opposite the Co-op on city road http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm

Any information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Cathays NPT 02920 527439 or Crime Stoppers 02920528013 anonymously 0800 555111

The Cathays Neighbourhood Team are:

PC 4335 Steph Samuel
PCSO 55232 David Lloyd
PCSO 55328 Tiago Mil-Homens

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Cycle Security


Your bicycle is just as vulnerable to theft at your home as it is in the street, so it is just as important to follow precautions at home as you would out and about. The aim is to make your bike less appealing as well as difficult to steal.

You can do this at home by:

• Locking your bike (e.g. with a padlock and chain or a D lock through the back wheel and frame) even when in the house, shed or garage, will mean an opportunist thief won’t be able to ride it away or use it as a quick getaway. See www.soldsecure.com for more advice on suitable locks for indoor and outdoor use.

• Keep your bike in a secure shed or garage with a robust lock on the door.

• Secure your bike to an immovable object or consider installing a floor or wall-mounted anchor lock.

• If storing in a communal area and the front wheel is quick release, take the wheel indoors.

When leaving the bike unattended when out and about in public:

• Always lock your bike, even if you are leaving it for a couple of minutes.

• Leave your bike in well lit areas where a potential thief can be easily seen.

• Lock your bike to an immovable object. Use a bike rack or robust street furniture that offers multiple locking points.

• When locking, try to avoid gaps where tools could be inserted within the lock to gain leverage to break the lock. Also avoid leaving the lock resting on the floor, where it could be hit and broken.

• Secure removable parts (for example, wheels) or take smaller parts with you (for example, lights and quick release saddles).

• If you return to your secured bike, but it’s developed a flat tyre since you’ve left it, don’t leave it there overnight. Bike thieves are known to deflate tyres in the hope that bikes get left overnight so they can work on the locks undisturbed. Especially with combination type locks.

• Think about having your bike security marked. This can be done free of charge at your local Police Station.

• Register your bike for free with the national property register http://www.immobilise.com/


Tuesday 19 June 2012

Keep yourself safe from doorstep crime

Trading standards are launching their summer campaign to raise awareness of doorstep crime, rogue traders, and distraction burglaries throughout Cardiff. Doorstep criminals use a variety of tactics to deceive the victim to get into their home to steal valuables. They often claim to be from the water board, an electricity company, local council or other organisations and they will try to pressurise or confuse the person who answers the door. Often they may carry an official looking Photo-ID, and wear an official looking jacket or overall.




Trading Standards recommends the following tips to avoid the Rogue Traders -

Before they knock at the door:

- Consider setting up a password with your utility suppliers

- Trading Standards and South Wales police support a 'Nominated Neighbour' scheme whereby vulnerable members of the community can nominate a neighbour who will check the callers' identity and then return with the caller.

- Consider installing a wireless intercom with a Bogus Caller Button or Pendant Buttons with the Community Alarm Service at Cardiff Council.

- Do not be afraid to chain your door or speak to caller while your door is locked.

- If in doubt, keep them out.

When they knock at the door:

- Be wary of any business literature that only gives a mobile phone number. They are difficult to trace.

- ID Cards are very easy to fake on a computer. Use a phone number from the telephone directories or directory enquires to see if the caller is genuine.

- If you let someone in – stay with them at all times.

- Never part with money, documents or other things whatever they say.

- Get more than one estimate for work.

- Official organisations usually write first. Have you had a letter?

- If you feel afraid, harassed, threatened or intimidated by a caller, call the Police on 999 straight away.

For more information, or to arrange a free informative talk for your community group, contact Cardiff Trading Standards on 02920 872 059, or at Tradingstandards@cardiff.gov.uk

Monday 18 June 2012

Get It Out For Cardiff thank you

Thank you to all those that correctly presented extra waste and recycling for collection over the weekend on Saturday morning as part of the Get It Out For Cardiff campaign. Waste and recycling teams were out collecting and working hard in the torrential rain to help keep the streets clean.


Please ensure that bins and bags are now not left on the pavement and brought back into your property boundary. Cathays, Roath, Gabalfa you have an opportunity to put out recycling and food waste as part of your usual Wednesday collection (20th), please no black bins or bags.

This is followed up by the second opportunity to put out extra waste and recycling this Saturday the 23rd applying the normal routine of presenting your waste no later than 6am on the day and no earlier than 4.30pm the previous day http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm





Get it Out for Cardiff is the Cardiff Council initiative in association with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan University which helps students to clear out their rubbish at the end of the academic year. The aim is to re-use and recycle as much of it as possible!

The scheme includes extra recycling and waste collections in Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa over 3 weekends in June. You can put out extra recycling and waste on 3 Saturdays in June - the 16th, 23rd and 30th, applying the normal routine of presenting your waste no later than 6am on the day and no earlier than 4.30pm the previous day.

21 Green Zones have been set up across the city university sites where you can donate clothing, food (tins, packets, jars etc), small electrical items, books, CD’s, DVD’s and kitchen items (plates, mugs, utensils, pans etc) Any food collected will be re-distributed by Fareshare Cymru to relieve food poverty in our communities.

Kitchen items collected will be stored over the summer by our partners Cardiff Self Storage and sold at the start of term at heavily discounted prices with all proceeds going to charity.

In an exciting new partnership, GIOFC has teamed up with the YMCA who will provide re-use banks across Cardiff to collect clothes, shoes, bags, textiles, small electrical items, books, CD’s/DVD’s at the end of term and all year round, a first for GIOFC. The items collected will be used by the YMCA to directly reinvest in projects and services for homeless people at the Cardiff YMCA Housing Association.

The details of where the green zones and YMCA banks can be found on the GIOFC page on http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm


Friday 15 June 2012

Roath and Cathays Neighbourhood Policing Team Message

Dear Residents

You may well have noticed a heightened Police presence in your neighbourhood over recent days. Members of your neighbourhood policing team are increasing patrols in response to incidents of anti social behaviour over the last weekend.

Officers on horseback, bicycle, in plain clothes and on foot wearing high visibility clothing are patrolling the area to reassure the community and also to identify and apprehend offenders. These heightened patrols will continue for the next few weeks.

If you have any information in relation to persons committing damage or behaving in an anti social manner please contact your local officers via their contact numbers on www.ourbobby.com :



Alternatively contact 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Your local officers are also working with our partner agencies to ensure that quality of life issues are addressed promptly and that together we achieve the highest levels of achievement in respect of community issues. This work includes removal of graffiti and fly tipped materials, as well as issues raised by community members at PACT meetings.

Please feel free to speak to any patrolling officer about issues of concern, or problems that you may wish to discuss.

Thank you for your support in working together to improve our community.

Police Sergeant Alun Ifor Williams

Roath and Cathays Neighbourhood Policing Team

Thursday 14 June 2012

GET IT OUT FOR CARDIFF IS BACK!

The award-winning recycle and re-use scheme, Get It Out for Cardiff (GIOFC) is back for its 8th year.



Get it Out for Cardiff is the Cardiff Council initiative in association with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan University which helps students to clear out their rubbish at the end of the academic year. The aim is to re-use and recycle as much of it as possible!

The scheme includes extra recycling and waste collections in Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa over 3 weekends in June. You can put out extra recycling and waste on 3 Saturdays in June - the 16th, 23rd and 30th, applying the normal routine of presenting your waste no later than 6am on the day and no earlier than 4.30pm the previous day.

21 Green Zones have been set up across the city university sites where you can donate clothing, food (tins, packets, jars etc), small electrical items, books, CD’s, DVD’s and kitchen items (plates, mugs, utensils, pans etc) Any food collected will be re-distributed by Fareshare Cymru to relieve food poverty in our communities.
Kitchen items collected will be stored over the summer by our partners Cardiff Self Storage and sold at the start of term at heavily discounted prices with all proceeds going to charity.

In an exciting new partnership, GIOFC has teamed up with the YMCA who will provide re-use banks across Cardiff to collect clothes, shoes, bags, textiles, small electrical items, books, CD’s/DVD’s at the end of term and all year round, a first for GIOFC. The items collected will be used by the YMCA to directly reinvest in projects and services for homeless people at the Cardiff YMCA Housing Association.

Last year, 11 tonnes of re-usable items were collected and all the stops will be pulled out to beat that total in 2012.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Ashley Govier said, “GIOFC is a fantastic and innovative campaign run by a highly committed partnership team. Through this scheme, we work closely with Cardiff’s universities to give students a great opportunity to recycle, reuse and dispose of their waste in a responsible manner while making a valuable contribution to their communities and charities through our partners, Fareshare Cymru and the YMCA. The student community is an important and vibrant part of the Cardiff social landscape and I urge all students in the area to make use of the additional service and this fantastic reuse and recycling campaign to play an important part in making Cardiff a cleaner, greener and more sustainable city. I will follow the team’s progress closely and look forward to the results later in the summer.”

Student Liaison Officer and GIOFC organiser, Kieran McCann said, “I’m so excited by the potential of this years re-use. Our re-use and charity side of the campaign has gone from strength to strength. This year we have developed new partnerships with YMCA FareShare and Cardiff Self Storage to increase the availability of re-use donations with increased green zones and YMCA charity banks across the city. With the new partnerships in place, we are very confident we can beat last year’s excellent totals.”

The details of where the green zones and YMCA banks can be found on the GIOFC page on http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Unity news issue 9 now online



Issue 9 now online: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/unity.htm




UNITY news is your opportunity to find out about how the universities and student unions of Cardiff engage the community.


The latest edition, and last one of this academic term of Unity news is now online. This includes a lovely piece on our Student and Community Volunteer Awards, an update and thank you from Environmental Champions, our very exciting new community postcard initiative plus updates from all sabbatical officers.


Have a look and please distribute and link around your networks: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/unity.htm

We have installed a shiny new reader which should make it easier to read; click over the issue to view in full screen and flick through the pages.

We have also launched a new enews subscription service so that you can keep updated on news, issues and campaigns. Sign up to receive enews on the link right off the homepage:

http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/

Also you can now follow us on twitter @cardiffdigs

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Environmental Champions have a wheelie good weekend

Environmental Champions were out over the weekend promoting the Get It Out For Cardiff scheme and Charity collections.


Wheelie good volunteers

20 Environmental Champions volunteers working with Raise And Give, volunteers from the community, all four Cathays councillors, the chair of the landlords forum, waste management and Cardiff Student Union were out Saturday and Sunday. They gave up their time to door knock around the community promoting the charity element to the Get It Out For Cardiff scheme and using wheelbarrows to collect any donations http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm


Volunteers specifically drew people’s attention to the Green Zone located in the main reception of Cardiff Students Union and the YMCA re-use bank next to the Union by the Cathays railway footbridge whilst also making everyone aware of the extra waste and recycling collections happening in the main student areas over the next three Saturdays

With wheelbarrows provided by Cardiff Parks Service, delivered by Cardiff Rivers Group/Keep Wales Tidy, volunteers had a wheelie great time collecting items that people had to donate. Barrows full of clothing, kitchen equipment, food and electrical items could be seen rolled down the street. Some of the more unusual donations included Roller skates, a Chocolate fountain, Popcorn maker, electrical salad spinner, and items of fancy dress. The items were taken to the Green Zone and YMCA bank. These Green Zones will be open for the next few months for donations, so the message is when you clear out at the end of term donate items of re-use that you don’t want to struggle home with.



Get It Out For Cardiff

21 Green Zones are set up in halls of residences and Student Unions across the city to accept donations of clothing, food (tins, packets, jars etc), small electrical items, books, CD’s, DVD’s and kitchen items (plates, mugs, utensils, pans etc)

14 YMCA re-use banks are also in place to work alongside the Green Zones to collect clothes, shoes, bags, textiles, small electrical items, books, CD’s/DVD’s at the end of term and year round.

A number of charities are set to benefit from the scheme. Food is being collected for FareShare Cymru - supporting communities to relieve food poverty.

Clothing, electrical items, media and bric-a-brac is being collected for the YMCA to directly reinvest in projects and services for homeless people at the Cardiff YMCA Housing Association whilst kitchen items will be stored over the summer by Cardiff Self Storage and sold at the start of term at heavily discounted prices with all proceeds going to charity.

The Get It Out For Cardiff scheme includes extra waste collections in Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa over 3 weekends in June. Students can put out extra recycling and waste on 3 Saturdays in June; 16th, 23rd and 30th – for an early Saturday morning collection.

Campaign information including pin point google maps of the locations of the Green Zones and YMCA banks can be founds via the website: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm






Monday 11 June 2012

New and improved 'You’re In Now What?'



Last year around 12,000 social marketing posters were distributed providing social responsibility advice.

'You're In. Now What?' provides advice and assistance on the four main issues that concern students: Neighbour Relations, Waste and Recycling Responsibilities, Security and Health and Safety moving into the private rented accommodation sector.  

Thanks to ongoing support we are able to offer this poster free to our partners. We have already had orders of nearly 5,000 copies being delivered to letting agents this week and posted to individual landlords.  

This vital information can be given out during key exchange dates, displayed and distributed to help facilitate an easier, safer, greener transition for students into the private rented sector and into the community with heightened awareness of social responsibilities.

This updated poster is available to any landlords, letting agents, community members, students or tenants who would like to receive the poster to display in their property or to give out at the start of term. Please let me know: cardiffdigs@gmail.com the numbers you need and a postal address to send them too.

New look 'You're In. Now What?'

Get It Out For Cardiff partnership helping additional charities


The Get It Out For Cardiff partnership are pleased to announce that they have helped a number of additional charities through their end of term charity collections.

During the charity collections http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm items of kitchen equipment are collected and stored with Cardiff Self Storage over the summer then re-sold at cut prices at the start of term in a number of re-sales. This completes the recycling and re-use cycle as the donations we receive are exactly what people require at the start of term; this prevents items going to landfill, helps students with savings as apposed to buying brand new sets and stops them raiding their parents kitchens for necessities. All proceeds from the sales go to charity and last year the Lord Mayors charity received a cheque for £736.30 after three re-sales.

Now the campaign has helped a number of additional charities thanks to a bit of spring cleaning. The Get It Out For Cardiff team have been clearing out their Cardiff Self Storage container and were able to donate last year’s remaining left over kitchen equipment so that the unit is clear for this year’s campaign and influx of donations.



Cardiff Self Storage unit

Last Friday Sue Glendinning representing the South Wales region – Cross Councils Cardiff Consortium of Charities came to the unit and gratefully received lots of remaining kitchen items and equipment.

The charities that will benefit from the donations include:

Rainbow of Hope - Feeds the homeless every day, twice a day

Homeless Outreach - enables homeless people to sleep indoors during winter months

The Refugee Council, Cardiff section - offers support to Refugees and people from ethnic minorities

Women's Aid help with re-housing projects.

The Get It Out For Cardiff scheme is in full flow already, the plan is to host re-sales at the start of term, in a similar vein to last year, to sell kitchen items and donate the proceeds to charity. At the end of the re-sales charities will be invited in to collect any remaining items that they can use for their local projects.

Sue Glendinning said, "The charities that we represent are really excited that they have been included in Get it out for Cardiff's recycling of products. These local charities work tirelessly on the streets of Cardiff and are overjoyed to receive useful items to pass on to those in need - and help the local environment as well."


Kieran McCann, Student Liaison Officer who set up the charity scheme said:

“This is another great example of the widespread benefits of the end of term collections, I am truly grateful to the students who donate items for re-use. Green zones and re-use banks have again been set up this year so please donated items that can be re-used rather than struggle taking them home”

Campaign information including pin point google maps of the locations of the Green Zones and YMCA banks can be founds via the website: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm


Wednesday 6 June 2012

Get It Out Charity walkabouts



- Join us on our Get It Out For Cardiff charity walkabout this Saturday and Sunday the 9th and 10th June starting 10.30am back of Cardiff Student Union Senghennydd Road (outside magic wrap).

We will be wheeling wheelbarrows (what a mouth full!!) with Raise And Give volunteers around Cathays asking for charity donations to stop end of term re-use going into landfill and door knocking around the community to promote the http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm scheme.





- The scheme includes extra waste collections in Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa over 3 weekends in June; 16th, 23rd and 30th for an early Saturday morning collection

20 green zones are set up across the city including 14 YMCA re-use banks – pin point locations here: http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm including ones at all student halls, the Student Union, next to Cathays railway station, along Cryws road outside Roy Jenkins hall. Please spread the word

- Please could you also spend a few minutes completing this survey about cardiffdigs.co.uk with a chance to win an ipad, we need as many partner responses as possible so that we can develop the site: http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/


Thursday 31 May 2012

Bank Holiday recycling changes (4th - 9th June)



Whether you choose to toast the Queen with a glass of champagne or a mug of Britain's finest brew, Cardiff Council is reminding residents once your celebrations are over to recycle your left over food and packaging and help us Keep Cardiff Tidy!


Please note that your household waste and recycling collection service will be running one day late over the Bank Holiday week, the 4th - 9th June:

Normal Collection                                    Jubilee Collection


Monday 4th June                                        Tuesday 5th June

Tuesday 5th June                                        Wednesday 6th June

Wednesday 6th June                                   Thursday 7th June

Thursday 7th June                                       Friday 8th June

Friday 8th June                                           Saturday 9th June


For more information, see here for the leaflet

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Environmental Champions Update


Environmental Champions is a voluntary action group working on sustainability issues; action on waste and recycling, housing and energy efficiency, fairtrade, sustainable travel, environmental tasks and many more.

A little update and a request for willing volunteers

- The recent Community Voluntary awards were a huge success. The event was opened by Cardiff’s Vice Chancellor with a range of partners and supporters at the event where we gave out certificates to our volunteers with the Student Police Initiative click here for info

- We are very excited to have recruited two coordinators for the project who are going to be helping engage with students. Hannah and Megan will be taking on the social media side of the project, help recruit students and community members and help us come up with new project ideas.

- Join us on our Get It Out For Cardiff charity walkabouts on the 9th and 10th June starting 10.30am back of Cardiff Students Union. We will be reminding students about the campaign http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm and their end of term waste and recycling responsibilities. Please let Kath know if you will be attending so that we have an idea of numbers (EdwardsK13@cardiff.ac.uk)

UPDATES:

- Please continue to remind everyone you know about this years Get It Out For Cardiff re-use and charity collection of unwanted items. 20 green zones are set up across the city including 14 YMCA re-use banks – pin point locations here including ones at all student halls, Cardiff and Cardiff Met Student Union, next to Cathays railway station, along Cryws road outside Roy Jenkins hall. Please spread the word

- The scheme also includes extra waste collections in Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa over 3 weekends in June; 16th, 23rd and 30th for an early Saturday morning collection.

- Please could spend a few minutes completing this survey about cardiffdigs.co.uk with a chance to win an ipad http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/

- We are in the process of working with the Student Police Initiative setting up start of term walkabouts to ensure our new students are aware of their social responsibilities so we will keep you informed of definite dates.

- We are always on teh look out for new volunteers, students or residents ready for the start of the next academic year - to learn a bit more about us visit here or e-mail Kath EdwardsK13@cardiff.ac.uk

Thank you for your continued support


Tuesday 29 May 2012

Community information message from PCSO David Lloyd







I am PCSO 55232 David Lloyd from the Neighbourhood Policing Team at Cathays in Cardiff.


It has recently been drawn to my attention that persons are removing black bin liners from wheelie bins and are then searching through their contents. This has occurred predominately around the rubbish collection days for the Cathays area of Cardiff. We are working in partnership with colleagues from Cardiff City Council to reduce this activity.

May we remind residents to only place your wheelie bins/black bags outside your property at the designated time for rubbish collection.

May we remind residents not to place any information into the rubbish that you wish to remain confidential. If you need to dispose of letterheads and bank statements then can you please ensure that they are destroyed and disposed of in the correct manner.

Any information regarding these incidents is asked to contact ! Cathays NPT 02920 527439 or Crime Stoppers 02920528013 anonymously 0800 555111

PCSO 55232 David Lloyd

Cathays NPT


Win an ipad


Thank you to all who have responded to our survey so far we have had some great responses, for your change to win an ipad spend just a few minutes completing this survey about cardiffdigs.co.uk for http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/

cardiffdigs.co.uk is a one stop website for student housing and living needs, addressing the needs of students and the community. The website is funded by a partnership made up of Cardiff Council with the three universities; Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan.

To ensure we are meeting the needs of visitors please help us by completing this short online survey so that we can develop and assess its use. Your feedback it greatly appreciated. On completion you can enter into the prize draw for the chance to win an ipad http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/

Thank you for your help





Monday 28 May 2012

Student and Community Volunteer Awards



The Student and Community Volunteer awards which took place in May was a huge success, certificates were presented to our dedicated Environmental Champions, Student Police Initiative and Community volunteers.


Volunteers and thier certificates
The event was hosted by Cardiff Students Union and opened by Cardiff’s Vice Chancellor. We were pleased to see a range of partners and supporters at the event. A lot of the speeches at the event iterated what a great example of true partnership working the schemes have been and how barriers between various groups have been broken down.

Our dedicated Community Volunteers
Testament to the success of the initiatives has been bringing groups together; there has been a huge range and diversity of partners, groups and individuals that have supported this work which has proven that real synergies can be created. We look forward to continued success next year.

A huge thank you to Steph for organising this event and for all her tireless work this year.


Tuesday 22 May 2012

Win an ipad



Spend just a few minutes completing this survey about cardiffdigs.co.uk for a chance to win an ipad http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/

cardiffdigs.co.uk is a one stop website for student housing and living needs, addressing the needs of students and the community. The website is funded by a partnership made up of Cardiff Council with the three universities; Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan and Glamorgan.

To ensure we are meeting the needs of visitors please help us by completing this short online survey so that we can develop and assess its use. Your feedback it greatly appreciated. On completion you can enter into the prize draw for the chance to win an ipad http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/cardiffdigs/

Thank you for your help



Thursday 10 May 2012

Get It Out For Cardiff Green Zones



20 Green Zones have now been set up across the city and student halls of residences and Unions. The Green Zones comprise of a collection for the:

YMCA (clothes/shoes/bags/textiles/electrical items/media/CD’s/DVD’s/books)

Food (tins, packets, jars, not fresh) for FareShare

Kitchen equipment (plates, mugs, utensils, pots and pans) for storage and re-sale at the start of term with proceeds to charity

The Green Zones compliment our YMCA re-use banks.

So when you clear out, donate it. End of term charity collection, when you clear out donate reusable goods to charity.

Green Zone collection points are located in Laundry rooms/Reception in halls of residences and Cardiff Student Union. Please sort items into the relevant charity bins.

14 YMCA re-use banks are located across the city to compliment these Green Zones

Campaign information including pin point google maps of the locations of the Green Zones and YMCA banks can be founds via:

http://www.cardiffdigs.co.uk/getitout.htm




First collection

The banks are located around Cardiff University, Cardiff Students Union, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Liberty Living and Victoria Halls across Cardiff. The first collection saw the YMCA pick up 53 6kg bags of re-usable items so approximately a third of a ton has been donated and saved from landfill already.

Each year at the end of term Green Zones are installed across halls of residences and unions to collect re-usable items for charity. Last year the scheme to collect re-usable items that previously would’ve been destined for landfill was a resounding success with over nine tonnes of items collected.

Get It Out For Cardiff is a Keep Cardiff Tidy partnership. The re-use campaign is lead by the cities Student Liaison Officer, Kieran McCann and Lucy Prisk from waste management. Kieran said:

“We are always looking at inventive ways to increase the scope of re-use so I’m delighted the YMCA has come on board with the partnership. This allows us to develop the scheme year round, increase re-use, continue to divert items away from landfill and benefit charities and the local community. This really showcases ongoing partnership commitments to civic pride and dedications to recycling”

Andrew Jenkins, YMCA manager said:

“We are thrilled to be involved and come on board with such an innovative scheme. “With the funds from donations we will develop more training placements on the YMCA Volunteer Scheme and invest in projects and services for homeless people at the Cardiff YMCA Housing Association. Our sincere thanks to Kieran, Lucy and the team for pulling this together”

Thursday 3 May 2012

Cardiff win Varsity Cup and Shield while KWT keep it clean


On Wednesday Cardiff had much to celebrate at this year’s Welsh Varsity winning both the Varsity Shield and Cup.

The day saw Cardiff play Swansea in a range of grudge matches with the final score of 18 to Swansea’s 5.

Besides the day’s victories Cardiff had much to celebrate as they took those high spirits to the Millennium Stadium to watch Cardiff come out victorious to claim their fifth Varsity Cup win in 16 years of the Welsh Varsity. Final score was 33-13

With thousands of spectators and an attendance of 15,662 at the stadium there were plenty of revellers out on the glorious day. Keep Wales Tidy were tasked with being the clean up group for the Varsity events on Pontcanna fields and around the Welsh Institute of Sport.





From 1-7pm they had 40 volunteers working in 2 hour slots collecting and sorting the rubbish into recyclables and non recyclables. They even went as far as sorting ferrous from non-ferrous cans. Altogether, they collected 3 large bins of recycling, 1.25 large bins of general rubbish and 10 bin bags full of crushed aluminium cans.

Volunteers ranged from Cardiff Rivers Group, litter champions, Friends of Bute Park, Environmental Champions, BT and HSBC and supported by members from Cardiff Council's Recycling Team and the cities Student Liaison Officer.

The pictures from today, show the volunteers returning to the collections area with the sorted can line getting longer and longer.





Many of the volunteers took advantage of free tickets to watch the Varsity Rugby Game in the evening and enjoyed the atmosphere and a Cardiff win.

Chris Partridge, Keep Wales Tidy's Tidy Towns Funded Project officer for Cardiff commented

"I'd like to thank all the volunteers who were brilliant today. They worked really hard, were friendly to the students and coped with students coming in from all directions and both sides of the river. They cleared from 1-7pm clearing both sides of the River from Blackweir down to the end of Bute Park and all around WIS. It was a challenging day but most of the volunteers reported that the visitors from Swansea were very polite and placed bottles and cans in the bags as the volunteers passed by”