April 2020 press releases

Thousands of vulnerable and isolated people helped in Swansea
Thousands of people are getting help from brand new and expanded services set-up by Swansea Council to support vulnerable and isolated people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Council transport scheme helps save local man's sight
Swansea Council's Client transport Team recently jumped into action to help prevent a local man from going blind.

Support for pupils experiencing domestic abuse
A national scheme that helps ensure effective communication between Police and Education, when domestic abuse occurs in the home, is continuing to run in Swansea despite the coronavirus lockdown.
Council arranges new addition to foodbank supplies
Swansea residents who make use of the city's foodbanks are set to have additional items included this week.

Swansea city centre - still open for essential business
Lockdown restrictions have dramatically changed city centre shopping habits.

Council tenants in Swansea get quick response with emergency repairs
Maintenance teams in Swansea are continuing to assist council tenants with emergency repairs at their homes during the coronavirus pandemic.

Swansea's sister city Nantong sends PPE to help
Swansea has taken delivery of a consignment of personal protection equipment from Nantong, a sister city in China.

Cabinet's unanimous backing for 1,000 bed field hospital
SWANSEA Council's Cabinet has unanimously given its approval to the building of the new 1000-bed field hospital at Bay Studios on Fabian Way.
Help on hand for council house tenants struggling to pay the rent
Council housing tenants who may be struggling to make ends meet due to the Coronavirus are being urged to get in touch if they are finding it difficult to pay their rent.

4,000 hot meals provided for vulnerable in Swansea
A community-led food scheme in Swansea is helping to prepare more than 1,000 hot meals a week during the coronavirus restrictions.
Employers urged to ensure staff and customers abide by 2m rule
Swansea Council is urging employers and businesses uncertain of any aspects of the newly-introduced Welsh Government Coronavirus Regulations to get in touch for all the latest information and advice.

Virtual School opens for pupils, parents and teachers
Schools are closed but a new online one-stop-shop with teaching and learning resources for parents and teachers in Swansea has opened.

Council set to approve funding for magnificent hospital
SWANSEA Council's Cabinet is set to approve spending up to £15m on emergency building works for the 1,000-bed field hospital at Bay Studios on Fabian Way.
Please pause to salute those on Coronavirus frontline
Council staff and workers everywhere are being urged to join in a minute's silence at 11am on Tuesday, April 28, for International Workers' Memorial Day.

Grand co-production set to punch its weight online
A musical production co-produced by Swansea's Grand Theatre is to have its online premiere tonight (April 24).
Swansea skyline changing as arena steel structures rise
New parts of the Swansea skyline are emerging as the steel skeletons of the city's new indoor arena and allied buildings go up.
One-stop shop for business information during Coronavirus
BUSINESSES working out ways to get themselves and employees through the coronavirus crisis can drop in to an online one-stop information centre.

Hanging baskets set to brighten our day
Residents are being offered the chance to add a bit of colour and brightness to homes and communities this summer.

All aboard for online Swansea local history
Those looking for stimulating lockdown activities can now take a trip back into Swansea's past.

Carpenters know how to build support for city residents
MEMBERS of Swansea Council's building services team have taken on new roles to deliver much-needed meals and drinks to elderly and disabled residents in the community.
Council stepping up support for homeless during coronavirus pandemic
COUNCIL staff are intensifying efforts to bring empty homes back into use to help homeless people cope with the Coronavirus crisis, as well as supporting those in housing need.

Loads to do during the lockdown
FAMILIES on the hunt for fresh ways to spend their time at home during the Coronavirus lockdown can tap into some new ideas from Swansea Council's, Cultural Services Team.
Extra staff helps boost business grants payments
SWANSEA Council has drafted-in additional staff to assist in processing applications from businesses in Swansea that have applied for business grant support.

Swansea food banks urgently need donations
Food banks in Swansea are appealing for more donations as increased demand, resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of food.

Staff join campaign to highlight domestic abuse risk
Staff from Swansea Council's Child and Family Services Integrated Family Support including the Domestic Abuse Hub are taking part in a new public awareness campaign to help combat Domestic Abuse.

Help is at hand to get elderly or isolated online
Help is at hand for anyone needing to learn how to carry out day-to-day tasks online.
Every community now has local area coordinators on the front line
Swansea Council's Local Area Coordination scheme has been adapted and extended to cover every area of the city helping to ensure that those who are vulnerable or isolated and need help receive it during the coronavirus pandemic.

Emergency road repairs continue
Council highways teams have carried out more than 110 emergency road repairs over the last few weeks, new figures have revealed.
Neighbourhood foodbank is a big hit
A MUCH-NEEDED network of community foodbanks are springing up across Swansea to help support families in need during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Residents get on their bikes for exercise
Residents in Swansea aiming to exercise through the coronavirus crisis have been getting on their bikes.

Thousands of businesses benefit from £28m in grants
Thousands of city small businesses have been given almost £28m in grants to help support them through the Coronavirus pandemic

Specialist designers to help breathe new life into historic Palace Theatre
A specialist design team is to help preserve Swansea's 132-year-old Palace Theatre building for future generations.

Recycling teams get big thank you from residents
Household waste collection crews in Swansea have been praised for their efforts to collect recycling.
New hospital rises on the site of famous Swansea Bay industry
The incredible transformation of a 1950s industrial unit into a superb 2020 hospital is on track.

Two former care homes brought back in to use in crisis
Work is taking place to bring two former care homes back into temporary use to further increase the number of social care beds in Swansea.
1,400 step up to volunteer in their neighbourhoods
More than 1,400 city residents have stepped up in answer to a call for volunteers to be there for their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Local charity responds to beds appeal
SWANSEA Council's appeal for replacement beds and bedding to create an emergency rest centre in the event of a non-coronavirus emergency has been answered.

Food banks provide vital lifeline
Food banks across Swansea have made sure families in the city have had essential food supplies during the recent Easter holidays.

Join our paid carers and help save lives
Dozens of people have responded to an urgent appeal to recruit paid carers to help support older and vulnerable people in their communities but more are needed.

How would Dylan have coped with lockdown?
Lockdown is a challenge for us all - but just imagine how one of Swansea's most famous sons would have felt!

Pharmacists thank Swansea City Centre Rangers
A team of Swansea city centre key workers has thanked Swansea's City Centre Rangers for helping them deliver a vital service.

Allotment holders urged to follow guidelines
Swansea Council is supporting allotment holders whilst encouraging them to help curtail the spread of coronavirus.
Council increases social care beds to help ease pressure on NHS
Swansea Council's social care teams are pulling out all the stops this weekend to support the NHS and save lives.
Bay Studios field hospital work goes 24/7 from the holiday period
Work to transform a Swansea Bay film studios and former factory into a hospital will go 24/7 from the Easter holiday period.

Swans and Ospreys back 'Stay at Home' plea
The Swans and Ospreys are backing Swansea Council's plea to people to stay at home over the bank holiday weekend to save lives and protect the NHS
1,000 volunteers step forward to support city communities
More than 1,000 residents have pledged their support so far in a city-wide recruitment campaign to support the vulnerable during the Coronavirus crisis.
Join our paid carers to help vulnerable through pandemic
SWANSEA Council has launched an urgent appeal to recruit paid carers to help support older and vulnerable people in our communities through the Coronavirus pandemic.
Small businesses get millions of pounds in support grants
HUNDREDS of city small businesses are seeing millions of pounds dropping into their bank accounts as Swansea Council works flat-out to support them during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Holiday accommodation closed for Easter
Anyone thinking of breaking the social distancing rules by travelling to Swansea or Gower over the bank holiday weekend are being warned there will be nowhere for them to stay.
Funeral services continuing in Swansea
Cemeteries and Crematoriums in Swansea are still open for funerals to take place.

Domestic abuse help is at hand
Anyone at risk of domestic abuse during the current Coronavirus restrictions are being reassured that help is at hand.
Appeal goes out for fresh supplies for city rest centre
A CALL has gone out to city businesses for their help to provide support to our communities during the Coronavirus crisis.

Shops in Swansea help recycling effort
Swansea Council has increased the number of local stores where residents can collect recycling bags.

Arts and community come together for Swansea podcast
Swansea's cultural community has a new mouthpiece - a podcast.
Council working flat-out for small businesses
SWANSEA Council is working flat-out to support small businesses applying for a range of Welsh Government grants and other support announced over the last two weeks.

Teachers making visors for frontline NHS staff
Teachers at Bishopston Comprehensive School are putting their skills to good use by helping to protect frontline NHS staff in the city.

Reduced taxi fares for council social care and NHS workers
Local taxi firms have contacted Swansea Council to let them know they are offering reduced taxi fares for council social care workers and NHS staff in the city.
Gallery goes online to keep art in the spotlight
A Swansea gallery has devised a daily online activity programme to stimulate the minds of art fans across the city.
Homelessness help boosted with extra funding
Anyone homeless or at risk of homelessness in Swansea is being supported more than ever during the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday trading laws relaxed in Swansea to help key workers
Swansea Council is relaxing Sunday trading laws to help give key workers and vulnerable people more time to get essential goods.
Please exercise close to home this weekend
RESIDENTS are being urged to follow UK government guidance and exercise close to home this weekend.

Around 1,500 city small businesses set for £21m in grant payments this week
AROUND 1,500 small businesses in Swansea are set to share in £21m of grants this week to help see them through the Coronavirus crisis.

Council to convert Bay Studio to field hospital
Swansea Council is working with contractors Kier and TRJ to transform a former factory and film studios into a hospital to help manage the expected upsurge in Coronavirus cases.

Staff praised for life-saving crisis response
Swansea Council staff have been praised for saving lives and keeping the city running during the Coronavirus crisis.

Council working to keep foodbanks stocked
Swansea Council is stepping in to help food banks across the area to ensure that they can continue to meet soaring demand from families and individuals in need of support.
Welfare officers staying in touch with city pupils
PUPILS entitled to free school meals are getting a little help to ensure they're not missing out on their daily grab and go meals made for them by the council's school catering services.
Call centre staff on hand to support vulnerable residents
MORE than 6,000 vulnerable Swansea residents who've been asked by the Chief Medical Officer for Wales to shield themselves from Coronavirus are getting some extra support from the council.
Council stepping up support for homeless during Coronavirus pandemic
COUNCIL staff are intensifying efforts to bring empty homes back into use to help homeless people cope with the Coronavirus crisis, as well as supporting those in housing need.