Duathlon Event – Wednesday 14 May – Pembrey Country Park

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This May, ColegauCymru are organising an FE Multisport event in partnership with Welsh Triathlon, Carmarthenshire County Council, Coleg Sir Gar, AoC Sport, Welsh Government and Welsh Cycling.  It is promoting Active Wellbeing across college settings and recognising the benefit of being active on positive mental health for staff and learners.

The event has two formats:

 Beginners Duathlon* – 1km Run / 4km Bike / 1km Run

  • This is not a competitive event but ideal for staff looking to try a multisport event for the first time, similar to “Couch to 5k”
  • You will only need some sports kit and a pair of trainers, all bikes and helmets are provided

* If you think it would be too much to do the full event on your own you can pair up, with one person doing the bike ride and one person running/walking.

Competitive Duathlon, 5k Run / 20km Bike / 2.5km run

  • More suitable for staff with more experience of running and cycling including competitive multisport athletes
  • Participants can bring their own bikes and equipment or make use of the bikes provided

This is a great way to get active, if you’ve never exercised before or if you’re more experienced to get back into live events.

You won’t be on your own, you’ll be able to receive support and advice from Christian Regis, Staff Fitness Coach and be part of a Teams Group for extra support, where you will be able to receive training/recovery /nutrition tips.

If you would like to participate, please register your interest* by emailing Claire.Bickford@gcs.ac.uk by no later than Monday, 31 March.

* you would need to confirm with your line manager that you could be released on 14 May to participate

March the Month Step Challenge

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Monday, 3 – Monday, 31 March

 

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness month.

 

March the Month is a virtual step challenge to encourage us to get active and beat prostate cancer.

 

Join us by forming a team within your department and race other teams to reach Edinburgh, 425 miles away, by the end of March.

 

All you have to do is ……

 

  • Form a team of up to 6 within your department (Team name must be your department, eg HR 1, HR 2 etc)
  • Choose a Team Leader who will be Admin for your Team
  • Everyone download the app, with the link/QR code below, register and sync your fitbit, phone or garmin.
  • And then…. WALK… All steps count…. the ones around campus, on your daily dog walk, whilst shopping, or hiking up Pen y Fan on the weekend. Your steps will sync within the app and you will be able to track your Teams progress and see how well other Teams are doing

 

Every team that reaches Edinburgh will win a prize!

Link HERE

March the Month of March step challenge to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer

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COMING SOON….

 

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness month.

 

This year Prostate Cancer UK are running a step challenge to encourage everyone to keep active and beat prostate cancer.

 

To mark Prostate Cancer Awareness month, GCS will be running our own inhouse March the Month virtual step challenge and staff are encouraged to form a team within your department and walk collectively and virtually all the way to Edinburgh, a distance of 425 miles, by the end of March.

 

Everyone who reaches Edinburgh will win a prize!

 

More details to follow……

Financial Wellbeing webinar – 13.02.25 – link to recording

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Money and Pensions Webinar on Financial Wellbeing 

Thursday, 13 February, 12.30 pm – recording link

GCS were pleased to liaise with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to deliver a webinar on the service they provide, and to advise on all things money.

 

In this session, Lawrence Davies, Partnerships Manager for Wales at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), provided an overview of their free consumer MoneyHelper platform and the various tools and calculators staff can use to boost their financial wellbeing. Lawrence also gave a briefing on pensions and the services that MoneyHelper has to offer to help staff plan for the future.

 

MaPS are an independant and impartial organisation set up by the Government and funded by levies from the financial services industry. They give FREE unbiased money and pensions guidance to help people make informed choices and their vision is that everyone makes the most of their money and pensions. Visit their website to find out more https://maps.org.uk/en

 

In addition, MaPS has a consumer brand “Money Helper” which has relevant tools, guides, calculators and information for the public on everything from pocket money to pensions. To find out more visit https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

 

With people grappling with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is no surprise that over half of UK adults don’t feel confident in making decisions about financial products and services. Therefore, talking about money has never been so important. Did you know that:

 

  • Around 13% of UK adults (approximately 6.8 million people) are struggling to pay for essential costs like rent and council tax (Citizens Advice Bureau, 2025)
  • 62% of UK adults have financial worries, especially among younger adults (Schroders Personal Wealth, 2025)
  • 79% of those with financial concerns experience impacts on mental wellbeing (Schroders Personal Wealth, 2025)

 

So let’s all start talking about money and build money conversations into our everyday lives. This will help build financial confidence and resilience to face income shocks, life events and whatever life throws at us.

 

To view a recording of the session, please click here HERE

Time To Talk Day – Thursday 6 February

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Thursday is Time to Talk Day, the nations biggest mental health conversation. So take some time to join your colleagues in a walk around your campus, have a cuppa and cake or join the online mental health based quiz with the chance to win a prize! Whatever you do, try to come together with colleagues, friends and families to talk, listen and change lives.

The Orchard Project – Fruit Pruning and Training

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The Orchard Project will be running a series of sessions over the coming months to give staff the opportunity to learn more about Orchard planting and restoration.

Details of this weeks session:

  • Learn how to espalier fruit bushes and master pruning techniques.
  • Run by Witchhazel, our local expert from The Orchard Project Swansea.
  • Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 15:30 – 17:00
  • Green Hwb, Hill House

 

Christmas Wellbeing Fest 2024

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Christmas is coming to GCS!

We are pleased to release the first communications about what is coming on Christmas Wellbeing Fest day on Thursday 19 December.

There are a wide range of activities planned for this year including hot pod yoga, nordic walking, wreath making, cold water dipping, board game cafes and PSA testing for men.

Some activities are booked up early so please keep an eye out for further details on when the booking system is open to make a booking.

More info to follow…..

The Orchard Project – get involved!

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The Orchard Project will be running a series of sessions over the coming months to give staff the opportunity to learn more about Orchard planting and restoration.

The first session is taking place on Tuesday 12 November at 15:30 – 17:00 at the Green Hwb, Hill House. You can book your place on the session through the Booking System.

The session will be run by Witchhazel, our local expert from The Orchard Project, Swansea.

Give it a go! October 15

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The College is  inviting colleagues to come along to practice your Welsh skills across campuses on October 15 with colleagues over a cake. You can learn more about Welsh opportunities, lessons, resources and Apps. The sessions are taking place at 11.30 – 13.30 at the following locations:

  • Gorseinon – common room
  • Tycoch – Atrium
  • Llwyn y Bryn – Cafe
  • Jubilee Court – Cafe

Swansea Philharmonic Choir event

Swansea Philharmonic Choir are singing at All Saints Church in Oystermouth on Saturday June 8th at 6pm. The event is a relaxing programme of music and will feature solos from some of our students.

Tickets are £10 (students £5) and available on the door or by ringing 017892 299443.