We're excited to announce another Hackathon session for you to get involved with the new Velindre Cancer Centre's exciting community benefits. 

On October 7 we'll host a follow-up session in exploring community initiatives related to the project.  
To register your interest, click here. Join us for this online session to be a part of the ongoing conversation!
This isn't the only opportunity to get involved and there'll be plenty of other events and forums to put forward your thoughts and ideas. 

It comes after our recent hackathon was a great success in exploring community initiatives related to the project. The first event saw 45 people from various organisations and sectors including public service and education to the third sector and supply chain took attend and contribute ideas. 

Facilitated by the Cwmpas Start Something Good team, the hackathon brought together passionate individuals to brainstorm and develop innovative ideas to support the Velindre Cancer Centre. Now, we are excited to continue this momentum with a one-hour follow-up session to explore the ideas further and suggest new ones.

We look forward to seeing you then!

It has come to our attention that there has been a drone flying over our new Velindre Cancer Centre construction site without permission. We want to remind everyone that the privacy and safety of our staff are of utmost importance to us.

Flying drones over our site without permission is not only a violation of privacy but also against the law. Drones can pose a significant risk to our staff and the community, and anyone caught flying a drone over our site without authorisation may face legal consequences.

An investigation is currently underway, and the Trust has been informed. 

We are committed to keeping our site, staff, and community safe, and we urge all drone operators to respect our boundaries and refrain from flying drones over our construction site without permission.

Thank you for your cooperation.

We want to let you know about some upcoming works to develop the new Velindre Cancer Centre that are scheduled to take place outside typical working hours. 
 
The work is part of installing the permanent compound and involves delivering cabins to the main site. Due to the cabins being unavailable from the manufacturer for the previous dates (August 30th and 31st) detailed in our recent letter, the new delivery dates are as below:

Saturday September 14 - Sunday September 15: Compound second floor installation averaging 12 HGVs per day, via the Coryton entrance for minimal disruption 

Deliveries for this work may cause slower traffic in the area. We appreciate the inconvenience this can have on our community and our team will make sure to minimise any impact. 

We would also like to inform you that we will soon be installing hoarding at the east brow near the entrance of TCAR2 (the site entrance nearing City Hospice). This will ensure minimal disruption to passersby using the path, although certain sections may be temporarily narrowed. The work is scheduled to take place from the week commencing September 23rd and is expected to take one week to complete. 
Our next regular resident drop-in meeting is scheduled for Wednesday September 25th between 6pm and 7pm at the Noddfa building at 19 Park Road by the Velindre Cancer Centre rear car park. Members of the Sacyr and Velindre team will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. 
 
If you have any queries in the meantime, please get in touch at KHathaway@sacyr.com or 07763 203360. 

Sacyr UK, the contractor building the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) has educated nearly 1300 south Wales school pupils in just one month in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities. 

As part of its social value work, Sacyr UK’s community benefits coordinator has worked in partnership with Careers Wales, Working Options and Cardiff Commitment to visit secondary schools and deliver STEM lessons. 

Sacyr UK also engaged the supply chain that is supporting it on the nVCC build to take part in the lessons, and so Sphere Solutions, Blue Water and Prichards joined the contractor in delivering a variety of interesting and engaging sessions.  The lessons dealt with subjects such as insights into careers and work possibilities in the construction industry, as well as helping out with employability skills and carrying out mock interviews.  

Katie Hathaway, Stakeholder and Engagement Manager at Sacyr UK, said: “It was great that our supply chain partners could join us in these lessons and show these children what the possibilities are in our industry, as well as helping them with skills around employability that they will need in the coming years. 

“We are very proud that we engaged with nearly 1300 pupils across this region in such a short amount of time and hope to carry on this work throughout the three years of the project.”

Sacyr UK, the major contractor building the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC), has partnered with Cardiff-based Front Door Communications to support with its communications and marketing during the project build. 

Front Door Communications has been retained by Sacyr UK for the three years of the project to help publicise the ongoing site work, as well as the community benefits the project is undertaking. 
The agency was founded in 2017 and works with some of Wales’ leading companies, including Go.Compare, Hodge and Acorn Recruitment. It already has a solid track record in the construction sector as it works with Bouygues UK, McCann and Partners and Cambria Consulting. 

Kathryn Chadwick, Director at Front Door Communications, said of the partnership: “The new Velindre Cancer Centre is a prestigious and important development for Wales, which will house state of the art facilities for those needing treatment for cancer – an illness which affects so many of us.

“We are proud to be working with the team at Sacyr UK to spread the news about the developments on site, but also the amazing community benefits schemes that have already taken place and are planned as part of the build. Seeing these initiatives come to life in the coming months and years is going to be wonderful to see.”

Sacyr UK partnered with the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation on its free Fit, Fed and Fun Camps to help children from the city attend a summer camp at Coryton Primary School to become more active and healthier this summer. 

The initiative supports young children, many of whom come from deprived areas of the city, to stay fit, eat a healthier diet, and have a fun day out. Children who attend the camps also enjoy a free, well-balanced and nutritious breakfast and lunch throughout the six-week break, helping to alleviate financial stress on families during the summer holidays. 

Anna Davies, Sacyr UK's Community Benefits Coordinator at the new Velindre Cancer Centre site, said of the initiative: "Fit, Fed and Fun is one of many amazing programmes run by the Cardiff Blues Community Foundation throughout South Wales. It's about more than a few hours of fun, their programmes use the power of sport to tackle multiple barriers to help increase wellbeing, health and skills.”

The Fit, Fed and Fun Camps are run in association with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and are delivered by the Community Foundations of Wales' four professional regional rugby clubs. 

Nadine Griffiths of Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation said of the initiative: “Many of these children are having free school meals and so it’s great to make sure they are getting that meal, and this is one day in the six-week holiday period that we are able to get them out and give them some fun.”

Cardiff Community Foundation has already confirmed more than 40 registrations to its camp over the summer holidays through Flying Start, the Pear Tree Foundation, and the Passport to City Programme. 

We want to let you know that construction traffic is permitted to start using the new bridge at Asda Coryton as part of the new Velindre Cancer Centre build. Please be advised that construction traffic will utilise the entrance on the following dates: Saturday, August 10th, Sunday, August 11th, Saturday, August 31st, and Sunday, 1st September. 

The opening will allow construction traffic to enter the site more efficiently and should help alleviate traffic on surrounding roads.

The embargo times which apply to the Park Road/Whitchurch Hospital Grounds entrance do not apply to the bridge access.

We appreciate your continued patience during the construction process and thank you for your understanding and support.

If you have any questions please get in touch.

Limited spaces are available for the final Carbon Literacy for Communities programme on August 1st and August 2nd.

These sessions will be conducted via webinar and are accredited. Thanks to the generous support from Sacyr, participants will have the opportunity to earn valuable skills and knowledge in carbon literacy.

This is open to anyone over age 16 years looking to advance their skills in the following topics:

August 1st - Part One: What is climate change?
•    Climate change in action
•    The science: greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect
•    Measuring: domestic energy & food
 

August 2nd - Part Two: taking action
•    Measuring: travel, goods & waste
•    Community action (including local examples, visualising ‘visions’ for the future, bringing others on board and more)
•    Bringing others on board
•    Your action plan 

To reserve your spot, contact peopleplus_hjenkins@sacyr.com today!
 

On Saturday July 20th, members of the Sacyr team hiked Pen Y Fan alongside another 30 people who chose different walking routes to raise money for Llamau. Despite the terrible turn in weather, the team made it and smiles all around at the summit!
Llamau support homeless young people and women to leave homelessness behind for good. Our aim was to collectively walk in excess of 100,000 steps in recognition of the 100,000 children, young people and women that Llamau has supported since its inception nearly 40 years ago.

The Acorn Ambassador Alliance will support and advise on the project’s prospective and ongoing community benefit schemes, communicate news to local residents and attend community events to raise awareness of the project’s social values. They will also represent and advocate for the project to the local community, ensuring a positive experience for all those involved, and network with local voluntary and community organisations to build strong partnerships.
 
For any local residents who would like to apply to become an Acorn Alliance Ambassador, you can apply via our online application and hard copy forms will be available at the Whitchurch Hub, Grangetown Hub, Star Hub and Butetown Pavillion Hub.
 
The Acorn Ambassador Alliance is a separate initiative to Velindre Voices, which is a well-established forum lead by the Velindre University NHS Trust. Velindre Voices is a way for patients, carers, and members of the wider community to keep in touch with the Trust, influence its work and get involved in whatever way they see fit. The Acorn Ambassador Alliance is being set up specifically to advise the new Velindre Cancer Centre’s project staff on the needs of the local community during the build and beyond.
 
The Acorn Ambassador Alliance is committed to involving the public in the development of the new Velindre Cancer Centre. We believe in the strength of diverse voices to build an inclusive and effective cancer care facility.

We wanted to let you know that the Velindre Summer Jambori is returning during the school holidays! 

Every Wednesday starting 24th July until 28th August we’ll be hosting free family fun at the Velindre Roundhouse (19 Park Road) including arts & crafts, interactive games and exciting themes each week. 

All children must be accompanied at all times and everyone is advised to wear sunscreen and bring along a water bottle to stay hydrated :)

We’d be so grateful if you could share this with your community!

Everyone is welcome – we look forward to seeing you there. 

We want to let you know that construction traffic will soon be permitted to start using the new bridge at Asda Coryton as part of the new Velindre Cancer Centre build.

The opening will allow construction traffic to enter the site more efficiently and should help alleviate traffic on surrounding roads.

The embargo times which apply to the Park Road/Whitchurch Hospital Grounds entrance do not apply to the bridge access.

We appreciate your continued patience during the construction process and thank you for your understanding and support.

If you have any questions please get in touch.

In April, Whitchurch residents were invited to a community presentation at the village’s Rugby Club to hear more about the design and build process at the new Velindre Cancer Centre, as well as getting a chance to look at a model of the centre. Attendees were treated to Welsh cakes made by local business Bakery Treat Boxes and were also introduced to a new project timeline illustration, created by local designer Natalie Vaughan and local illustrator Jodie Welsh. Representatives from the Acorn Consortium, Sacyr UK, and Velindre NHS Trust project teams attended the meeting to answer any questions residents may have had, and a suggestion letterbox was opened for people to propose any initiatives they would like to support. 

Residents' meetings will continue to take place every last Wednesday of the month for the duration of the construction programme. These will be held at the Noddfa building at 19 Park Road by the Velindre Cancer Centre rear car park.

For more information contact our team: contact@newvelindre.info
 

Acorn in collaboration with Cwmpas (the UK’s largest co-operative development agency), will deliver three hackathons to support stakeholder engagement and the delivery of community benefits across a 36-month period. We will produce a community benefits plan in coproduction with community members and stakeholders.

A Hackathon is designed to bring people, organisations, and communities together to develop fresh ideas for social change and to establish high impact community benefits initiatives. Collectively we will embrace innovation and creative thinking in our co-design of the things that matter to people. The Hackathon’s will provide a vehicle to co-design solutions alongside stakeholders in an equal, reciprocal, democratic and fun way.

•    Stage One: A hackathon at the inception of the build to identify priorities and to build in support for the build locally. This will include multiple stakeholders, and is anticipated to involve 40-60 people. This will take place in August 2024 at Cardiff and the Vale College Campus.

•    Stage Two: A hackathon at the anticipated 18-month mid-way point of the build. 

•    Stage Three: A final hackathon to measure the effectiveness of the community benefits plan.

We invite all interested community organisations or members to attend the hackathon to provide your valuable input. For more information contact us: contact@newvelindre.info

Sacyr partner with the Lighthouse Charity to launch their ‘Behind the smile’ campaign.  Cerys Turner from the Lighthouse charity paid a visit to the team to deliver a presentation to raise awareness about their invaluable services to support the Construction industry. 

With ill mental health statistics so high, with two construction workers taking their own life every working day, Sacyr are doing all they can to support workers on site. Depression manifests itself in different ways, so being alert to spot the signs is paramount for early intervention.

Here at the new Velindre cancer centre, Sacyr launched a campaign to remind our staff to check in with their peers 'behind the smile' because sometimes those who appear the most happy and stable are often those who are struggling the most.

Sacyr make mental health awareness a priority every day, and they are mindful that their gentle words and actions have the ability to truly make a difference.

Cynnal Cymru, one of Wales’ leading sustainability training and advice organisations, will deliver accredited carbon literacy at work and community courses throughout June and July 2024. 

The site workers and staff, working as part of Sacyr on the construction of the New Velindre Cancer Centre will participate in a Carbon Literacy at Work course. Residents of the local community, with a vested interest in the development will have the opportunity to attend the Carbon Literacy for Communities course which will take place on 3rd, 10th,12th July. 

The course will teach participants about the links between human activity and climate change in their day-to-day activities while empowering people to take action to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It will also teach people how to make positive action to how they live, work and behave to reduce their emissions and in turn help climate change. 

For more information about how residents can enrol onto one of the supplemented carbon literacy courses please contact us: contact@newvelindre.info
 

Sacyr UK and Ireland achieve the disability confident committed accreditation. As part of their ongoing commitment to diversity equity and inclusion they have taken this important step to continue to build an inclusive workplace. 

By joining the disability confident scheme Sacyr are actively supporting individuals with unique talents although they appreciate its an ongoing commitment and journey. 

As part of this initiative, we are actively looking to support students with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and Special Educational Needs (SEN) by offering accessible site visits and opportunities for work experience.  

In addition, we have made our permanent welfare compound more accessible to accommodate individuals with physical disabilities, ensuring that everyone has equal access to our facilities.
 

Sacyr’s continued efforts to create a vibrant and positive work environment has paid off, and the entire team is beaming with pride. Sacyr's commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and employee well-being has not only been acknowledged but celebrated with this accolade.  

The team are motivated more than ever to continue encouraging new trailblazing ideas on the new Velindre Cancer Centre and have included mandatory EDI training for all site staff through a partnership with Prospect Digital.

Sacyr UK and Ireland has been recognised with the prestigious Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award for medium organisations. 

To support with the ongoing co-ordination between our multiple employability partners and supply chain, Sacyr UK has appointed a workforce development coordinator to join the Community Benefits team. This secondment opportunity is a major step forward for the Construction industry, as creating a role which connects those in need of employment and the employers looking to hire them, the chance for early success during the candidate selection process is hugely increased. Members of the People Plus team attended Sacyr’s recent ‘Meet the Buyer’ event at Cardiff Arms park, and Hannah (pictured right) will be joining the Sacyr team in June.

Our partnership with People Plus will see us utilising their services to provide opportunities to those furthest away from the labour market and to encourage knowledge share and support with breaking down employability barriers. 

For further information about our upcoming vacancies contact us: contact@newvelindre.info