LATEST
STORIES:
ACTION
NOW:
The largest town is Abergavenny. Other towns and large villages are Caldicot, Chepstow, Monmouth, Magor and Usk. The region boosts more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the UK. Nestled between the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s not just the stunning landscape that’ll take your breath away for it is known for its mountain walks, public houses, restaurants, fabulous food and company.
UNISON USEFUL LINKS TO SAVE YOU MONEY
Please inform us if you see an outdated link, thank you.
June 2025
to
LIVERPOOL CONFERENCE
Great to see Branch Secretary Jan Davies moving Amendment 24.2 on Motion 24: NJC Bargaining.
Another jam packed day of debates at Local Government Conference in Liverpool. Motions on the Disability Employment Charter, Artificial Intelligence and its impact on Local Government Workers, NJC Bargaining, and Severe Weather Events.


June 2025
to
CARERS WEEK
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. More information please click here

June 2025
PRIDE MONTH
Monmouthshire County Council is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community within Monmouthshire. The Pride events are grass-root community-led events that celebrate inclusivity, equality and diversity, allowing everyone to be their authentic self. Click the link to find Pride events in Monmouthshire.
Monmouthshire link please click here.

May 2025
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK - SIGHT CYMRU
What do you need today? Is it comfort? Hope? Peace? Whatever it is, take it. You deserve it.
Our "Take What You Need" graphic is a gentle reminder that you're not alone, and support comes in many forms. We understand the impact sight loss can have on mental health, and we offer a wide range of wellbeing services. To have a chat about them:
Phone: 01495 763650
Email: becs.harris@sightcymru.org.uk
Sight Cymru Facebook please click here.
#MentalHealthFoundation #MentalHealthMatters #SightCymru #Wellbeing #YouAreNotAlone
![Take-What-You-Need [PD: A yellow background with colourful purple and pink flowers in the corners. In the centre is a white sheet of paper with the large black text heading, "Take What You Need." Along the bottom of the paper, there are vertical tear-off tabs with the words, "Comfort, Hope, Inspiration, Forgiveness, Motivation, and Peace." One of the tabs, labelled "Peace," is slightly torn away to suggest it’s being taken. At the bottom is the logo of Sight Cymru. This is an eye with a heart in the centre and the words "Sight Cymru" underneath.]](https://www.unisoningwent.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/monmouthshire/jpg/Take-What-You-Need.jpg)
May 2025
Free training being held on Monday 19th May with Sight Cymru in Abergavenny at The Kings Arms from 10:30am - 3pm for businesses to learn more about how they can be more sight aware. If you are interested in booking a space, please contact Abergavenny Town Council via the details below.
Abergavenny Town Council Facebook please click here.
May 2025
NEC ELECTIONS 2025
You decide! No ballot pack?
Call 0800 0857 857
“The NEC make decisions about how the union uses your subscriptions to protect jobs and pay, so please vote.” UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea urges all members to vote in the ballot for the union’s National Executive Council. #NEC NECElections #PleaseVote #UNISON

May 2025
FAIR PAY
Schools and council workers have been offered a pay increase of 3.2% from 1 April 2025 by the NJC employers. The offer also includes a proposal to delete the bottom pay point (SCP2) from the national pay spine on 1st April 2026. UNISON’s head of local government, Mike Short, said: ‘With household bills still rising, council and school staff need a decent pay award after years of below-inflation deals and deep cuts to local government services.

‘It's vital central government also plays its part through sustained investment in local authorities. UNISON will meet to discuss the employers’ offer in early May and decide next steps.’ Keep an eye on your inboxes for more information. Read the full offer please click here
April 2025
to
SAVE OUR SERVICES
We're organising a week of collective campaigning on council funding. From Tuesday 22 April to Friday 25 April, we will be piling the pressure onto the Government to urgently address the funding crisis in local government. We are asking members, branches and activists to generate as much noise as possible, pressuring ministers to pay attention and fund local government properly. #SaveOurServices
Hit this link to see how you can help.

April 2025
NOMINATE A CHAMPION
As part of this year’s Champions in Our Colleges celebration day (taking place on Friday 2 May 2025) – we are running a prize draw called Nominate a Champion. This prize draw is all about recognising the fantastic contributions of support staff in colleges. These staff members work so hard to keep colleges running smoothly and support learners with their education. More information link click here

April 2025
LIVERPOOL CONFERENCE
UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea addressed the union’s health conference in Liverpool. “And after 14 years of cuts, chaos, damage and division, this was a welcome change. One that was long overdue.” Highlighting the change, she noted the Westminster Labour government’s policies – investing in green infrastructure, boosting social housing and nationalising rail companies. But the most significant change, she said, is the Employment Rights Bill. More information link click here

April 2025
CALLING ALL CARE WORKERS
You should be paid a minimum of £12.60 an hour, the Real Living Wage, from 1st April this year. If you are paid below this rate, let us know as soon as possible so we can work to correct it. Send the UNISON Cymru care team an email careworkcymru@unison.co.uk

April 2025
APRIL RISING BILLS
There is an incredible local charity offering a huge amount of help and support to their community in and around Abergavenny called Cwtch Angels. If you know anyone that needs a little help right now, these lovely people are a good place to start. Annie and the team will be there to offer help and support to anyone who needs it. Loads of goodies bags went out today, there are more put up ready for tomorrow, a random mix of 10 items for an exchange of just £1.00, includes crisps, biscuits and chocolate. Address: Hatherleigh Place, Union Road West, Abergavenny NP7 7RL.
Opening Hours:
Monday: 11:30 am–1 pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:30 am–1 pm
Thursday Closed
Friday: 11:30 am–1 pm
Saturday: 11:30 am–1 am
Sunday: Closed

April 2025
APRIL RISING BILLS
It is being dubbed "awful April" with a range of household bills set to go up in the next few days. There are a few things that you can consider to save money.
1). Shop around: Shop around for better deals and haggle with your existing provider. That applies to a whole range of bills, including insurance, energy, and broadband.
2). Cut back: Consider a water and gas meter and taking shorter showers and putting in a showerhead with a slower flow. Draught-proofing your home, including round floorboards, pipework and old extractor fans, and setting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature. Recommended between 18°C and 21°C. Using hot water bottles and electric blankets should work out cheaper than turning up the radiators. For reducing transport bills purchasing a railcard can help and booking tickets in advance.

3). Get help: There are free household bill online calculators to work out monthly bill totals. Find out what benefits and extra help you are entitled to click here.
The BBC have published an excellent support and help link here.
March 2025
to
CELEBRATING NEURODIVERSITY WEEK
Let's take a moment to recognise and embrace the incredible diversity of human minds. Neurodiversity acknowledges that neurological differences are to be respected and valued just like any other form of human diversity. Join us in celebrating the unique strengths, perspectives, and talents of neurodiverse individuals. Together, we can foster a more inclusive and understanding world.

Let's break stereotypes, raise awareness, and show support.
#NeurodiversityWeek #EmbraceDifference #InclusionMatters
More information link click here
March 2025
ATTITUDES MUST CHANGE
Women not safe from violence and misogyny, including at work. Attitudes must change, Christina McAnea says on International Women’s Day.
More information link click here

March 2025
WOMEN'S CELEBRATORY DAY
International Women’s Day is on the 8th March. Providing information on issues affecting women including health, fitness and well-being amongst others.
More information link click here

March 2025
DYDD GWYL DEWI HAPUS
Happy Saint David's Day. Saint David's Day, or the Feast of Saint David, is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March, the date of Saint David's death in 589 AD.

February 2025
to
HEART UNISON
Heart Unions Week is all about building a stronger union movement – telling positive stories of change and sharing the many benefits of union membership. This year, as well as celebrating local wins and putting members at the heart of our communications, a great focus for UNISON is our campaign around the Employment Rights Bill. We’ve branded it ‘A better life at work’ and you can find all the latest news here #JoinUNISON #UnisonCymruWales #HeartUNISON More information link click here

February 2025
UNISON COLLEGE IN CYMRU / WALES
All UNISON Members across the UK can access exclusive courses, bursaries, financial support, special events and e-learning platforms from UNISON College.
Find out what you can do today!
Full courses click here

January 2025
Nominations close at 16:00 on Friday 17 January 2025
LOCAL SERVICE CHAMPIONS
UNISON celebrates and defends local government workers for the everyday heroes they are.
Without great people running our local services, our communities would suffer. Nominations for the 2025 awards are now open – take 5 minutes to nominate someone that has gone above and beyond this year.
To nominate click here

January 2025
SCHOOL BUDGETS
School budgets need protecting, says UNISON in response to Institute of Fiscal Studies funding report. Delivering the education all children and young people deserve cannot be achieved without proper funding.
Full article click here


UNISON POD CAST 2025
The UNISON Local Government podcast is out now. All-member email was sent to local government members advising them of the podcast. After evaluating series 1, we’ve changed the podcast's name to ‘Behind the Service: a UNISON insight into Local Government’.
In this podcast, Ruth Levin and Paul Bell chat with Tony Wright and Abi Coombs from UNISON’s charity, There For You.
This episode of the UNISON Podcast covers:
- What ‘There For You’ is, and how it works
- The sheer range of support available
- Quantifying the charity’s massive impact across the year
- How UNISON members can access support and get involved with the charity
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform via the links below! Please promote the podcast within your branch and regional networks.
Listen Online click here
Listen on Spotify click here
Listen on Apple click here
Listen on Amazon click here

CHECK YOUR BENEFITS
It can often be tricky to figure out which benefits you are eligible for and how to claim.
Check your support now with the UNISON Benefits Calculator.

BUDGET PLANNER
The first vital step in taking control of your finances is to create your own personal budget plan. Our user friendly budget planner is free to use and should only take minutes to complete if you have all your financial information to hand.
> Budget planner link here

WELLBEING MATTERS
Wellbeing breaks can provide welcome relief from stress and respite from difficult circumstances – this can include assisting with recovery from illness to help prepare for a return to work.
Contact Monmouthshire Branch