GORSEINON: Victory for the ‘Pressure Cookers’ in charity cook off

Angela’s team, the Pressure Cookers, made up of Managing Directors and a Hospital Director from five of Barchester’s divisions, went head to head with members of Barchester’s Executive team, the Rolling Scones, to cook up a storm and win the coveted Cook Off crown whilst raising vital funds for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation. With money still coming in, so far the Cook Off 2026 has raised an extraordinary £53,000.

The Charitable Foundation helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life. 

Each year, the Foundation distributes thousands of pounds to individuals, small community groups, and charities across England, Scotland, and Wales. In 2025, the Foundation achieved a donation milestone of £424,000, which enabled the charity to provide vital help to a staggering 262 small groups and charities, plus 123 individuals in one year alone.

The Pressure Cookers beat the Rolling Scones with their sensational menu, which had a choice of three different starters. The judges named their lobster bisque with chive crème fraiche and croutons an absolute triumph. 

For the main meal, there was a choice of cod loin with beetroot, asparagus, and champ mash or homemade sweet potato and chickpea curry.

For dessert, the options were White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake or Rhubarb Crumble Custard Tart, and their Afternoon Tea item was a Sausage Plait with red onion chutney, which the judges agreed was to die for.

Speaking on the victory Angela said:

“I am so proud of how we handled ourselves under pressure – the team name was very apt – and how we all pulled together to support each other and get the job done.

“The dishes we created looked amazing and were delicious, if I do say so myself. I was especially proud of the Lobster Bisque!

“We absolutely smashed it out of the park, but the icing on the cake was the amount of money we raised thanks to the support of all our homes, so I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated.”

General Manager of Awel y Mor care home, Rachael Woolley, adds:

“We are all in awe of Chef Angela, is there nothing she can’t do!  All of the MDs did a brilliant job and raised so much money; they are an absolute inspiration to us all. 

“The Foundation is a cause very close to all our hearts, so this is a remarkable achievement.”

To support Angela visit her fundraising page at: Barchester’s Charity Cook-Off 2026 | Barchester Healthcare

Pembrokeshire wins big as record UK offshore wind auction secures Erebus in Celtic Sea

The UK Government says the auction has delivered 8.4GW of new offshore wind, enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 12 million homes. Ministers say the result puts Britain “firmly on track” for clean power by 2030 and marks a major shift away from volatile global gas markets.

Erebus — backed by Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund — is one of the first commercial‑scale floating wind farms in the world and a flagship project for the Celtic Sea. Awel y Môr, off the coast of North Wales, also secured a contract.

The government says the round will unlock £22 billion in private investment and support around 7,000 skilled jobs across the UK, with Pembrokeshire expected to benefit from port upgrades, fabrication work and long‑term maintenance roles.

Welsh Secretary: “Huge news for Pembrokeshire”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:

Today’s announcement is huge news for Pembrokeshire and North Wales. It is a massive vote of confidence in Wales’ clean energy industry which is already delivering the well‑paid, highly‑skilled jobs of the future with the potential to bring thousands more.

These new projects in the seas off Wales will help secure our energy supply and bring down bills for good.

Offshore wind “40% cheaper than gas”, says UK Government

The government says the strike price agreed for fixed offshore wind — £90.91 per megawatt hour — is around 40% cheaper than the cost of building and running a new gas power station.

Ministers say the auction is a dramatic turnaround after the previous round failed to secure a single offshore wind project.

Energy Secretary calls result a “historic win”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

With these results, Britain is taking back control of our energy sovereignty. This is a historic win for those who want Britain to stand on our own two feet, controlling our own energy rather than depending on markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.

It is a monumental step towards clean power by 2030 and the price secured in this auction is 40% lower than the alternative cost of building and operating a new gas plant.

Clean, homegrown power is the right choice for this country to bring down bills for good and this auction will create thousands of jobs throughout Britain.

‘Vital for jobs’ says Swansea MP

Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said: 

“This is huge news for South West Wales, vital for jobs from Port Talbot right across to Pembrokeshire. It comes straight after the confirmation that Wylfa will house the UK’s first nuclear SMRs – two Labour government’s delivering the biggest industrial investment in North Wales for a generation.

He added that there was “clearly huge potential for Wales to enter a new era of green energy jobs/investment”.

Industry welcomes the result — but warns the job isn’t done

While the scale of the auction has been widely praised, industry figures say the sector is “relieved rather than triumphant”.

Analysts warn that rising costs, supply‑chain bottlenecks and grid delays still pose risks for future projects.

One senior renewables consultant said the auction was a “big step forward” but stressed that developers “need long‑term certainty” to keep investment flowing into the Celtic Sea.

Celtic Sea tipped as “the next big frontier”

Energy experts say the Celtic Sea could become one of the UK’s most important clean‑power hubs, with floating wind expected to expand rapidly over the next decade.

Pembrokeshire’s deep‑water port facilities, fabrication yards and existing energy infrastructure are seen as key advantages as the region positions itself at the centre of the UK’s next offshore wind boom.

The government says today’s auction marks a major step towards reducing reliance on global gas markets, which have driven up household bills in recent years.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Crown Estate funds new offshore wind supply chain programme in South Wales
How new investment aims to boost Welsh ports and supply chains as debate over devolving Crown Estate powers continues.

Port Talbot tipped for key role as third Celtic Sea wind farm confirmed
The latest Celtic Sea project strengthens South Wales’ position as a major offshore wind hub.

Welsh Government launches ports prospectus highlighting Swansea, Port Talbot and Milford Haven
Ministers set out how Welsh ports could support the next generation of offshore wind development.

Wind and solar farm plans for 100MW energy park at Crynant
A proposed hybrid energy park could generate enough clean power for 40,000 homes.

Sporting legends introduce Swansea care home residents to Boccia

A sport similar to Bowls and Pétanque, Boccia is a precision target sport played indoors with soft leather balls.

Residents of Awel y Mor, which is run by Barchester Healthcare, have been getting to grips with the new sport, with tuition from James and David organised by Swansea Council’s Sport and Health department. 

The athletes have been explaining the tactics of the games and the different types of throws.  David very kindly gifted the residents their own set of balls so they can practise between training sessions.

James plays wheelchair basketball for Swansea Storm and David represents Team GB playing Boccia in the BC1 category and also the mixed team.

The BC1 category is for athletes with significant impairment of all four limbs and the trunk.  David, being a five-time Paralympic medalist, ten-time World Championships, and ten-time European medalist made quite an impression on the residents who felt very privileged to have him coach them.

Lynda Hamilton Shaw, General Manager of Awel y Mor, said:

“Our residents have really enjoyed trying out a new sport with help from James and David.  They have loved learning about the different throws and blocks, it has certainly brought out everyone’s competitive side. 

“We all look forward to our training sessions and we can see a definite improvement in everyone’s technique.”

Awel y Mor care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, and provides residential and nursing care for 58 residents from respite care to long-term stays.

[Lead image: Barchester Healthcare]

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