Ar hyn o bryd mae rhieni sy’n cael eu cyhuddo o ymosodiad cyffredin neu guro yn gallu defnyddio’r amddiffyniad cyfreithiol o ‘gosb resymol’ mewn llys.

Golygai hyn fod plant yn cael eu gwarchod llai gan y gyfraith o’i gymharu ag oedolion pan mae’r rheiny sydd fod i edrych ar eu hôl yn eu brifo.

Mae’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol wedi galw am newid yn y gyfraith am dros 12 mlynedd – nawr bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru’r pŵer i wneud hynny, mi ddylen nhw weithredu.

Y Bil Trais ar sail Rhywedd, Trais Domestig a Thrais Rhywiol (Cymru) yw’r cyfle cywir i newid y gyfraith.

Mae’n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru roi blaenoriaeth i hawliau a lles plant drwy weithredu nawr.

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We believe the Welsh Government should act now to change the law on the physical punishment of children.

Currently parents charged with common assault or battery can legally use the defence in court that their actions were ‘reasonable punishment’.

This means that children have less protection under the law than adults when those who are supposed to care for them hurt them.

The National Assembly has advocated for a change in the law for over 12 years - now that the Welsh Government has the power to make that change, it should act.

The Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill is the right opportunity to change the law.

The Welsh Government must put children’s rights and wellbeing first by acting now.

Despite this, Neath Port Talbot Council have passed a proposal to close Godre'rGraig Community Primary School and replace it with a remodelled school 2 miles further south down the valley.

This petition is being organised by the staff, trustees and volunteers of Wyeside Arts Centre.

Background:

There is ample evidence to show that Wyeside Arts Centre is an extremely efficient and effective arts venue, offering its funders and customers excellent financial and cultural value.

We have been explaining a crucial need for a relatively modest increase in revenue support for nearly ten years, to no avail. Instead we have been obliged to do everything possible to keep Wyeside open, involving considerable compromises at a cost to staff, patrons and our artistic aspirations. We have now reached the point where we can simply no longer continue without the improved revenue support we have been requesting.

The Arts Council of Wales sent its Senior Grants Monitoring Officer to review our finances last year. His report said: “margins have been squeezed to their potential maximum and this includes backroom staff at a bare minimum... the procedures followed are of best practice”. He also confirmed our need for extra revenue support.

This report had to be ‘leaked’ to our Assembly Member in order for us to see it. The Arts Council will not explain why they will not discuss the findings of their own report, even though it confirms that we have been achieving what they were specifically requesting of us as a condition of improved support.

Wyeside promotes and manages over 800 arts and cultural events a year. We operate 7 days – av. 85 hours - a week, open to the public 6 days a week; with an average 40,000 visits per year. Yet we can only afford three full time members of staff; the rest of us are part time, casual or volunteer. Nevertheless last year Wyeside became only the third arts centre in Wales to be awarded Investors in People status, with commendations for our achievements. Their assessor also confirmed our need for improved support.

Wyeside Arts Centre has been denied the significant levels of public subsidy awarded to comparable venues in Powys and Wales. There is an increasingly stark disparity in levels of public investment. We have asked for an explanation but none has been offered. We have asked our public funders to make a ‘best value’ audit and compare Wyeside with other arts venues, but they have been reluctant to do so; even though the National Assembly has also previously asked for comparisons to be made in the interests of best value.

Over the past five years Wyeside Arts Centre has managed to promote an average 60 live performances a year for an average £4,200 a year in subsidy; offering extraordinary value and demonstrating effective management. The Arts Council of Wales has an extra £1.5 million a year to support live show programmes in venues outside of Cardiff. Some theatres have been granted over £100,000 a year extra to support their programmes. Wyeside has been denied any support whatsoever from this fund. In Wales there are no clear rationales for the public agencies’ methods of investing the public’s money in Arts venues.

Wyeside is a victim of very poor administration of public money for the arts. At a time when public money for the arts is under such pressure it should not be unfair to expect our public agencies to invest our money prudently. They should be accountable for ensuring best value, rewarding best practice and meeting their priorities efficiently and effectively.

Direct appeals from the Chairmen of Wyeside to the Chairmen and Chief Executives of Powys County Council and the Arts Council of Wales to discuss our plight have been refused. Please help us to urge the Minister for Heritage to intervene and help us save the Wyeside Arts Centre, which has been providing a significant arts service for thirty years and a home to Wales’ longest-running cinema. There is no good reason why this excellent, much-valued arts centre should be forced to close.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Guy Roderick

Artistic & Executive Director

Wyeside Arts Centre

Warm Weather is so much better for spectators and players. It is much better to play and support in the sun and the dry , nicer than standing in gale force winds and lashing rain.

Light nights mean more midweek matches which are better supported. No more postponed matches due to waterlogged or frozen pitches. The pitches would be flat and have a better playing surface. Much better than playing in mud baths. Safer travelling for fans due to lighter evening.

The English game is killing Welsh soccer and when games in local soccer kick off on a Saturday in Wales , Sky TV is in the middle of showing a live game involving one of the big four.

Clubs qualifying for European football would be better prepared for their matches. Other European Countries have the advantage due to their season being in full swing while most of our players are away.

Our neighbours The Republic of Ireland have summer soccer so it should not be a problem for Wales to follow their blueprint.

We should start in March and finish in November - leaving the sleet, high winds, driving rain behind forever.

Finding places for training in the height of winter is difficult and expensive for clubs. Most teams would not consider training in the winter months when the weather is at its worst.

These are just a few advantages and reasons why soccer in Wales should be moved to the summer. If you agree with me, then please add our name to the petition. Also add a comment on why Wales should be a summer soccer country!

Don't forget to tell your friends! Copy / paste the petition to an email and alert all those who will be interested!