Join us at Safety Reps Connect Cymru – the national event for safety reps in Wales!

The day will bring together health and safety reps for a day of engaging workshops, insightful panel discussions, and interactive networking sessions. Learn from experts and gain valuable knowledge to enhance your role as a safety rep.

Whether you're a seasoned safety rep or just starting your journey, Safety Reps Connect 2024 is the perfect platform to expand your network, exchange ideas, and stay updated on the latest issues in the union movement.

Join us at Safety Reps Connect 2024 on Tuesday 26 November at the Cardiff City Stadium to take your skills to the next level!

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. TUC Cymru would like to thank Thompsons Solicitors for their generous support of this event.

UPDATE - REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS EVENT HAVE NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CONTACT jrees@tuc.org.uk or call 029 2034 7010 TO SEE IF A PLACE IS AVAILABLE AT LATE NOTICE.

Speakers at Safety Reps Connect Cymru include:

Mike Jenkins, Chair of TUC Cymru Health, Safety and Workplace Regulation Committee

 
Phil Liptrot, Head of Personal Injury, Thompsons Solicitors

Professor David Walters – Professor of Work Environment & Director of Cardiff Work Environment Research Centre (CWERC),Cardiff University

Dan Shears – National Health, Safety and Environment Director GMB

Mark Williams CWU, Acting Regional Sec, Wales and the Marches

Carol Revell, PCS H&S rep and Co-Chair of TUC Cymru Health and Safety Reps Network

Shelly Asquith, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer, TUC 

Janet Newsham – Chair, Hazards Campaign

Luke Collins, National Health and Safety Officer, Unite

Becky Sixsmith-Hughes, TUC Project Officer

Natasha Hirst, NUJ rep and President

Julie Cook, National Officer TUC Cymru

Chloe Rees, Organising and Development Officer, TUC Cymru

AJ Singh, Organising and Development Officer, TUC Cymru

Interactive breakout sessions

Reps can chose from two of the following interactive workshops breakout sessions:

1.    Enforcing safety reps’ rights 
With Darren Thelwell (TUC Cymru tutor)

2.    Work related stress– resilience to resistance 
With Roy McCabe (TUC Cymru tutor) and Shelly Asquith, TUC Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer

3.    Over-exposed – protecting workers from toxic chemicals
With Janet Newsham (Hazards Campaign), Dan Shears (GMB Health, Safety and Environmental Director) and Darren Thelwell (TUC Cymru tutor).

4.    Climate change related risks to workers’ health and safety (including extreme weather, heat, air quality and climate adaptation)
With Graham Petersen (TUCAN/Greener Jobs Alliance) and Liam Perry/Jo Rees (TUC Cymru)

5.    Inspections 101 
With Linda Butler (TUC Cymru tutor) and Luke Collins (Unite National Health and Safety Officer)

6.    Women’s health and safety 
With Janet Newsham (Hazards), Linda Butler (TUC Cymru tutor) and Rhianydd Williams (TUC Cymru)

7.    Personal injury 
With David Coulthard (Thompsons Solicitors)

Please note agenda and workshops are provisional and may be subject to change.

What you need to know - Safety Reps Connect Cymru 2024

Key information 

Accessibility
The TUC aims to meet all accessibility needs. When registering for the event, we will ask you for any information we need.

Facility time
Union representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off to attend Safety Reps Connect Cymru 2024. Talk to you employer about paid release. If you have any problems obtaining release for the event notify your union officer.

Financial support
Safety Reps Connect Cymru 2024 is a free training event organised and delivered by TUC Cymru for workplace health and safety representatives and other trade union representatives with an interest in health, safety and environment. Refreshments and a free buffet lunch will be provided.

Reps who require financial support to attend Safety Reps Connect Cymru 2024, should speak to their union branch or office. Because the event is TUC approved training your union may be willing to help with travel and accommodation costs.

Bursary 
The TUC Educational Trust offers bursaries to support union reps from TUC affiliated unions who are interested in attending the Safety Reps Connect Cymru event. TUC Educational Trust bursaries will partially or fully cover the cost of travel.

Qualifying criteria 
To qualify for a bursary grant from the TUC Educational Trust to support your attendance at Safety Reps Connect Cymru, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be living in a low-income household (below £21,000 per year). -
• You must be a representative of a TUC affiliated union. 
• You must be able to demonstrate that the Safety Reps Connect Cymru event will benefit your role as a union rep and contribute to the work of your union. 
• You maybe asked to provide evidence of financial need and be able to show that your union are unable or unwilling to fund the course.

Meeting these criteria will enable you to apply for a bursary from the TUC Educational Trust and increase your chances of being awarded funding to support your studies. To apply for a bursary, please contact Jo Rees jrees@tuc.org.uk.

Code of Conduct
The TUC is committed to organising activities at which everyone can participate in an inclusive, 
respectful and safe environment. The TUC has zero tolerance for any type of harassment. This supports 
the commitment set out in the TUC’s rules to promote equality for all and to eliminate all forms of 
harassment, including sexual harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination. This code of conduct 
applies to all events both in person or online and includes all forms of communication, including 
postings on social media. If you have any concerns you would like to raise with us, please contact Jo Rees jrees@tuc.org.uk or Julie Cook jcook@tuc.org.uk or tel 029 2034 7010.

Venue address:
Cardiff City Stadium, Leckwith Road, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ.

Travel to the venue:

Public transport
By Train: From Cardiff Central, you can travel to Ninian Park or Grangetown local stations. It is then a 10 minute walk to the stadium from Grangetown or 5 minutes from Ninian Park.

By Taxi: Taxis are readily available across the city. You can pre book a ‘Private Hire’ or hail a black and white cab. A trip from the City Centre to the stadium costs between £7 - £10.

By Bus: Service Number 1 and 2 (City centre, Cardiff Bay to Sloper Road) Service numbers 95 and 95A (City centre, Wood St. to Jubilee Park/ASDA Leckwith Road)

You can use www.traveline.cymru to help you plan your journey.

Cycling and walking

Cardiff Council provide a free map showing suggested cycling (and walking) routes in the city -  you can download the map from the Council site here:https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/Walking-and-cycling/Pages/Walking-and-cycling.aspx
 

Bike racks are available either side of the main reception entrance.

Find out more about cycling in Cardiff here https://cardiffcyclecity.org/resources-2/cardiff-a-z/

Parking
Free parking is available onsite at the venue, in the Cardiff City Stadium car park including disabled parking. There are 78 marked disabled parking bays at the stadium – disabled visitors to the conference should use the disabled bays closest to the main entrance.  

For non-disabled visitors the venue advise parking in car park areas C or D, as these are the closest to reception (see the venue map which can be found below). Traffic is to go both directions throughout the car park. 

There is no EV charging available in the onsite car park but EV charging is available close by in the neighbouring Capital Retail Park car park near to Costa Coffee. Please check the parking policy of the retail car park as charges may apply and please note fines may apply if you overstay an allotted time in the retail park.  

We encourage participants to choose sustainable travel options (eg public transport or active travel) where it is possible/practical for them to do so.

We want everyone attending TUC events to have a safe and enjoyable experience. If you require any adjustments or assistance to participate at this event, please let us know when you register. 

Please find further information contained in the access statement below but we do always advise contacting us in advance to discuss any specific requirements you have.