SA13

Issue 4 • December 2008

News for the community

Santa Claus is coming to town!

So, you think your electricity is expensive?

T’was the second Friday in November

A busy year in the community

Christmas Wordsearch

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GENERAL NEWS

Dear resident I don’t think anyone could have predicted how suddenly the current slowdown in the economy has happened and the effect it is having on us all. The effect is global but we all fervently hope it is short-term. And what’s the effect on Corus? The markets that Port Talbot’s steel is supplied to include automotive, domestic appliances, construction, and food/beverage cans, all of which (with the exception of tinned cans) have seen a marked slowdown. All are ultimately supported by consumer confidence. As far as Corus and its support for the local economy is concerned, Tata has reiterated to the workforce that we are here for the long-term, and the recent investments in the Works are geared to its long-term viability. Nevertheless, flexibility and adaptability of the workforce will be key to the business emerging from this recession even stronger than before. Despite the current situation, we at Corus will continue to participate actively in the community. Thus, as we turn our attention and thoughts to Christmas, we must all remain optimistic for the future prosperity of our community together. Have a pleasant break and SA13 will be back in March next year with lots to tell, I’m sure. Keith Farron, Editor SA13

CSP UK Port Talbot played host to His Excellency Mr Shri Sankar Mukherjee, India’s High Commissioner to Britain, who met permanent employees and secondees who have come to the Strip business in Wales from India. The High Commissioner said he was delighted to see the two cultures working together in true partnership and the commitment of Tata Steel and Corus towards maintaining a sustainable steel industry in Wales.

Contents So, you think your electricity is expensive? 3 T’was the second Friday in November A busy year in the community

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Christmas wordsearch

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What’s On with Corus

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Contact us

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Corus SA13 News for the community

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A Christmas message I am delighted to have this opportunity to make a contribution to this special edition of SA13. As Works Chaplain, I am always interested in connecting with the community of which we are a part. Much of my work is community based, and many of the tasks I do with Corus also involve families and situations within the community as a whole. The financial situation around us continues to cause concern and the results affect us all. Although fuel prices have now come down significantly, the cost of many other things continues to rise, and Christmas will be a difficult time for many families who will have to manage on smaller budgets than they expected. The cost of Christmas for many people is already prohibitive and I know from various conversations I have had that this is a major concern for people. At Corus, I sit on the Community Awards Committee, where we consider all sorts of projects for funding. Corus takes its community involvement very seriously and we have supported many projects over the past year. I personally have presented cheques to groups within the local community, and I know how much that support means. Of course we would like to do more, and although the budget is already generous, it would be good to help more people and groups needing assistance. Christmas is a family time and this year will be no exception, with many families coming together. As you get together, take a moment to remember the real meaning of Christmas. The coming of Jesus into the world brings hope and in these difficult times, He brings peace and joy into a weary and troubled world. Whilst advertisers are bombarding us and the stores are persuading us to buy for Christmas, I just want to suggest that we remember that ‘Jesus is the reason for the Season’, and that if we have each other and the love and support of our families and friends around us, we have all that we need for a truly happy and blessed Christmas. Yes, it is nice to celebrate, to give and receive presents, but we do not need to spend a fortune to do it. We can enjoy things just as much if we remember we have all that we need already in the love and support of our families and the joy that comes into the world with the coming of Jesus. As the old carol puts it, ‘Joy to the world, the Lord is come’. May I wish you and yours a happy and joyful Christmas. Rev. Peter H. Lolley Works Chaplain at Corus, Port Talbot and Minister in the Presbyterian Church of Wales, Neath area.

GENERAL NEWS

So, you think your electricity is expensive? As a local resident, you may have noticed during the winter months that the array of lights seen across the steelworks at night seem to shine less brightly from time to time. Have you ever wondered why? Well, during the winter months, large users of electricity throughout the UK, including Corus, are subject to ‘load management’ directives during peak demand times. This is nothing new – it has been happening for years. The transmission of electricity from power stations to consumers is made at extra high voltage via overhead lines to points where it can be distributed to users. This system is known as the national grid transmission network and is owned and operated by National Grid Transco (NGT). During the winter months of November to February, there are what are called ‘triad periods’, indicating half-hourly windows of highest national demand – and substantially higher charges. British Energy helps us by issuing warnings for periods when it considers demand to be at its highest, and hence the likelihood that a triad period could be called. Over this three-month period, the maximum number of triad periods is 20 (covering up to 25 hours in total), with each one lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Hence, during these periods, the steelworks will try to reduce its electricity consumption by as much as possible without compromising safety. These periods can be introduced at any time but are typically called from 4pm onwards on any given day when domestic demand peaks. For each hour of load management, switching off: • a 2kW fan heater can save up to £46 • a computer can save up to £17.25 • a VDU screen can save up to £4.60 • a flat computer screen can save up to £2.30 • a tungsten light bulb can save up to £2.30 • a fluorescent light can save up to £1.60 This year it is estimated that this additional charge could cost the business more than £1 million. So, the next time you see our lights dimming, you’ll know what we are trying to do.

Consumption, consumption, consumption At a time when we are enjoying the festive lights on the tree and looking forward to a few days’ holiday, it is perhaps not the best time to be lecturing anyone on how to save energy. But as we look forward to 2009, many of us are probably thinking how we can trim our household budgets one way or another. We asked our employees to provide some practical ways to help save energy in the home. Here are just a few of their suggestions: • Conserve water. Do all the washing up in a bowl, rather than washing items separately under a running tap. • Cook vegetables in a steamer rather than using several individual pans. • Wash your laundry at 30˚C and you could save up to 40% of the energy used to wash at higher temperatures. • Don’t leave electrical appliances such as computers, printers, TVs, Hi-Fi’s, microwaves, mobile phone chargers, etc, on standby. Switch them off. • Install at least three energy-saving light bulbs in your house. Lasting up to 12 times longer than conventional filament bulbs, they could save up to £100 in electricity costs over their lifetime. • Turn the lights off each time you leave a room. • Unless it turns really cold outside, turn the radiator thermostats down a little. Draw curtains and blinds to conserve heat in the rooms. Keep doors closed. • Ensure your immersion heater is fully insulated. • Defrost your freezer regularly. Ice build-up makes the appliance less efficient and costs more to run. • Buy appliances displaying the Energy Saving Recommendation logo. It is a quick and easy way to identify the most efficient products available, and covers everything from refrigerators and dishwashers to TVs and audio systems. Using just one of these recommended products could save you up to £45 a year in energy costs alone. If you are a homeowner or rent a property privately, and are eligible for benefits or tax credits, or you are over 70, or you are in receipt of state pension credit, you may qualify for the free installation of loft and/or cavity wall insulation. However, if you do not fulfil the eligibility criteria you may still qualify for 50% grants towards the cost of installing loft and cavity wall insulation. For further information and helpful advice, go to: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Corus SA13 News for the community

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T’was the second Friday in November... ...and everywhere in the Civic Centre was quiet, and the trees were still, and then... Swansea Sound and The Wave burst into light and sound to welcome everybody to the annual tradition of switching on the town’s Christmas lights. The festive spirit was well and truly ushered into the town on Friday 14th November with the help of Corus who, as a sponsor, are really pleased to be taking part in the community spirit on this one. Port Talbot’s Christmas lights are the first to be switched on in the Borough, followed by Neath, and then Pontadawe. The evening’s entertainment, led by the radio stations, included a school choir and a brass band. There were also fire eaters and jugglers on hand to entertain the gathering crowd of several hundreds. Just before 6pm, the countdown began for the Deputy Mayor to pull the big red switch.

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Corus SA13 News for the community

And the lights were on. With all the excitement still ringing in our ears from the night before, it was time to welcome Father Christmas arriving on his sleigh with Rudolf, his reindeer, and the Santa Parade through the town. Again, hundreds of people lined the streets for his short journey from the Railway Station to his temporary home, The Grotto, in the Aberavon Shopping Centre. So, remember children, when you are imagining Father Christmas delivering your presents downstairs...t’was the second Friday in November when all the excitement began.

COMMUNITY

Corus SA13 News for the community

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COMMUNITY Community Awards

A busy year in the community 2008 has been a very successful and rewarding year for Corus in the local community, with the Company supporting a wide variety of groups and activities. The year started with two high profile events in the Welsh sporting calendar: the locally renowned Richard Burton 10km & 5km Road Race, and the Cardiff X Challenge Cross Country Race. Both events were new to Corus’ sponsorship programme, which this year benefited many sporting events as part of the company’s health and wellbeing initiative.

New Sandfield & Aberavon Beach Festival Working closely with local club Celtic tri, Corus has been able to add both the Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint Relays to the established Aquathlon and ‘Try A Triathlon’ events – all so well attended. Of course we cannot forget the ‘Round the Pier Swim’, which celebrated its 40th year on what must have been one of the very few sunny days of the Summer, and such a popular spectator event. During July and August the beachfront activities continued with the arrival of a series of Club and International Surf Life Saving Championships. The carnival atmosphere of the ‘nippers’ championships saw several hundred children (some as young as five) participating in beach and sea races, and did not disappoint. Continuing its carnival theme, Corus continued its sponsorship of the wellestablished Beachfront Festival, and the weekend-long Neath Round Table Carnival. Once again we were thwarted by the wet weather, and for the second year had to cancel Glycorrwg’s Upper Afan River Festival. Of special interest this year was the Crucial Crew safety event fortnight, held at the Afon Lido at the end of June for all Neath Port Talbot Year 6 pupils (11 year-olds). Coordinated by Community Safety, it is a multi-agency event to provide information

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and guidance to around 2,000 pupils, and involves up to 18 partner agencies including the police, fire service, public health service, forestry commission, road safety, British Red Cross, etc. The Peer Education initiative targets Year 12 students to develop awareness projects and presentations concerning anti-social behaviour and good community relations for cascading through the school to the younger pupils. Social responsibility in the community continued with Corus’ sponsorship of November’s Anti-Bullying Awareness Week with Swansea Sound and The Wave. Staying with the education theme, we were pleased to see a local school entering the F1 in Schools Welsh Finals held recently in the National Waterfront Museum. The competition attracted 20 schools (primary and secondary) to participate in an engineering project to design an F1 model car and race it on a time trial track. More local schools next year please. Many of the local activities and events Corus sponsors could not happen without the organisations and individuals who help and support us. These include our own employees and contractors who give their time voluntarily to support events and fund-raising activities.

Aberavon Green Stars RFC Juniors, Able Child Africa, Afan Lido FC Juniors, Akins Academy of Marshall Arts, Ann Davies Cancer Appeal, Barnardo’s Cymru, BCH Charities, Beulah Presbyterian Church, Bridgend Canoe Club, British Heart Foundation, Briton Ferry RFC Juniors, Bro Morgannwg Baby Loss Support Group, Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust, Caldicot RFC, Cancer Research Wales, Catwg Primary School, Central Infants School, CEWC Cymru, Children’s Society, Children with Leukaemia, Christian Lewis Trust, Church of St Cadwaledr, CISS, Croeserw Primary School, Cromwell Youth AFC, Crynallt Infants School, Cwmavon RFC Juniors, Darren Powell Memorial, Eastern Primary School, EVWAT, Friends of St Anne’s Hospice, HHAP_Y, GASP, GLAZE Trust, Glyncorrwg Primary School, Goytre Utd RFC Juniors, Hopkin St MUGA & Community Garden, Joshua Foundation, KPC, LATCH, Les Croupier Running Club, Macmillan Cancer Support, Margam Cricket Club Juniors, Margam Evangelical Church, Margam Youth Centre, Mayoress of Neath Christmas Appeal, Muscular Dystrophy, Neath PT Cancer Challenge, Neath & PT Diabetes Trust, New Sandfields & Aberavon Regeneration, PASS, Penyrheol ABC, Pill Harriers RFC, Port Talbot Cricket Club, Port Talbot AFC Juniors, PT Cymric Male Choir, Prostate Cancer Singleton Hospital, Rest Bay Lifeguard Club, RNLI, Sandfields & Baglan Boxing Club, Sandfields Primary School, SHADE, SNAC, St Anne’s Hospice, St John Cymru, St Joseph’s Casnewydd RFC Juniors, SPARKLE, Swansea Bay Sea School, Taibach RFC Juniors, The Prostrate Cancer Charity, Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, Upper Afan Forum, Victims of Chernobyl, Welsh Dragons Burns Club, Welsh National Youth to Lourdes, Welsh Youth Fly Fishing Team, Ynysdawley Playing Fields Assoc, Y Rhosyn.

Education & Learning

Peer Education's focus on eBullying As ever we are already looking ahead towards next year. Corus is delighted to announce that it will be sponsoring the inaugural Neath Port Talbot Civic Awards, and The Margam Festival in July 2009 as its showcase event. Next year will also see Corus involved in much greater interactivity with schools locally, in the form of business links and community-related activities. This is something we have been keen to do, but until now have been restricted by existing resources. We look forward to reporting on progress in the next edition of SA13 in March 2009.

Corus SA13 News for the community

Anti-Bullying Awareness Week (Swansea Sound & The Wave). Crucial Crew (Safety Community Policing). F1 in Schools (Welsh Finals). ‘Learning Zone’ National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. Peer Education Initiative (Neath Port Talbot Secondary Schools). Talkback NP19. Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative. Wildlife Trusts Wales.

Event Sponsorships 40th Round the Pier Swim, Aberavon Beach. Aberavon & New Sandfields Beach Carnival. Cardiff X Challenge Cross Country Race. Christmas Lights & Santa Parades (Port Talbot, Neath and Pontadawe). Corus Aquathlon, Aberavon Beach. Corus Richard Burton 10km & 5km Road Race, Cwmafan. Corus Triathlon Sprint Relay, Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. Neath Round Table Festival. Neath Port Talbot 2007 Sporting Awards (category sponsor). International & Club Surf Life Saving Championships, Aberavon Beach. Try A Triathlon ‘8 to 80’ Event, Aberavon Promenade. Welsh Castles Relay Marathon (Caernarvon to Cardiff Castle).

COMMUNITY

Christmas Wordsearch

Win a Tesco gift voucher worth £10

Here’s something for the New Year. We have a £10 Tesco gift voucher to give away to each of the first five correctly completed wordsearches drawn out of the hat. But be quick – the closing date for entry is Friday 16 January 2009. All you have to do is find and circle the hidden words, fill in your name, age and address below and post it to: The Editor, Corus Strip Products UK, Business Headquarters, PO Box 42, Port Talbot SA13 2NG.

Advent Calendar Baubles Carols

S A G E L R I P S S T S R A P H L E S N I T L E F T

Christmas Cards Decorations Envelopes Happiness Post-box Presents Teddy Bear Tinsel Santa Claus Scarves Sleigh Snowman Snowplough

Name Address

Phone number

Age

S A Y G I B R E C C L V S L R E D A T A G L T E E A

E E N T A E L T E E A O G D H S E G E L R I R D L T

N V T T S N I C I N N R R I L H C E X A L A D E E I

S E N E A I S G S I A I V A S E O A T O G Y T E N A

R S N M L C H R I S T M A S C A R D S L B I R S V S

A T E E H D L S H N I E W I S H A E H E L T L E E I

S S L N P E C A F T I C N O L E T A A A G L S L L A

H S E H I A A L U F I L A E N S I R E L R I B O O T

T P U R R P H T A S R A E O R S O E H A L U L E P L

R D L V I S P R A D N E L A C T N E V D A L T E E G

O H E G N F Y A L N B S E H E S S G E B R I R S S H

F S A R S T G L H G U O L P W O N S H A L A L E F I

Winners of our last competition The five lucky winners from October’s competition were: Suzanne Nott, Velindre; Sharon Walters, Taibach; Kenneth Randall, Port Talbot; Mrs N Jones, Sandfields; and Lywela Hughes, Baglan Moors. Each received a box of fresh fruit and vegetables from Margaret Gammonds, the greengrocer.

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What’s On with Corus For more information on forthcoming Corus sponsored events in South Wales, visit www.corussouthwales.co.uk to view ‘What’s On’ in your area. All year round. National Waterfront

Sunday 18 January. Cardiff X

Museum Swansea, Swansea Marina

Challenge Cross Country Race,

Entry free. Sponsors of the education

Blackweir Park, Cardiff.

‘Learning Zone’. Various events through

Spectators free. Combining National,

the year for children, students and families.

Seniors, Juniors and Schools Regional

Check out the website for details of all

Championship cross country races

future activities and events.

attracting hundreds of competitors.

Visit www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/swansea

Visit www.cardiffxchallenge.co.uk

Sunday 11 January. Corus Richard Burton 10km Race & 5km Fun Run, Cwmafan. Spectators free. Watch the spectacle as several hundred runners take part in one of the toughest road race circuits in Wales. This is the second year Corus has sponsored this local event. Visit website for more details: www.welshathletics.org.uk

dot com... for dot community You can now view community activities on our updated website each week, including ‘What’s On @ Corus’ events and sponsorships, and other topical stories of interest. You can even browse SA13 on the site. Visit www.corussouthwales.co.uk, and it will take you directly to the community page of the Corus website.

How to contact us Correspondence to the Editor The Editor will be pleased to receive your thoughts and opinions on any article you have read in this issue of SA13 Corus community newspaper. We would like to hear your views and opinions, whether on environmental issues, community activities, etc. Address: The Editor, Corus Strip Products UK, Business Headquarters, PO Box 42, Port Talbot, South Wales, SA13 2NG. Fax: 01639 603 179 Email: [email protected]

Community Award applications (for Neath Port Talbot and Pontardulais areas) Applications for community awards, community sponsorships/partnerships and ‘community assist’ projects for consideration must be submitted in writing to the following address: Community Liaison Manager, Corus Strip Products UK, Business Headquarters, PO Box 42, Port Talbot, South Wales, SA13 2NG. Email: [email protected]

Environmental complaints 01639 871111 (24 hours) For calls concerning environmental issues such as noise and air quality (during normal office hours the telephone exchange will re-direct your call. Calls received out of office hours will be directed by the Security Department). For written enquiries please address to: Environment Manager, Corus Strip Products UK, Business Headquarters, PO Box 42, Port Talbot, South Wales, SA13 2NG or fax: 01639 872 159.

Careers information and general vacancies For further information regarding career opportunities and current job vacancies with Corus, go to www.corusgroupcareers.com or write to us at: Recruitment, Human Resources, Corus Strip Products UK, Business Headquarters, PO Box 42, Port Talbot, South Wales, SA13 2NG. All email correspondence should be addressed to: [email protected]

Your community newspaper SA13 SA13 is written and produced by Communications, Corus Strip Products UK for the residents in Port Talbot and surrounding area. SA13 circulation: 22,500

FSC labelled products are made with consideration for people, wildlife and the environment. The FSC label guarantees that the trees that are harvested are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally.

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Corus SA13 News for the community