Alt. Cardiff Magazine: Wales and the World Cup issue

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WORLD CUP WALES

Will Welsh women and girls ever tackle the stadium?

BAKERY REDUCES BAKING TIME TO COPE IN COST CRISIS

Energy reliant bakery owner is remaining positive despite rising

Words by Holly Chapman

An independent Cardiff bakery is managing to keep a confident, positive and upbeat attitude in the face of the energy crisis, founder of the Pettigrew franchise states.

The Cardiff-based bakery is heavily reliant on energy in order to bake the goods, which has a big impact on its bills.

During mid-October, the Victoria Park bakery had solar panels installed on the roof in an effort to keep energy bills down. It has a 100% renewable electricity contract with British Gas, using purely electric heating and hot water.

David Le Masurier, founder of Pettigrew Bakeries, said it has minimised its baking time down from seven hours a day to four hours to save energy.

Even with these energy cuts in place, David has still seen a massive rise in his energy bills. With incoming government funding, he will see his Victoria Park bakery

Independant food industry helps in cost-of-living crisis

The cost-of-living crisis has impacted almost everyone and the luxury of eating-out has taken a back seat.

Independent restaurant Kindle has introduced a Christmas payment scheme giving customers 48 hours to pay their bill.

Wild Thing Café practices a pay what you can scheme, where customers can pay less or more than the suggested price of their food. Chef Becky says they want their food to be accessible for everyone.

Cardiff blogger @Selinaroseeats says, “I’ve found that I am eating out less than usual and being more selective with where I go.” She prefers independent businesses.

bills

bills decrease from 47p/kWh to 21p/kWh.

The bakery is only interested in skilfully produced bakes, David said. He added, “We have no interest in using cheaper ingredients.” They use organic British flour, as it yields the best, the owner clarified.

Following the merging of Friends in Knead and Pettigrew Bakeries in July, the two businesses have been able to expand and stay afloat amid rising bills, while receiving an increasing amount of support from their customers.

Pettigrew’s owner said, “We are stronger together.” He highlighted the importance of the bakery to its customers, labelling the baked goods as staples. He noted that there has been a shift in customers, from fewer tourists to more locals. This is perhaps due to their loyal relationship.

The Federation of Small Businesses have acknowledged the spike in bills and have said that: “Small business customers should be able to choose what services they pay for and be able to source energysaving deals easily.”

Anew Christmas festival brings three shows celebrating Welsh creativity under the historic roof of a glamorous cabaret tent in Cardiff for the first time.

The Cardiff Castle Christmas festival comes on the 25th November in a European Speigeltent described as the ultimate cabaret and music salon.

The Fortuna is made from opulent red and gold velvet brocade, and supported by gold wooden beams, decorated with atmospheric lighting illuminating the central stage.

Organiser Live Under the Stars co-owner Richard Perry described the festival as “celebrating Welsh creativity.”

Rare cabaret marquee makes its dazzling debut in Cardiff Castle

Freshly baked loaves using organic British flour Credit: @pettigrewbakesvicpark

FINDING A HOME IN CARDIFF

VENEZUELAN LAWYER TURNED RESTAURANT MANAGER ESCAPED POLITICAL TURMOIL TO FIND A HOME IN CARDIFF

Miguel Delgado grew up witnessing civil unrest, economic struggles and complete turmoil as a boy in Venezuela in the 1980s. After meeting a friend when visiting the UK, he offered him a “lifeline” in Cardiff.

Miguel studied law in his 20s, but then switched careers after arriving in Wales and now works in hospitality as the general manager of Mowgli Street Food restaurant on Church street. He first came to the UK in 2012 to begin to learn the English language. Upon returning to Venezuela he said, “I felt so repressed and couldn’t wait to get out.” this isolation he felt stemmed from his career and lifestyle as a gay man.

Born in Venezuela in 1988, Miguel grew up in an under-developed country without hot water in his home, little public transport, and poor housing. In 1999 President Chavez ignited the country’s socialist revolution and political turmoil.

Connecting with Cardiff

After noticing the differences between life in Venezuela and the UK, Miguel decided to leave. In 2016 his good friend from his first visit in 2012 opened a restaurant. “Mike opened a small restaurant in Bridgend and offered me a lifeline and somewhere to stay for a couple of weeks,” he said.

Miguel recognises himself as lucky. He said, “I managed to get out without so

many struggles, while others are crossing dangerous war zones for similar reasons.”

As much as Miguel loved his law career, he revealed, “you have this marvellous idea of what your degree is going to be like.”

Eventually life as a lawyer was lonely, he lost his passion and fell out of love with it. Miguel began to notice the differences and explained how working in hospitality helped him. He said, “you find somewhere so comfortable and find friends that make you feel like you belong.”

Miguel clarified that he would not move back to Venezuela, referring to Cardiff as his home. He said that the country has no LGBTQ+ rights, “we have no protection to get married, to not be fired.” He has recently celebrated his four year anniversary with long-term boyfriend, Mark.

Family bonds

Miguel’s mother, Venezuelan, wanted to leave the country too but family kept her there. His father, Spanish, will live the rest of his life in Venezuela.

In order for Miguel to travel back, he would have to renew his Venezuelan passport. While not being recorded at the Venezuelan embassy in London, this would be a difficult and long process.

Venezuela would allow Miguel, halfSpanish, to travel into the country using his Spanish passport. Venezuelan nationals can only leave the country with their Venezuelan passports. He warned that he did not want to risk it.

Four and half years since seeing her, Miguel’s mother is visiting him in Cardiff for two months in December. Excited to see her after so many years apart, Miguel can’t wait to show her his life in Wales.

You find friends that make you feel like you belong

girls are not introduced into football in the way that boys are more naturally

SHE SHOOTS SHE SCORES

Will we see Welsh women and girls lift the World Cup?

Growing in popularity, women’s football is thriving more than ever. But it is struggling with one thing - participation from young girls

The men’s Wales team made it to the FIFA World Cup in November for the first time in 64 years. Igniting pride all over this small country, excitement which will continue to inspire millions for years to come.

While this success is from the men’s team, Wales could see the excitement pour into young fans – especially girls. However, the lack of access and participation of schoolgirls in sport could influence the success of Welsh women’s football.

If Wales can do more to encourage girls to play football, will we ever see Welsh women successfully lifting the World Cup?

Back in time: The foundations of women’s football

From 1915, women’s teams were supported by the Football Association (FA) to stage matches for spectators, to raise money for the war effort.

By 1921, every major city had a Ladies team which led to a popular movement to establish women’s football.

Unfortunately, the lack of space, facilities, and stadiums made the sport unsustainable in the 20s and was banned by 1921. It was lifted in 1971. The access to funding and facilities differences between the men’s and women’s game still stands, even for those in primary school. These inequalities inhibit participation from young girls in schools, as researched by Sport Wales School Survey 2022. The survey reads that only 36% of girls participate in sports outside of school, in comparison to 43% of boys.

THE FAMOUS THREE: MAKING AN IMPACT

Back in October, Wales reached the playoff final of a major tournament for the first time – the Women’s FIFA World Cup 2023. Although their dreams were shattered after losing against Switzerland, the steps of three former footballers in the 90s bore fruit as the women pursued a national team.

In 1992, Laura McAllister, Karen Jones, and Michele Adams convinced The Football Association Wales (FAW) to run and fund their national team. Inspiring thousands, three decades later the team is reaching the furthest they ever have.

McAllister was the former captain of the Wales women’s national football team. Position: Sweeper. “Women and girls’ football has grown enormously over the past five years particularly,” she says.

However, McAllister also says, “Girls are not introduced into football in the way that boys are more naturally.”

McAllister argued that there needs to be more structural investment for girls because they are different to boys, due to a lack of professional opportunity. This would be through facilities inside and outside of schools. For this, the sport needs funding.

When asked if she could see Wales lifting the World Cup, she says, “I’m really confident that Gemma Grainger will get us to the Euros, and then it’s a case of building on that for the next World Cup.” She clarified this was due to the work still left to be done to improve the governance of the game and allow women’s voices to be heard for change to happen.

Local 23-year-old Welsh football player, Abi Shocklidge says, “I think there is a lack of funding for women’s football in general and I definitely think women’s football in Wales suffers from the same funding issues.”

When asked if she could see Wales’ women’s team lifting the World Cup, she admits, “I can’t see them ever winning it if I’m honest, not in the near future anyway.”

there is a lack of funding for women’s football

Shocklidge believes, “the sport is on the rise, with the Lionesses winning the Euros last year it could definitely have a knock-on impact on the Welsh game too.”

Sport Wales is a national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales. This is through funding various projects.

Robert Phillips from Sport Wales outlines the main way in which they illustrate their desire to encourage girls to play more sports. He says it is “through the funding that we provide to national governing bodies as well as grants.”

They fund various clubs and recruit volunteers, as well fund young ambassadors in schools to create and deliver opportunities for pupils.

A scheme called Playmakers encourages five-to-eight-year-old girls to participate in football using Disney characters, programmed by UEFA and Disney. This allows young girls to interact with the sport, playing on their interest in Disney films.

Wales has recently joined this exciting initiative, using it to “get new girls into the game and ensure their first experience in the game is a positive one filled with fun and smiles,” says FAW head of women and girls football, Lowri Roberts.

Currently, from a turnover of around £30m, the women’s national team receives 60% of the allotted funds (roughly £1.8m), while the remaining 40% is apportioned throughout grassroots and the domestic game (roughly £1.2m).

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney told WalesOnline he is confident resources will continue pour in, potentially securing sponsors for the women’s game. He said, “they could be driving forces for the women’s game over the next decade that will take them to the next level”.

The bottom line is that girls’ lack of access and participation in football stems from the lack of funding going into women’s football. The much-needed progress is only beginning. As highlighted by Shocklidge and McAllister, the sport is on the rise, but lack of funding is restricting development.

While FAW and Sport Wales are encouraging young girls to take part in sport, Welsh women and girls will only be lifting the World Cup once the funding and access is up to par. Before the next World Cup in 2027, the team can use the Euros as a realistic goal while more needs to be done tackling the game for girls at home.

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