The Welsh Government has announced the continuation of the Armed Forces Free Swimming scheme.

The scheme enables serving members of the Armed Forces and Veterans to swim for free at participating leisure centres and pools, using their Defence Privilege Card.

The Armed Forces Free Swimming Scheme (AFFS) was first introduced in 2016 and represents the continued commitment to provide the Armed Forces community with access to services which meet their specific needs and recognise the service they have given to their country.

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said…..

“I’m very pleased that we are able to continue to support this scheme which is designed to ensure members of the Armed Forces past and present are able to benefit from the physical, and mental, health benefits swimming can offer.”

Deputy Minister for Social Partnerships, Hannah Blythyn, added…….

“We are committed to supporting our Armed Forces personnel and recognise how initiatives like this can boost their mental and physical wellbeing. I hope they can enjoy the benefits from this scheme over the next three years.”

Chris Llewelyn, WLGA Chief Executive told us……

“Local government is proud to deliver free swimming for our Armed Forces personnel and Veterans. We hope that even more people take part in the scheme in the coming year, taking advantage of the significant recuperative and social benefits physical activity offers. There are participating pools in each of Wales’ local authorities; to find out where your closet facility is, visit your local authority website.”

Throughout the 2021-22 financial year the scheme was taken up on average each quarter by 569 serving military personnel and veterans across Wales.  The trend shows an increase in uptake as restrictions have been lifted, with the last quarter recording a peak of 879 people benefitting from 2641 visits to their local community swimming pools.

To support the scheme, £45,000 to be issued every year over a three-year period; in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25After a tough 2020 when the ELVIS FESTIVAL was forced to cancel all events, they returned last year with a massive event, which was also blessed with some great weather. The dates are already set for this years Festival, and if previous events are anything to go by, they will sell out again really soon. Accommodation is always in short supply too, so get in quick if you plan to stay over the three days.

Once you’ve had a read, scroll down, all the links you need are at the bottom of this page.

Here’s our special feature from this years festival, which you can also watch on our YouTube channel. Please subscribe if you can, we’d love to have you onboard.

If you’ve never come across The Elvies before, I have to ask where have you been?

First of all, you don’t have to be a fan of Elvis Presley to appreciate and enjoy what happens in Porthcawl every year, it really is just brilliant fun and one hell of a spectacle. This isn’t just your ordinary, everyday festival, this is Elvis on a scale like you’ve never seen. This festival isn’t just ONE NIGHT, as the King himself would say, it’s a whole weekend of Elvis shenanigans.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s just a load of Elvis fans, dressing up for a couple of days. Well, DON’T BE CRUEL because this is so much more than that. We think it’s about community and friendship at the end of the day. A large group of like-minded people, with a passion for the man and his music, gathering to celebrate something very special.

So let’s tell you a little about the festival itself and perhaps convince you to head to Porthcawl.

Every September thousands, and we really do mean thousands of Elvis fans descend on the seaside town for a unique celebration of The King. It’s certainly A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION and more music, but stories are shared over the weekend and the great man fondly remembered. There are many featured events and official shows.

Most of them take place in the magnificent Grand Pavilion. These include THE ELVIES, the World’s leading award Show for Elvis Tribute Artists. The Hi Tide hosts over 100 shows over the weekend, many with free admission. Finally, over twenty venues in and around the Town form the Fringe Festival, making Porthcawl the largest Elvis event in Europe.

The following venues form the Official Fringe. They all put top ETAs (Elvis Tribute Acts) on throughout the Festival and most shows are free. Full details of shows are listed in the Official Programme which is available in advance of the Festival at the Tourist Information Centre in John Street, The Grand Pavilion and The Hi Tide. During the Festival Programmes will also be available at the Festival Desk, situated in the Grand Pavilion

• THE BAY
• THE BLUE WATER CLUB
• THE BRENTWOOD HOTEL
• THE CABIN
• THE GENERAL PICTON
• THE PORTHCAWL HOTEL
• THE ROCK INN
• THE SEAHORSE
• THE SHIP & CASTLE
• THE SWAN

We told you, this is absolutely massive.

The award are so much fun with categories ranging from…….

• Best Movie Elvis
• Best Gospel Elvis
• Best Gold Lame Elvis
• Best 68′ Special
• Best Vegas Elvis
• Best Young Elvis
• Best Newcomer
• Best GI Elvis
• Lifetime Achievement

Here’s a look at all the previous winners……

You need to know about these because, as we’re sure you can imagine, with all the costumes, wigs, belts and rhinestones we can guarantee you will never see anything like it. Cameras by the ready for this one we reckon.

Here’s a few of our pictures, and more, from this year.

The whole town comes out in support of the Elvis Weekend, and why wouldn’t they, it’s incredible for trade and the economy. More than that however, it brings a real buzz to the area and anyone who has been will tell you they count down the days to ‘next year.’ Shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, hotels and guest houses are all packed.

The Official Shows usually take place in the magnificent Grand Pavilion, one of the best preserved 1930s dancehall theatres in the country. To give you a flavour of what usually goes on, here’s a previous schedule.

The Best Festival Elvis Competitions – Heats 1 and 2 along with the Grand Final.
The New Kings – showcasing ETAs making their debut at the Grand Pavilion.
The Elvies – recognised as the world’s leading award show for ETAs
The Elvis Gospel Show – produced by award winning ETA Dean Mack
Classic Elvis – featuring the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Quirk
Trilogy – Sun Studio, ’68 Special and Vegas

As you can see, the organisers had quite a year planned for us all in 2021…….

The Hi-Tide is official sponsor of The Porthcawl Elvis Festival and hosts fifty Elvis’ performing over 100 shows in four bars during the weekend. Shows in the Harbour Lights Bar and Bayroom are free admission. We know there is much disappointment at Hi-Tide at the cancellation, we are certain they’ll be raring to go again next year though.

Putting on an event of this magnitude needs the help and support of so many and the organisation are blessed to get just that.

World renowned Welsh artist and socialite, Sara Topham traditionally provides the Festival with its Image of Elvis. You can see her Elvis work for the festival, over the years right HERE.

Legendary Elvis Minstrels and House Band of the Porthcawl Elvis Festival. The greatest Rock ‘n Roll Band in Tredegar – Red Alert are well worth catching over the weekend, we only hope they find a way of performing should the event go ahead. Finally, what Elvis Festival would be complete without a bit (lot) of memorabilia? Elvis memories have the largest collection of licensed Elvis Presley Memorabilia for sale in the U.K. We have a feeling they’ll be there too next year.

Finding the festival is easy. They are based in Porthcawl, near to the Bristol Channel, about 18 miles from Lynton if you’re a good swimmer. Elvis HQ is usually the Grand Pavilion but we suspect that will be different this year. To be honest, just walking around the town over the weekend is entertainment enough, you won’t find a better atmosphere.

You Really CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE with a festival like this. The Elvies is back between Friday 23rd till Sunday 25th September. The only thing to remind you is that accommodation and venue tickets do sell out incredibly fast, in fact, if you don’t book soon, we think you will be hard pushed to find anything.

This really is one full on, incredible weekend which you simply have to see at least once, so make your way to Porthcawl next year. To find out more and see exactly what’s happening, where and when just go here. ELVIES