Author: Alice Gregory

It’s that time of year again when we all start to wonder when are the clocks changing? Do they go forward…or back? There’s a quick mnemonic to help you remember, ‘Spring forward, fall back’ or as I say ‘March forward, fall back’ either way is helpful. The idea proposed in Britain by builder William Willett, was due to the ‘waste’ of useful daylight during the summer specifically in the morning. British Summer Time (BST) was then adopted in 1916 as a way to save candles and electricity as technology improved and became more widely available as well as money. British…

Cadw unveils an exciting lineup of spooky and spectacular events this Halloween at historic locations across Wales. From ancient castles to mystical ruins, explore Wales’ rich heritage through a different lens this month with a series of engaging, hair-raising and immersive experiences. Whether you have a taste for all things scary or prefer something more mellow, Cadw’s autumn-themed activities have got you and your family covered. With events at well-known locations such as Beaumaris Castle, Caerphilly Castle and Kidwelly Castle, there’s no better way to create lasting memories this spooky season. Here are just some of the events you can…

Kyle Minogue will be digitally joining the cast of I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical, when it comes to Wales Millennium Centre from 27 November – 2 December as part of its UK tour. Kylie Minogue will digitally appear throughout the show as a specially created character unique to the musical. She said: “I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining Stock Aitken Waterman in presenting the new musical, ‘I Should Be So Lucky’! It is the music that inspired a generation (plus my first five albums!) so to have all the SAW hits in…

Macmillan Cancer Support has welcomed an improvement in cancer treatment waiting times in Wales but warns that significant pressures are yet to come. The charity has also called out the inequalities that exist within cancer treatment in Wales, highlighting that people with some forms of cancer are waiting far longer than others for their treatment to begin. Using data for August, published today, Macmillan points to urological cancers as an example – where half of people with urological cancer had to wait at least 87 days or more for their treatment to begin from the point their cancer was first…

Green social prescribing is a mental health and wellbeing initiative which helps individuals connect to non-medical services and activities in the great outdoors — and last year, more people in the South Wales Valleys than ever took part.  Also known as ‘nature prescribing’, the concept has been explored by medical professionals for more than 20 years — but its true value is only now starting to be fully realised, with the South Wales Valleys leading the way for Wales. One of its Health Boards is now actively directing funds into local GP surgeries, to support referrals into nature-based projects.  According…

Two Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid members have been announced as national winners at the 2023 British Chamber of Commerce Chamber Business Awards. Ponctyclun-based manufacturer Concrete Canvas, an innovative company at the forefront of sustainable construction solutions, won the Problem Solver category which recognises businesses that transform the market that they operate in. The company manufactures four award-winning products – Concrete Canvas®, CCX™, CC Hydro™ and CC Shelters™ – which are exported around the world. Law firm Browne Jacobson, another Chamber member, took the title in the Equality Trailblazer category for their work championing diversity and promoting…

Leading global accounting body ACCA has raised doubts over the readiness of UK local authorities to adopt the international accounting standard IFRS 16. Responding to a consultation on the update to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting for 2024/25, ACCA has said that greater understanding is required of the readiness of local authorities in adopting IFRS 16 on accounting for leases, especially given the challenges faced by the bodies, from both a fiscal and preparatory perspective. ACCA highlights the need for a collaborative approach given local challenges, complex regulatory landscapes, constraints of resources and the financial stability of…

A 22-year-old entrepreneur from Anglesey has been helping neurodivergent youngsters with the launch of a specialist support and education agency. Rebecca Bowyer, from Anglesey, launched Be Heard Communications in July 2022 with the support of Big Ideas Wales, with a mission to educate more people on neurodiversity. Rebecca, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of eight and then autism 10 years later, has been hosting free neurodivergent training sessions for student nurses at Bangor University. By helping new nurses to better understand neurodivergent conditions, recognise neurodiverse patients and the best ways to support individuals who are neurodivergent, Rebecca…

A Cardiff Metropolitan University initiative which has benefitted thousands of schoolchildren and members of the community is now looking to diversify its provision to help more people access sport, physical activity and health support. Open Campus puts Cardiff Met students at the heart of solving societal problems by providing learning opportunities which offer sport and health interventions for the local community. There have been almost 10,000 attendances from schoolchildren and members of the community to date. Over 1,000 Cardiff Met students have delivered activity through Open Campus, engaging with 41 schools across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to date.…

A bilingual book telling the remarkable story of a peace petition, signed a century ago by 390,296 Welsh women and sent across the ocean to America, will be officially launched at Aberystwyth University’s Festival of Research on 3 November. Co-edited by Professor Mererid Hopwood and Dr Jenny Mathers from Aberystwyth University, The Appeal: The Remarkable Story of the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition 1923-24 (Y Lolfa) traces the petition’s once forgotten history across a series of seven chapters and one poem, each written by a different contributor. The book also features a striking collection of images, including black and white photographs of…