Author: Rhys Gregory

The First Minister has announced that over 20 million additional meals have been served since the rollout of universal free meals to all primary pupils in Wales began in September 2022. All primary school children and more than 6,000 nursery-age pupils attending a maintained school will be eligible for free meals by September 2024. But new figures now show 19 of Wales’ 22 local authorities are already reaching all eligible pupils – ahead of the September target. £260m of Welsh Government funding was committed to implement universal free school meals, which included £60m of capital funding to support improvements to…

Football fanatics and sport enthusiasts can kick off their May half-term with the return of a well-loved Family Funday taking place in Wrexham. Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is staging the full-day event at Queen’s Square, which will see local organisations come together to offer a range of free amusements to promote sport-based play in the community. Pro-Skill Soccer will bring its popular inflatable penalty shootout and dart board to the city on Saturday 25 May, as well as activities provided by Wrexham Museum, which is currently developing the Football Museum for Wales at its site on Regent Street. Made possible…

Powys residents were helped to claim an extra £3.28 million in benefits, that they were entitled to, during the last financial year (2023/24), thanks to the county council. Its Money Advice Service helped 1,406 people over that period and would like to help even more residents who are struggling with their finances over the next 12 months. Powys County Council’s (PCC) Money Advice Service can help you: Find ways to maximise your income and give advice on your entitlements. Apply for benefits and welfare grants. Manage your fuel costs and find better ways to heat your home. Manage your debt…

A retired engineer the late Queen Elizabeth once mistook for comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson is a big hit when he goes on “Royle visits” to a North Wales care home. Wil Williams, who lives in Valley, on Anglesey, is the spitting image of Ricky’s most famous character, Jim Royle, the patriarch in the hit BBC TV series, The Royle Family. The 74 year old lookalike is a regular visitor to Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon where his mother-in-law, Ethna Williams, is a resident. Wil said: “I love going to Bryn Seiont Newydd. I’ll go along as…

After six months of hard work during poor winter weather conditions, local contractors working on behalf of Ceredigion County Council completed construction of the new path in early April. The new shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists starts in Waunfawr and makes a direct link to Comins Coch Primary School. The path also has a new spur heading northwards to join into future planned phases. It will connect with the path to Penrhyncoch, the path which connects with Bow Street, and the new railway station. Construction work has also included the installation of numerous biodiversity measures such as new hedgerows…

Keep Wales Tidy has this week announced the Wales Coast Award winners for 2024, spotlighting the 49 coastal sites achieving the high standards required to receive a prestigious Blue Flag, Green Coast or Seaside Award. With more and more local authorities and organisations facing pressure on reduced budgets, it is heartening to see so many continue to prioritise the delivery of the exceptional standards required to achieve these awards in the stunning coastal areas which surround our beautiful country. Blue Flag is managed internationally by FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education) and is one of the world’s most recognised awards…

Blue flags will once again be flown at four of Ceredigion’s most popular beaches this year: in Borth, Aberystwyth South, Llangrannog and Tresaith. An additional five beaches have achieved Seaside Award status, and a further four have obtained the coveted rural Green Coast Award. Beaches achieving Blue Flag and Green Coast award status must meet the highest overall ‘Excellent’ water quality standard, and are judged for their facilities for beach users, and for demonstrating good management and safety provision. The Seaside Award recognises beaches that have an overall ‘Good’ standard of water quality, public facilities, safety provision and management. Councillor…

A project aimed at increasing the international presence of a Swansea company that manufactures energy efficient heat exchange fluids has won a funding boost. Swansea Council has awarded a Property Development Fund grant to Liquitherm Technologies Group, thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Property Development Fund – which is now closed for applications – was aimed at helping businesses with the costs of constructing or expanding buildings for industrial use in Swansea to generate additional employment. Liquitherm – who are fluid specialists for process cooling and hydronic systems – will use the funding to help…

Welsh celebrities including film star Rhys Ifans are helping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a pioneering project that’s transforming disadvantaged children’s lives through the power of music. More than 500 youngsters aged five to 11 years of age have been learning to make music completely free of charge thanks to Codi’r Tô (Raising the Roof), a community regeneration project working with pupils at Ysgol Maesincla in Caernarfon and Ysgol Glancegin in Bangor. Among those who’ve already recorded videos to wish the project happy birthday are legendary Welsh pop star Dewi Pws Morris, radio and TV presenter Huw Stephens, weather…

Patients having radiotherapy for breast cancer can now do so without a permanent reminder of their treatment for the first time in Wales. The South West Wales Cancer Centre at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital has developed advanced techniques to the point where tattoos used to ensure patients are in the correct position are no longer needed. Treatment outcomes are the same, but it means a huge psychological boost. Studies have shown that 78 per cent of UK people receiving radiotherapy would prefer not to have a tattoo or permanent mark. Some opt to pay for laser tattoo removal after treatment, or…