Author: Rhys Gregory

Port Talbot’s Aberafan Shopping Centre has unveiled a spectacular “beach scene” display commemorating the World War Two Normandy Landings. The D-Day Landings of June 6th, 1944 when around 156,000 men converged on the shores of Normandy became the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, the landings marked the beginning of the liberation of France and Western Europe during World War Two. In June, the battlefields of France will draw world leaders and veterans for major commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. On Wednesday, May 29th, 2024, the Management and staff at the Shopping Centre…

RCT Council has shared an update on the major redevelopment of the Muni Arts Centre – with excellent progress being made to create a modern arts and events hub while enhancing and conserving the building’s original features. The multi-million pound redevelopment started in 2023, to revitalise the much-loved Pontypridd landmark. The Muni is a gothic-style, Grade II Listed building in the heart of the town, originally built as a Weslyan Chapel in 1895. More recently it became a recognised and valued regional hub for arts and music. In 2019, the Council and Awen Cultural Trust (Awen) announced ambitious plans to…

Foster Wales Merthyr Tydfil has been working with local artist Tee2Sugars and local children to create a beautiful mural which celebrates the difference local authority fostering makes to young people. Last weekend (Sun 26th May), a new mural was unveiled at Merthyr Town FC, organised by the team from Foster Wales Merthyr Tydfil. The mural includes a poem written by care experienced young people in Merthyr Tydfil whose meaningful and lovingly written words narrate how important fostering is and what a difference it can make. In Wales, Foster Wales is the national network for local authority fostering services, who over…

June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and a chance to celebrate and learn more about the rich culture and heritage of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Wales. In 2024-25 the Welsh Government is providing £11m to local authorities to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people who experience barriers to learning, accessing the curriculum, or education in general. In December 2023 new guidance was published to help schools support Gypsy, Roma, Traveller children and young people. Over 40 children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Wales helped contribute to the new…

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Lesley Griffiths has visited Newport Mind to see how £300,000 in Welsh Government funding has enabled the charity to open a new sanctuary space in their building and provide their facilities to more people. The funding came from the Community Facilities Programme which is an annual grant scheme to help organisations make improvements to community facilities such as sports clubs and community halls. The support has enabled Newport Mind to add consultation, training, and group rooms to the centre, as well as increase volunteer numbers and provide training for them. The charity works…

The Attainment Champions pilot, designed to help tackle the impact of poverty on learner’s educational attainment, will be extended into a second phase to further boost standards in schools. The pilot phase of the project showed the use of collaborative working, mentoring of partner schools and the sharing of innovative practices had a positive impact on improving the educational experiences for learners facing disadvantage. Schools engaged in the pilot reported improvement through high quality leadership and development of Teaching and Learning, increased confidence within leadership teams and the strategies were addressing the impact of poverty on attainment. Phase two will…

A Welsh animation company’s children’s series encouraging young audiences to take an interest in nature and the world around them has been picked-up to air by some of the UK’s leading broadcasters, including S4C and ITV. With support from the Welsh Government’s Creative Wales agency, Bumpybox’s new TV show under the working title of Mini Buds / Egin Bach, will be available in Welsh on S4C and English on ITV. The series also has the potential to be distributed globally. The 26 five-minute episodes of Mini Buds / Egin Bach explores the big adventures of six tiny, budding explorers navigating…

The significant investment in Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School is now complete, after a new staff parking facility was brought into use. It follows the delivery of modern classrooms and sports facilities earlier this academic year. Pupils and staff at the Beddau school are enjoying the new classrooms and outdoor spaces delivered in the first phase of the project by November 2023 – funded by the Council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, as part of a £79.6m investment for Greater Pontypridd. Phase one delivered classrooms dedicated for sixth form students, and other modern facilities for pupils across all…

An unlicensed taxi driver, who was found to be illegally plying for hire in Pontypridd, has been hit with fines and costs of £775. Mr Liam Downes of Church Village, was found to be operating as a taxi driver without a licence in the Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. On Sunday 13th August 2023 in the early hours of the morning, Mr Downes parked near Pontypridd Train Station waiting for public to leave the nearby pubs and clubs. Mr Downes was approached by a licensing officer and agreed to take them to a drop off point for a fee. On…

n event being held next month is aiming to help private landlords in the Caerphilly borough transform their properties into energy-efficient, cost-saving havens. The Caerphilly Landlord Energy Conference 2024 is being hosted by Caerphilly County Borough Council and will take place over two sessions at 2pm – 4pm or 6pm – 8pm on Thursday 27th June at Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Treharris, CF46 6ER. During the event, attendees will have opportunities to gain insights from leading experts, connect with fellow landlords, discover tools, resources and incentives to implement energy saving solutions and stay informed about the latest regulations. Landlords can book…