Author: Rhys Gregory

Whether it’s upgrading your home to be more energy-efficient, improving the safety and security of your property, or making necessary repairs, homeowners in the UK may find themselves faced with high costs. Luckily, there are various government grants and support available to help ease the financial burden. The main focus of this article is the energy efficiency grants, schemes and initiatives that the government has set aside for homeowners.  Energy Costs & Savings for Homeowners  Throughout the period of 2021-2023, homeowners and tenants all grappled with the unpredictability of the vulnerable energy market. The global energy crisis impacted everyone, from…

Patryk Kantor drove 120 miles to meet the girl in a park close to her home and drove her to an Air BnB. During his online conversations. he had pretended to be 17 years old but was in fact 25. The alarm was raised by the girl’s mother, who became concerned about some comments that she made. Kantor was arrested on March 28, 2024, two days after the initial call to police. He was identified and arrested thanks to CCTV enquiries and automatic number-plate recognition checks on his vehicle. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a…

New Theatre Cardiff have announced initial casting for this year’s magical pantomime, Cinderella which runs from Saturday 7 December 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025. TV’s Morning Live and radio broadcaster Gethin Jones will lead the cast as Prince Charming. Alongside Gethin will be BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans as Dandini, celebrated New Theatre Cardiff panto Dame extraordinaire Mike Doyle as the Baroness with Denquar Chupak returning as Cinderella and Stephanie Webber joining as the Fairy Godmother. Gethin Jones currently hosts the hugely popular Morning Live, every weekday on BBC1. His career started by chance on S4C. After…

A new first-time buyer study from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove reveals that the average first-time buyer mortgage payment has risen by 61% since the last election year of 2019. Over the last five years, the average mortgage payment for a typical first-time buyer home has risen from £667 per month to £1,075 per month, as average mortgage rates have risen and remained elevated. The increase in average mortgage payments for first-time buyers has significantly outpaced wage growth. Over the same five-year period, average wages are up by 27%. The mortgage payment calculations assume first-time buyers are taking out…

Around 1,500 Tata workers based in Port Talbot and Llanwern will begin all-out indefinite strike action over the company’s plans to cut 2,800 jobs and close its blast furnaces. The strike action, which begins on 8 July, will severely impact Tata’s UK operations. It is the first time in over 40 years that steel workers in the UK have taken strike action. The escalation in industrial action comes after the workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, began working to rule and an overtime ban on Tuesday (June 17). Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Tata’s workers are not just…

Work is underway on 124 new energy efficient homes in Cardiff as Redrow begins construction of phase three at Churchlands and phase four at Plas Ty Draw. Both developments are in the sought after suburb of Lisvane. All of the new homes feature underfloor heating and air source heat pumps as the leading housebuilder moves away from traditional gas boilers. Electric vehicle charging points are optional.  This is in line with Redrow’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2050. Phase four of Plas Ty Draw will feature a selection of 35 three and four bedroom homes including the classically styled…

COLEG CAMBRIA celebrated the dedication and skill of learners and apprentices at its annual Student Awards. The college’s Yale site in Wrexham held events for Further and Higher Education (FE and HE) and Work-based Learning (WBL) and Adult and Community Learning (ACL) this week. Chief Executive Yana Williams and Cath Sullivan, Deputy Chief Executive for People, Experiences and Culture, hosted proceedings over two nights. “Congratulations to everyone on your success in the last year,” said Ms Williams. “Also, a big thank you to your families, friends and those who supported you on your journeys. “You are a credit to Coleg…

Operation Tredegar relates to a large-scale family run Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine, by an Organised Crime Group (OCG) headed by brothers Thomas Davies, 38, and Jack Davies, 37, based in the Rhondda valleys. This case features nine defendants, all with a varying role within the OCG from couriers to money launderers. The further six members of the OCG hae been sentenced to 37 years and 10 months at Newport Crown Court. Thomas Davies arranged the purchase of multi kilogram amounts of cocaine from several different sources which were then driven to South Wales by couriers at…

Nurses in Mauritius will be able to benefit from Swansea University’s award-winning healthcare training as part of a new international collaboration. The University will be providing a one-year BSc Nursing (Top-up) programme after signing a partnership agreement with Mauritian-based Uniciti International Education Hub (UIEH). The programme includes modules such as health promotion and public health; evidence-based practice, nursing research and an introduction to clinical leadership. It is designed for diploma-qualified registered nurses who are looking to further enhance their personal and professional development. Starting in September, it will be made up of hybrid-format classes, with both in-person sessions on the…

Welsh filmmaking talent once again dominates nominations at this year’s Into Film Awards, which are being held at a star-studded, red-carpet event at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London on Tuesday 25 June. Among this year’s nominees are Cardiff Youth Service who’ve been shortlisted for ‘Filmmaking Champion’. Cardiff Youth Service are part of Cardiff Council’s Education department, and work with young people aged 11-25 years to develop personal, social and educational development through a variety of opportunities, including filmmaking projects. They work with young people in a variety of settings, offering targeted support for those identified as vulnerable. They recognise that young people are…