Author: Rhys Gregory

An Estyn inspection in November last year, praised Cwmfelin Primary School for many of its practices, most notably, offering authentic learning experiences to its pupils. The school has been particularly praised for its ‘Big Bocs Bwyd’ project – an initiative which provides affordable food to the local community.  The Estyn report highlights how the scheme is especially effective at allowing pupils to learn within an authentic context.  Inspectors were so impressed by how the teachers use the project to support learning within a ‘real life’ situation, that the school has been asked to prepare a case study on the ‘Big…

Eight community projects across Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly have been successful in acquiring funding to help reduce inequality and bring communities together. The Community Cohesion Grants, funded by Welsh Government, are designed to support initiatives that promote understanding and respect between different groups of people and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to unite. One of the projects to receive £2000 is Willowtown Community Primary School which plans to create an allotment to offer further education and training opportunities. The money will be spent on helping support the schools Willows Wonderful Big Bocs Bwyd initiative along with hosting cooking…

More homes came onto the market in Wales during September according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey. However, surveyors report that prices and sales continued to fall.   A net balance of 11% of Welsh surveyors reported a rise in new instructions to sell during the month. This is up from -45% in August, and -12% in July.   In terms of demand, new buyer enquiries continued to fall though, but at a more modest rate than has been seen previously. A net balance of -37% of respondents reported a decline, this is compared to -65%…

An opening date has been confirmed for the much anticipated £1.4m refurbishment of The Unicorn pub, situated on the outskirts of Cardiff in Old St Mellons. The refurbishment will see The Unicorn transformed into create a fantastic country style pub with a more contemporary look and feel to appeal local residents looking for a top-quality pub to eat and drink in. The new look pub is being reconfigured to improve the flow within the pub and will increase covers to 124.  The changes will include a large new garden room extension with bi-folding doors leading onto a terrace, versatile dining…

TICKETS are selling frightfully fast for a sensational Halloween spooktacular. The fangtastic, family friendly Gandeys Spooky Circus returns to Bolesworth Castle in Tattenhall, near Chester and Wrexham, over 12 days from Friday October 20. And legendary ringmaster Binky Beaumont will be joining the 16-strong internationally acclaimed ensemble for what promises to be their best show yet. The hair-raising one-hour event will be packed with spine-chilling entertainment, ghoulish tricks, and unbelievable feats of Rolla Bolla balance and aerial ballet bravery. Binky has enjoyed a colourful career, beginning life in a popular clown troupe before turning to luxury car sales in the…

Small businesses and co-working spaces in Cardiff are among the first to benefit from the city’s new full fibre broadband network, being delivered by Ogi – Wales’s largest alternative telecoms provider. Announced in March this year [2023], it’s taken Ogi less than six months to install the initial phase of Cardiff’s newest high-speed network, bringing much needed connectivity solutions to the east of the city centre. Available in the East Moors district to begin with, this new Gigabit-capable full fibre network will eventually rollout across Cardiff Bay, Dumballs Road and the city’s new Capital Quarter in Ogi’s first phase plans…

Dear Sir/Madam, Our children are in a mental health crisis. We need to take action now. Together with other organisations across the running sector, we’re calling on the leaders of our biggest political parties, to unlock the potential of sport and physical activity to play a more meaningful role in tackling the UK’s growing mental health epidemic. We’re failing too many of our children, who leave school unfit, inactive and dealing with poor mental health on an unprecedented scale. The number of children and young people in mental health crisis reached record levels this year. In the year to March…

A young rugby fan from Cardiff had a weekend he won’t ever forget after playing an important role during Rugby World Cup 2023, in France. Zachary, nine, led Wales onto the pitch against Georgia in Nantes as a Defender of Tomorrow and Mascot ahead of the two teams continuing their Rugby World Cup campaign on Saturday. The inspiring youngster was awarded the role for his commitment to playing rugby, despite being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year. On his experience, Zach had said: “I hadn’t even thought about being a diabetic since I got to the stadium. I can’t…

SME leaders have the chance to take their seat on a professional advisory taster board to help strengthen collaboration within the North Wales business community.   The region’s chair of international mentorship service The Alternative Board (TAB) is hosting two free coaching sessions to allow company directors to share the challenges they face and receive guidance from industry peers.   David Roberts, who has led the North East Wales TAB division for more than eight years, will run the meetings on 18 October and 15 November, with participants urged to bring an organisational problem to the discussion.  To replicate the…

From exciting family trails and harvest celebrations to Halloween crafts and natural play areas; there are a whole host of family adventures to be had at the places cared for by National Trust Cymru this October half term. In North Wales, discover more about Nos Galan Gaeaf or ‘winter’s eve’ as you help to protect Chirk Castle from the ghosts and ghouls who lurk on this night, step into the world of folklore as you take part in some magical local traditions at Penrhyn Castle and Garden, hunt for acorns on the Red Squirrel trail at Plas Newydd House and…