Author: Rhys Gregory

he Good Food Cardiff Autumn Festival returns for its fourth year with a city-wide programme of food events this month which showcase the city’s good food movement. The festival launched this weekend [9-10 Sept] with events at the Amgeuddfa Cymru (St Fagans) Food Festival and celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of Riverside Farmers Market and runs until 30 September. This year, the theme is a celebration of the abundance that harvest time brings and a call for people to reconnect with the seasons in what they grow, cook and eat. Community groups across the city will be bringing people together…

More palliative care patients in Swansea Bay are receiving enhanced care and support following further staff recruitment thanks to a major financial commitment from Tŷ Olwen Trust. In its biggest single financial donation since its inception in 1981, the trust is funding just over £1.1million in the Specialist Palliative Care Service over the course of three years. It has helped recruit 11 staff in full and part-time roles, along with two new positions to the service – a social worker and rehabilitation assistant – with five nurses and four health care support workers also newly employed. Tŷ Olwen, where the…

As it mark its 20th birthday, Valleys to Coast has announced a significant £31.5 million investment that will benefit customers living in its 6000 homes across Bridgend. The housing association will be making its largest ever single investment into its homes with the aim of enhancing its housing stock for its customers. The investment will provide funds for the development and construction of new homes to increase the availability of affordable and sustainable housing options in Bridgend. It will also pay for substantial upgrades and improvements to existing properties, to ensure they meet energy efficiency standards and needs. Alongside this…

Cardiff teen Poppy Richardson is a taekwondo world champion after triumphing at an international tournament. Poppy, a year 9 student at Mary Immaculate High School, represented Wales at the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championships in Finland earlier this month. The competition, held every two years, included more than 1,100 competitors from some 60 countries. Poppy, aged 13, competed in the pre-junior 12-14 age category under 40kg. She sparred against a competitor from Germany in the semi-finals and Uzbekistan in the finals, beating both over the course of two two-minute rounds to take home the gold. Poppy has been doing taekwondo…

The First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, has officially opened an exciting new Swansea community hub for RSPCA Llys Nini Branch. The new not-for-profit venture – called Yr Ysgubor (The Barn), contains an activity space, classroom and recycling suite, as well as Caffi Nini – and stands alongside the branch’s Penllergaer animal centre, which rehomes and rehabilitates countless animals each year. Funding for the project was secured entirely through grant aid – which is not normally available for animal welfare. This included £400,000 awarded by the Lottery, £250,000 from the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme, £45,000 from…

Three familiar soap stars will join the cast of the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie on its second visit to Wales Millennium Centre later this year. Hayley Tamaddo (Emmerdale, Coronation Street) will reprise the role of Miss Hedge, having previously appeared in the West End production at the Apollo Theatre. Eastenders star John Partridge (The View Upstairs, La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, A Chorus Line, CATS) will take on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle, while Coronation Street favourite Shobna Gulati (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Brassic) will be playing Ray – a role she performed in the…

3D printing is providing an even higher quality of care for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital. It is being used to create boluses, accessories that ensure the optimum dose of radiotherapy for cancers close to the surface of the head or neck. Not only is this better for patients, but it is also saving radiotherapy staff time, freeing them up to do other important work. For most types of radiotherapy to the head or neck, patients wear a mask, sometimes called a shell. It is made of thermoplastic, which is warmed and moulded to follow the exact…

As the crowds of high summer disperse and the summer months draw to a close, National Trust Cymru reveals some of the best places to soak up the last of the summer colour in their gardens across Wales. The sun sitting lower on the horizon is a sure sign that autumn is just around the corner. But it’s not quite time to say goodbye to summer yet as there’s still time to wander through the charity’s tranquil gardens which remain full of vibrant colour. So, lift your spirits and indulge in a little garden therapy as you admire rainbows of…

Schools, streets the city centre and community facilities across the city saw investment of more than £123m last year, according to a report due to be seen by Swansea Council’s Cabinet next week. Spending on projects ranged from the rollout of free school meals for children in city primary schools to street-lighting upgrades and extra money for roads resurfacing. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said the council’s Capital Budget programme is making a difference to families, communities and businesses right across the city during the cost of living crisis. He said: “Investment of £1.3m in the free school meals…

The 42nd 10k goes under starters’ orders at 11am this Sunday, and thousands of spectators will see around 4,000 runners take part. Crowds are likely to start gathering at around 8.30am. A number of other races will also take place, including 1k and 3k races for juniors, a mascot race and a 10k wheelchair race. Entries to all races have now closed and there won’t be any late entries on the day. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “As well as elite runners, many other people of all ages will take to the course between St Helen’s and Mumbles. There’ll…