Author: Rhys Gregory

In a ground-breaking move toward inclusivity and equal opportunity, Coleg Gwent has joined forces with Agored Cymru and Professor Paul Edwards to offer students from less advantaged backgrounds an opportunity to study an Access to Medicine course.   The course, which prepares students for a Medical Pathway Degree is the first of its kind in Wales.  For far too long, the path to becoming a healthcare professional has been fraught with challenges and limitations for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Financial constraints, lack of academic guidance, and self-doubt have often deterred aspiring medical professionals. However, Coleg Gwent’s Access to Medicine course endeavours…

Four Welsh students are heading to Poland to be in with a chance of being crowned a winner at EuroSkills Gdańsk 2023, the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe. Up against 600 fellow young people from across Europe, they will travel to Gdańsk to showcase their technical knowledge and capabilities in a series of challenges, with the winner being crowned best in their field. EuroSkills is the bi-annual European competition hosted by WorldSkills, an initiative that inspires young people to develop a passion for skills and pursue excellence through national and international competitions. Rhydian Brown, from Llantwit…

Ascona Group (‘Ascona’), a top 10 UK independent forecourt operator and one of The Sunday Times’ 100 fastest growing businesses, is pleased to announce the successful reopening of Machynlleth Service Station in North Wales. On Thursday, 24th August 2023, the site, which had been closed for six months as it underwent a transformative £3m redevelopment programme, Ascona’s largest investment in Wales to date, officially reopened its doors to customers and the local community once again. In line with Ascona’s strategy to develop the next evolution of roadside retail destinations, the redevelopment has expanded the site’s existing Nisa Retail store, which…

A leading Wrexham-based visitor attraction has blown guests away by showcasing science in action during its latest live show.    Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is bringing bubbles to life in an interactive experience, making innovative experiments and cutting-edge research more accessible to visiting families.   The public show, titled ‘Brilliant Bubbles’, examines their properties and relevance in everyday life, and has made its return the first time since the charity’s relocation to Henblas Street in the city centre.  Science communicators set the creations alight through propane gas, mix liquid nitrogen with washing up solution to make dramatic bursting effects, and…

An axeman from Bala is aiming to be top of the chops this month. Former British champion Elgan Pugh will be part of the Clwyd Axemen team taking part at the Welsh Game Fair at the Faenol Estate near Bangor on the weekend of September 9 and 10. The Clwyd Axemen were formed 15 years ago as a splinter group from the Gwynedd Axemen and now have over 10 regular members – including a couple of Axewomen – who perform displays of lumberjack skills at shows the length of the country. This year they have been to the Scottish Game…

A renowned vocal ensemble will join with a North Wales choir to perform at the region’s premiere music festival. Tenebrae are favourites among North Wales International Music Festival audiences and return to St Asaph Cathedral on Friday, September 15. They will present a programme of Renaissance music in a concert that promises to be an inspiring and immersive opening to this year’s festival that runs from Friday, September 15 to Saturday, September 30. It’s all been made possible thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Wales, Colwinston Charitable Trust and the festival’s headline sponsor, the Pendine Arts and…

Creative Wales – the Welsh Government agency that promotes the nation’s creative industries – is celebrating an exciting time for the Welsh screen industry, with the production of six new dramas all set in Wales. These are: Steeltown Murders, Wolf, Tree on a Hill, Men Up, Lost Boys and Fairies, and The Way. Steeltown Murders and Wolf are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. The latest boom comes as a result of close partnership working between Welsh Government and BBC Cymru Wales, who have been working closely to ensure creative talent is offered the opportunities and support needed to…

Amidst the high cost of living which has affected families all over the country, this September, visitors can enjoy hundreds of historical locations across Wales for free. Cadw has announced the return of Open Doors this September – an annual festival which unlocks access to Wales’ most remarkable and cherished historical locations. Throughout September, over 200 historic landmarks across Wales will offer visitors an exciting lineup of free events, guided tours, and immersive experiences – some of which have never been accessible to the public before. The Open Doors initiative is part of the wider European Heritage Day festival –…

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Save a Life September campaign is back, and this year the charity is encouraging as many people as possible to learn lifesaving first aid skills with them. The Save a Life September campaign takes place annually, aiming to teach more people across Wales first aid skills free of charge. It also encourages individuals to sign up to one of St John Ambulance Cymru’s renowned first aid courses, creating more potential lifesavers in the communities of Wales. St John Ambulance Cymru offers a vast range of courses, from first aid at work training to more specific sessions…

Swansea-based kidney charity, Popham Kidney Support, has unveiled its brand-new annual fundraising event. The Rhoose 5k Trail Run, taking place on September 24, covers the scenic footpath along Fontygary Bay. It is a Run Britain registered event and comes during Popham Kidney Support’s tenth year operating. The picturesque Fontygary Bay footpath offers the ideal setting for the run, set to commence at Fontygary Leisure Park. Participants will be treated to breathtaking views of the coastline as they navigate their way through the course, passing checkpoints at the Rhoose Point and Newton Pool along the way and concluding right where it…