Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea city centre art gallery Glynn Vivian has announced the return of its Swansea Open initiative. The Swansea Open is an annual art competition open to anyone who lives or works in the City and County of Swansea (SA1-SA9). It celebrates art and craft from artists and makers throughout the city. The selected works from the submissions will be shown in the gallery, run by Swansea Council, from February 3. The selection is made by a different panel of invited selectors each year, encouraging diverse viewpoints. The exhibition seeks to reflect critical and cultural awareness, with a broad range of…

Hundreds of local school children enjoyed an African adventure at the University of South Wales (USW) last week as Drama students performed a safari themed theatre show. Pupils from schools across Cardiff and Caerphilly came to USW’s Cardiff Campus to watch Beautiful Creatures, an action-packed show aimed at 4 to 7-year-olds, based on popular children’s songs from South Africa. Performed by first-year BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama students, the show told the story of Imvubu the hippo, Lucas the lion, Rita the cheetah, Roddy the rhino and many more animals through lively songs, which encouraged the audience to join in…

The Welsh Government is under huge pressure to safeguard apprenticeship funding following deep cuts announced in this week’s draft budget which could result in around 10,000 fewer apprentices. Employers’ representatives, including the FSB and CBI, have signed an open letter to First Minister Mark Drakeford outlining their deep concerns about the proposed 24.2% cuts – the equivalent of £35 million – to apprenticeships for 2024-’25. They want to know why all the money they pay to the apprenticeship levy is not being invested in apprentices, with claims that more than £80m is being spent elsewhere. The proposed cuts are a…

A Welsh energy efficiency company has announced the opening of two new offices near its Swansea headquarters. Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) will welcome 100 new team members as part of the expansion, with roughly 50 based at each new location. This expansion underscores CES’s commitment to serving the energy efficiency needs of its customers in Wales and the South West, as well as its dedication to creating job opportunities in the region. The company currently boasts a workforce of more than 500 people and supports customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint and ultimately, their energy bills.…

Cardiff Young Professionals, a monthly networking group, has successfully raised £1,000.00 for their chosen charity of the year, Dreams and Wishes. The achievement highlights the power of collective efforts in making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. Dreams and Wishes is a charity dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of seriously ill children and their families; providing them with moments of joy and happiness amidst challenging circumstances. The charity relies heavily on the support of individuals and groups, like the Cardiff Young Professionals, to carry out its mission. Wendy Hobbs, Board Member and Business Ambassador of Dreams…

Llanishen drug dealers and money launderers jailed for over 11 years at Cardiff Crown Court Liam Gonzales (left), aged 35 and Habinder Baines aged 36, were arrested after being spotted acting suspiciously in Llanishen by plain clothed officers in March 2023. Both men were detained, and searches of their cars found 1KG of cocaine, street value of between £80,000 and £100,000 hidden beneath a child car seat. £24,000 in cash was also found stashed inside the car. Baines and Gonzalez were arrested on suspicion of possession of a class ‘A’ drug and were sentenced on the 18 December at Cardiff…

Cardiff has hosted its first inter-youth football tournament this month, bringing together more than 90 young people from youth clubs across the city. The joint partnership project between Cardiff Youth Services, Cardiff & Vale College (CAVC) and South Wales Police, is supported by Cardiff City Football Club Foundation and aims to build positive relationships between young people who live in different areas of the city. Teams from Gabalfa, Llanrumney, St Mellons, Powerhouse in Lanedeyrn, Eastmoors in Splott, North Ely and Caerau as well South Wales Police and Cardiff’s youth workers competed in the tournament hosted at Cardiff & Vale College,…

Cardiff Council has welcomed a recently published Woodland Trust policy paper setting out the importance of trees and woods for nature recovery in Wales and making five key recommendations for local authorities. Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “The rapid decline of nature in Wales and beyond in recent years is deeply concerning and since declaring a nature emergency in 2021, the Council has taken significant steps to support its recovery, and has already implemented, or begun to implement, all of the measures that the Woodland Trust recommend local authorities should take.” “At the heart of what…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is using the healing power of music to help people with their mental health. In partnership with a range of other individuals and agencies, the Authority’s Community Mental Health Support Team has brought together three of the people they work with to form a band. The group, who all suffer with issues affecting their confidence in social settings, recently played their first live gig at an awards ceremony for Vale Madrid, a football team created to help others with mental health struggles. Anthony Jones plays electric guitar, Ray Maylin is on acoustic guitar, while Max…

RCT’s Cabinet has approved the Council’s adoption of the Aberdare Town Centre Strategy which outlines investment themes and a future vision for the town. The draft version was revised using important feedback from a recent consultation. In July 2023, Cabinet Members agreed to consult residents on a draft strategy for Aberdare Town Centre, to set out strategic objectives that will serve as a blueprint for future investment. The draft was compiled after initial engagement with local residents and businesses – and the wider public consultation subsequently took place from August 7 to September 18, 2023. On Monday, December 18, Cabinet…