Author: Rhys Gregory

From September 2023, approximately 1600 primary school pupils starting Year 3 will be offered a free school meal. The offer, which coincides with the start of the new academic school year, follows the previous roll-out of free school meals to Reception pupils in September 2022, and to Year 1 and Year 2 pupils in April this year. Over 4600 pupils in the county borough are now entitled to a universal primary free school meal, and it is hoped that the offer will be extended to Nursery school pupils in January 2024, Year 4 pupils in April 2024, and to Year…

Sport Pembrokeshire and Crossfit Pembrokeshire joined together recently to hold the School Crossfit Games for pupils in local primary and secondary schools. Eleven primary schools and six secondary schools in Pembrokeshire took part, with year groups ranging from Year 5 through to Year 10. Crossfit is a mix of strength, gymnastics and cardio and the participants performed a range of exercises. The workouts were solo and pupils also had to work as a team. “It was an amazing turnout and really nice to create a positive experience within a new activity,” said Georgia Osborne Davies from Sport Pembrokeshire. This event…

Public Health Wales, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Newport City Council are investigating a single case of tuberculosis (TB) in an individual associated with The John Frost School in Newport. As a precaution all pupils and teachers who had contact with the individual will be offered screening for TB. There is nothing to suggest that the case contracted TB at the school, rather they have attended the premises when they unknowingly had the infection. No outbreak has been declared. James Adamson, Acting Consultant in Health Protection at Public Health Wales and chair of the multi-agency incident management team said:…

Caerphilly County Borough Council wants your views on our Draft Flood Risk Management Strategy. The council first published a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFMRS) in 2013. They are now looking to update the strategy in line with the changes to the national strategy, new legislation and guidance and lessons learnt over the past 10 years. This feedback will help the council in drafting a revised Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and will consult further on the revised draft in the autumn 2023. The strategy only deals with local flood risk which is defined in the act as being a…

Leader of Council, Cllr. Sean Morgan announced plans to support the allocation of a one-off fund of £900k to support families with a Free School Meals holiday payment following an announcement from Welsh Government to withdraw the funding. During the full council meeting this evening, 4th July, the Leader reflected on the way that Caerphilly had responded to the Pandemic and led the way to deliver meals directly to the homes of more than 7,000 pupils and how the delivery model progressed to a voucher scheme for holiday payments when the delivery of onsite provision in schools resumed. Cllr. Morgan…

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council hosted an Awards ceremony on Monday 3rd July to recognise the contribution that local companies make towards pharmaceuticals and health on the 75th Anniversary of the National Health Service. The ceremony was hosted at PCI Pharma on Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate, Tredegar, the largest employer of the sector in Blaenau Gwent. Awards were presented to 12 companies many of who are at the cutting edge of research and development. The recipients were: Apex Additive Technologies Ltd presented in recognition of their expertise in additive manufacturing of metallic components. BioExtractions (Wales) Ltd presented in recognition of excellence…

Wales is a sporting nation. If they’re not talking about rugby or football, the Welsh are talking about boxing, golf, or equestrian sports. Every sporting occurrence in Wales is a sort of small holiday, regardless if we’re talking about a stadium game in Cardiff or a game broadcast at a local pub. While the first half of the year was quite eventful, the remainder is not less exciting. With that in mind, here are the top four sporting events to look forward to in Wales in 2023. Wales Open, or Cazoo Open, is a major golf tournament and a part…

At a recent awards ceremony, Welsh businesses were celebrated for a range of achievements including meeting the demands of the market, digital innovation and the prioritisation of their customers’ needs.  A recent survey of small businesses in the UK revealed that over 50% had plans for expansion this year, and these are all aspirational goals that could help local retail enterprises to achieve growth. One of the top aims of growing Welsh businesses over the next six months is to diversify into new markets, and build a better online presence which can help a retail company to reach a wider customer base.…

Education, traditionally viewed as a classroom-based, face-to-face interaction between students and teachers, is undergoing a transformation. Thanks to technology, the landscape of learning is shifting towards digital platforms that are more accessible and convenient. This revolution is apparent in Wales, where educational institutions are embracing digital technologies to bolster learning outcomes. Bridging the Gap: Technology in Education Adopting technology in education is not simply about digitising traditional teaching methods; it’s about creating an entirely new paradigm for learning. Digital learning leverages technology to engage learners actively, foster creativity, and facilitate collaboration. It makes learning an immersive and interactive process, crafted…

In the realm of property, home redesign is increasingly becoming a significant element. It presents a grand opportunity to fully optimise the functionality of your living space, add property value, and implement more sustainable ways of living. The art of redesigning your dwelling is a journey filled with limitless opportunities to create personalised spaces that truly embody your unique personality and lifestyle. Crafting Personalised Spaces Nothing beats the joy and comfort of residing in a house that’s tailored to your personal preferences. Contemporary home design stretches beyond mere visual appeal. It’s about creating a space that not only resonates with…