Author: Rhys Gregory

A BA Adventure Filmmaking student from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has collaborated with Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team to showcase their work. Scott Beckett from Seven Sisters in the Dulais Valley decided to follow the Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team’s day to day work for a short documentary as part of his coursework. Mountain Rescue has always been an organisation that Scott has greatly admired. When he discovered that he had some time to dedicate to a film project, he decided to produce a video that would not only support his coursework but also an organisation…

In an admirable feat of determination and camaraderie, five members of a Welsh motorcycle club have conquered the gruelling Welsh Three Peaks challenge, raising over £1,500 for Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice. The Welsh Three Peaks challenge involves conquering three iconic mountains: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Cadair Idris, and Pen y Fan. While the team of bikers are typically known for their adventures on motorcycles, this time they chose to tackle the peaks on foot, relying on physical and mental fortitude to complete their journey. The team from the Neath-based ‘Ride Club’ included Meriel East, a Partner at Hutchinson Thomas Solicitors who…

RSPCA Cymru is calling for more to be done to prevent pets being given out as prizes across Wales – as it is revealed that 83% of people are shocked by the ongoing legality of this practice. The animal welfare charity’s plea follows the results of a survey conducted earlier this month. Data showed that more than four in five adults in Wales agree that local governments in Wales and England should ban the giving of pets as prizes on council-owned land. Twelve of Wales’ local authorities have banned the practice so far, with RSPCA Cymru urging more to take…

For the sixth year running, Principality Building Society has been voted the Best Building Society for Customer Service in the What Mortgage Awards. Principality received the accolade after a 22-week voting period where customers were able to rank all the building societies in the UK. Vicky Wales, Chief Customer Officer at Principality Building Society, said: “It is such a great achievement to receive this award for the sixth consecutive year. It is especially meaningful as it is voted for by our members and customers. We are proud that they value our customer service and this award is a testament to…

Students from Cardiff Metropolitan University have returned from a visit to a school in Rwanda where they got to teach children in Welsh and also learn about the history, culture and different styles of education internationally. During the two week visit, BA (Hons) Primary Education Studies students worked with children from the Educational and Cultural Parents’ School (ECPS) in Rwanda. ECPS first opened in 2009 and was set up by parents who wanted their children to receive a better education than the state funded schools in the area. The school receives no state funding and relies on funding from parents…

This year’s Business Barometer report published by The Open University and the British Chamber of Commerce shows that three quarters (75%) of Welsh business leaders are still experiencing skills shortages, a statistic unwavering since last year’s report findings. The annual report, which provides a temperature check on the UK skills landscape and surveys 130 Welsh employers, also highlights growing concern for staff morale and wellbeing in Wales, with almost three quarters (70%) of employers in Wales reporting an increase in workload for existing staff. The report suggests that employers must now rely on the opportunity to ‘grow your own’ talent…

Cardiff Council is developing plans to reduce flood risk from Whitchurch Brook. The Greener Whitchurch project will explore a range of solutions including green infrastructure, a network of multi-functional green spaces, to reduce surface water run-off and manage local drainage network capacity issues, while enhancing parts of Whitchurch’s public space. The project is part of Cardiff Council’s overarching strategy to ensure the city is ‘stronger, fairer and greener’. The study area includes the part of Whitchurch Brook that flows from Caedelyn Park in Rhiwbina through Whitchurch to its outfall at the River Taff at Lydstep Park, Gabalfa. Flooding has affected…

Cardiff Council has been awarded Civil Project of the Year Award for 2023/24 for the Central Square Transport Scheme. The award relates to the transformation of Wood Street, which includes a new road layout; new bus lanes; rain gardens to manage surface water drainage; improvements to the public realm and a highway network which gives priority to buses ready for when the new Transport Interchange opens to the public. The scheme is also the first of its kind in Wales, with a pedestrian crossing built specifically to accommodate blind and partially sighted people, with additional planting and ‘bee bus stops’…

Pembrokeshire residents and visitors are reminded of road closures in the south of the County this weekend as part of the Long Course Weekend event. The event runs Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July and those planning to travel are urged to plan accordingly. The Croft in Tenby will be closed on Friday between 4.30pm and 6.30pm for the Wales Swim although access will be maintained for residents who live on The Croft. Road closures are in place for the Wales Sportive cycle event (Saturday 1st July) and the Wales Marathon (Sunday 2nd July). For the Wales Sportive, there…

Caerphilly County Borough Council have outlined plans to boost recycling rates and create a greener county borough in line with Welsh Government targets. Local authorities are required to meet strict Welsh Government recycling targets and Caerphilly is working hard to ensure it reaches the current target of 70%, as well as even higher rates for the coming years. Caerphilly had historically performed well achieving 66.7% recycling in 2017-18 but has since declined with a projected recycling rate of 60.76% for 2022-23. The Council has outlined a seven-year route map to ensure Caerphilly meets and exceeds statutory performance targets. The route…