Author: Rhys Gregory

Chart-topping boyband JLS will bring their Summer Hits tour to Cardiff Castle next year. The double BRIT Award winners – who are currently wowing audiences across the UK with their ‘Everybody Say JLS’ arena tour – will head to the iconic Welsh venue on Sunday July 7. JLS – Aston Merrygold, JB Gill, Marvin Humes and Oritsé Williams – have sold more than six million records; two million live tickets; are the first X Factor act to win a prestigious BRIT Award (2010), five MOBO Awards, four Digital Music Awards and three Urban Music Awards. Their first four albums all…

New operations manager David Branter is excited to rejoin Beacon Foods, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of ingredients and ready-to-eat products, to contribute to the company’s major expansion. He says the Brecon-based business, which supplies food manufacturers, food service, coffee shops, fast food chains and travel and hospitality industries, is now perfectly placed to secure new business opportunities. Investment totalling £6 million in the last three years has seen Beacon Foods double the size of its manufacturing and storage facilities to 53,000 square feet in preparation for business growth. The company, which has 130 employees, has greatly increased production…

The Wellbeing Centre in Lampeter, the first of its kind in the county, was officially opened this week by Lynne Neagle, MS, Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Funded by a Welsh Government Communities for Learning Grant and Ceredigion County Council, the centre commits to transform the county’s approach to holistic wellbeing. Promising an extensive spectrum of services tailored to improve the physical, mental, and social aspects of individuals, the centre also aims to facilitate increased access to vital information, advice, and support on Council services for its residents. This comprehensive framework aligns with the Council’s objective of Creating Caring…

School breakfast clubs in Wales could get their hands on a £1,000 cash windfall to help support their vital work. Kellogg’s is offering schools across the UK grants to invest in any aspect of their breakfast clubs – including equipment, food and learning materials. This comes as 27 per cent of parents from Wales admit their children don’t always have breakfast. The study also found 95 per cent of those in Wales who’ve struggled to keep their household fed have yet to rely on the help of others or utilise any schemes like breakfast clubs. Of those who have sent…

A Magor-based transport company has begun its journey to net zero with a £55,000 green loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Established by Director James Hill in 2006, Jaga Brothers Transport employs 44 people and operates 45 trucks and 130 trailers from its base at Gwent Euro Park. Clients include Celsa Steel UK. With a commitment to reducing carbon footprint, the company has invested in 68 solar panels that will save 5.14t of CO2 emissions and reduce annual energy costs by £25,000. The 28kW system has been installed by Tewdric Energy. Director James Hill said: “This investment in solar…

A brand-new visitor attraction in North Cardiff is celebrating a successful opening season, welcoming over 100,000 visitors in its first nine weeks. Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs opened to the public in July 2023 as a hub for health and wellbeing and a haven for wildlife and offers a range of water and land activities and a café with stunning views – making it a great place to visit at any time of the year. Built in the late-19th century, Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs are a Victorian landmark – covering 110 acres of green and blue space and home to amazing…

Cardiff Council can proudly announce the city has been officially declared a UNICEF Child Friendly City -the first of its kind in the UK. The prestigious and internationally-acknowledged status has been awarded to Cardiff in recognition of the steps the council and its partners have taken over the past five years to advance the human rights of children and young people across the city. Cardiff Council and its partners joined the UK Committee for UNICEF’s (UNICEF UK) Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme in 2017 as part of a pioneering cohort. Since then, it has been implementing strategies to embed…

Social Services Community Options team have recently opened a new community café at Blaina Institute. The café is a partnership with Blaina Community Institute Limited and offers adults with disabilities valuable work placements and volunteering opportunities to develop invaluable life, social and future work skills within the world of catering and hospitality. Mary Welch, Community Options Manager within Social Services said: ‘’This exciting venture has given us an opportunity to work with a community group in Blaina so that we can breathe life into one of our historic Blaenau Gwent buildings alongside showcasing the catering talents of the staff within…

RCT Cabinet has received a report on the progress made during the first year of the updated RCT Empty Homes Strategy. Focused activities and interventions have helped bring a further 258 properties back into use since October 2022. The Council is committed to reducing the number of empty homes as they are a financial expense and a wasted resource that could provide much-needed affordable housing. Their appearance can be unsightly, and they attract anti-social behaviour. Following Cabinet’s approval a year ago, an updated Empty Homes Strategy (2022-2025) introduced objectives to continue the good work carried out from 2018 to 2021,…

Young people from across Swansea were saluted for their passion for books. They were honoured by Swansea Council’s libraries service after excelling in the city’s annual Summer Reading Challenge. Others were honoured for volunteering at libraries around Swansea. Council cabinet member Elliott King said: “Our library staff are at the heart of their communities – and they were delighted to highlight the fact that young people love reading and books.” The challenge, presented by The Reading Agency and supported by Welsh Government and Book Council of Wales, is the UK’s biggest reading for pleasure programme for primary school aged children. In…