Author: Rhys Gregory

Two young bakers from the south Wales valleys have made it to the finals of a national competition designed to find the UK’s top young pastry chef. Coleg y Cymoedd learners Mali Leese, 18, from Merthyr Tydfil, and Jack Morris, 18, from Caerphilly, are the only Welsh finalists in this year’s Chef’s Forum Student Pastry Chef of the Year competition. The pair will compete against each other, as well as six other talented young chefs from across the UK, at a grand final in West London College on Wednesday 10th May, to secure the coveted title of top pastry chef.…

With much resource invested into programmes to renovate and revive vacant and underutilised properties in the town, Bridgend County Borough Council continues to address the issue of empty commercial properties with a multi strategy approach. A range of buildings in town centres across the county borough, are shining examples of successful town centre projects. The Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme, operating from 2002 to 2020, awarded over £5m to 66 properties to support and finance necessary major remediation. The scheme supported the regeneration of the Elder Yard Scheme, 2 Caroline Street, as well as the former Victoria Public House, all located…

People across the UK are being asked to join ‘The Big Help Out’ this week to mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation, but in Cardiff’s parks volunteers have been a ‘big help’ all year – with the number of hours they spend working in the city’s green spaces returning to pre-Covid levels for the first time. Grangemoor Park, a former landfill site in Grangetown offering panoramic views of the city, is one of many parks to have benefitted from the hard work of volunteers recently. Jon Wallis, a regular conservation volunteer with Cardiff Council was one of five volunteers working…

Neath Port Talbot Council is seeking applications for projects that can be delivered as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) on a dedicated website which is now ‘live’. The UKSPF is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda. Neath Port Talbot’s total three-year allocation is £27.3m in core funding plus £5.7m for projects to improve adult numeracy (in those over 19) under the ‘Multiply’ programme. The fund will be ‘unlocked’ via a three year Investment Plan which has been approved by the UK Government. All UKSPF funded projects need to address the challenges and opportunities…

Important maintenance work to the Lanelay Bridge in Talbot Green will start next week, as the Council carries out a comprehensive refurbishment scheme to repair and future-proof the large structure. The masonry arch bridge carries Lanelay Road over the River Ely near the A473 roundabout, and repairs will get underway from Monday, May 15. The Council has appointed Centregreat Ltd as the contractor with responsibility for delivering this maintenance work, which will last around eight weeks in total. The work will include removal of loose pointing from the arch and abutments, removal of vegetation from the headwalls and parapets, repairs…

Newport City Council, Job Centre Plus and Restart Newport are joining forces again to hold a jobs fair in Newport Market on Wednesday 24 May. Similar events in the city centre have been a big hit with both job seekers and employers. Businesses from all sectors are due to attend the event including Tesco, Stagecoach, Newport City Homes and Business Wales. Newport Market is an ideal venue, offering excellent facilities and a great city centre location close to public transport links with public car parks a short walk away. The free event will take place between 10am and 2pm. To…

Children, young people and guests joined a steel signing ceremony on the site of the new King Henry VIII 3-19 School building in Abergavenny. The signed steel will form part of the building’s structure for future generations to discover in many years to come. Cllr. Martyn Groucutt, Cabinet Member for Education said: “This ceremony is a great next step in King Henry VIII 3-19 School’s build journey. It’s amazing how the structure is taking shape in this stunning location – it will be such a wonderful learning environment for children. This fabulous school is going to be the first carbon…

Troedyrhiw Community Primary School has proudly launched their award-winning Preloved, Nearly New shop, the first of two shipping containers to be opened in Y Stryd Fawr Troedyrhiw. Sue Davies, Director of The Foundation of Community Engagement, presented the school with not one but two awards in the last year for their inspirational community work; initially with the Silver award and now with the Gold Award in Community Engagement. Preloved, Nearly New offers good quality second-hand clothing and uniform for the local community at a ‘pay as you feel’ service, meaning families donate items they no longer need and pay whatever they…

A declaration committing to the radical reform of care services for children and young people has been signed by the First Minister Mark Drakeford today (10 May). The declaration, developed jointly by care-experienced children and young people and Ministers, outlines the Welsh Government’s commitment to putting the voice of children and young people at the heart of the transformation of children’s services. It commits the Welsh Government to deliver a wide range of changes to the current care system, to enable a ‘children first’ approach in everything we do and to make sure that everything is done to help children…

Climate Change Minister Julie James has spoken about meeting people on ‘journeys of hope’ at a new drop-in centre in Neath. The Minister was speaking after a visit to The Salvation Army’s Fresh Expression and Core Recovery Plant in Neath town centre. The centre officially opened in November 2021 and now provides drop-in services for people in need. These services come from multi-agency support and include housing advice, counselling services, assistance with benefits and medical care. The centre also provides opportunities for clients to engage in activities that help build their confidence and ability to move into independent living. Climate Change…