Author: Rhys Gregory

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Arts Council of Wales today announce the return of Gŵyl Cymru Festival for 2023. The ambition is to put football and creativity at the heart of our communities and for sport and the arts to showcase what’s best about Wales, whether it’s on the international pitch, or at grassroots level. A range of creative events across Wales will build on the success of last year’s Gŵyl Cymru Festival, a collaboration between FAW and Arts Council of Wales. Gŵyl Cymru was one of the many initiatives supported by the Welsh Government’s Partner Support Fund,…

National Trust Cymru are seeking a new tenant for Lords Park Farm near Llansteffan on the Welsh coast. Set on a clifftop high above Carmarthen Bay, the Trust are looking for someone to care for the farm in a way that benefits nature, people and climate. Stretching across 134 acres and overlooking where the Taf and Towy estuaries meet, the farm boasts white-washed buildings, grassy pastures, flowering hay meadows, woodland and a border of rich SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) coastal scrub at Wharley Point. At Lords Park, the Trust are looking for a tenant with a passion for…

Here’s some newly-released video footage of King Charles III visiting Swansea in 1969 as the nation prepares for his Coronation on the weekend. His Majesty twice visited Swansea that year following his investiture as Prince of Wales – once in July, to announce the Queen’s intention to declare Swansea a city, and then in December to make the declaration. In 2019, he again visited Swansea as part of celebrations to mark its 50th year as a city. They’re among several visits King Charles III has made to Swansea over the years. The Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort…

Wales Airshow fans seeking an even more special experience can now buy tickets for the event’s Flight Deck. Show organiser Swansea Council has also announced the return of a favourite display. The Airshow is due to attract tens of thousands of people on July 1 and 2 with a series of world class displays over Swansea Bay. Wales Airshow is free – but tickets are now on sale for the hugely popular Flight Deck, sponsored by Gower College Swansea. Right at the heart of the display area, this relaxed, fenced off and secure seating zone guarantees prime, unobstructed views of…

The Flying Start Programme has expanded to include childcare provision for two-year-olds in Pembrokeshire. This is phase two of the Welsh Government’s Flying Start Programme in Pembrokeshire, which will provide high-quality childcare for a further 168 children aged between two to three years. The Flying Start Programme has already supported 36,000 children aged 0-4 years and their families living in some of the most deprived communities across Wales. The Welsh Government has committed to ensuring that every child in Wales has the best start in life. The early years are vitally important in a child’s life, providing formative opportunities and…

The public space CCTV scheme operated by Caerphilly County Borough Council recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Since its inception in 1998, it has expanded from just 11 cameras operating on VHS tapes to over 170 cameras across the county borough, with images relayed back to a central control room, using a digital monitor wall and management system. During the last year alone the control room team has dealt with 901 incidents reported to or by Gwent Police, monitored a further 785 potential incidents, helped deal with 479 incidents post event, including burning 140 DVDs for evidential purposes and 319 digital…

Since the end of December 2022, Blaenau Gwent Council has provided over £150,000 worth of grant funding to new and existing organisations to support residents with emergency food provision. An initial grant of £82,190 was provided in early 2023 from the Discretionary cost of living scheme and a further £89,850 was awarded to original applicants in March 2023 to extend the provision. Organisations were able to apply for a grant of up £5,000 and the emergency food provision provided in a number of different ways. Some provide meals, end of day food and food parcels for residents to pick up…

A new procurement system, making it easier for contractors to apply for building contracts, has now been completed, the county council has said. Powys Council’s new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is designed to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to take on minor construction projects costing between £50,000 to £500,000, with the aim to provide a more accessible and simplified route to tender for works. So far, 17 contractors have been successful in applying to the DPS, allowing them to receive notifications of exclusive opportunities to bid for works. These may include works within council owned properties including…

A Welsh Government plan to support Wales’ manufacturing sector through a ‘perfect storm’ caused by a turbulent global economy and ensuring it is ready to embrace the fourth industrial revolution, is being unveiled today by Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething. The manufacturing sector in Wales has around 150,000 people, with many thousands more employed in the extended supply chain. It contributes over 16% to Wales’ national economic output, which is significantly higher than the UK average of around 9%. The sector includes food and drink, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), chemicals, electronics, life sciences, construction, metals, energy, automotive, rail, aerospace, defence…

Thousands of people a month are accessing care in the community and away from Emergency Departments thanks to a   programme to reduce pressure on  urgent and emergency care in Wales. One year on from  the launch of the Welsh Government’s Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care (‘Six Goals’) Programme, the latest NHS data show that every month 10,000 people are accessing Urgent Primary Care Centres, 4,500 patients are being seen in same day emergency care services, and around 60,000 are using the 111 service for urgent advice. Launched in April 2022, and backed by £25 million of annual funding,…