Author: Rhys Gregory

Social prescribing of things like exercise classes, gardening and arts groups is growing in Wales and helping to reduce the burden on GPs by connecting people with their community to better manage their health and wellbeing. The latest data shows there has been a clear year on year increase in referrals and use of social prescribing from around 10,000 in 2018/19 to just over 25,000 in 2020/21*. Through its early preventative approach, social prescribing could help ease the burden on front-line specialist services. Evidence suggests it reduces the footfall to GP surgeries by 15% to 28%, and around 20% of…

WELSH fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium is returning to Milton Park in Oxfordshire as it secures another innovative project. The fabricator has previously worked on the MEPC building at the science and technology park which is home to around 250 businesses. For its newest project, Dudley’s will work with Barnwood Ltd on the Nebula scheme which consists of seven new research and development units across three buildings. The scheme is being built to meet BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability standards and is targeting an A-rating Energy Performance Certificate. Visible sustainably sourced glue-laminated timber will feature in each building, which will also have vaulted ceilings…

In partnership with Cardiff Council’s Youth Services, Sky has opened its first digital Hub for Wales, at Eastmoors Youth Centre in Splott. The Hub provides access to 27 new digital devices, free Sky WiFi connection and regular digital skills workshops, run by volunteers.  The new Digital Hub at Eastmoors Youth Centre will provide young people with access to a free Sky WiFi connectionand a range of new technology devices including Sky Glass TV, tablets, laptops and more. Volunteers from Cardiff Council’s Youth Services and Sky will run regulardigital upskilling programmes. Sky’s Digital Hubs roll-out sees up to £100,000 invested in…

Cardiff is facing an emergency housing situation, with exceptional pressures and unabating demand for homelessness services. Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, told a recent meeting of Full Council that the city was experiencing an ‘incredibly challenging’ time, but the Welsh capital was not alone with other major cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh also declaring a housing emergency. “Cardiff is at the eye of the storm of this issue in Wales,” Cllr Thorne said. “It’s the most challenging time for housing in decades. “We’re doing everything in our power to find a solution and a range of…

Cardiff Council in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB), is proposing to build a new £14.5m Independent Living Wellbeing Centre to help more people to be cared for in their own homes and ease the pressure on hospitals and care facilities. A new report, to be discussed by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet on Thursday (Dec 14), outlines the need to support independent living, as set out in the Council’s Ageing Well Strategy. Included in this support are plans to build a new centre in Grangetown(see illustration below)featuring: A warehouse for equipment…

A consultation on proposals to strengthen how animal activities are regulated in Wales, which will improve animal welfare has been published today. A number of animal activities are currently not regulated, or regulations are no longer fit for purpose. Strengthening such licensing would enhance and protect animal welfare, with a statutory licensing scheme setting minimum standards which all licence holders would need to comply with, underpinned by an inspection regime The Licensing of Animal Welfare Establishments, Activities and Exhibits consultation marks the first phase of the development of a National Model to improve welfare standards and is a Programme for…

Over the past two years, Dragon Wales cheese and butter has been served at the home of the Scarlets rugby team in Llanelli for supporters to feast on. Recently, two Scarlets players, Callum Williams and Eddie James, visited the site of the dairy production to renew the partnership between these two stalwarts. Made from only Welsh milk from across Wales, South Caernarfon Creameries produces the branded Dragon cheese and butter range as well as the premium Dragon Handcrafted selection. Rising young stars, Scarlets winger Callum and centre Eddie, were treated to a full tour of the creamery near Pwllheli, and…

Think about it: technology is everywhere, right? And now, it’s making a huge splash in healthcare. We’re talking about ‘digital health’ – this cool concept where tech is used to make healthcare better and more effective. And guess what? It’s opened up a whole new world for healthcare pros, especially the tech-savvy ‘digital nurses’. How Digital Health is Changing the Game for Patients The digital health revolution isn’t just fancy tech – it’s changing lives. Healthcare pros are now like detectives with their digital tools, spotting health risks early and stopping problems before they start.  Also, let’s talk telehealth. It’s…

A world-first interactive art experience, commissioned by FOR Cardiff, has been installed at the recently redeveloped canal in the Welsh capital. The dock feeder, which is located on Churchill Way, just off Queen Street, reopened to the public on November 24 after spending years underground. On Friday, December 8, just weeks after its big reveal, a specially designed light and sound experience opened at the canal. Commissioned by FOR Cardiff and Christmas at Bute Park, Illuminated Reeds Symphony is a seven-metre-long light installation that will float in the heart of the redeveloped canal imitating reeds floating on water. Created by…

Cardiff’s on-street bike hire scheme, known as OVO Bikes, is due to cease operation by the end of the year due to a sustained high level of vandalism. Nextbike by TIER, the service’s operator, and Cardiff Council and Vale of Glamorgan have reached an agreement to close the service as it has become financially unsustainable to continue to replace the bikes which have been damaged, destroyed or stolen. Since the service launched in 2018 users have made close to 2 million journeys. Nearly 3,000 bikes have been stolen, damaged or vandalised during the service’s run, with the rate of vandalism…