Author: Rhys Gregory

Pupils at Dylan Thomas Community School in Swansea are the driving force behind a new community shop that has opened in a shipping container on school grounds. The school has joined the Big Bocs Bwyd initiative – a network of “pay as you feel” shops that are starting to open in schools across Wales. The idea is to make healthy food available to families on a budget to help tackle food poverty. It also provides learning opportunities for pupils and increases parental and carer involvement in the school in a way that suits them. Pupils from the school’s Derek Roberts…

Libanus Lifestyle is a registered Community Interest Company, whose profits are put straight back in to the Libanus Centre. As part of the gateway to Blackwood High Street the grounds and venue had seen better times, so in 2014, Libanus Lifestyle was created to provide a community hub, cafe, and garden, providing a wide range of health and wellbeing services and venue hire for meetings, events, and community needs. They took over the lease and set about developing a much-needed creation of a community space to service Blackwood and the surrounding area. Karen James, her son Sion, and volunteers, set…

A new Educational Suite was officially opened today at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Roseheyworth, Abertillery. Situated inside the HWRC the educational centre is ideally located to allow school children and community groups to learn about recycling and what happens to the materials. The Educational Suite was built with Welsh Government Circular Economy Funding. A further successful bid to ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ for a wildlife pack has also been used to develop the grounds for the benefit of local wildlife. Already there has been interest from several of Blaenau Gwent Council’s partners to utilise the building for…

A project which aims to cut the amount of energy needed to power Powys’ streetlights is on track with more than a quarter of the planned savings already made. Powys County Council began a 10-year project in 2020 to more than halve its annual electricity usage for streetlighting by 2030, with more than a quarter of the total planned saving of 872,642 kWh per year already made. This is equivalent to the amount used by 116 British households in a year, with the aim of eventually reducing it by the amount consumed yearly by 323 British homes. The council was…

Wales has beat its landfill reduction target and once again exceeded its recycling targets according to new figures published this week (Thursday, December 7). The Welsh Government’s £1billion investment since devolution in municipal recycling has helped see rates catapult from just 4.8 per cent in 1998-1999, to 65.7 per cent today – higher than the statutory target of 64 per cent. The recycling rate is the percentage of local authority collected municipal waste that is reused, recycled or composted. In 2024-25, the statutory minimum target will raise to 70%, a figure which has already been met by five Welsh local…

Traveling is a transformative experience, offering a unique blend of adventure, relaxation, and self-discovery. In recent years, travel trends have evolved, with more people seeking meaningful and restorative experiences. Among these, retreats, especially those focused on healing and wellness, have gained significant popularity. Traditional Sightseeing Traditional sightseeing remains a staple of travel. It involves visiting famous landmarks, museums, and cultural sites, providing travelers with a rich understanding of a destination’s history and culture. Cities like Paris, Rome, and Kyoto are perfect for those who love to explore urban landscapes brimming with historical significance. Adventure Travel For the thrill-seekers, adventure travel…

Castellana is back by popular demand following its debut last year and you’re in for a real treat. Yes there is naughty, but there is also nice… very very nice in fact. So sit back, relax and let us tell you what to expect from Castellana, narna, narna this year. Returning to the stage is Ian Stroughair with sensational alter ego Velma Celli as the master of ceremonies. Velma of course is no stranger to the magic of the Spiegeltent, having starred in Castellana in 2022. So, expect more cheek than chic with knockout vocals and pure drag artistry. It…

Careers Wales announced the eight winners of their Valued Partner Awards 2023 at an awards ceremony in Cardiff on Wednesday 22 November. The winners of each category were announced live by the event host, Sian Lloyd, at the Pierhead building on the Senedd estate in Cardiff. Coinciding with Careers Wales’ ten-year anniversary as an all-Wales company, the awards were sponsored by Minister for the Economy, Vaughan Gething. These highly anticipated awards are a chance for Careers Wales to recognise employers who have delivered impactful and engaging careers experiences to pupils in Wales over the last twelve months. To celebrate the…

The Vale Resort in Hensol, along with the stunning Grade-I listed Hensol Castle, both in the Vale of Glamorgan, have appointed a new Hotel Manager to oversee daily operations and facilities. Brian Gamble is stepping into the new role, leaving his previous position as Operations Director at The Coal Exchange hotel in Cardiff and bringing with him more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality sector. The new Hotel Manager for both Vale Resort and Hensol Castle, Brian Gamble, takes the baton from his predecessor after more than six years as Operations Director at The Coal Exchange hotel in Cardiff, where he oversaw a £40million renovation…

The RSPCA is urging people not to abandon their pets and to seek support after a dog was left abandoned outside RSPCA Newport Animal Centre. The bull breed – aged only a year or two – was left tied to the gates at the centre in the early hours of  Tuesday morning at around 12.30am. The person who left the dog was caught on the centre’s CCTV – with the charity issuing an appeal for information. RSPCA inspector Sophie Daniels said: “We are very saddened that this poor dog has been dumped at one of our centre’s gates. “He has…