Author: Rhys Gregory

As it mark its 20th birthday, Valleys to Coast has announced a significant £31.5 million investment that will benefit customers living in its 6000 homes across Bridgend. The housing association will be making its largest ever single investment into its homes with the aim of enhancing its housing stock for its customers. The investment will provide funds for the development and construction of new homes to increase the availability of affordable and sustainable housing options in Bridgend. It will also pay for substantial upgrades and improvements to existing properties, to ensure they meet energy efficiency standards and needs. Alongside this…

Cardiff teen Poppy Richardson is a taekwondo world champion after triumphing at an international tournament. Poppy, a year 9 student at Mary Immaculate High School, represented Wales at the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championships in Finland earlier this month. The competition, held every two years, included more than 1,100 competitors from some 60 countries. Poppy, aged 13, competed in the pre-junior 12-14 age category under 40kg. She sparred against a competitor from Germany in the semi-finals and Uzbekistan in the finals, beating both over the course of two two-minute rounds to take home the gold. Poppy has been doing taekwondo…

The First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, has officially opened an exciting new Swansea community hub for RSPCA Llys Nini Branch. The new not-for-profit venture – called Yr Ysgubor (The Barn), contains an activity space, classroom and recycling suite, as well as Caffi Nini – and stands alongside the branch’s Penllergaer animal centre, which rehomes and rehabilitates countless animals each year. Funding for the project was secured entirely through grant aid – which is not normally available for animal welfare. This included £400,000 awarded by the Lottery, £250,000 from the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme, £45,000 from…

Three familiar soap stars will join the cast of the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie on its second visit to Wales Millennium Centre later this year. Hayley Tamaddo (Emmerdale, Coronation Street) will reprise the role of Miss Hedge, having previously appeared in the West End production at the Apollo Theatre. Eastenders star John Partridge (The View Upstairs, La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, A Chorus Line, CATS) will take on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle, while Coronation Street favourite Shobna Gulati (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Brassic) will be playing Ray – a role she performed in the…

3D printing is providing an even higher quality of care for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital. It is being used to create boluses, accessories that ensure the optimum dose of radiotherapy for cancers close to the surface of the head or neck. Not only is this better for patients, but it is also saving radiotherapy staff time, freeing them up to do other important work. For most types of radiotherapy to the head or neck, patients wear a mask, sometimes called a shell. It is made of thermoplastic, which is warmed and moulded to follow the exact…

As the crowds of high summer disperse and the summer months draw to a close, National Trust Cymru reveals some of the best places to soak up the last of the summer colour in their gardens across Wales. The sun sitting lower on the horizon is a sure sign that autumn is just around the corner. But it’s not quite time to say goodbye to summer yet as there’s still time to wander through the charity’s tranquil gardens which remain full of vibrant colour. So, lift your spirits and indulge in a little garden therapy as you admire rainbows of…

Schools, streets the city centre and community facilities across the city saw investment of more than £123m last year, according to a report due to be seen by Swansea Council’s Cabinet next week. Spending on projects ranged from the rollout of free school meals for children in city primary schools to street-lighting upgrades and extra money for roads resurfacing. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said the council’s Capital Budget programme is making a difference to families, communities and businesses right across the city during the cost of living crisis. He said: “Investment of £1.3m in the free school meals…

The 42nd 10k goes under starters’ orders at 11am this Sunday, and thousands of spectators will see around 4,000 runners take part. Crowds are likely to start gathering at around 8.30am. A number of other races will also take place, including 1k and 3k races for juniors, a mascot race and a 10k wheelchair race. Entries to all races have now closed and there won’t be any late entries on the day. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “As well as elite runners, many other people of all ages will take to the course between St Helen’s and Mumbles. There’ll…

Since the regular bus service ceased at the beginning of August, Heolgerrig and Ynysfach have been without public transport access to the town centre. However, utilising funds from the Welsh Government’s Bus Services Support Grant, Peter’s Minibuses has now applied to run a limited service of five runs a day, commencing from Heolgerrig at 07:55 with the last bus leaving the Bus Interchange at 17:40. The service proposal has been sent to the Traffic Commissioner for approval, and it is hoped that it will commence next month and run until the end of March 2024. Cllr Geraint Thomas, Leader of…

The Welsh Government has announced that all health boards will now be in some form of escalation status amid concerns about the extreme financial challenges they are facing caused by years of UK Government austerity measures and record levels of inflation. There are four levels of intervention available, which trigger increased support for NHS organisations from routine arrangements (the lowest intervention level); enhanced monitoring; targeted intervention to special measures (the highest rate of intervention). Due to the incredibly tough financial climate, health boards have been unable to submit financially balanced Integrated Medium-Term Plans. Those health boards, which were not already in…