Author: Rhys Gregory

Today, Macmillan Cancer Support is launching an emergency appeal as it warns that thousands of people with cancer in Wales are in financial distress, with the hidden costs of a cancer diagnosis, coupled with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, pushing people to ‘extreme measures’.  The leading cancer support charity has seen a worrying rise in people with cancer across the UK contacting its support line with money worries who are also presenting with significant mental health concerns, a 33% increase so far in 2023 compared with 2022i. This comes as new data from the charity covering the past 18…

Following the successful opening of the Council’s first Wellbeing Centre in Lampeter earlier this year, residents are invited to share their views on the second Wellbeing Centre in the county. Residents are invited to share their views on what services and activities they would like to see offered at the Wellbeing Centre in Cardigan. Councillor Catrin M S Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services, said: “The creation of Wellbeing Centres is a key aspect of the Council’s Corporate Strategy, and improving the health and wellbeing of our residents is a priority for us as a local authority.…

Wales’s largest youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru contributed £44.9 million to the Welsh economy in 2022-23 according to a new report published this week (Wednesday, 29 November 2023) at an event in the Urdd’s Residential Centre in Cardiff Bay. In 5 years, the Urdd’s economic worth has increased from £25.5 million to £44.9 million (an increase of 76%) and the organisation’s turnover has increased from £10.2 million to £19.6 million (88%). Along with economic value the report also addresses the Urdd’s status as an employer for young people in Wales. The main findings of the report by Arad Research are…

RHUG ESTATE will serve up lashings of Christmas cheer for visitors over the coming weeks. The 12,500-acre organic farm estate, based near Corwen in North Wales, is celebrating the yuletide holidays with a series of events and activities for all the family to enjoy. First up is a two-day food and craft fair, beginning on Saturday December 9, where local producers, crafters and artists will be on hand to share recipes, samples, and showcase their wares. A selection of Rhug’s award-winning artisan suppliers will also be on hand to speak to, there will be delicious festive treats to enjoy, and…

Generous Tŷ Hafan supporters across Wales and beyond have helped the children’s hospice charity to raise in excess of £500,000 in just 60 hours. The original target of Tŷ Hafan’s “When Your World Stops. We’re There” appeal was to raise £350,000. However this was achieved by 3.15pm on Tuesday afternoon and as donations continued to flow in during the final seven hours the final total raised at 10pm earlier this week (Tuesday 28 Nov) was £523,847. Sara Morris, mum of twins Alfi and Besi, whose story was at the heart of this appeal, said: “Eight years ago we made a promise to a very special boy…

Swansea University is part of a new partnership which has just secured £18.5 million of funding to train social scientists across Wales on a range of issues affecting society today. The Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) is one of 15 new doctoral training partnerships announced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) following a successful award bid. The doctoral training partnerships (DTPs) will provide a breadth of professional development training opportunities to enhance the capabilities of doctoral candidates and further develop a world-class, highly skilled workforce for the UK. WGSSS is a collaboration between Swansea University, Cardiff University,…

A fantastic and festive few days have been enjoyed by thousands at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, held at the showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th November. First staged in 1990 and originally just a modest one-day event, the Winter Fair has become one of the most popular attractions in the British agricultural calendar.  The annual event continues to maintain its position as one of the finest primestock shows in the UK, this year attracting over 600 exhibitors from Wales, England and Scotland. The 2023 Winter Fair was officially opened by NFU Cymru Deputy President,…

Fareshare Cymru will begin a six-month production trial of healthy, sustainable ready meals made from surplus food after successfully moving into the next phase of a Sustainable Food Challenge. The charity, which isthe biggest redistributor of surplus food from the food industry in Wales, can’t currently use all the food they have access to. Now, having proven the idea is feasible, during phase one of the Challenge, they are partnering with Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) to scale up production during a 12 month ‘demonstrator’ phase. Katie Padfield, Head of Development at FareShare Cymru, said: “The Food Challenge is not…

Swansea is once again pulling out all the stops to bring some festive cheer to people in need at a very special Christmas event. JR Events & Catering, with support from Swansea Council, is throwing open the doors of the Brangwyn Hall on Tuesday (December 5) to dish up a free two-course Christmas dinner for people who are vulnerable, feel isolated or homeless. Lasting from noon until 3pm, the Together at Christmas event will also see representatives from more than a dozen services and charities providing information on assistance available while free transport is available to and from the venue…

A celebration event was held on the site of the new Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro in Pembroke on Tuesday 14th November to mark the reaching of the highest point of the building, traditionally known as the ‘topping-out’ ceremony. The event was hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd and attended by pupils and staff from Ysgol Gelli Aur, the Executive Headteacher of the new school, governors of the Temporary Governing Body of Ysgol Bro Penfro, Cabinet members, senior Council officers, and a members of the project team. Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr…