Author: Rhys Gregory

The world’s most competitive paratriathletes will descend on Swansea Bay on Saturday 15 July for the 2023 World Triathlon Para Series. The Prince of Wales Dock and SA1 Waterfront will once again host this standalone event which plays a crucial role in the qualification process for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In a rare opportunity for Great Britain’s paratriathletes to compete on home soil, they will be hoping that the support of a home crowd will give them the competitive edge they need to secure a spot on the podium next month. Not only will this event feature some of…

A local-stone built barn in an idyllic setting in the heart of Monmouthshire will get pulses racing when it comes to auction later this month. The substantial former agricultural building in the village of  Llanellen, close to the border town of Abergavenny, is being sold by Paul Fosh Auctions. Listed with a guide price of £300,000-plus the iconic property has more than just looks and position close to a canal, to get potential bidders twitching. Sean Roper, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “Idyllic is an overused word when describing a building and its location but there is no other…

The new rebound facility at Serennu Children’s Centre in Rogerstone was officially opened on 6 July by Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan MS. The new trampoline and bouldering facility enhance options at the Centre, which provides care, treatment, and activities to support children and young people with disabilities and/or developmental difficulties.   Following opening addresses by ABUHB Chair Ann Lloyd and Sparkle Founder and Trustee Dr Sabine Maguire, the Deputy Minister shared how much she values the work of the Sparkle and ABUHB teams to enhance the lives of children with complex needs who access the Centre. These…

St David’s has partnered with leading baby feeding experts, Fraupow, to enhance its baby feeding spaces at the shopping centre as part of a new programme to improve the experience for shopping parents and provide the ultimate family day out. The shopping centre has collaborated with Fraupow to provide more functional, family-friendly areas for parents to relax while feeding and spending time with their young children. New amenities include complimentary access to ecofriendly reusable breast pads, electric bottle warmers, supportive feeding cushions and signage with free access to virtual midwife support for pregnancy and postpartum advice.  The collaboration with Fraupow is part…

The action taken by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards Team in partnership with local police, was part of a two-day operation to tackle the sales of illegal vapes to minors in the city. The Council enlisted the help of some underage volunteers to carry out nine purchases a different stores during the two days. A number of the shops targeted in the operation sold vapes containing nicotine to the volunteers, who were all under the age of 18. This resulted in seven warrants being acted on, where more than 5,000 illegal vapes were seized. £15,000 in cash was also seized from…

Neath Port Talbot Council has been awarded a Silver Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) – one of only 17 major Welsh employers to have received the Silver Award this year. The prestigious award recognises employers who have actively demonstrated support for the Armed Forces community by implementing policies to help them. To achieve the Silver award, organisations must proactively demonstrate that the Armed Forces community is not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruitment policies. They must also actively ensure their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards the defence community and understand issues for…

Tennis fans looking for somewhere to play a game or two can once again set up their match at Tredegar Park tennis courts. The courts have reopened after a renovation to ensure their viability for future generations, including: A full refurbishment of the surface, which has also been repainted New nets, and perimeter fencing Installation of new lighting and a gate access system The renovations have been delivered and funded in partnership by Newport City Council, Sport Wales, Tennis Wales, and the UK Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation, as part of the LTA’s Parks Tennis Project – a programme…

Smugglers Equestrian Centre, based at Penderi Farm Lane Manmoel, Blackwood, offer Livery to the local community and Riding lessons, Horsebox Hire, Facility Hire as well as holding events. Melissa Burles started the business in 2017 with just 3 ponies and now has over 40, with fantastic facilities for their care and wellbeing. Smugglers Equestrian Centre received £9000.00 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This grant, match funded by the company, was dedicated towards Smugglers Equestrian Centre through Caerphilly County Borough Council’s intervention of UKSPF funds. There grant was to support with the purchase of a mechanical…

Another application window has been launched as part of an exciting funding programme which could help Powys communities build pride in place, increase life chances for residents and drive good economic growth. The third call for applications for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has been announced by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund Local Partnership. The partnership decides how over £23m of UK Government funding is spent across four priority areas. The latest call will be for projects that fall within the People and Skills priority. Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and Chair of the…

Blaenau Gwent has rebranded its Community Meals Service including the unveiling of their new electric vehicles funded in part through Welsh Government grant funding. The Community Meals service has been managed within the Social Services department of the Council since April 2020 and provides a daily hot meal to over 160 vulnerable adults living in BG. In addition to the hot meals, the service can provide frozen meals for weekends and daily afternoon tea options which include home baked cakes and freshly made sandwiches, salads and pastries. The service has undergone several operational changes since 2020 as part of a…