Author: Rhys Gregory

Opportunities for learners are adding up as two brand new qualifications are added to the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme: the AAT Level 1 Award in Business Skills and the AAT Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping. Specialist Wales-wide training provider, Itec, is the first organisation to deliver the two new qualifications under Jobs Growth Wales+, which will open up exciting opportunities for 16-19 year olds such as placements with a diverse range of local employers. Learners undertaking the qualifications will gain a broader understanding of the world of work, alongside basic accounting techniques and principles, giving them essential business skills to…

Popham Kidney Support, the kidney charity based in Swansea, is excited to announce its marquee event of 2023, its Spring Ball, which will take place on Saturday, March 25th at the Coal Exchange, Cardiff. The charity is now calling on businesses to support its Spring Ball –the first major event of its tenth-year celebration – hoping to raise considerable funds for children with kidney disease. The anniversary ball is set to take place at the Coal Exchange, Cardiff, and will feature the charity’s ambassador, TV personality, Sian Lloyd, and Welsh band, Who’s Molly, along with over 200 guests, volunteers, health…

A Welsh man whose life was saved by teammates when he had a cardiac arrest at a walking football tournament is backing a new campaign urging people to learn lifesaving CPR.  Alan Owen, 51, from Carmarthen, collapsed on the sidelines of a match at Caldicot Leisure Centre in April last year. It was thanks to his quick-thinking teammates who were trained in CPR, plus the leisure centre staff, that he survived.   Now Alan is supporting the British Heart Foundation this Heart Month as the charity encourages people to learn CPR in just 15 minutes using its free innovative training tool,…

A MAN from Bridgend has praised the ‘amazing’ team at the town’s Specsavers store, after a cancerous tumour on his eyelid left him at risk of losing his sight. Brett Exton, a 55-year-old IT database manager, spotted the pimple-sized growth while on holiday in August last year. But within three weeks, the growth had taken over his entire eye. The father-of-three, who had to have both his top and bottom eyelid removed after developing the cancerous tumour, initially sought medical advice from a pharmacy where he was staying, as the tumour was tearing his eyelid and causing him extreme pain.…

Aberystwyth University is establishing a new Engineering Unit to deliver cutting-edge teaching and research and equip students with the skills to provide innovative solutions for the future. Engineering is already a well-established area of study at Aberystwyth University that spans several academic departments. Students can currently study engineering subject areas including software, robotics, and space engineering, as well as an MBA in Engineering Management. The new Engineering Unit will combine existing subject areas with those being developed over the coming years. Plans are already in place to introduce new electrical and electronic engineering degree courses. The new Unit will form…

RCT Council’s Cabinet Member for Education has visited Bodringallt Primary School to take part in its community garden clear-up, which has helped rectify vandalism damage thanks to the excellent effort of a team of volunteers. Councillor Rhys Lewis took part in the event at the school in Ystrad Rhondda on Wednesday, February 15. The school has suffered repeated damage to its garden, including a fire during the Christmas break. The school has received fantastic support from the local community since the incident, including offers to help clear the damage as well as cash donations towards the repairs. Wednesday’s group of…

Newport is very proud to be hosting the Wales National Armed Forces Day celebrations on Saturday 24 June. This annual event is an opportunity for people to show their support for the Armed Forces community including veterans, those currently serving, cadets and their families. Armed Forces Day in Wales is a partnership event between councils, Welsh Government, the tri-services –Royal Navy, Army and RAF – and other partners. A decision was made in 2021 that the annual event would travel across all the Welsh regions and last year it took place in Wrexham. This year it is the turn of…

The Cabinet of Monmouthshire County Council will consider its final budget proposals for the forthcoming financial year at its meeting on 1 March. Having engaged in a very thorough engagement exercise throughout January, councillors, residents and a range of organisations have had the opportunity to share their views on ‘draft’ proposals. The majority of people that have offered views have recognised just how difficult the financial situation is and that the medium term outlook looks challenging. They have recognised pressures such as public sector pay awards, energy and commodity prices alongside a significant increase in the demand for and complexity…

Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT) is helping families and children discover their wild sides while boosting their wellbeing this February half-term with a brand new ‘Nature Play’ area at Llyn Coed y Dinas Nature Reserve in Welshpool. It has been created thanks to a Welsh Government-funded partnership project called Canals, Communities and Wellbeing, which aims to improve opportunities for access, recreation and nature-connectedness within the Montgomery Canal corridor, where the nature reserve lies. The outdoor play area incorporates natural materials – including logs from nearby MWT nature reserve, Dolforwyn Woods, where ancient woodland is being restored – and timber equipment designed…

Residents and businesses in Powys are being warned by the county council that a team of rogue traders are in the county offering to tarmac people’s driveways. The warning has been issued by Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service to ensure residents and businesses are not conned out money by the rogue traders. The service has received reports that rogue traders are claiming to have surplus tarmac left over from work they are carrying out for the county council. The council’s Trading Standards Service also has examples of some cold callers that are unqualified people, who charge extortionate amounts of…