Author: Rhys Gregory

The search for new cancer treatments in Wales is to receive a major funding investment providing future hope for people diagnosed with the disease. Cardiff’s Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) will receive up to £2,184,783 over the next five years to help doctors and scientists find the cancer treatments of the future for both adults and children. The funding has been made possible by a partnership between Cancer Research UK, Health and Care Research Wales and the Little Princess Trust specifically for children’s cancers. Cardiff is part of a network of 17 ECMCs across the UK, funded by Cancer Research…

Following a strong year in sales, the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) has appointed Sarah Ameson as its newest Sales Manager, the second to be recruited in the past 12 months. Sarah has worked within the sector for more than 12 years and joins ICC Wales from Brightelm, where she was Commercial Sales and Marketing Manager. Prior to this, she worked as a Business Development Manager at RA Venues, part of the Compass Group, and she has extensive experience in retail, as well as event coordination and management. In her new role, Sarah will be supporting the venue’s sales…

A talented young chef from Wrexham has been chosen to represent Wales at a Global Chefs Challenge European heat next month. Sion Hughes, 25, head chef at The Spa at Carden Park, near Chester, will be competing against some of the best chefs in North Europe in the competition, organised by Worldchefs, in Rimini, Italy. The top two chefs in his heat will qualify for the global final at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024 in Singapore. A former Junior Chef of Wales winner, Sion is no stranger to international competitions, having been a member of the Junior Culinary Team…

CONSUMERS must ensure they are not in the dark when buying solar panels and energy products following a rise in cowboy installers. Gareth Jones, Vice President for the Federation of Master Builders Wales and Managing Director of Carbon Zero Renewables, is concerned unlicensed and inexperienced companies and individuals are entering the market and capitalising on a boom in green energy due to the increasing cost of gas and electricity. Carbon Zero Renewables – which has sites in Deeside, Mochdre, St Asaph and a new Old Colwyn headquarters – has experienced a surge in business and taken on staff to meet…

Canolfan Yr Atom in Carmarthen has welcomed a new tenant to its premises recently.   Affinity Financial is the latest company to become tenants in Yr Atom. As well as being a location to hold activities for all ages, and Welsh lessons as part of the provision of the National Centre for Learning Welsh in Carmarthen town, Yr Atom is also home to a number of organisations and community groups, such as Menter Gorllewin Sir Gâr, Menter a Busnes, Cylch Meithrin Myrddin and Merched y Wawr. Caffi’r Atom is also being run by Alfie’s Coffee, who have won several  prizes for…

St John Ambulance Cymru  has rebranded February as Defibruary in an attempt to continue their mission to improve the health and wellbeing of communities in Wales by encouraging people across the country to ‘Learn, Locate, Donate.’ According to research by the Resuscitation Council UK, for every minute that someone’s in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10% There are an estimated 100,000 public access defibrillators across the UK, however, tens of thousands of these are unknown to ambulance and emergency services. Once located and registered, emergency services can…

Bridgend County Borough Council has agreed to adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2023-2024, which includes a discretionary element to ensure eligible residents can receive as much support as possible. Council tax reduction provides assistance to those on low incomes, who are liable to pay council tax. Residents who are struggling to pay bills such as this, are encouraged to contact the council for an assessment to see if they qualify for any support. The Council Tax Reduction Scheme has been developed by Welsh Government and local authorities are required to include several mandatory elements and to adopt any…

Central government has passed a law that will change the way we vote in Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections. This law is called the Elections Act 2022. Please note: This law does NOT apply to Senedd and Local Government (Council and Community Council) Elections, as the legislation for these are set by Welsh Government. Changes to Voting at polling stations: Photo ID required You must now show Photo ID to vote at polling stations when there is a Parliamentary election or a Police and Crime Commissioner election. This must be an approved form of photo ID, such as…

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Community Heritage Fund is now open for applications. The funding will be distributed to community groups to undertake heritage projects which will benefit the communities of Neath Port Talbot and enable them to sustain their vital voluntary work in safeguarding our heritage, historic environment and language. The Community Heritage Fund is part of a larger, overall Heritage Neath Port Talbot project, made possible through funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and players of the National Lottery. The project will see community groups receive training, advice and support from a Community Heritage Officer, making them more…

A series of consultation events are to be held over the coming weeks on the draft Well-Being Plan 2023 and the Pembrokeshire public is urged to get involved. The Well-being Plan, produced by the Pembrokeshire Public Services Board, aims to identify, prioritise and agree the objectives and actions to improve well-being across the county 2023-2028. As part of the feedback process a series of online sessions are to be held where members of the public can discuss any aspects of the draft plan. The online events will be held on: 2-3pm, Thursday 26th January 6-7pm, Monday 30th January 12noon-1pm, Wednesday…