Author: Rhys Gregory

Principality Building Society has launched its second Future Generations Fund to help the future lives of young people across Wales. The £500,000 fund, providing grants of £5,000 to £10,000, represents the most significant investment the Society has made into local communities in response to the cost of living crisis, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to help future generations. The fund will also enable charities and community groups to help young people have access to healthy food and other essential items, mental health support, build financial resilience, prepare for their future and the world of work and how to live sustainably. The…

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Youth Support Team has expanded its offer of safe spaces for young people within the local community. The additional funding from the council will provide even more provision at the existing centres in Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen, Cynffig Comprehensive School and Pencoed Youth Engagement Centre, while also helping to establish two new centres in Bryntirion/Cefn Glas and Brackla. The opening times of the two new centres are: Bryntirion and Cefn Glas Youth Centre – Monday (7.30pm to 9pm) at 3rd Scouts Hall, Bryntirion, CF314JU, and; Brackla Youth Centre – Friday (6.30pm to 8.30pm) at Brackla Community…

HOUSEHOLDERS in Swansea could face a £300 fixed penalty notice for arranging for someone to take away their waste who then ends up illegally dumping it. The proposal is being considered as part of efforts to deter people from thinking it is OK to arrange to have their waste taken by someone who might disfigure the countryside and communities by dumping rubbish rather than using a licensed waste site. Householders in Swansea can take their waste to council recycling centres in the city for free. A number of councils across Wales have already been issuing householder ‘duty of care’ FPNs…

Licensing policies and guidelines that help keep people safe in Swansea’s thriving night-time economy are set for a major review. Two reports to Cabinet next week highlight how the current system has helped reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in recent years and supported measures to keep night-time revellers safe. Now it is being asked to endorse how licensing arrangements for city centre pubs, clubs and restaurants are updated and monitored. One report is reviewing the council’s licensing policy which is up for renewal after five years. The other report considers a cumulative impact assessment (CIA) of the city centre, which is…

A public consultation event will be held at Pembroke Town Hall on Monday, 30th January between 3.30pm and 6.30pm on redevelopment plans for the South Quay site in Pembroke. A previous event scheduled for 12th December was postponed due to icy weather conditions. New images, plans, timelines, and detailed project information will be available to view at the engagement event. Architects, contractors and Council officers will also be on hand to chat about the project and answer questions, and there will be the opportunity to provide comments and feedback. The South Quay redevelopment project, led by Pembrokeshire County Council, has…

A brand-new 3G pitch at a north Powys sports centre is now open, Powys County Council and Freedom Leisure has announced. Bookings are now being taken for the new 3G pitch that has been installed at Llanfyllin Sports Centre. Work to install the new pitch, including an improved floodlighting scheme, drainage works and perimeter fencing, finished last month (December).  The installation was carried out by Pave Aways Ltd. The 3G pitch will be suitable for football, hockey and a wide variety of other outdoor sports for the communities and visitors in and around the Llanfyllin area to use. The…

A new £5m Innovation Fund is to be established to support Further Education (FE) colleges look at new ways to support learners, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles has announced. The fund will invest in projects which aim to support learners in key areas including skill development, wellbeing and resilience and adaptability while helping FE colleges work together. Supporting creative solutions is at the heart of the fund; encouraging colleges to explore new ways of working and continuing to ensure Wales is a place where people of all ages receive a high-quality education. Colleges have already implemented…

An internationally recognised research chemist, Professor Jas Pal Badyal FRS, has been appointed as the Welsh Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser. As the new Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Badyal will provide science advice to the First Minister and Welsh Ministers. He will also be responsible for developing the Welsh Government’s science capability and supporting the growth of a strong and dynamic science and research base in Wales. Professor Badyal is currently Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Durham University. He is renowned for his pioneering research on the functionalisation of solid surfaces and deposition of functional nanolayers for…

More than 100 Swansea school pupils have been trained to encourage classmates to get active – and improve their health. They were mentored by Swansea Council sport and health officers and now have the title young ambassador for sport in their schools. The scheme has been run by the council for more than a decade and inspires young people aged nine to 14. The young leaders can deliver sports activities, games and physical literacy sessions in schools and local sports clubs Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “I’m delighted that high numbers of young people across Swansea are taking on…

IT’S game on for a cutting-edge college course that has moved through the levels since being launched a year ago. The popular Esports programme at Coleg Cambria has grown in popularity and is attracting learners from across the region to a bespoke, state-of-the-art facility in Deeside. As well as completing modules in areas such as Games Design, Live-Streamed Broadcasting, Producing an Esports Brand, and Video Production as part of the Level 2 Diploma, a further Level 3 Diploma in Esports – Digital Marketing and Enterprise has been developed. Esports is a booming multi-billion dollar sector, and with their squad the…