Author: Rhys Gregory

Students at Mary Immaculate High School in Cardiff/Wenvoe have been putting their textile skills to the test by making clothes for girls living in poverty around the world. The year 10 students have been making dresses for girls between the ages of two and twelve living in areas of Africa and Syria. They expect to make some 50 garments, which will be distributed during the summer holidays. The project is part of the Dress a Girl Around The World campaign, in collaboration with the Hope4Women charity. Dress a Girl Around The World is a not-for-profit organisation that believes each child living in…

Walkers in Haverfordwest are being urged to step up to raise money to fund research into Parkinson’s. Haverfordwest Walk for Parkinson’s, in aid of Parkinson’s UK, takes place on Saturday June 3, organised by Bob Ratcliffe, 60. Bob’s dad, also called Bob, who had the condition, donated his brain and his spinal column towards Parkinson’s research after he passed away aged 84 in 2010. The Parkinson’s UK Brain Bank, based at Imperial College London, collects precious tissue from people with, and without, Parkinson’s who have decided to leave their brains to Parkinson’s research. It has already led to major advances…

Leading animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports has praised politicians in Wales following a crucial vote on snaring. A vote in the Senedd last night [Tuesday] has paved the way for a complete ban in Wales on cruel traps known as snares, the first country in the UK to take this big step forward for animal welfare. The vote to ban snares was part of the stage three debate on the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, during which amendments designed to water down the snares ban were defeated. The legislative process now moves on to the fourth and final stage…

IoD Wales announced the winners of its Director of the Year Awards at a ceremony held on May 12, 2023, at ICC Wales, Newport, in the presence of a gathering of business leaders. The shortlisted candidates comprised of leaders from various sectors and organisations throughout Wales. The awards celebrate leadership talent, success, and highlights business excellence and significant contributions leaders can make to the social and economic prosperity in the community. In partnership with Cardiff Business School, the following winners were announced. Director of the Year – Third & Public Sector sponsored by Tantrwm – Lisa Griffiths, The Bracken Trust…

An important facility supporting disabled access to Pembrokeshire’s Blue Flag beaches has been opened in time for the summer season. As part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s commitment to improving facilities and access to opportunities across the County, a Changing Place and Family Room has been developed at Whitesands beach, St Davids. This will improve inclusivity at this popular destination and allow those who may otherwise not be able to visit due to lack of facilities to accommodate their needs to enjoy the area. A Changing Place facility has more space and essential equipment including a height adjustable, adult-sized changing bench,…

Hafod Housing in partnership with RCTCBC through the Social Housing Grant have recently finished works on two housing schemes in Rhydyfelin and Taffs Well. The Clos Heddfan scheme located in Rhydyfelin has received a total investment of £6.7m to build 35 homes on the site. Hafod Housing received a £4m contribution for the scheme through the Social Housing Grant and funded the remainder themselves. The scheme is located on the old site of an RCTCBC office building which has been demolished in order to provide these affordable homes in the area. The development consists of- 9 x 3-bed houses 8…

New play equipment consisting of a wooden train and climbing frame have found a new home on Machen Primary School’s playground thanks to the Community Empowerment Grant. The Community Empowerment Fund was created to enable communities to develop and deliver projects aimed at meeting the needs of their residents. Claire Kulisa, a Governor at Machen Primary commented, “I applied for the Community Empowerment Grant, with Cllr Amanda McConnell as my sponsor. I applied on the basis that we have many children with additional learning needs in our school, with around ten children with social communication difficulties or autism spectrum disorders. “I…

Blaenau Gwent Council and the LTA are working in partnership to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts in the borough. A park tennis venue has been renovated in Six Bells, Abertillery, with investment of £37,516.70 helping to ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community. The project is part of a nationwide investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by the LTA, to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open up the sport to many more people. This investment will see thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable…

An ecological forum is to be set up to review and give advice on plans for the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. It will support the development of a long-term monitoring plan to maximise ecological gains in advance of full restoration, building on previous work completed on doing this in a sustainable way. The forum will also be used by Glandŵr Cymru (Canal and River Trust in Wales) and Powys County Council to share progress and seek advice during the spending of the nearly £14 million in Levelling Up funding, secured by both organisations, for the Montgomery Canal Restoration Project,…

Ten primary schools from across Wales will take part in a new pilot programme to help support reading and literacy, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles has announced. The schools will be partnered with university students who have volunteered to be reading mentors. Small groups of up to eight learners will have six one hour sessions in person with their mentors. The pilot with focus on learners in years five and six, to further support them getting ready for secondary school. Welsh reading will be incorporated into any future phases and upscaling. The project will be overseen…