Author: Rhys Gregory

South Wales Police encourage reports of domestic violence concerns over New Year after increase over last five years New Year’s Day has been the most reported day for domestic abuse and violence over the last five years, and South Wales Police are encouraging those who need support, or know someone who does, to report their concerns. Factors that can affect this at this time of year can include increased alcohol intake, additional financial pressures, and increased proximity at home. The Force are encouraging anyone who has experienced physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial abuse, to inform them. Superintendent Eve Davis…

As millions of people enjoyed Christmas festivities this year, for 3,275, Christmas Day was the perfect time to file their Self Assessment tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed. A total of 22,060 customers went online to submit their form for the 2021 to 2022 tax year between 24 and 26 December, and 141 opted to file between 23:00 and 23:59 on Christmas eve, meaning they could enjoy celebrations knowing their tax return was complete. The breakdown of figures for those who opted to file during the festive period are: Christmas Eve: 8,474 tax returns were filed. The…

People living in Swansea Bay are being asked to think twice before visiting family and friends in hospital if they are feeling under the weather themselves. The move follows a significant jump in cases – over 170 since the 22nd December – of flu, Covid, and several other viral respiratory infections, at our sites over the past week or so resulting in huge pressures on staff and services. Jennifer Davies, Deputy Director of Public Health in Swansea Bay, said: “Our infection control team are reporting continued increased rates of a range of respiratory infections including flu and Covid amongst others,…

A former Premier League sports science expert who swapped the glamour of professional football to open a holiday venture has picked up a top tourism award. Andy Franks worked with giants Chelsea and Everton as well as Crewe before he and his wife, Jen, bought an old farmhouse at Llandrillo, on the River Dee between Corwen and Bala, and set about creating Rivercatcher. Now the family-run operation has been named the Go Self Catering Business of the Year, sponsored by Pario Leisure Group, at the North Wales Tourism Awards at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The headline sponsor for the glittering…

As thousands of students and families prepare for UCAS application deadlines just after Christmas, new independent research released earlier this month (Wednesday, 14th December) reveals universities making up “areas of excellence” across the country – including here in Wales.   The team behind the renowned Complete University Guide have crunched the data to shine a light on some of the universities blazing a trail in Wales, including those ranked best in the UK for some subjects. The message could not be clearer – “you don’t have to go far to go far!”.   With cost-of-living putting increasing pressure on students…

Swansea-based enterprise education resource provider, 2B Enterprising, is celebrating after welcoming JCP Solicitors as its milestone 100th corporate partner supporting its innovative entrepreneurial education programme. 2B Enterprising has created The Bumbles of Honeywood learning resources which help to teach young children about enterprise, entrepreneurship, and essential life skills by following the Bumble Family of bees from Honeywood as they tackle a range of challenges together. JCP Solicitors is the 100th corporate partner to work with 2B Enterprising, providing the funding for a primary school to receive these engaging resources. The legal firm has been partnered with St Illtyd’s RC Primary…

Student and community sport teams will have access to some of the best facilities in the UK following the redevelopment of Cardiff University’s Llanrumney Sports Fields. The state-of-the-art training and playing facilities have been delivered in partnership with Cardiff City House of Sport (CCHOS), Cardiff Council and Sport Wales. Together the partners have developed four purposed built, floodlit, all-weather pitches to complement existing facilities on the site. New CCHOS training and academy facilities will also follow next year. Cardiff University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, Claire Morgan said: “I’m a huge advocate for student sport and recognise how much…

Wales’ international food and drink trade event, BlasCymru/TasteWales, will take place on 25 and 26 October 2023, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has confirmed. The two-day event organised by the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales division brings together food and drink producers with national and international buyers and food industry professionals. The event, which will be held at ICC Wales in Newport, has been key in previous years in creating new business opportunities for Welsh businesses and has seen produce from Wales sent around the world for people to enjoy. Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “Wales is proud…

A first-of-its-kind strategy has been launched to set the future of the Welsh wine industry into focus over the next twelve years and increase the sector’s current value by 10-fold to reach £100 million by 2035. Developed at a pivotal time for Welsh vineyards, with the support of the Welsh Government’s Drinks Cluster, the industry-led strategy is designed to ensure Wales builds on its emerging reputation as an experimental producer of varying wines, following some impressive successes in recent years that have been rewarded with a number of international awards. The new industry strategy, launched at the Coal Exchange Hotel…

Two students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s BA Set Design and Production course have worked on the set of Disney +’s latest series, ‘Willow’. Following the success of the 1988 film of the same name, ‘Willow’ is an American fantasy adventure television series filmed at Dragon Studios, Bridgend and produced by Lucasfilm and Imagine Entertainment. Students Bethan Elsbury and Ellie Reynolds got the opportunity to work with the company’s Greens Team after their lecturer, Dave Atkinson saw the post being advertised and encouraged them to apply. Bethan said: “It was very surreal to have even a small involvement on such…