Author: Rhys Gregory

A Welsh Community Bank has broken its monthly lending record making more loans than ever to its Members. In November, Smart Money Cymru lent £566,000, widening access to fair and affordable finance for its almost 11,000 Members in the Valleys and around Wales. As well as breaking the previous monthly total of £507,000,  128 new customers joined the Community Bank in that month, also setting a record. Mark White, Smart Money Cymru CEO, said he was delighted that in these difficult times, when many families and individuals are struggling with bills and the cost of Christmas, more people were seeing…

James Chant’s traditional Japanese Ramen restaurant is taking the Cardiff food scene by storm after his assemble-at-home DIY ramen kits gained critical acclaim from culinary heroes including Jay Rayner, Tom Parker Bowles, Melissa Thompson and Pippa Middlehurst. Based in the former NatWest bank on Clare Road in Grangetown, Matsudai Ramen opened its doors in August 2022. The 1700 sq ft building has been kitted out with a £50,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Matsudai Ramen first started life in September 2019; initially as a pop-up and creative outlet for founder James Chant, who at that point had…

A 24-year-old entrepreneur from Cardiff is in the process of launching a first-of-its-kind virtual booking service app with the hope of being just in time to support the hospitality sector this festive season. QZee, an abbreviation of ‘queue easy’, was developed by Cameron Calder, a computer science graduate from Swansea University and Max Sugar, software engineering graduate, also from Swansea University, as a response to the surge in cancellations and no-shows that hit the UK’s hospitality sector during the pandemic, estimated to cost businesses £17.6 billion a year. Operating out of Cardiff’s Tramshed, QZee is working collectively with businesses and…

A mum from Newport who lives with a life-changing heart condition has been thanked by BHF Cymru for managing a Christmas toy collection which will help fund lifesaving research. Kate Inwood, 51, was diagnosed with a rare form of heart failure shortly after her son Llewi was born in 2011. To show her support for the British Heart Foundation’s research into the condition, this Christmas Kate organised a collection of new and preloved toys and games at her son’s school, which will be sold at her local BHF school to raise funds for more research. Her initiative is part of…

A Pembrokeshire-based care specialist has acquired Pembroke-based Ashdale Care Home for an undisclosed sum. The EH Group, which already owns Pembrokeshire Care and Elliots Hill, is one of Pembrokeshire’s largest care providers. Established in 1988, the group offers residential and domiciliary care, community outreach, and supported living and respite care. The acquisition of Ashdale Care Home will result in an 130% increase in residential capacity and a 32% increase in staff numbers within the group over the next 12 months. The Group aims to create a number of skilled care roles over the coming year, along with a significant investment…

Swansea Bay Construction Support Group (SBCSG) has provided local charity Hands Up For Downs with an early Christmas present this year, presenting it with a cheque for £2,500 at SBCSG’s end of year meeting. The cheque was presented to the charity’s treasurer, Samantha Fisher, by SBCSG Chairman, Anthony Thomas, and SBCSG training officer, Gemma Mineur, at the Swansea.com stadium last week. Hands Up For Downs is a registered charity affiliated to the Down’s Syndrome Association. Founded in May 2014, this parent-run support group brings families, parents, carers and children with Down Syndrome together to share advice and support, and as…

Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, has chosen Cardigan sculptor Paul Clarke to create an ambitious new public art installation at their most recent woodland acquisition in Neath, South Wales. The £30k artistic feature will form part of a £2.2m project at Brynau, the largest woodland creation project ever to be undertaken by the charity in Wales. Aberporth-based sculptor Paul Clarke, who in his own words has “lived almost 50 years in Wales surrounded by woods, farming countryside and the sea,” had his unique and ambitious design chosen by a panel of seven Coed Cadw staff and volunteers. His…

More than four in 10 people do not know how to access financial support and advice to help combat the rising cost of living, a new survey suggests. The results come as the Welsh Government launches its awareness campaign to encourage people to check their eligibility for further financial support and advice this winter. The Welsh Government has pledged £90 million to address immediate pressures on living costs in Wales, including its Welsh Fuel Support Scheme which means 400,000 households can claim a one-off £200 payment towards keeping their homes warm. Ministers are now encouraging the public to ‘claim what’s…

With Hollywood backing from superstar Matthew Rhys, a community project has smashed its target of £250,000 and saved the historic Glan yr Arfon pub in Pennal, Machynlleth just in time for Christmas. The village of Pennal played a key part in Welsh history in the 15th century with the then Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndŵr, and the funding will mean the community can continue with their plans of running the pub and restaurant, with a café and community hub, and look at further development plans for a hotel. Chairman of the Menter Y Glan management committee, Meirion Roberts, would like…

A POP-UP retail project moved to bigger premises and is supporting more businesses than ever following a successful first year. The Antur Cymru Trading Space in Aberystwyth has relocated to the former post office on Great Darkgate Street and can now host up to 20 independent sellers. Part of the innovative New Skills New Start programme – a UK Government initiative funded via the UK Community Renewal Fund, led by Ceredigion Council – the site is already proving popular with customers and held a bustling Christmas market over the weekend following an event to celebrate progress over the last 12 months. Project…