Author: Rhys Gregory

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, has today announced several changes to support and encourage more people to join the teaching profession. To help support eligible postgraduate student teachers during the cost-of-living crisis a new payment structure will see eligible student teachers being paid a larger amount after their first term rather than at the end of their induction period. It’s hoped that the new payment structure will support eligible learners with funds when they need it most during the start of their course. Helping to buy supplies for their training and helping with the cost-of-living. It…

Talented young chefs representing Wales have begun their bid for Culinary World Cup success in Luxembourg with a bronze medal. The Junior Culinary Team Wales, comprising young chefs from across the country, are competing against 15 other teams from around the world at the high profile culinary event. The opened their campaign yesterday (Sunday) with the first element of the competition,  the ‘Table of Fire’ which saw them prepare four different kinds of cold and hot finger food, a cold, festive fish or seafood platter, hot main courses and dessert for 12 people. They complete their competition in the Restaurant…

A full-time carer from Cardiff has won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the prestigious Advancing Healthcare Awards (AHA) Cymru. Alex Pawson was recognised at the annual awards which celebrate the work of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and Healthcare Scientists across Wales and took place in Sophia Gardens earlier this month. Alex was nominated in the category for an AHP or healthcare science apprentice, support worker, assistant or associate for his work at Ludlow Street Healthcare. Specifically, his time at Conway House community home and Pinetree Court Hospital services where he helped provide person-centred care for service users with learning disabilities,…

Talented chefs are being challenged to put their skills to the test in the two most prestigious competitions in Wales. The Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) has launched the National and Junior Chef of Wales competitions which again have some fabulous prizes on offer. To enter, chefs must work at an establishment or study at a college for a catering qualification within Wales or be of Welsh descent and working in another country. Entries are now open for both competitions which will be held at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) from February 21-23, 2023, at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campus in…

Local Cardiff charity, City Hospice, is holding its annual Light Up A Life Remembrance Service to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones. The free service will take place on December 1 in the grounds of the hospice in Whitchurch and will feature a variety of Christmas carols, performances and readings from local schools and organisations before the Christmas tree lights are switched on. Performers will include Llanishen High School Choir, Côr Caerdydd, CytSain Choir and Perfect Pitch, a string quartet featuring students from year eight upwards from Howell’s School, Llandaff. During the evening, those attending will have the…

DIY Pigs in Blankets have hit supermarket shelves in Wales thanks to the country’s best known butcher teaming up with the UK’s biggest grocer. The succulent combination of sausages wrapped in streaky bacon is a highlight of the festive feast and now making your own has never been simpler. Edwards the Welsh Butcher has come up with an easy to assemble kit of ten premium quality tasty pork sausages and ten slices of streaky bacon and the marriage of the two is made in heaven, according to the firm’s founder and chairman, Ieuan Edwards. He has even given a video…

Willy Russell’s legendary musical Blood Brothers is playing at the Wales Millennium Centre and it’s one you won’t want to miss. I can’t believe it has been three years since the multi-award winning musical has been seen on a Cardiff stage; last at the New Theatre in 2019 to now centre stage of the Donald Gordon Theatre in Cardiff Bay. Considered to be one of the best musicals ever written, Blood Brothers, written by renowned playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the Globe. Scooping up no fewer than four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on…

A daredevil Parkinson’s nurse has completed a skydive in memory of her late father, who was diagnosed with the condition. Cheryl Williams, 45, from Caerphilly, plummeted towards the ground at 135mph after jumping from a plane with Skydive Swansea above the stunning Gower Peninsula, to raise money for Parkinson’s UK Cymru. The mother of two, and Nan of one, took on the challenge with her husband, Dean, and together they raised £1,385 for the charity, as a tribute to her dad, Graham Booth, who passed away at the age of 69. The dedicated health worker, who works across Gwent with…

As part of celebrating its 100th year in business, iconic Welsh brand, Joe’s Ice Cream, has shown its commitment to the local community by planting 100 trees in Pellergare Woods, Swansea, on Saturday 26th November. The event was a multi-stakeholder effort by Penllergare Trust, Swansea University Tree Society, Centenary Forests and Joe’s Ice Cream, with a focus on rejuvenating conservation land and encouraging biodiversity by planting trees that are native to the local area. Amongst those in attendance were Dominic and Adrian Hughes, the great nephews of the company’s founder, Joe Cascarini, and Lucy Hughes, Joe’s great-great niece and current…

Wales’ biggest festive light trail is back and bigger than ever this winter – with a specially composed soundtrack and a UK premiere in cutting-edge lighting design as its grand finale. Visitors to Christmas at Bute Park 2022 will be the first in Britain to see the brand new iridescent light orb experience ‘Prismatic’, designed by one of the UK’s foremost lighting designers, DBN Audile. It is among a host of new installations being introduced in the event’s second year, alongside a magical ‘Light Canyon’ awash with a thousand mesmerising stars, a lake of light created by hypnotic lasers to…