Author: Rhys Gregory

The results are in from the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean, which took place from 16th – 25th September 2022, and was sponsored by soup brand, Cully & Sully. 561 volunteers took part in 41 events across Welsh beaches. Together, they cleaned and surveyed 4.7km of beaches and collected 316kg of litter.   Taking part in the Great British Beach Clean, volunteers not only clear beaches of litter but help tackle ocean pollution by gathering vital data used by the charity to lobby governments and create change for cleaner seas and a healthier planet.   The charity’s volunteers recorded…

Hay Festival brings five exceptional Young Adult (YA) writers direct to thousands of Year 7-10 school pupils across Wales next year with the free Scribblers Tour, 6-10 February and 13-17 February 2023. Now in its twelfth year, Hay Festival’s Scribblers Tour aims to engage and encourage the next generation in storytelling and conversation, inspiring empathy and creativity. Compèred by YA novelist Jenny Valentine, sessions for Year 7-8 pupils will feature interactive activities with novelist Maz Evans and prize-winning poet Matt Goodfellow, while sessions for Year 9-10 pupils will feature sci-fi writer Femi Fadugba and New York Timesbestselling author Caroline O’Donoghue. Events will be hosted at five Welsh universities…

Since 6 April 2022, almost 21,600 Self Assessment customers, who were unable to pay their tax bill in full, have set up a payment plan to spread the cost into manageable monthly instalments – an increase of around 3,900 customers on the previous year – HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed. The deadline for customers to submit their tax returns for the 2021 to 2022 tax year and pay any tax owed is 31 January 2023 and HMRC is encouraging anyone yet to complete their return to do it early. Those who have already completed their Self Assessment know…

A Lecturer in Film Theory and Practice from Aberystwyth University is contributing towards a ‘code of better practice’ for British wrestling. Dr Thomas Alcott from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies has been invited by the All-Party Group on Wrestling at the UK Parliament to participate in a conference on the topic later this month. The group – which includes MPs from across the political spectrum – recently led an inquiry and published the findings in April last year. The cross party group reviewed regulation, funding, safeguarding and wellbeing in wrestling, and sought to find ways to better…

A crop developed at Aberystwyth University is set to help African farmers feed people in the face of climate change. Aberystwyth University and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, based in Niamey, Niger, have developed a new drought resistant strain of pearl millet to help prepare for weather disruptions caused by climate change. Pearl millet is a naturally drought resistant cereal crop that is a staple in many African countries, as well as in India and South Asia. A recent report by the World Meteorological Organisation estimated that increased temperatures have already reduced Africa’s agricultural productivity by…

A popular series of 10K running events is making a return for 2023.  The R4W 10K Series is a unique collection of iconic road races taking place across four unique locations in South Wales. Following a period of pandemic delay, all four events will return to their traditional spots in the calendar, kick-starting with the new-look Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K on Sunday 26 March. The race is Wales’ largest 10K event and boasts a course taking in all of the Welsh capital’s most iconic waterfront landmarks. The fast and run ABP Newport Wales 10K is next up on Sunday…

Ben Jeffreys has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Torfaen Leisure Trust.  Formerly CEO of Pontypool RFC, Ben will start his new role at Torfaen Leisure Trust in January 2023 where he will be instrumental in deploying the company’s ambitious strategy.  Ben spent over 10 years at Pontypool RFC, initially as Commercial Director and then CEO from 2014. Torfaen Leisure Trust is the only charity focusing on the generational health, fitness, and well-being of the people of Torfaen. Its mission is to deliver world class fitness and well-being activities from its five leisure centres – Cwmbran Stadium, Pontypool Active Living…

Plans setting out how the Council intends to deliver the next phase of its ambitious housing development programme, creating another 1,700 new homes for the city have been unveiled. Against a backdrop of extreme pressures on housing availability in Cardiff, the Council is proposing to seek a new housing partnership scheme arrangement to ensure more high quality, energy efficient homes can be built at volume and pace. The partnership scheme would be the second of its type the Council has embarked on, following the success of the award-winning Cardiff Living partnership with national developer, Wates Residential. That £320m 10-year programme…

Plans are progressing for the delivery of three new Cardiff schools which will share the same campus in the Fairwater area but, costs have increased largely due to rising inflation, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet will hear. The Fairwater Community Campus is a pioneering project for Cardiff which, when completed, will see Cantonian High School, Riverbank School, and Woodlands School all located in new buildings on one dedicated site. The joint campus will also boast a range of comprehensive facilities which will be available for community and public use outside of school hours. Plans for the scheme are well underway, but at its…

Cwm Taf People First is celebrating 25 years of work to support people with learning disabilities! As part of their anniversary celebrations, they kindly ask for donations to continue their invaluable work in our communities. Based at the Arts Factory in Ferndale, the organisation has 120 hard-working members who aim to promote the voices of people with learning disabilities. Among the charity’s goals are promoting the rights of people with learning disabilities, ensuring services they use reflect their needs, and raising awareness about disabilities. Challenging prejudices is another vital aspect of their work. The ‘Be My Voice’ campaign was set…