Author: Rhys Gregory

An independent Cardiff school has expanded its presence at a city business park after a seeing a significant increase in student numbers. St John’s College, a day school for 3-18-year-olds, has had a university-style campus for its sixth-form students since 2018 at Eastern Business Park in St Mellons, owned by developer Robert Hitchins Ltd. Now, following a 30% increase in its enrolment, the school has taken another 4,500 sq ft at the site to provide additional study areas and three new fully equipped science laboratories. Francis Taylor, Director of Co-curriculum and Digital Learning at St John’s College, said both the…

Wales’ leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance Cymru, have marked the end of their Defibruary campaign for 2023. The campaign ran throughout the month of February, aiming to educate more people in Wales about defibrillator use, teach the public how to use one confidently, and to raise funds in support of the charity’s lifesaving work in the communities of Wales. St John Ambulance Cymru held free defibrillator awareness training sessions in communities throughout Wales over the course of February, from Divisions holding training sessions in their local halls, to demonstrations being held on stalls in busy shopping centres. This…

The Friends of Margam Park are delighted to have been awarded funding as part of the Mynydd Brombil Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to purchase three brand new all-terrain mobility scooters. The mobility scooters will be available to hire by Margam Country Park’s visitors, improving the accessibility of the Park. Both the friends group and the park hope the new all-terrain additions will encourage more visitors with mobility restrictions to visit the park. As a result these, visitors will be able to enjoy the picturesque landscape, architecture and wildlife the park has to offer. It has long been a goal…

Coastlands CP School pupils sang their hearts out and wowed an audience at Disneyland Paris recently. The 73 pupils who took to the Videopolis Theatre stage as part of Disney Performing Arts, which offers the opportunity for groups to experience working with the Disney technicians and performing on a professional stage. The children received a standing ovation after their performance on Thursday, 2nd March and Disney staff praised not just the standard of singing but also their impeccable behaviour. Head teacher Sonja Groves said the children, aged five to 11, were wonderful ambassadors for Pembrokeshire. “Disney staff said it was…

Communities wishing to hold a street party to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III on the first May Bank Holiday weekend can now apply for a road closure – with the Council offering support to complete the process. The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place on Saturday, May 6, and there will be a UK Bank Holiday on Monday, May 8. Many events and initiatives will take place across the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend (May 6-8) to celebrate the Coronation. To help residents and communities come together and…

A new Community Café and Community Pantry has been opened at Pen-y-Cwm Special School & Ebbw Fawr Learning Community’s Primary Phase in Ebbw Vale. The café and pantry was officially launched by the MP for Blaenau Gwent, Nick Smith. This is a joint venture between the two schools who share a site. The Community Café will be run by post-16 pupils from Pen-y-Cwm, who will be serving teas, coffees and refreshments. This will provide valuable work experience to pupils and also a welcoming space for parents and the wider community to pop in. The aim of the Community Pantry is,…

At the meeting of full Council on 9th March, Councillors decided the level of Council Tax Premium on second homes and long-term empty homes in Monmouthshire, which would come into effect from April 1st 2024. The impact on Monmouthshire communities caused by long term empty homes and second homes that are rarely occupied were key reasons behind this move. For homes that remain empty for three years or more, the owners will be charged a 300% premium on their Council Tax – it is hoped this will reduce the number of empty properties in the county. A public consultation earlier…

Pupils and teaching staff at Raglan CiW Primary School are celebrating after being recognised as a ‘Healthy School’. The national quality award acknowledges the work the whole school has undertaken to promote and protect the physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing of pupils. Raglan’s Head Teacher Sue Marles, with teachers Laura Griffiths (also the school’s health and wellbeing lead), Sarah Jenkins (Eco-lead) and Katie Brocklehurst have worked hard with Sally Amos, Healthy Schools Practitioner at Monmouthshire County Council, to achieve this well-deserved recognition, becoming part of the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools. The award was celebrated at a special…

The first phase of work on the Grade I listed Old Market Hall building in Llanidloes is nearing completion, Powys County Council has confirmed. The scaffolding will be removed and the roads re-opened as usual on Friday 17th March 2023. Cllr Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys, said: “I recently took the opportunity to visit the Old Market Hall with local Councillor Glyn Preston to review progress and am delighted to announce the completion of the first stage of works and thank all residents and businesses for their co-operation. “Due to the additional works we have identified, we…

That’s the message from Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan ahead of Young Carers Action Day, and as the Welsh Government’s publishes its first annual report for the Carers Delivery Plan. Making Time for Young Carers is the theme of this year’s Young Carers Action Day, with the aim of encouraging more adults and professionals to listen to the challenges young carers face. Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan, who will meet with a group of young carers to hear about their experiences later this week, said: “Young carers can face a wide range of pressures caring for…