Author: Rhys Gregory

Neath Port Talbot councillors have approved the publishing of the council’s Welsh in Education Plan 2022-32 (WESP). Its purpose is to improve the planning and standard of Welsh medium education in Neath Port Talbot over the next ten years by enabling all learners to develop their Welsh language skills so they can use the language confidently in everyday life. It will also contribute to the Welsh Government’s ambitious target of a million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050. All local authorities in Wales must produce a WESP and Neath Port Talbot Council’s plan was developed through close working with partners…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is inviting businesses to attend a special networking event, being held at 5pm on Wednesday 12th October 2022 in Bargoed Library. The event is being hosted by the Council’s Business Enterprise and Renewal Team and will offer attendees the opportunity to meet with Council staff, Councillors, and other businesses throughout the county borough. The meeting agenda will include discussing exciting new developments, following up on the previous meeting notes and offering businesses the opportunity to express their views and opinions about what they think priorities should be for Bargoed. The meeting will take place at 5pm…

Blaenau Gwent councillors have this week voted to distribute funding of £746,000 to help eligible residents with household bills through a discretionary cost of living payment, and to make significant donations to local organisations supporting people at this time. Welsh Government has awarded Councils additional funding following on from the previous Cost of Living payment scheme. A £150 Cost of Living Payment will now be made to eligible households in Council Tax Bands E to H, which were not covered by the earlier scheme together with £100 to families entitled to Free School Meals. A £30,000 donation is also being…

Members of the public are being warned of the dangers of travelling in illegal ‘taxis’ after a surge in reports of them in Merthyr Tydfil town centre on weekends. Unlicensed vehicles have not been assessed as safe and suitable to carry passengers and could be in an unroadworthy condition, meaning passengers could be at risk. “The Council’s Licensing Department are receiving reports of vehicles operating as illegal taxis with unlicensed drivers,” said Cllr Michelle Symonds, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Crime and Disorder. “The purpose of taxi licensing is to protect the public, and we would like to remind residents…

A company based in Newport, Wales, which invented the world’s first interactive prayer mat has set its sights on significant global expansion, with support from the Welsh Government, after seeing its products go viral in the Middle East. Founded by dad of two Kamal Ali, My Salah Mat is the firm behind innovative prayer mats designed to help children and adults learn how to perform Salah – the daily prayer practiced by Muslims. Since it was set up four years ago, the business has made a global name for its one-of-a-kind mats and has developed an extensive international portfolio, with…

Wales became the first UK nation to pass legislation to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets from 30mph to 20mph when the Senedd voted in favour in July this year. Work is now underway to get Wales ready for the change, with the new speed limit coming into force on 17 September 2023. Here are seven things you may not have known about the new 20mph default speed limit: The new 20mph default speed limit will save lives The evidence is clear – decreasing speed limits reduces collisions and saves lives. Previous research…

Wales is an up-and-coming country which is known for its Celtic culture, its beautiful coastlines and its stunning national parks. Over the past few decades, it has grown in popularity for its culture.  With its popular music and festivals, bustling nightlife and great array of restaurants and bars, it’s no wonder tourists flock there year after year. But as well as its highly popular tourist attractions and the Snowdonia National Park where people flock year after year for its beautiful surroundings, there’s a great business culture in the country.  A lot of professionals head to the country to do business…

There are a multitude of benefits that come with shopping locally as opposed to buying from huge corporations. From receiving a more personalized experience to supporting your local community, there’s a lot to be gained from visiting your local stores. Some of the benefits may not even seem obvious to you at first, but this just shows how extensive the list of benefits is. If nothing else, I think anyone can agree that we’d rather put money in the pocket of a hardworking business owner than a multi-billionaire corporation founder. Read on to discover just some of the reasons why…

Whatever the faith you follow, there is no denying that it can be the very foundation of your life. It influences the rhythms of the year, gives you a moral code, places you in a ready made community, and gives you hope for the future. There are in fact more than 4300 religions in the world, and growing. Many religions consist of a number of different sects or denominations. Beyond this, about 16 per cent of the world is deemed as ‘non-religious’ – not believing in a higher being, or affiliated with any organised religion. Religion is a matter of…

Are you interested in getting a degree in English Literature or any other joint degree in English and French or Spanish (as the case may be) at the University of Oxford or Cambridge? You would be required to sit for the English Literature Admissions Test, simply known as ELAT. Both universities (Oxbridge) use the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT) to evaluate applicants’ proficiency with close reading and their capacity to formulate and articulate a thoughtful response to unfamiliar literary material. Various skills are needed to succeed in the ELAT, including examining unknown content and writing a concise and well-organized response…