Author: Rhys Gregory

Residents of Neath Port Talbot who are looking to start a business or are running a small business and need support can join a new free virtual business school. Neath Port Talbot Council’s Economic Development team in partnership with UK Steel Enterprise have teamed up with The Rebel School to bring small business support to the community, completely for FREE. Using an alternative approach to getting started, Rebel will show you how to avoid loans & debt, needing cash to start and business plans all together. This programme will help you to launch a mini-experiment and make money doing something…

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA in St David’s is celebrating after being awarded an internationally acclaimed eco-award. The 3-16 Church in Wales school has been awarded their first Green Flag Award thanks to the environmental education programme, Eco-Schools. Eco-Schools is an international programme run in Wales by environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy and funded by the Welsh Government. Over 90% of schools in Wales are registered on the programme. The Eco-Schools programme inspires and empowers pupils to be leaders of change in their community, helping them learn about sustainable living and global citizenship while giving them the information and support they…

The Council is asking residents to take part in a consultation aimed at making our trails completely accessible by removing a series of physical barriers. Active Travel trails across Merthyr Tydfil – including the Taff, Trevithick and Celtic Trails – have obstacles such as motorcycle ‘inhibitor’ A frames, vehicle gates and tubular steel chicanes. The Council is considering removing some of these, along with resurfacing and widening footways, and taking other measures to ensure easy access for wheelchairs and larger bikes. We’d like to hear your views on the proposals and would ask you to click on the link below…

Consultations to look at ways to improve the public spaces within Brecon and Crickhowell town centres will begin this week. Working together with Amey Consulting and LDA Design, Powys County Council are looking at ways to improve the public spaces within Brecon and Crickhowell town centres and are keen to hear the thoughts, experiences and concerns of local people, businesses and visitors on how they use the town centres and how they could be improved. In Brecon the focus is on improving pedestrian priority and experience, improving connections and biodiversity and creating a safe, accessible public areas that enhances the…

The Leaders of Powys County Council have expressed concern over proposals that could see Wales Air Ambulance close its Welshpool base. Under the proposals being considered by the charity, the Welshpool crews could be moved to north Wales. “The Wales Air Ambulance Service is a vital service, especially for a rural county such as Powys. It also receives a huge amount of public support from our residents,” said Leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt and Deputy Leader Matthew Dorrance. “It is therefore disappointing and extremely concerning that their proposal could see their Welshpool base close. “We will be seeking assurances from senior…

Minister for Climate Change Julie James has announced nearly £15million for landowners and managers who want to improve biodiversity to help Wales fight the climate and nature emergencies. The Nature Networks Programme, which opens to applicants today, will help all types of Wales’ most precious habitats flourish under better management – from saltmarshes and estuaries to forests and grasslands – whilst helping to connect people to nature to improve wellbeing These sites are home to the iconic – such as otter, bottlenose dolphin and grey seal, alongside the obscure – such as the petalwort plant and whorl snails. They are…

The past few years have prompted a significant rise in the number of people looking to write their wills and plan the future course of their estates. The number one reason for having a will is, of course, to ensure that your loved one’s interests are safeguarded – particularly their financial interests – and make certain that the promises you make in life are upheld after your death. Another reason, however, that is becoming increasingly common among will writers, is making charitable gifts – passing portions of your estate onto non-profits that mean something to you. These donations are often…

Sun-kissed Llanfyllin and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show returned in style on Saturday with a record attendance and fantastic feedback from the thousands of people that attended the popular event. The spectacular Atkinson Action Horses stunt and display team from East Yorkshire was a huge hit, attracting many new visitors to the showground for two performances in the main ring. A new Montgomery Young Farmers Clubs speed shearing competition, which attracted 60 shearers in four categories, was another big success, providing entertainment well into the evening. One of the shearers was world champion Richard Jones from Llangollen. Show chairman Dyfrig…

A NEW £7.6 million UK Government initiative has been launched to help over 2,000 adults with learning disabilities and autism move into work. The Local Supported Employment (LSE) initiative is providing grant funding to 24 local authorities in England and Wales, representing an investment of £7.6 million over the next three years. In Wales, £665,000 will be available to support 190 jobseekers with learning disabilities and autism. Each local authority area will support between 60 and 140 adults with learning disabilities, autism or both to move into competitive employment and provide the help they need to maintain that employment. An…

Data from national careers advice service Careers Wales, has revealed a record low in the number of NEET (not in education, employment or training) school leavers thanks to the success of the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee. The percentage of those finishing exams and becoming NEET has steadily declined over the last few years and now data shows an average of just 1.4% of students across years 11-13 were known to be leaving school with a NEET status in 2021, the lowest figure in five years. Having not sat formal examinations since 2019, this year’s cohort of GCSE and A…