Author: Rhys Gregory

Young people in Wales are being urged to remember key safety advice for sea, rivers and other open water after another tragic incident this weekend. Water Safety Wales is reinforcing its water safety message to young people after the sad death of Zac Thompson, 11, who died after getting into difficulty in the water at Angle in Pembrokeshire on Friday evening (July 1). He is the third boy aged between 11 and 13 to have drowned in Wales in the last six weeks. Kane Edwards, 13, died after getting into difficulty swimming in the River Tawe on May 24. Aryan Ghoniya,…

The Welsh Government has been accused of disregarding the experience, expertise and livelihoods in the tourism industry with its radical programme, announced yesterday, to address second homes issue in Wales. Suzy Davies, Wales Tourism Alliance chair, has challenged the Welsh Government to face up to the unintended consequences of its policy changes and says the contribution genuine tourism businesses make to the viability of communities is being ignored. A recent change to the occupancy threshold needed for a holiday let to be treated as a business dismissed the majority view in the government’s own consultation as well as compelling evidence…

Two Mid Wales wildlife trusts will lead a free, creative, five-day camp in August to empower young people to take nature and climate action. The wild day-camp, which takes place at The Willow Globe, near Rhayader, from August 1-5, aims to spark a debate in young people to move towards simple, community solutions that carry nature and Welsh culture into the future. Led by Radnorshire Wildlife Trust (RWT) and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT), the camp is for young people aged 13-24 and is funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery players and the National Lottery Community Fund through the Climate Action…

A surfing pioneer who’s paralyzed from the shoulders down has made an emotional return to North Wales. Spike Kane learned to ride the waves off Anglesey before moving to America’s West Coast where a horrific road accident left him with life-changing injuries. He was reunited with his specially adapted surfboard at Adventure Parc Snowdonia in Dolgarrog three years after he first surfed at its artificial wave lagoon which was the first in the world when it opened in 2015. Spike, a Scouser who now lives in Seattle, was back for the two-day Welsh Adaptive Surfing Championships to show that Conwy can…

The Prince of Wales has hailed an international festival where he once did some impromptu bhangra dancing as a “shining example of peace and harmony”. The royal tribute was in the foreword he wrote for the programme of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod that’s celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The event was established in1947 in the aftermath of the Second World War as a way of bringing the nations of the world closer together in a colourful, multi-cultural melting pot. Ever since the picturesque town of Llangollen in the Dee Valley has been known as the place where Wales…

A North Wales community interest group is helping people of all ages in part-time and temporary work progress their careers through free one-to-one career coaching.   RCS, which provides wellbeing support for individuals and businesses across North and West Wales, launched its tailored service to help broaden job opportunities for individuals looking to move to full-time or permanent positions. The programme can be accessed as part of RCS’ In Work Support Service which operates across Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion. The scheme, which consists of four one-to-one professional coaching sessions, uses an evidence-based appreciative approach, meaning participants can map out their…

Driven by concerns over the cost of living crisis affecting many of its customers, Swansea Building Society has made a generous donation to five foodbanks across South Wales – a move that also ties in with an important landmark for the mutual. The Building Society has donated £500 to each foodbank, a move than mirrors its own achievement, also announced this month, of passing the remarkable milestone of securing £500 million in total assets. The Society has made the donations to help the local foodbanks provide vital support to people who find themselves unable to afford basic food and necessities…

Bridgend County Borough Council has appointed Welsh firm John Weaver Contractors Ltd to provide all-new £2.4m community facilities at Cosy Corner in Porthcawl. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government, the council’s plans for Cosy Corner include an all-new stone and glass-clad building which will incorporate premises suitable for five small retail units, public toilets, meeting space for community use, offices for the harbour master, changing facilities for users of the nearby marina and more. The new development also features an outdoor children’s play area, new landscaping with plenty of public seating, space for staging events and…

Swansea’s amazing summer of fun is set to continue in the coming weeks following the high-flying success of the Wales Airshow. The two-day Wales Airshow is the biggest free annual event in Wales and at the weekend tens of thousands were at the city’s prom to enjoy it. Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said it was nice to see the much-loved show that took a two-year break due to the pandemic back this year. It’s due to return on July 1 and 2 in 2023. Last weekend’s show was just a curtain-raiser for an unprecedented year…

Worth over £41m to the city, views are wanted on how funding earmarked for Swansea should best be used in the next three years. Responses to an online survey that’s now live at www.swansea.gov.uk/sharedprosperitysurvey will help Swansea Council develop a local investment plan aimed at addressing the city’s needs and making the most of its opportunities. Feedback from residents and businesses is needed on a number of key themes by midnight on Sunday July 17. These include communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. Once finalised, the local investment plan will then help inform a regional investment…