Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

This summer children aged 4-11 can visit Newport Libraries and get involved in a science and innovation themed Summer Reading Challenge. The theme for this year’s challenge is Gadgeteers and by taking part in the challenge children will be able to use their curiosity and wonder to understand the science behind a whole range of interests, from fashion and technology to cooking and music. The challenge asks for children aged 4 to 11 to borrow and read any six library books over the summer.  The gadgeteers will feature amazing books and plenty of ideas for cool experiments and activities to…

At the meeting of Full Cabinet of Monmouthshire County Council on Wednesday 29th June, it was agreed that nearly two thousand of our hardest-hit households in Monmouthshire will receive a £150 boost from a Welsh Government funded emergency relief package. It will see just under £500,000 distributed to support the most vulnerable in the county. The funding will target groups such as care leavers, disabled people, and households in receipt of free school meals, amongst others. Just over £100,000 is also going to a special allowance to help those on low incomes or in financial difficulty so that they can…

On Tuesday 14th June, Monmouthshire County Council and Arup Group launched a public consultation on the future of transport in Chepstow, with the aim of getting constructive feedback from the residents and businesses. Focused on a Transport Hub and Active Travel measures, the consultation seeking residents’ views on the provision of increased sustainable transport modes in and around the Chepstow area. This includes methods such as improvements to the existing bus network, demand responsive transport, electric vehicle infrastructure and park and ride facilities. The consultation follows on from a previous study in 2020, when Monmouthshire County Council and strategic partners…

Children across Powys are invited to attend free sporting activities this summer. Powys County Council, in partnership with Freedom have arranged free sporting activity sessions in nine different locations across the county. These sessions are for children and young people aged 6 to 12 across Powys is part of Welsh Government’s Playworks Holiday funded project. Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Generations, Cllr Susan McNicolas said: “We are delighted that we are able to provide summer holiday activities for children across the county, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government. These sessions will provide an opportunity for children to…

Front line workers, such as the waste and recycling crews, have been relied upon to continue working hard throughout the chaos of the past couple of years. Despite the strains of a global pandemic and budget pressures, the council’s key workers have worked tirelessly to ensure services are maintained and resident’s needs are met. However, the current national recruitment crisis is now taking its toll and the waste and recycling service are suffering a staff shortage. At times this is resulting in missed collections and delays to emptying litter bins and the banks at community recycling sites. We are working…

The Welsh Government has outlined its approach to gender budgeting, with pilots and research helping to create a gender equal Wales. Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said gender budgeting underlines the Welsh Government’s commitment to be a feminist government. Gender budgeting is an analysis of how policies and associated budgets impact different genders. The approach does not mean different budgets for women and men. Instead, it involves actively identifying the impacts of spending on gender equality, leading to better focused funding decisions and in turn better outcomes. Three gender budgeting pilot schemes are taking place in Wales, in the areas of…