Author: Rhys Gregory

A brand new programme of Welsh language lessons for early-years groups is launching across Newport. Kidslingo has been running French and Spanish classes for young children across South Wales for eight years, aiming to maximise their early-years learning potential and boost their development. They are now turning their attention to supporting the Welsh Government target of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050 by offering young children the best possible start to learning the language. The Cymraeg 2050 report states the aim of giving children under the age of five sufficient contact with the Welsh language to be able to…

Leading IT solutions provider, CGI, is bringing its Cyber Escape experience to Wales as a part of a UK-wide tour. The escape room-style experience gives businesses, local officials and students the opportunity to learn about online security risks in a fun and interactive way. CGI’s Cyber Escape experience is at Techniquest Science Centre in Cardiff between 9 and 13 May. Guests will team up to beat the hacker and learn about cyber security risks and how to avoid them. The experience has been built within a shipping container and small groups participate in a short “escape”. Teams have to work…

TV star Tim Vincent officially opened Jollyes’ flagship Wrexham store on Saturday 7 May 2022. The Welsh actor and presenter – who started his career at Theatr Clwyd in North Wales and is familiar to millions from his time on Blue Peter – cut the ribbon and then shortly after the opening ceremony compered Britain’s first Pet Passion Show, in support of Wrexham’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid. Finn, owned by Meghan Potter won the title after judges heard the one-year-old cockerpoo had blossomed after coming through an accident. Finn was joined by Freddie, a one-year-old Cocker Spaniel from…

West Wales’s newest hotel has achieved an impressive four-star grading from Visit Wales inspectors within a few weeks of opening. Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront only opened in time for the Easter holidays on 8th April but was adjudged to have bedded in very quickly as it secured the high rating from its first assessment. The quality of the housekeeping and the food in dulse restaurant scored the highest marks as the hotel and staff also achieved strong feedback for their hospitality and friendliness, service and efficiency, and the quality and maintenance of bedrooms and facilities. The assessment highlighted the impressive…

Denbighshire is celebrating after three members of its social care staff have been honoured at a national award ceremony. The Social Care Accolades recognise, celebrate and share notable work of groups, teams and organisations in social care and childcare, as well as individual care workers from across the public, private, voluntary and co-operative sectors in Wales. Denbighshire County Council’s service manager Alaw Pierce won the Caring in Welsh award which celebrated her role in making a positive difference to people’s lives by providing high-quality care through the medium of Welsh. In addition, another two members of staff were celebrated for…

One of the oldest Icelandic whooper swans on record has been found in Pembrokeshire – having spent almost three decades on Earth. RSPCA Cymru was alerted after a member of the public found the male swan grounded underneath power lines in the Letterson area of the county on 1 April, after a suspected collision. Other swans – believed to be joining the swan on a flight back to Iceland – were circling above the stricken swan; who was then confined by a member of the public before RSPCA rescuers were contacted. RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Ellie West rushed him…

A cutting-edge tech platform built by Anglesey-born surgeon Dr Owain Rhys Hughes has been adopted by several major NHS organisations as part of efforts to shorten waiting lists and improve collaboration between medics. Welsh NHS figures reveal that in February of this year, almost 690,000 patients were waiting to start treatment, a number that has risen every month since the start of the pandemic. However, Dr Hughes’ digital technology, Cinapsis SmartReferrals, is designed to tackle these lengthening waiting lists and reduce the growing pressure on NHS services. The desktop and smartphone-accessible platform supports primary care staff (including GPs, optometrists and…

Money can’t buy you love but it does make your profile more attractive when it comes to online dating. New research has revealed that level of education and income are particularly important, especially for men. Evolutionary psychologist Dr Andrew G Thomas, from Swansea University’s School of Psychology, was involved in the study which examined almost 2 million dating profiles and revealed that being more educated and earning more money increases the amount of interest received. Dr Thomas said: “We wanted to find out if we could predict how much attention, – whether messages, winks or likes – a person’s dating…

Simon Cassidy, Head of Placement Experience and Improvement at HEIW has received a Chief Nursing Office Wales Excellence Award. This is for the support he provided trainee nurses throughout Covid-19 and his contribution to the development of several common elements that underpin future nurse programmes. The pandemic brought unforeseen challenges for nursing students to continue their training in placement settings. Approximately 6,500 nursing students are enrolled on healthcare programmes in Wales each year. Nursing programmes involve students undertaking practice placements where they need to apply their knowledge to practice. However, the pandemic threatened this approach and jeopardised students’ opportunity to…

Sex Education Actor Ncuti Gatwa will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the star of Doctor Who.  He will become the 14th Time Lord on the popular science fiction show – and the first person of colour to play the lead role.  He said: “It feels really amazing. It’s a true honour. This role is an institution and it’s so iconic. It means a lot to so many people, including myself.  “I feel very grateful to have had the baton handed over and I’m going to try to do my best.”  Gatwa will make his debut on the show in…