Author: Rhys Gregory

Two friends have launched North Wales’ first ever LGBTQ+ rugby club, offering a safe and inclusive environment for people to take part in sport. The Conwy Dragons are one of a handful of clubs across Wales set up with the purpose of being fully inclusive. People from all backgrounds can take part, in an environment free from misconceptions or judgement. Demand to join the team has increased significantly since its formation in October 2021. Starting with just three players, they now have over 24 people involved in the sessions. Most of the players are from Colwyn Bay, but some travel…

As she’s about to head out on her first ever UK tour, Oti Mabuse today announces that the special guests joining her on Friday 29th April and Saturday 30th April in Cardiff will be her team Oti, The Greatest Dancer finalists…. the wonderful all-girl LatinAmerican dance team, KLA. OTI MABUSE – I AM HERE is a whirlwind celebration of the influences and inspirations that took her on a journey from growing up in South Africa to following her dream. From mesmerising Jives and pumping Sambas to South Africa’s exhilarating Kwaito, the show is promising an explosive night of dance and…

BHF Cymru has awarded a Medal of Thanks to a former Paralympian from Llanelli who organised a 10 mile walk and hand-bike fundraising challenge which was completed despite some of the worst weather conditions in recent times. The event was supported by friends and family of much-loved Nest Davies from Capel Hendre near Ammanford. Nest passed away suddenly from a heart attack last October, and Lisa Pudner was inspired to set up the event which raised over £2,000 to fund British Heart Foundation for research on February 20th, which would have been Nest’s 67thbirthday. The challenge took in a loop…

Earlier today the 62nd Greenfingers Charity garden at Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice – one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities, offering care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families throughout Wales – was officially opened by BBC Radio 2’s resident gardener, Terry Walton.  Designed by multi-RHS gold medal-winning garden designers, Victoria Wade Landscapes; brought to life by NP Landscapes; and project managed by Joe Wade, this new interactive sensory garden space – funded by The National Heritage Lottery, The Postcode Lottery and many wonderful friends of Greenfingers – will provide year-round accessibility for children with life-limiting conditions and their families while staying at or visiting Tŷ Hafan’s hospice at Sully, near Cardiff, as well as staff and volunteers.   The…

An incredible £131.8 million of National Lottery funding went to projects in Wales in 2020/21, according to new figures released today to mark the launch of this year’s National Lottery Awards.   A total of 3,327 National Lottery grants were allocated in this period, providing crucial support to arts, sports, heritage and community organisations in Wales. The National Lottery Awards are an annual celebration of the inspirational individuals and groups who do extraordinary things in their community with the help of National Lottery funding. More than 1,500 inspirational people and projects were nominated for last year’s National Lottery Awards, and now…

The Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales has announced that Welsh TV personality, Sian Lloyd, has become a new ambassador for the charity as it seeks to increase its fundraising efforts during 2022 for the Children’s Kidney Centre, University Hospital Wales. The charity’s target is to raise £132,000 by March 2023, which will contribute to the refurbishment of the Children’s Kidney Centre, Cardiff. The project aims to provide a calming environment with updated private consultation rooms and a children’s play area. Currently, there is very little natural light in the department, making it a dark environment. Through refurbishment, natural light…

Forgeside, in Blaenavon, has been named the final winner in the RHS’ Garden Day competition. A patch of wasteland adjoining a rugby pitch will now be transformed into a community garden that residents say will become the ‘beating heart’ of the town. The RHS is creating four new Community Gardens, one in each of the nations, to share the joy of gardening as part of its celebrations for 2022 RHS Garden Day next Monday (2 May). Blaenavon in Wales is the forth winner after Huntingdon (England), Paisley (Scotland) and Randalstown (Northern Ireland). Forgeside Rugby Club applied for the garden to…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Engineering Projects Group has engaged Edwards Diving Services Ltd to undertake works to reinstate storm damaged stone cladding along the river training walls within the Bargoed Country Park. Funding for this work has been sought and obtained from Welsh Government.  Local restrictions to the pedestrian footpaths in the immediate vicinity will be enforced during this works in the interests of public safety. The works is planned to start 6 May 2022 and end 19 September 2022.

Newport City Council is joining forces with Job Centre Plus and Restart Newport to host a jobs fair in Newport Centre on 25 May. Employers are being invited to showcase their vacancies to residents looking for work, or new challenges, between 10.30am and 3.30pm. This will be the first “in-person” City of Newport jobs fair since before the pandemic began and previous events were extremely popular with both local employers and job seekers. More than 20 employers have already signed up to take part in this year’s event.

The mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across the United Kingdom to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Monday 2 May 2022, the Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed today. Poultry and other captive birds will no longer need to be housed, unless they are in a Protection Zone, and will be allowed to be kept outside. While the risk of bird flu has been reduced to ‘medium’ for premises with poor biosecurity, the enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone…