Author: Rhys Gregory

An NHS worker from Bridgend who is based in the cardiology catheter theatres at the University Hospital of Wales is taking on an epic challenge to help raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru. Elizabeth Sim is training hard for the South Wales Wild Horse 200 Ultra Marathon, a footrace set in the heartlands of Wales over 5 days, starting on 13th April. Elizabeth says, “This is a challenge harder than anything I have physically experienced before. I have 120 hours (5 days) to complete the 200-mile course. The route has 30,187 feet of climbing. No repetition…

It was the first event of the year for the team at Wales’ largest independent mass participant running organisation and what an event it was! With near perfect running conditions on the day, it was hailed a great success, with both male records smashed in the marathon and half marathon events by Cardiff Triathlete, Oliver Webb and Swansea Harrier, Dewi Griffiths. On Sunday 10 April, it was the first time the event has been held since 2019, and after a 1092-day absence. Organisers were delighted to be able to stage it today at the incredible Pembrey Country Park. Tash Smith,…

Pembrokeshire County Council is once again preparing for the annual Tenby Pedestrianisation scheme. The scheme is due to start on Monday 4th July and finish on Friday 9th September and run between 11am – 5.30pm each day. The scheme will again see the Walled Town divided into three ‘zones,’ each of which will have varying degrees of vehicle access. Full details of the scheme and the on-line application form will be available from Monday 9th May and can be found on the Council’s website. Residents and business within the Walled Town are encouraged to complete the process as soon as…

County Hall in Haverfordwest will be lit in blue on the evening of Monday, April 11th to mark World Parkinson’s Day and spread awareness of the condition. County Hall joins other Welsh landmarks turning blue to show their support for the 145,000 people in the UK who live with the condition, including more than 7,600 in Wales. Poems for Parkinson’s also invites people to share their personal stories to help more people understand the reality of living with the condition. Pembrokeshire County Council CEO Will Bramble, said: “We are pleased to light County Hall in blue to help raise awareness of…

The first winner of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Mash for Cash campaign has been announced. The borough’s Mash for Cash campaign launched on the 7th March and will run throughout 2022 will see houses monitored with one food recycling participant chosen at random each month, with each winner receiving £500. The campaign aims to increase the number of residents currently recycling their food waste, with current participation levels currently around 40% throughout the borough. In turn, the Local Authority hopes that the increase in food waste recycling would lead to a decline in the amounts of refuse disposal, boosting the…

Merthyr Tydfil’s tourism sector is bouncing back from the pandemic after being named one of the top 10 trending UK destinations this Easter for Airbnb stays. The online marketplace for homestays and holiday rentals has revealed that the county borough is listed alongside Prestatyn and Carmarthen for Wales’s most booked holiday properties by British people searching the platform. Merthyr Tydfil is ranked number eight on the Airbnb list, which also features Aintree in Merseyside; Balloch in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland; and Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire. Local accommodation providers have thanked the County Borough Council for the support it offered them in…

Unpaid carers of all ages in Wales are set to benefit from a short breaks fund after a £9m investment from the Welsh Government. The scheme, which will benefit from funding for the next three years, will increase opportunities for unpaid carers to take a break from their caring role. It will support unpaid carers in Wales to enjoy regular periods away from their caring responsibilities, in an effort to prevent burnout and boost their mental and physical wellbeing. It will help them to take part in hobbies or activities, including a chance to visit the gym, learn a new…

Arts and cultural events across Wales are looking forward to welcoming back visitors in person over the coming months as organisers switch back to live audience performances.   Many of these home-grown events have had funding support from the Welsh Government through Event Wales. According to latest figures from 2019, events supported through Event Wales attracted 200,000 visitors to Wales which generated £33.35m in direct economic impact/net additional spend into Wales and supported more than 770 jobs in the wider tourism economy. The team behind FOCUS Wales are preparing for their 11th edition of the event between the 5th and…

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Wales, Sue Tranka has outlined her ambitious plans for the Nursing and Midwifery professions at the CNO Wales Conference last week. Areas of focus for the next two years will include supporting and growing the workforce, ensuring professional and health care equity and improving patient outcomes. Developed in collaboration with stakeholders, the five priorities are: Leading the profession – invest in and develop nurse and midwife leaders at all levels in health and social care through dedicated leadership programmes; Workforce – close the vacancy gap and attract, recruit and retain a motivated, skilled workforce; Making…

Winter can be a difficult time for us all. The harsh weather conditions can make some of the everyday things you do feel more dangerous; however, nothing is affected more during this time of year than your car. Everyone knows that the roads become more treacherous during a flurry of snow, but there are other pressing concerns that you need to pay attention to as well. This article will look at some of winter’s negative effects on your car and explain what you need to do to prevent them. All of this information aims to help you feel safer on…