Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

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…