Author: Rhys Gregory

13.8 billion years of history will be celebrated at a spectacular open-air event in Caernarfon next month. From 30 March – 5 April, the iconic Y Maes landmark will be transformed into a vast canvas at night by the video artists behind the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. About Us is a free event combining awe-inspiring live performances, multimedia installations and is the first project to open UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK – a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of creativity taking place across the UK this year. Created by 59 Productions, The Poetry Society and Stemettes, About Us will feature beautiful performances…

This week, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB has reached a significant landmark of one million COVID-19 vaccines administered to residents across Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. CTM UHB is the third health board in Wales to reach this milestone of one-million vaccine doses given, in the largest mass vaccination programme of our time. The vaccination programme was first rolled out to staff in December 2020, and then to the public at GP surgeries in January 2021.  The delivery of the vaccination programme was moved to five specially transformed, Community Vaccination Centres in April 2021. Gabriel Salvatore, 14, from Bridgend,…

Ellucian, a leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced that Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff Met) has selected Ellucian cloud solutions to modernise its technology operations. Supporting Cardiff Met’s strategy of improvement, growth and diversification, Ellucian Banner student information system (SIS) will integrate systems and improve workflows across the institution delivering a better user experience for students, faculty and staff. Cardiff Met seeks to create a world leading and tailored journey for students and the modern Banner platform will streamline their digital interactions. Administrators and staff will benefit from reduced manual processes, interventions and workarounds across the student lifecycle, and…

Minty’s Gig Guide – a live music map that keeps local music fans up-to-date with gigs taking place at venues across Cardiff – will be updated ahead of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival (Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd April) and Fringe Festival (Monday 28th March – Sunday 3rd April), which are being held in the city for the first time. Minty’s Gig Guide, which has a cult following locally, was first published in 2017 by Daniel Minty to help keep local music fans up-to-date with what gigs were happening and crucially, where. Minty has been a champion of the…

A keen cyclist is taking on an overseas cycle ride and fundraising for Brain Tumour Research to support his friend who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Andy Griffiths, 55, from Leamington Spa, had originally planned to travel to Belgium in his campervan with his wife Sandra (‘Sandy’), 62, to ride the Tour of Flanders cycle, also known as De Ronde, on 31 March 2020, with best friend Rob Baldwin. The event didn’t go ahead, due to COVID-19, but Andy had already had to withdraw from taking part, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour the previous month. Whilst swimming…

Morrisons has become the first supermarket to offer its customers a way to recycle coffee pods through a partnership with the recycling scheme Podback. Over the coming weeks, Morrisons customers will be able to pick up free Podback Collect+ recycling bags from its customer service desks. The Podback bags can be filled with used coffee pods at home, then taken to one of 6,500 Collect+ delivered by Yodel drop off points around the UK. All postage back to Podback is free of charge. Through the Podback scheme, used aluminium pods are turned into aluminium ingots for new products – such…

Former international referee Nigel Owens has told William Hill football can learn a lot from rugby union when it comes to the value of respect and the way the sport deals with on-field issues, but says adding microphones to football referees like they do in rugby union may not be the answer due to the bad language that may arise. There has long been talk of how football can improve upon the issue of player respect towards referees, and ex-rugby union international official Owens has laid out how it can draw some inspiration from his sport. “Rugby can’t take the…

Young people in Springfield, Pontllanfraith are celebrating the opening of new play facilities this half term. Springfield has received upgrades to its existing play area, including new toddler and junior swings, a see saw, springers, fencing and an inclusive wheelchair friendly roundabout.  A brand new skate park has also been installed, following consultation with the local community. A total of £134,000 has been invested into the facilities thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s flagship Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme. The council recently announced completion of its main WHQS programme which has seen over £260 million invested into refurbishments to…

Monmouthshire County Council and Chepstow Town Council have joined together to prepare the next step in the town’s journey, setting out a long-term vision for the town that lays out the steps that need to be taken to achieve a more attractive and vibrant town. Building upon the 18 months of Place Plan consultation undertaken by Planning Aid Wales and Place Studio on behalf of Chepstow Town Council, this next phase focuses on the whole of Chepstow and will consider appropriate physical changes to ensure future Chepstow is a town well-placed to serve its existing and future residents, businesses and visitors. Supported by Welsh Government Transforming Towns’ funding, this plan will…

Schools across Rhondda Cynon Taf are supporting the Council’s latest campaign that aims to make irresponsible dog owners ‘SIT’ up and take notice! Following the success that the ‘NO DOG FOULING’ and ‘NO DOGS ON PITCHES’ stencil campaign is having across the County Borough, schools in RCT have reached out to the Council’s Streetcare team and asked for the messages to be displayed in and around their school grounds. Glenboi and Darren Las Primary Schools, in Mountain Ash, Ynyshir Primary School, in Porth and Gwauncelyn Primary School, in Tonteg were all keen to highlight their support in the hope that…