Author: Rhys Gregory

Proposals will be considered to introduce a Community Housing Scheme that will provide younger generations with a better pathway to home ownership in Ceredigion. During a Council meeting held virtually on 03 March 2022, Councillors acknowledged the difficulty facing young people to buy their own home and remain in their county. The decision comes following a paper presented in 2021 that specified a vision to create a pathway to home ownership for the younger generation of Ceredigion. The full Council supported the proposal and recognised the need to develop a scheme that would support and enable young people to purchase…

A family-owned bakery in Snowdonia is celebrating 15 years of a successful partnership Aldi. Located in the village of Llanllechid, Popty Bakery started supplying its award-winning Welsh Cakes to the supermarket back in 2007. Made using an old family recipe, the Welsh Cakes are a popular choice amongst Aldi customers across the UK, receiving multiple accolades, including the prestigious Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Gold Star Award in 2020. Popty Bakery was founded in the early 1900s and is now run by the third generation of the same family. The long-term partnership with Aldi has helped the bakery enjoy…

Louise Bevan has been appointed as the Director of Operations for the Public Sector at one of the UK’s leading recruitment firms, Acorn. The all-new role has been created to support further growth within its public sector division and is the first of its kind to be introduced within the organisation. Formerly a manager with Blue Arrow, Louise has developed a specialism for working on large-scale public sector projects during her time in the recruitment industry. Louise said: “Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors affecting the UK labour market today, the public and private sectors have never had…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding about 7,500 tax credits, Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers they have just one month left to switch their Post Office card account. HMRC will stop making payments to Post Office card accounts after 5 April 2022 so customers must notify HMRC of their new account details, so they don’t miss out on vital payments. In November 2021, HMRC extended the deadline to the end of the financial year. The one-off extension to the contract meant customers could temporarily continue to receive their payments into their Post Office account, giving them extra time…

Hay Festival Scribblers Tour closed last Friday 18 February after bringing five exceptional YA writers direct to 741 Year 7-10 school pupils across Wales in inspiring free, in-person events hosted at University of South Wales, Swansea University, Aberystwyth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and Wrexham Glyndwr University. Running 7-11 February and 14-18 February, the Scribblers Tour aimed to engage and encourage the next generation in storytelling and conversation, inspiring empathy and creativity. Now in its eleventh year, the tour also gave pupils a chance to experience a taste of life on a university campus. Compèred by YA writer Jenny Valentine, sessions…

Britain’s organisations and businesses leading the way in promoting their employees’ wellbeing have been honoured in a brand new awards series, including one from Wales. Careers Wales was named the first ever winner of the Best Support for Remote Workers award in recognition of the steps they took to protect staff from the potential challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. They became early adopters of a variety of programmes intended to mitigate the harsh impact of and transition to working from home, including the training of 30 mental health first aiders and relaxing rules around working hours. The Great…

The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company is spearheading the launch of a new national day dedicated to the joys of laverbread – a traditional Welsh seaweed delicacy that can be used in everything from quiches to cooked breakfasts. Laverbread is the cooked version of ‘laver’ – porphyra seaweed – a diaphanous red algae found abundantly along Wales’ rocky coastline. Cooked for many hours, it produces a green, gluey sludge that is a delicacy for many, but a challenge to others. Needless to say, it tastes much better than it looks. Jonathan Williams founded his award-winning business on a passion for laverbread. Quitting a…

Land ahoy! Pirates are taking over Adventure Play at Nova over the next few weeks, to transform Nova Play and Café into a treasure island adventure. Nova Play is one of the biggest adventure play centres in North Wales and it’s just about to get even better. Roof damage by Storm Eunice caused Nova Adventure Play to close last week, so whilst the facility is closed for repair, Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has taken the opportunity to enhance the play area and café, and reopen with an exciting new look. Following the success of Adventure Play at SC2 and the popularity…

Swansea Building Society has expanded and updated its mortgage product range to include a new green mortgage, aimed at incentivising energy efficient homes. It has also increased loan to value amounts for buy to let and holiday let mortgages, launched new products for Limited Company buy to let and holiday let mortgages, and is allowing portfolio landlord applications for the first time in its history. The Society’s new Green Mortgage product is applicable only on properties which have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B. This mortgage aims to reward the purchasing of lower-carbon and energy efficient…

Fly-tip in Rhondda Cynon Taf and you will be caught red handed as this man from Penrhiwcieber has recently found out! That’s the warning from RCT Council. Earlier this month the individual was held accountable in court for his reckless, fly-tipping actions. This led to a total of over £740 being issued in a fine. This acts as a clear reminder that residents have a duty of care to dispose of their waste appropriately and to ensure that items are disposed of correctly. Failure to do this, could end up costing you a lot more than travelling a few miles…