Author: Rhys Gregory

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is waiving late filing and late payment penalties for Self Assessment taxpayers for one month – giving them extra time, if they need it, to complete their 2020/21 tax return and pay any tax due. HMRC is encouraging taxpayers to file and pay on time if they can, as the department reveals that, of the 12.2 million taxpayers who need to submit their tax return by 31 January 2022, almost 6.5 million have already done so. HMRC recognises the pressure faced this year by Self Assessment taxpayers and their agents. COVID-19 is affecting the capacity of…

West End Play Group in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan has won an award for ‘The Best Outdoor Area’ in the prestigious Early Years Wales Awards. These awards recognise the passion and dedication of the early years workforce in Wales. Nurseries, playgroups and childminders offer a warm and welcoming place where parents know their children will be stimulated and well cared for. Throughout the pandemic, early years settings have largely remained open, enabling parents, many of whom are key workers, to continue providing vital services. West End Playgroup has been developing its small but perfect outdoor space for several years.  Spending…

Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction and traineeship students from Coleg Cambria have worked together to update Holway Community Centre’s internal storage facilities and external landscape. Ten traineeship learners from the college worked alongside Wynne staff for up to four hours a week over four weeks on the project through November and December. The initiative is part of a wider campaign to provide community benefits following Wynne Construction’s work on the £7.1m Flintshire Early Years project, which will see 10 schools across the county expand their pre-school provisions. As part of the joint project, the building’s two storage rooms were cleared and painted,…

A financial planning firm has moved to a four-day working week for its employees in a bid to sustain productivity and protect the mental health and wellbeing of its staff.   UNIQ Family Wealth, which was founded in 2013 by industry heavyweight Marlene Outrim, and which is focused on helping clients to plan for and achieve a life well lived, introduced the new schedule from January this year.    The firm’s offices in Cardiff, Abergavenny, London and Bristol will now close on a Friday in addition to the weekend, with the business introducing new systems and processes to ensure clients will…

A teacher who has also become a foster carer says it is one of the most rewarding things he has done and is urging others to think about committing to help make a difference to the lives of young people. As a new year starts Swansea Council is appealing to residents to consider becoming a foster carer in 2022. Dafydd Howells started fostering nearly two years and is also a full-time teacher of 20 years. It was through his job of teaching that inspired him to become a foster carer. He said as a teacher he saw the impact fostering…

After considering all the feedback from public consultations held in 2021, Merthyr County Borough Council is consulting further on revised options for the siting of the new 3-16 VA Catholic school. The two revised options now proposed are: Option A – Greenie, with additional open space on current Bishop Hedley High School (BHHS) phase 2. This is the previous Option 2 with the following changes made in response to the previous consultation: the community playground would be relocated near to the current community MUGA. the community changing rooms would be relocated to the Buttercup Fields next to the community grass…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is reminding residents to have their say on its proposals to introduce a low cost home ownership policy. A recent local housing market assessment undertaken by the council demonstrated a high requirement throughout the county borough for a range of good quality, affordable homes, including social rented accommodation and low cost home ownership. In response, the council has revealed ambitious plans to develop mixed and sustainable communities where people want to live, and which promote health and wellbeing.  It plans to do this through the provision of a range of good quality, affordable homes, delivered through…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is delighted to announce that its incredibly popular Graduate Programme is now open for applications. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council prides itself in providing quality employment opportunities and its Graduate Programme is the perfect platform to a successful career in many different service areas. Launching its latest Graduate Programme, the Council has 21 Graduate positions available to apply for, ranging from data management, construction and building services to accountancy, civil engineering and electric vehicle fleet transition. Councillor Maureen Webber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Deputy Leader, said: “Once again. I am delighted to be announcing the launch of…

New funding to support children and young people with Additional Learning Needs has been announced by Jeremy Miles, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language. £18m will be made available to provide extra support for children and young people with ALN who’ve been affected by the pandemic and to help educational settings as learners move to the new ALN system from this month. £10m of the funding will be used to support learners with ALN affected by the pandemic and to improve their wellbeing. During the pandemic, many disabled children and young people, including learners with ALN, continue to experience…

First Minister Mark Drakeford has asked people to keep taking steps to protect each other and keep Wales safe from the wave of omicron cases. He has confirmed alert level 2 measures will stay in place in Wales following the outcome of the latest regulations review. Cases of coronavirus have risen sharply to their highest ever levels as the omicron wave has surged across Wales in the post-Christmas period. The latest figures show there are more than 2,200 cases per 100,000 people in Wales. First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The omicron wave means we are all facing a difficult month…