Author: Rhys Gregory

Businesses in Wales impacted by the rapid spread of the Omicron virus can now find out how much they can expect to receive in emergency financial support from the Welsh Government. Economy Minister Vaughan Gething previously said £120m would be available for retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism business and their supply chains affected by the move to alert level 2 announced by the First Minister on Wednesday 22 December. The support package includes funding from the Economic Resilience Fund (ERF), with an eligibility checker for this fund now live on the Business Wales website. This will help businesses, including charities…

Last week, the Sherman Theatre announced that it would remain open after Christmas despite the introduction of the new Alert Level 2 restrictions. On Wednesday 22 December, the First Minister for Wales, Mark Drakeford, announced new measures from 6am on Boxing Day to help keep Wales safe. The rule of 6 and 2m distancing had seen a number of theatres close their productions early. The Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff’s New Theatre were among those to cancel all of their remaining performances for the year. However, the Sherman Theatre has been quite innovative in how it has dealt with the…

The presents have been opened, all the turkey has been eaten and you’ve watched the same five Christmas films on loop since the start of December. The family is getting restless, and your Great Uncle is starting to make comments which at any moment are bound to disrupt the house’s festive cheer. Don’t fear, the team at the leading British stationery brand, Pukka Pads, has pulled together a whopping list of 101 pen and paper games which are guaranteed to keep all the family entertained for hours. All you simply need is a pen and some paper, meaning that you…

A group of GP practices in Swansea is helping the environment as well as its patients thanks to a new electric vehicle. The City Health Cluster, which covers eight GP practices in the central areas of Swansea, has received the electric car that will be used by its paramedic to visit patients at home. Keith Richards works as the cluster’s community paramedic and travels to patients’ homes to assess them as a way of helping GPs who are seeing patients in their surgeries. “There are eight GP practices in the cluster but some of them have sister practices so I…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed that 2,828 customers filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day, compared to 2,700 in 2020. For thousands of customers, filing their tax return on 25 December has become part of their Christmas tradition, with 227 choosing to complete their Self Assessment between 12:00 and 12:59. In total, more than 31,000 customers submitted their 2020/21 tax return between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day – getting it in early ahead of the deadline on 31 January 2022, and most festive filers completed their return on 24 December: Christmas Eve: 19,802 tax returns were…

A vital service protecting vulnerable women across North Wales is opening two new contact centres in Wrexham and Bangor to reach out to those in need.. The North Wales Women’s Centre, in Rhyl, was forced to close its doors during lockdown, preventing women using its drop-in service. Now the Centre has re-opened and is launching its new Pathfinder offices in Wrexham and Bangor and that has been welcomed by Women’s Centre Managing Director Gemma Fox. The Pathfinder programme, which aims to help women at risk of offending, has been commissioned and paid for by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner…

A top stand-up artist has rounded up big name stars for a dazzling night of comedy in aid of three LGBTQ+ youth clubs in Gwynedd. It’s the second time Anglesey-raised celeb Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, who has starred on Have I Got News for You and 8 out of 10 Cats, has pitched in to help youth organisations run by charity GISDA. The money raised at the gig will help fund the original club in Caernarfon and two new branches in Pwllheli and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Kiri, a friend of GISDA club volunteer Klaire Hodgson, was first stirred to act after an attack…

‘A role that has meaning’ – that’s the message of a new social care recruitment campaign launched this week in Pembrokeshire. The campaign aims to inspire kind and compassionate people to consider a new career for the New Year – working in care. Featuring a video shot in stunning locations around Pembrokeshire, the campaign highlights the fulfilling nature of care work, as well as showcasing the beauty of the county as an attractive place to live and work. Cllr Tessa Hodgson thanked colleagues who helped to make the video and all others working in care. “These wonderful people make a…

Newport City Council’s trading standards team is urging residents to be aware that illegal vapes are available in the city. Disposable vape devices known by various names including ‘Geek Bars’ and ‘Nicotine Puffs’ contain an extremely harmful dose of nicotine. Vape products sold in the UK must comply with certain requirements including: They must contain no more than two per cent nicotine They must contain no more than 2ml of liquid The exact wording “This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance” must be stated on the packaging And a UK address must also be on the packaging…

A Local broadband project in Powys is set to receive more than £900k worth of funding to help them deliver fast and reliable broadband to communities that need it, thanks to the Welsh Government’s Local Broadband Fund. The £10 million fund, which was set-up to help local authorities and social enterprises address connectivity issues in their communities has already helped a number of projects in the first phase and will now help a number of further in phase two. The project will connect 13 ‘hard to reach properties’ in Powys with incidental benefits provided to an additional 139 properties across…