Author: Rhys Gregory

A building project that will transform education for pupils with additional learning needs in Powys has reached two important milestones, the county council has said. Last week (Thursday, February 3) planning permission was granted for a new state-of-the-art campus for Ysgol Cedewain in Newtown. The new build replaces very poor accommodation at the current Ysgol Cedewain school, and will include facilities for very vulnerable learners, including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms and garden as well as a community café. The new build will enable staff to teach in a learning environment that is fit-for-purpose, and for parents to…

Merthyr Tydfil could soon become a hub of live music, comedy, food and arts — with plans to transform the town centre’s derelict Rugby Club into a vibrant new entertainment venue. Local entrepreneur, Jorge D’ascencao, has this week (07 February) revealed ambitious plans for the site — which will re-open as ‘Clwb Crown’ in August 2022. Set to welcome a top-secret line up of world-famous artists, the transformative project has been made possible by an investment from the Transforming Towns Placemaking scheme, in conjunction with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. The 700-person Clwb will become the highest capacity venue in…

This February, Flossy and Boo return to Chapter Arts Centre’s stage, and venues across South Wales, with their magical brand of storytelling in a beautiful show, The Girl Who Couldn’t Pretend, about the power of imagination. Flossy and Boo said: “We’re so excited to be back on tour with The Girl Who Couldn’t Pretend, with the previous tour being cut short (we all know why!) this is a long awaited return to this joyous story. “We can’t wait to be back in Chapter, sharing the magic of live theatre with all the wonderful audiences.” The Girl Who Couldn’t Pretend is…

An apprenticeship is seen as an important route into a career in civil engineering. From gaining work experience whilst achieving academic qualifications to a requirement to solve different problems with each new project. As National Apprenticeship Week is celebrated throughout Wales, the Institution of Civil Engineers in Wales (ICE Wales Cymru) invites applications for the prestigious annual award – Apprentice of the Year 2022. The competition opens today, Tuesday 8 February with contestants asked to evidence why they should be awarded the title. Applications can be made by the individual, supported by their organisation or nominated by their employers. Over…

A hotel at one of the top visitor destinations and beauty spots in Mid Wales is promising guests ‘The Vyrnwy Cwtch’ when they book a midweek winter break in February and March. The Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa has launched a Spring marketing campaign offering a midweek overnight break for couples from £199 with a second night at half price. Included in the one night stay are luxurious accommodation, a Welsh breakfast, £35 per person towards dinner in the award-winning Tower Restaurant, a bottle of fizz in the room on arrival as well as a cuddly sheep to cwtch on the way home…

Eight young people who are interested in all aspects of film making are being sought for a series of workshops in Mid Wales during February and March. Shakespeare Link, a charity which operates the Willow Globe, a scaled down, living version of the Globe in London, is working with Powys County Council’s Winter of Wellbeing to offer free film making workshops. The workshops, which will be held every Saturday from February 26 to March 19 from 11am till 4pm, are free of charge and open to young people aged 12-18 years with an interest in film making. As there are…

The founding director of Cardiff-based creative agency CREO Interactive Limited has completed a management buy-out, selling 75% of the business to his three co-directors. Creative director Jordan Thorne, strategic director Kat Shaw and technical director Nick Coakley have acquired 75% of CREO from Richard Ward, who retains a 25% share. They become joint owners of the business with a six-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales secured as finance. From humble beginnings as a two-man company operating from a small bedroom in 1999, CREO is now one of Wales’ most established agencies with a talented team of 12 and…

Wales’ legendary House Music party promoters Time Flies are back on Saturday 26th February for a massive celebration in the Welsh capital. The 1000 capacity Cardiff Tramshed will be rocking to its foundations as the legendary JUDGE JULES, JEREMY HEALY & JOHN KELLY, plus a host of local star DJs, take to the decks for this monster party over two floors of complete mayhem! “Celebrating 28 years of Time Flies makes me and the team immensely proud, but we couldn’t have reached this milestone without the incredible support from our loyal crowd plus the awesome DJs who play for our…

A fully-funded support programme aimed specifically at helping first-language Portuguese speakers to start and grow a business is launching in Wrexham. Wrexham’s Portuguese population is the third largest international community in the town but, as second-language English speakers, find themselves on the back foot when it comes to entrepreneurship with many facing barriers to accessing funding and business support. As a result, the Business Wales Wrexham Enterprise Hub is launching its StartUp Club to bring together like-minded individuals facing the same struggles and offer the Hub as a safe space for internationals to access the essential help they’re missing out…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed extreme concern that the recent Welsh Government Refreshed TB Eradication Programme consultation has been produced without any assessment of the ground-level impacts of the proposals. The consultation, which closes on 8 February 2022, contains significant and costly proposals which, if brought in, could see a significant rise in the number of cattle TB tests conducted, an increase in the number of cattle slaughtered and a reduction in compensation payments of around one third. Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer said: “Given the significance of this consultation, it is fair and reasonable for…