Author: Rhys Gregory

An insightful and moving tribute to musicians of the silent era is promised when notable musician, dramatist, TV presenter and composer Neil Brand pays a visit to Mid Wales on Saturday, November 6. Gregynog Hall at Tregynon, near Newtown will host a day – from 2pm-9.30pm – with Brand, regarded as one of the finest exponents of improvised silent film accompaniment in the world. He will introduce the audience to the world of early cinema through a performance of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Lodger’ (1927) along with a selection of other classics. Brand performs regularly at the National Film Theatre and…

voco® St David’s Cardiff has announced its charity partner for the year ahead. This year the hotel will be partnering with BulliesOut, to inspire change and make a difference in the lives of those affected by bullying. BulliesOut provides much needed help, training, support and information to individuals, schools, youth and community settings affected by bullying. In addition, they deliver empowering youth engagement programmes that encourage young people to take a stand against bullying and Make a Difference in their communities. The team work closely with parents, professionals, and educators to understand the different dynamics of bullying behaviour and how…

More than 65 homes in Neath Port Talbot have now benefited from a free gas central heating system thanks to the Warm Homes Fund. Since launching in June 2020, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Warm Homes Fund has funded more than £280,000 worth of installations and energy saving measures across 66 homes in the county borough. The Fund is available to eligible homeowners to help save money on energy bills through installing a first time gas central heating system (boiler, radiators, pipework) and energy saving measures (loft insulation, draught proofing, low energy light bulbs etc.) to ensure households are heated efficiently.…

Bridgend County Borough Council is working in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board on an innovative approach to support the health and social care system. At a Bridgend County Borough Council Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 19 October, Cabinet Members approved plans for a pilot scheme which would see a closer integration with the health board. It will see a number of health care support workers within the health board’s community resource team being funded by the local authority for work within the social care sector. The sector continues to be severely impacted by Covid-19 with demands for care…

Powys contact tracers had their busiest month to date during September, when they dealt with 2,664 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 and 10,698 of their close contacts. The county’s Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) Team also dealt with 4,700 incoming calls, about its contact tracing work and Powys Teaching Health Board’s mass vaccination programme; and distributed 8,806 lateral flow device (LFD) test kits, which were collected from libraries and supermarkets. During September, the Powys County Council (PCC) team reached 93% of its positive cases and 94% of their close contacts. Cllr Beverley Baynham, PCC’s Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance…

An initiative to bring new life to community facilities is inviting owners and organisers to access a wide range of support and advice. Officers from Monmouthshire’s Rural Development Programme are offering the opportunity to participate in the Halls Together Project to give people the chance to work together, while sharing ideas and experiences to help ensure the sustainability of their facilities. There are approximately 80 community facilities in Monmouthshire and 15 within the rural wards of Newport.  Each tends to work in isolation, so they rarely take advantage of opportunities to share their experiences, and contribute to the benefit of…

A highly anticipated nature-friendly play park has officially opened in Chippenham Fields in Monmouth, providing a new accessible and safe place for families to enjoy. The new play park officially opened on Monday 25th of October with a special ceremony at the site. It follows years of hard work and planning by Monmouthshire County Council and partners to develop a new and appropriate location. The play area has been designed and installed as part of the council’s move away from traditional metal equipment to the use of more natural products made from sustainable hardwoods, and a greater proportion of inclusive…

If the weather isn’t on your side this half term, not to worry. Monmouthshire has plenty of activities to enjoy when it’s wet outside. Here are a few options so you can still get out and about and explore a wide range of indoor (& some outdoor) activities. Escape the rain by enjoying Monmouthshire’s leisure centre facilities, including swimming pools, gyms, multi-purpose sports halls and fantastic cafés. All four leisure centres open at 6.30am to allow people extra time before a busy day ahead. The leisure centres, based at Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth, provide a warm welcome with support…

Caerphilly County Borough Council are further commemorating Remembrance Day this year with a series of eye-catching poppy road markings in locations across the county borough. The Highways Team are working with contractors to paint the designs onto the road surface near all council-maintained memorials. The works are weather dependent, but the council is making good progress at sites across the area. The company installing the artwork, Roman Road Markings, kindly agreed to subsidise a number of installations in town centres, but a decision has now been made to extend the markings across all Council – maintained memorials. Cllr Jamie Pritchard,…

Initial proposals to use 21st Century Schools investment to deliver a brand new building for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School by autumn 2023 can now be viewed online – and will also be displayed in the community over the next four weeks. The school in Llantwit Fardre could soon benefit from significant funding via Welsh Government’s 21stCentury Schools and Colleges Programme, and residents can give feedback on proposals to construct the new school building on the current school site. The consultation ends on November 24. The funding application process for the project will be finalised in spring 2022 alongside similar projects…