Author: Rhys Gregory

The Scarlets are working in partnership with their local NHS Charity to support the Wish Fund, a new campaign which will create magical memories for children and young people living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families. The Wish Fund will raise funds for NHS Paediatric Palliative Care services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area. The funding will enable the services to provide activities which are beyond NHS expenditure. These include fantastic group activities and family day trips, therapeutic play toys to help young patients process what they are experiencing, and wellbeing resources for families and young…

Community groups and volunteers across Britain are coming together for this year’s Community Rail Week to encourage people to ‘give the train a try’. They are especially encouraging the many families and individuals who rarely or never get on a train or bus, and instead rely on cars, to consider the benefits of making at least the occasional switch to greener, healthier, more social forms of travel. Community Rail Week, organised by Community Rail Network and sponsored by Rail Delivery Group, runs from 23-29 May, and will involve hundreds of community rail partnerships and volunteer groups inviting people to ‘give…

The Healthspan Porthcawl 10K, a major running event that debuted in 2019 will return this summer after a two-year absence. It is expected to attract thousands of runners from across the UK. The event will return to the seaside town on Sunday 3 July, following the same closed-road route which was devised by race director and double Olympic marathon runner Steve Brace who grew up in nearby Kenfig Hill. Participants will set off and finish in a festival atmosphere outside the historic Porthcawl Pavilion on the Promenade before being treated to panoramic views across Newton Bay, Trecco Bay and Sandy…

One hundred trees are to be planted in Bute Park, creating a new orchard and replacing 50 trees damaged by vandals in September last year. The planting follows a community-led campaign set up in the wake of the vandalism, which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. A fundraiser, set up by Melissa Boothman, owner of The Secret Garden Café in Bute Park, has raised £5,000 so far. Now, by joining forces with the council’s Coed Caerdydd tree planting programme, two trees will be planted during the next tree planting season, for every one tree that was destroyed. Fifty of…

TWO of Swansea’s longest-serving councillors have become Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor. Cllr Mike Day succeeds Councillor Mary Jones, to become Lord Mayor for 2022/23 and his deputy will be Cllr Graham Thomas. Cllr Day, who has been a ward member for Sketty for 23 years, was inaugurated at a Ceremonial Council held in the Council Chamber today (May 20). As Lord Mayor Cllr Day will have an important civic and ceremonial role as the city’s official ambassador. He will also be involved in raising money for local good causes, and has chosen Maggie’s Centre, Swansea and Zac’s Place…

People across Neath Port Talbot are getting ready to play their part in marking the historic royal milestone of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Organisations, community groups and residents are planning to hold a whole host of events to honour the monarch’s 70-year reign. As part of the chain of beacons being lit across the UK (one of the official royal events of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration), LED Jubilee Beacons will be lit at 9.45pm on Thursday June 2nd in Pontardawe, Neath and Port Talbot. As well as parties being planned by residents in streets, parks and community centres, other…

Pembrokeshire libraries will this week hold a series of events to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of unpaid carers. The Down Memory Lane events will be run across four sessions in Fishguard, Milford Haven, Tenby and Pembroke Dock libraries. If you look after a friend, neighbour or family member and would like to socialise, share memories and experiences and find out about the support available to you, please go along to one of the sessions. Tea and coffee will be provided. The events take place at: Fishguard Library (01437 776638) o   Tuesday May 24th 2pm – 4pm Milford Haven…

Members of the team behind Caerphilly Keys, a pioneering private sector leasing scheme, joined forces recently to raise over £1,450 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Eight members from across the Caerphilly Keys team, including officers and landlords, took part this year’s Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10k on Sunday 15th May.  The team selected the Motor Neurone Disease Association as its chosen charity following one of the scheme’s first landlords being recently diagnosed with the condition. The initiative is led by the Housing Solutions team at Caerphilly County Borough Council and is the first of its kind in Wales.  Caerphilly Keys…

Welsh Government investment in universities collaborating in data science and artificial intelligence is changing lives and helping Wales become an international leader in the field. As part of the Digital Strategy for Wales, £500,000 of funding is being shared between 22 innovative projects. Wales Data Nation Accelerator (WDNA) is a collaboration between Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth and Bangor universities to help Wales secure long-term data science and AI success. As data science and AI become more widespread, university research teams are helping people across Wales by ensuring projects are being taken forward with industry so the outcomes can be adopted to…

A new all-Wales digital system is helping people with chronic kidney disease manage their care through technology and cutting hospital visits. Developed by the renal unit at Swansea Bay University Health Board and receiving £1.874million in funding from Welsh Government’s Transformational Fund, the tools have transformed service delivery, enabling those living with the disease to access their blood results and dosing instructions through a patient portal. People with chronic kidney disease often face a lifetime of health challenges; most require specialist medicines, and some require dialysis or a transplant. The digital platform allows those living with the disease to manage…