Author: Rhys Gregory

Eligible unpaid carers in Caerphilly County Borough can now apply for the Welsh Government funded £500 support payment. A one-off £500 payment is available to all eligible unpaid carers in Wales who were in receipt of Carers Allowance on 31 March 2022. The payment is being made in recognition of the increased financial pressures many unpaid carers have experienced during the pandemic, and to help with some of the additional costs they have incurred.  The payment is targeted towards those individuals who care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and have low incomes. Individuals are not eligible for…

Stagecoach has informed the Merthyr Council that some of its services to and from the Merthyr Tydfil Bus Interchange will undergo significant changes from 29 May because of staff shortages. A number of buses have been cancelled, with other services covering their routes – but there will be an overall reduction.  Stagecoach says the changes are unavoidable due to driver shortages, especially in the Merthyr Tydfil area. The company is actively trying to recruit new drivers and will look to reintroduce some or increase frequency in some areas should the situation improve. Service changes across Merthyr Tydfil and Bargoed include:…

Powys County Council has announced that there will be free parking in all council owned car parks throughout the four-day Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are happening between 2 – 5 June 2022 with an extended bank holiday weekend providing the opportunities for communities to come together to celebrate this historic milestone. Following the invitation from the council to apply for free road closures to enable residents to organise their own street parties, the latest move to remove all parking charges for the weekend will help facilitate these celebrations in our local towns. Nigel Brinn, Executive…

Every child will have the opportunity to benefit from music education as part of the Welsh Government’s plans for a national music service, which will help ensure no child misses out due to a lack of means. As the National Plan for Music Education is published, the Minister for Education has confirmed funding will be trebled, with £13.5m being invested over the next three years. The plan will make access to music education fairer and more consistent across Wales, with a particular focus on learners from low-income households and those with Additional Learning Needs. Support will be available for children…

Every single business needs its own unique logo. Consumers expect it, and it helps to set your company apart from competitors. A logo also generates brand loyalty, attracts your target audience, and showcases your core values and overall business “vibe”. If you run a local business designed to bring in customers in your immediate area, you’ll want to design a logo with a local feel. Following are some tried and proven tips for doing just that. Make a List of Prominent Local Landmarks and Icons Unique local landmarks and icons will help people readily identify your business as a local…

People from all around the world can select to play in any online casino in Australia. Players looking for safe and secure online gaming sites can look into online casino providers in this country. Australians and professional gaming players worldwide, irrespective of any age, have access to a wide and entire range of online casino games. Even though Australia has over three dozen online casinos, finding one suited for real money gambling is complicated. Compared to casinos in the United Kingdom or Canada, online gambling establishments are poorly regulated across the continent. Choosing a solid Australian online casino is a…

The staff of Carter Lauren Construction have climbed the three Welsh peaks within 24 hours, raising over £17,000 in aid of City Hospice. The team of 29, including City Hospice’s Corporate Fundraising Manager Nicky Piper, started climbing Snowdon at two in the morning, reaching the summit and returning by 8am to be greeted with refreshments organised by Carter Lauren Construction. The team then went on to conquer Cadair Idris and travelled down to Pen Y Fan, finally reaching the peak and returning to the bottom 15 minutes before midnight. The Carter Lauren Construction team are long term supporters of City…

64 talented young athletes from Cardiff received awards last week from a £36,000 fund – thanks to leisure charitable social enterprise GLL, which manages Cardiff’s Better Leisure Centres on behalf of Cardiff Council. The local athletes will be supported through the GLL Sport Foundation, the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK, which this year marks its 14th year of supporting today and tomorrow’s athletes. A presentation event took place at Glamorgan Cricket Ground Stadium, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff last week (Wednesday 11th May) when winners were announced. Supported athletes will benefit from free gym and swim memberships and access…

A POPULAR shopping scheme has given town centre businesses a £25,000 boost. That’s how many Totally Mold vouchers have been sold since the initiative was launched just 18 months ago. The idea was rolled-out by the town council during the pandemic, in response to the challenges facing retailers in the UK. Now organisers are urging people to use the £5 tokens in shops and stores locally, as many people have held onto them and not done so yet. “To have sold almost £25,000 worth of Totally Mold vouchers is fantastic news as all of the money stays here in our local economy,…

Cardiff and Vale College A Level learner Cai Pugh has won Career Ready Student of the Year at this year’s Career Ready Awards. The Student of the Year Award recognises learners from across the UK who have excelled during their time of the Career Ready programme and shown progression when it comes to developing their career skills. Cai was one of 12 young people recognised as Student of the Year. The programme is part of a UK-wide charity linking employers with schools and colleges to open up the world of work to young people aged 16-19. Learners at CAVC can…