Author: Rhys Gregory

Young people from across North Wales who went on an epic tall ship voyage were given the red carpet treatment at the premiere of a film about their adventure. The team’s four-day expedition took them from Plymouth east to Southampton and around the waters of the Solent, off the Isle of Wight, as part of a trip organised by mental health charity Adferiad. It was made possible by grant from the Office of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s Early Intervention Fund. The film, Voyage to Recovery, charting the team’s seafaring experience was put together by Eternal Media and…

Aldi has supported local charities, community groups and food banks in Wales by donating 32,080 meals to people in need this Christmas. The supermarket paired up its stores with local organisations to make the most of unsold fresh and chilled food after stores closed on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, as part of its pledge to donate 1.8 million meals to families experiencing food poverty during November and December. Around 550,000 meals were donated nationwide and more than 700 UK causes benefitted from the initiative over the festive period. The initiative is part of Aldi’s successful partnership with…

Rescue dogs from the RSPCA’s Bryn-Y-Maen Animal Centre have been bowling over the public as stars of a new cricket video, showcasing highlights from the first ever RSPCA Ashes series. The RSPCA has teamed-up with friends at RSPCA Western Australia to produce the pun-filled video, which shows rescue dogs from the UK and Australia going paw to paw for the famous urn. Dogs adopt personas like Joe Rrrroof, Pat MyTummins and Chris Woakies to feature in the video – launched as the human edition of the Ashes series takes place Down Under, with the touring England and Wales side playing…

The University of South Wales (USW) has helped support schools, charities and community groups by donating surplus office furniture – generating more than £300,000 of social value. Working in partnership with Collecteco, a reuse company operating across the UK, USW was able to help 18 different not for profit organisations to receive furniture, allowing them to continue their work in the community without needing to invest in tables, chairs and other items. By donating 1884 pieces of furniture and equipment, USW and Collecteco have ensured that 69,795kg of waste has been diverted from landfill, avoiding 88,622kg of carbon dioxide from…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is waiving late filing and late payment penalties for Self Assessment taxpayers for one month – giving them extra time, if they need it, to complete their 2020/21 tax return and pay any tax due. HMRC is encouraging taxpayers to file and pay on time if they can, as the department reveals that, of the 12.2 million taxpayers who need to submit their tax return by 31 January 2022, almost 6.5 million have already done so. HMRC recognises the pressure faced this year by Self Assessment taxpayers and their agents. COVID-19 is affecting the capacity of…

West End Play Group in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan has won an award for ‘The Best Outdoor Area’ in the prestigious Early Years Wales Awards. These awards recognise the passion and dedication of the early years workforce in Wales. Nurseries, playgroups and childminders offer a warm and welcoming place where parents know their children will be stimulated and well cared for. Throughout the pandemic, early years settings have largely remained open, enabling parents, many of whom are key workers, to continue providing vital services. West End Playgroup has been developing its small but perfect outdoor space for several years.  Spending…

Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction and traineeship students from Coleg Cambria have worked together to update Holway Community Centre’s internal storage facilities and external landscape. Ten traineeship learners from the college worked alongside Wynne staff for up to four hours a week over four weeks on the project through November and December. The initiative is part of a wider campaign to provide community benefits following Wynne Construction’s work on the £7.1m Flintshire Early Years project, which will see 10 schools across the county expand their pre-school provisions. As part of the joint project, the building’s two storage rooms were cleared and painted,…

A financial planning firm has moved to a four-day working week for its employees in a bid to sustain productivity and protect the mental health and wellbeing of its staff.   UNIQ Family Wealth, which was founded in 2013 by industry heavyweight Marlene Outrim, and which is focused on helping clients to plan for and achieve a life well lived, introduced the new schedule from January this year.    The firm’s offices in Cardiff, Abergavenny, London and Bristol will now close on a Friday in addition to the weekend, with the business introducing new systems and processes to ensure clients will…

A teacher who has also become a foster carer says it is one of the most rewarding things he has done and is urging others to think about committing to help make a difference to the lives of young people. As a new year starts Swansea Council is appealing to residents to consider becoming a foster carer in 2022. Dafydd Howells started fostering nearly two years and is also a full-time teacher of 20 years. It was through his job of teaching that inspired him to become a foster carer. He said as a teacher he saw the impact fostering…

After considering all the feedback from public consultations held in 2021, Merthyr County Borough Council is consulting further on revised options for the siting of the new 3-16 VA Catholic school. The two revised options now proposed are: Option A – Greenie, with additional open space on current Bishop Hedley High School (BHHS) phase 2. This is the previous Option 2 with the following changes made in response to the previous consultation: the community playground would be relocated near to the current community MUGA. the community changing rooms would be relocated to the Buttercup Fields next to the community grass…