Author: Rhys Gregory

A NORTH Wales radio presenter has swapped the decks for a defibrillator by becoming a volunteer for the Welsh Ambulance Service. Oli Kemp, one half of ‘Lois & Oli’ on Heart North and Mid Wales, has just completed his training as a Community First Responder so that he can administer life-saving first aid to people in his community. Oli, originally from London, now living near Llangollen, Denbighshire, has had a long-held ambition to become a first responder, ever since the sudden death of his 20-month-old daughter in 2012. The Covid-19 pandemic presented a perfect opportunity to pursue his passion, said…

Rob Edwards has named a 20-player squad for Cymru’s first U18 match in more than twenty years when they play England on Monday 29 March (KO 12:00). Several players selected were part of the U17 side that qualified for last season’s UEFA #U17EURO Elite Round, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Qualifying Round, the squad featuring Oli Ewing, Ryan Viggars and Charlie Savage recorded an impressive 2-1 win against group favourites the Netherlands. The side will be managed by Edwards, with players moving into the U19 setup for the 2021/22 season. The U18 setup has been…

Individuals and businesses across the Vale of Glamorgan are being encouraged to get involved with a new virtual food festival which will take place later this month. The inaugural Food Vale Festival will take place from 22nd March – 4th April 2021 and will include a series of virtual events designed to bring people closer to food producers and businesses in the Vale, whilst highlighting opportunities to improve the local food system, post-Covid 19 The festival is being organised by Food Vale, part of the Sustainable Food Places network – a partnership programme led by the Soil Association, Food Matters…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council have made the joint decision not to open a community vaccination centre (CVC) in Aberfan.  It was due to open in Aberfan community centre at the end of this month. However, following site visits and security inspections, the conclusion was reached the venue is not suitable as a CVC, because of difficulties in storing the vaccines there. Within the next couple of weeks, the Health Board’s community vaccination centres will begin to offer both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines during separate clinics, and as well as the storage…

Celtic Routes, a partnership project between Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire County Councils and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in Wales and Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford County Councils in Ireland, has secured an additional £1.5 million for a second phase of the Celtic Routes tourism project. The successful bid to the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) will take the project through to 2023. It’s a branded collection of tourism experiences encouraging travellers to visit Ireland and Wales to discover the Celtic spirit by suggesting immersive and authentic experiences in West Wales and South East Ireland. The contract is partly funded via…

Over the past year, green spaces have been more important than ever, allowing people to reconnect, focus and relax. Now, people who used to be homeless and are receiving support from Emmaus South Wales have given nature and the local community a boost thanks to a garden scheme from environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy. Bridgend-based charity, Emmaus South Wales, offers people who have been homeless or socially excluded a place to live for as long as they need it and work experience in a social enterprise. Through the Keep Wales Tidy ‘Local Places for Nature’ development package, residents at Emmaus…

All Denbighshire primary school pupils and secondary school pupils in years 11 and 13 will return to school on Monday (March 15). Before the Easter break the remaining secondary school year groups will have the opportunity to attend school and individual schools will communicate their arrangements with parents and carers. Denbighshire County Council is reminding parents and guardians to follow guidance around schools which includes not to mix while picking up and dropping off children at the school gates, to wear face coverings and to maintain social distancing. Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and…

The National Day of Reflection, led by end of life charity Marie Curie, is set to take place on Tuesday 23rd March, the anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown. The charity hopes the day will bring the whole of the UK together to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future. Joining a host of national charities, organisations and celebrities supporting the day are First Minister Mark Drakeford, Presiding Officer, Elin Jones,  all four Welsh Police Forces, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Social Care Wales, Care Forum Wales, the Church…

An ambitious strategy, outlining Cardiff Council’s plans to continue addressing housing need in the city,  to upgrade existing homes and regenerate communities, maintain momentum in tackling homelessness and support tenants and residents impacted by the pandemic, will be considered by Cabinet next week. The Council’s annual Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan also sets out how the authority will focus on rolling out innovative decarbonisation projects across the city, deliver a zero carbon housing development in Rumney and create an onsite construction training hub to train up to 750 people a year and offer employment or apprenticeships to over 200…

Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed that it intends to oppose plans from the Ministry of Justice for siting an all-new Wales Residential Women’s Centre within the local area. A number of potential sites across South Wales are currently being considered as locations for the centre, including the Atlantic Hotel in Porthcawl and Sunnyside House in Bridgend town. The centre, which is intended to keep Welsh female offenders closer to home while providing intensive rehabilitative support as part of a community sentence, would include residential accommodation and an integrated support hub. The Ministry of Justice has asked to meet with…