Author: Rhys Gregory

S4C has reached an agreement to ensure that all the channel’s programmes are protected and transferred to the National Library of Wales’ care as part of the National Broadcast Archive for Wales. All S4C content, programmes and series which have been broadcast since the channel’s launch in 1982 will be transferred to the Broadcast Archive at the library in Aberystwyth. The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The S4C archive is an important record of Welsh history and a source of information showcasing the development of the Welsh language and broadcasting in Wales. Owen Evans, S4C’s chief…

Meet Koda, the four-legged crimefighter. The 14-month-old Belgian Malinois has just qualified to become a fully-fledged police dog and has been given her collar number, PD1301 and been issued with her own warrant card. She’s the newest member of the Alliance Armed Policing and Police Dogs Unit that’s shared between North Wales Police and their counterparts in Cheshire. Her handler, PC Sonia Stobbart, an instructor with the unit, introduced Koda to the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, when he came on a visit. Koda is a general purpose police dog that can be used for a whole…

Two former Royal Marines commandos are on a tough mission to help their community keep fit in mind and body. Adam White and Dan Harrison have just opened their new fitness centre in Rhos-on-Sea which is packed with over £100,000 worth of state-of-the art equipment to ensure they meet their objective. CXF Wellbeing, which is housed in a Grade II listed former municipal pump house in Cysgod y Bryn, has just been given a fanfare opening when scores of people from the surrounding area turned up to offer their congratulations. The two friends are already famous in the area for…

A social enterprise is investing more than £1 million in a new factory to meet the growing demand for zero carbon homes. Creating Enterprise has taken over the former Travis Perkins depot in Cefndy Road in Rhyl and is hoping it can also play a key role in regeneration the Denbighshire town’s West End. The remodelled 10,000 sq ft premises will be making the timber frames for energy efficient homes – with 50 already being built and another 100 on the order book. They will also be installing an £80,000 machine to manufacture posi-joists for floor and roof structures, comprising…

Pan-Asian noodle chain Chopstix is ready to ‘wok’ and roll as it reveals an updated look for its Bridgend store. Situated at McArthur Glen, Derwen, Bridgend, CF32 9SU, the revamped store, which is part of the brand’s continuing Welsh expansion, has seen a number of new features added, including a living wall, sparkling star lights and a timber clad counter, with the decor reflecting the quirky and fun nature of the Chopstix brand. Wok Masters can be seen creating fresh Chopstix dishes, all served from an eye-catching wok station, ready to ‘wok and go’. Customers will once again be able…

Families in Wales may be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare to help pay for breakfast and after school clubs as children go back to school. Families are eligible to save money on their childcare and benefit from a government top-up worth up to £2,000 every year, or up to £4,000 a year if a child is disabled. In June 2021, about 10,445 families in Wales benefited from using Tax-Free Childcare, but thousands are missing out on this opportunity. Tax-Free Childcare is available to eligible parents or carers who have children aged up to 11, or 17 if their child is disabled.…

Swansea-based homelessness and food poverty social action project Matthew’s House (of The Hill Church Charity) is today (31 Aug) launching a new smartphone app called Hope in Swansea – the first of its kind in the UK – connecting people in need of hope with the organisations in Swansea who provide it. Signposting support available for housing, mental health, food poverty, isolation, abuse, seeking asylum, discrimination, or even a warm shower, this free app will provide location-specific, cross-organisation information with one simple click of a button: “Hope is just a click away”. This directory of support services for vulnerable people…

The Royal Mint, inspired by Disney, has today unveiled the next coin in their Winnie the Pooh and Friends collection. The latest collectable 50p coin features a group shot of the loveable characters, celebrating 95 years since the beloved bear first began his adventures. Created by the Original Maker of UK coins, the commemorative design features Winnie the Pooh and his trusted friends; Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga and Roo on a 50p piece. Last year, The Royal Mint released the first three designs, featuring Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and Piglet. The design of the coin is inspired…

The Red Dragon Centre is joining organisations nationwide to celebrate ‘One Great Day’, a charity fundraising event in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH) and local children’s health charities. Alongside raising money for GOSH, The Red Dragon Centre will again fundraise for local Welsh charity Tŷ Hafan, with all funds raised being split equally between the two charities. The popular entertainment centre in Cardiff Bay is inviting visitors to enjoy a great day out this September and support its fundraising effort by donating at the QR point underneath the One Great Day balloon arch. Alternatively, Ty Hafan…

Conwy County Borough Council is digitally transforming its business management and finance systems, which are used by thousands of employees, after awarding a contract to enterprise SaaS provider software company TechnologyOne. The Welsh unitary authority, which employs over 4,400 people and provides 118,000 residents with services ranging from education, leisure facilities, social services, waste management and highways maintenance, will replace on-site legacy systems that date back many years and switch to new state-of-the-art OneCouncil Software as a Service (SaaS). The move to the new software will help the council improve real-time financial decision making and business reporting. TechnologyOne’s SaaS technology will provide…