Author: Rhys Gregory

Scientists who highlighted the bug-busting properties of bacteria in Northern Irish soil have made another exciting discovery in the quest to discover new antibiotics. The Traditional Medicine Group, an international collaboration of scientists from Swansea University, Brazil and Northern Ireland, have discovered more antibiotic-producing species and believe they may even have identified new varieties of antibiotics with potentially life-saving consequences. Antibiotic resistant superbugs could kill up to 1.3 million people in Europe by 2050 – the World Health Organisation (WHO) describes the problem as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today”. The search for replacement antibiotics…

UCAC teachers’ union has welcomed today’s announcement by Welsh Government that learners in Wales will receive grades this summer determined by their school or college, based on work they’ve completed during their GCSE, AS or A level courses. However, the Union is concerned that many details remain to be determined. Dilwyn Roberts-Young, General Secretary of UCAC said “It had become clear that grades determined by schools and colleges were the only realistic solution under the current circumstances, so we welcome the announcement. Learners and teachers will be hugely relieved that any element of mandatory external assessment has been cancelled. “These…

Poundland’s Welsh stores and their customers have raised more than £136,000 over the past year to help fund vital research into the fight against cancer in Wales. The discount retailer has donated £136,559 to Cancer Research Wales from the 5p charge on the sale of plastic carrier bags at its stores in Wales. Poundland has been donating money from bag sales to the charity since the levy was introduced in 2011 and the total raised has now passed £500,000. The money has been used in ground-breaking research projects into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Wales. They include…

BHF Cymru is highlighting why some of Wales’ biggest killers needs to remain a top priority for the Welsh Government and is calling on all political parties to commit to a bold heart and circulatory disease plan ahead of this year’s Senedd election. Heart and circulatory diseases cause around 25 deaths each day in Wales. Around 340,000 people are living with these conditions, which can devastate lives. BHF Cymru has written a new heart and circulatory disease plan for Wales in collaboration with over 70 clinicians as well as patients and members of the public. The charity strongly believes disease specific planning must feature in…

Serving his local community throughout the lockdown has been a challenge, but a rewarding one, says Dean Waters. The former chef, who launched Fresh and Fine Foods in Glynneath last March, is battling on and hoping for better times ahead for his community and his business. Returning to his home town two years ago, he saw that local people had limited opportunities to buy quality fresh food without the need to make a trip to Neath or another larger town. “I offer high quality products including charcuterie, dairy, flour, pasta and other foods and take away coffees,” he said. Fresh…

A partnership between Ceredigion Museum and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales has attracted £1,000 funding from the Association for Roman Archaeology to display fragments of a unique Roman glass vessel, found at Abermagwr Romano-British villa. The villa at Abermagwr was discovered during aerial photography in 2006 and excavated by Dr Jeffrey L. Davies and Dr Toby Driver between 2010 and 2015, in a volunteer-led community project. It remains the only known Roman villa in the county and the most remote Roman villa in Wales. The finds have been researched over time and the best…

THE mental health and safety of students and staff has been the top priority for Coleg Cambria in lockdown. The college’s successful Active Cambria programme has been supporting hundreds of learners and employees across north east Wales throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with online exercise and mindfulness sessions. From Pilates, yoga and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts to virtual quizzes, resilience webinars and social events, they have been in regular communication and urged attendees to practice self-care, including regular exercise, an improved diet, and more sleep. Donna Welsh, coordinator of the Active Cambria programme, said keeping our minds and bodies…

Swansea Council has launched a third round of funding to back ideas that put local people at the heart of building stronger communities. The opportunity is part of Crowdfund Swansea, an initiative that supports local people’s ideas on improving their area. The first two rounds saw more than 500 residents, businesses and other organisations rally behind 11 successful ideas. Together, they raised over £100,000 to fund initiatives ranging from beach cleans to improved play facilities and from an e-bike schemes and from to a base for volunteers. Now, more great community ideas are sought. The aim is to fund and…

Plans are underway that could deliver the first new schools to be built in the Cornelly area in more than 40 years. Approval has been given for mass consultation to be organised over proposals for replacing the ageing Corneli and Afon Y Felin primary schools with an all-new, state of the art modern English-medium school featuring a two-form entry system, a 60-place nursery and a 15-place resource centre for pupils with additional learning needs. Under the proposals, the new school could be established at Plas Morlais by entering into an agreement with the current site owner, Valleys To Coast Housing,…

Caerphilly County Borough Council have voted to approve the next stage of the Local Development Plan (LDP) The LDP is a blueprint which identifies where new developments such as housing, employment, community facilities and roads will take place in future. In October 2019 the council agreed to prepare a new Local Development Plan to replace the existing one (the Adopted LDP). The first stage of the process, the ‘Review Report’ addressed several key issues including why a new plan is being prepared, and identified any changes in legislation and evidence that is required to support the new LDP. The next…