Author: Rhys Gregory

With COVID restrictions remaining in place at the current time, fundraisers are continuing to explore innovative ways for the public to support good causes, and Hywel Dda Health Charities is proud to launch a fun, eco-friendly, virtual challenge everyone can get involved in. It takes place from St Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14th February, and starts in Paris, the city of romance! Tara Nickerson, Fundraising Manager for Hywel Dda Health Charities said, “We’re always looking at new and alternative options for our supporters who want to give back and show their appreciation for the NHS – whether it’s their way of…

Welsh schoolchildren and budding rap stars are being given the chance to show off their rhymes for a hip hop competition that can be entered from home, launched to coincide with 2021’s Welsh Language Music Day – Dydd Miwsig Cymru. Wales and the world will celebrate the sixth annual Welsh Language Music Day – Dydd Miwsig Cymru – on Friday 5thFebruary 2021, with a range of materials- from playlists to lyric explainers- set to be made available to help parents and grandparents learn Welsh with their children through music. Dydd Miwsig Cymru aims to inspire people who don’t speak the…

For most school leaders and classroom teachers the last twelve months have probably been the most difficult of their careers. They have had to get to grips with new and often complex ways of working and teaching remotely, and when they have been able to return to the classroom they have had to implement strict new rules on sanitation and social distancing. In simply trying to do their jobs they have faced unprecedented pressures and at times risked their own health and safety. And yet when these educators or their representatives have spoken out about their concerns of returning to…

The RSPCA has welcomed new guidance from the UK Government which will make it easier for people in England to walk and exercise their dogs amid ongoing lockdown restrictions. Advice for pet owners in England was updated yesterday (13 January), and now outlines that people with dogs can go out more often than once a day to exercise their canine companion if necessary. However, people are still advised by the UK Government to “limit this where possible”. The new advice for dog walkers in England can be found on the UK Government website. England has been under a national lockdown…

38 finalists, aged between 11 and 17, will be competing in the last round of the Matrix Challenge this weekend.   Created and organised by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit (YHRCCU), the Matrix Challenge is a national cyber security competition for young people. Split into two age groups – 11 to 14, and 15 to 17 – the competition is designed to test digital skills, and to encourage the development of abilities which could lead to a future career in the cyber-security industry. The first round took place back in January and February 2020, and tested participant’s…

More than £4m has been invested in Swansea’s schools to boost digital technology helping to improve online teaching and learning during the current pandemic. In the last year 8,124 new devices including laptops, Chromebooks, iPads have been delivered to schools in the city and a further 1,866 are currently being prepared. Another 2,000 devices are expected from suppliers in the coming months. It means pupils who have been identified as digitally excluded due to a lack of a suitable device have been offered one during the crisis to help them work from home. Despite the pandemic 80% of schools have…

Work has begun on building a new community recycling centre in the west of Bridgend county borough. Groundworks have started at the council-owned site on Village Farm Industrial Estate in Pyle with the recycling centre expected to open this summer. There are also plans to establish a re-use shop, similar to the one at Maesteg community recycling centre run by Wastesavers in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and Kier, where household items that are in good condition can be sold on. As part of the development, works to improve the junction with the A48 are due to be carried…

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet will discuss additional Welsh Government funding that has been secured for Bryngarw Country Park at a meeting next week. In September 2019, the local authority, in partnership with Awen Cutural Trust, was awarded a £500,000 Valleys Regional Park Discovery Sites Capital Grant by Welsh Government for projects at the country park, including the development of a new education centre, re-development of the visitor centre, facilities to promote active travel, tree planting and the creation of a wildlife pond. A further £147,000 has now been secured from Welsh Government with Awen Cultural Trust, the registered charity…

In response to the ongoing coronavirus national emergency, but with continued determination to increase employment opportunities for residents, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council will be hosting a FREE Virtual Careers Fair on Wednesday, February 10 to connect residents with employers who are actively recruiting. Anyone who wishes to take part in the online event will need to register their details before the event at: www.rctcareersfair.vfairs.com Over the last few years, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Careers Fair has grown in popularity, with over 2,100 people attending in February 2020. In the current circumstances, it is not possible to hold the Careers Fair…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has congratulated its residents on its best ever recycling figures for the festive period! Residents across Rhondda Cynon Taf are some of the ‘mightiest’ in Wales and have had a very green Christmas, with more and more residents joining in the fight against waste! The Council’s mighty streetcare team have worked throughout the festive period and have been out in all-weather collecting the enormous amount of recycling residents have been putting out, with over 450 tonnes collected in just one day and some residents placing out over 50 bags for collection! The team have collected almost…