Author: Rhys Gregory

The Royal Mint, the Original Maker of UK coins, has today launch a new commemorative coin celebrating a British milestone – the 50th anniversary of Decimal Day.  The introduction of a new decimal currency was formally adopted on 15th February, 1971 and was one of the largest and most intensive public awareness campaigns ever staged by the government. The new commemorative coin celebrates this monumental moment in history with a design that conveys the transition from pre-decimal to decimal coins. The design, created by Royal Mint designer Dominique Evans, adds nostalgia to the occasion by featuring a whole range of…

The Welsh Government is investing £4.9m to improve digital public services in Wales so that they are easier and slicker for people to use. One consequence of the coronavirus pandemic has been that many more people have needed or chosen to access public services online, and this has already driven the transformation of some digital services. An example of this has seen Neath Port Talbot Council working with Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Councils, and supported by the Centre for Digital Public Services, on a project to improve people’s experience of accessing adult social care services online. First-hand insights from users…

Health Minister Vaughan Gething will today (Monday) publish the Welsh Government’s Covid Vaccination Plan, setting out a series of milestones for when people will be offered a vaccine. The ambitious plan will describe how all eligible adults will be vaccinated in the biggest programme of its kind. It comes as Wales will publish daily vaccination figures from today – more than 70,000 people had received their first dose of the Covid vaccine by the end of last week. The Welsh Government has confirmed that is has 250,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 25,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

Legislation to further suspend evictions until 31st March 2021 will come into force from Monday 11 January the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James has confirmed. The Welsh Government had already agreed measures to suspend evictions, from social and private rented accommodation between December 11 and January 11 this year as part of its response to tackling the spread of Coronavirus and protect public health. The legislation introduced today will extend these measures to protect renters during the pandemic by preventing evictions except in cases of anti-social behaviour or domestic violence. Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James…

Cardiff Council continues its work to address the issue of digital deprivation and over the next few weeks a further 2,340 Chromebook devices will be delivered to schools to assist in the delivery of online and remote learning, whilst schools are closed due to COVID-19. This is in addition to the 12,775 new digital devices and 2,000 new 4G broadband devices already provided to schools since the start of the pandemic. Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “Ensuring that all children and young people are presented with the same opportunities to engage with remote learning…

There is still time to enrol in one of almost 40 free online courses being run in the spring term by Swansea Council’s Lifelong Learning Service. Starting next week, there is a wide range of subject areas to choose from including IT, Art & Craft, Music, Family Learning and Essential Skills, Cookery, Yoga and Digital Photography. As well as learning new skills the courses provide an opportunity for participants to meet fellow learners online and stay connected whilst Wales is in lockdown. The Spring Term runs from January to April and to take part learners will need access to a…

Swansea businesses are being put on stand-by to share in millions of pounds more in grants to help tide them through the latest lockdown. Swansea Council has already handed out around £115m in grants to thousands of local small and medium-sized businesses to help them protect jobs and livelihoods. Just before Christmas more than £2m was paid automatically to hospitality businesses which had to close to help keep people safe and slow the spread of the virus. In the coming days the council hopes to hand over another £4m in Welsh Government grants automatically to temporarily closed retail businesses which…

Neath Port Talbot Council is reminding parents that while education in Wales will now continue with online learning until at least February half term unless coronavirus cases fall, its schools will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners. Also, the council’s special schools will remain open, subject to risk assessment, as will the council’s Learning Support Centres. These settings may need to modify their opening arrangements to respond to local circumstances. In a letter to parents and carers across Neath Port Talbot, the council’s Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning, Aled Evans, said: “Schools remain safe…

A walk-through coronavirus testing facility is to open at Milland Road Car Park in Neath as part of the drive to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing in the area. Testing at Milland Road started on Saturday 9 January, and the facility will be open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. It will play a key role in helping to protect communities from the spread of coronavirus by providing more tests within the region, and helping to cut down on the distance that people who need a test have to travel. Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, must…

Applications are opening on Monday 11 January, for children eligible for a full-time nursery place in September 2021 or a part-time nursery place from January or April 2022. Parents and carers can simply sign up to My Account on Bridgend County Borough Council’s website using their computer, tablet or mobile to fill in their application. The deadline for forms to be submitted is Friday 26 March, 2021. Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “The easiest way for parents and carers to apply for local authority-run school places is online, which makes the process faster and more…