Author: Rhys Gregory

New findings from the Welsh Government National Survey on loneliness confirms that feelings of loneliness show a strong relationship with well-being, and that lonely people reported much lower satisfaction with life. The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan, said: “Loneliness and isolation are feelings that can touch us at any age and any stage of our life. It’s good to hear from the survey that fewer people feel lonely, but we know that those who were already feeling isolated have felt it more strongly this year. “Yesterday, I spoke to Desmond Hall, who is blind and lives…

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has unveiled a draft Welsh Budget with plans to invest an extra £420m for health and social services, alongside funding to protect the economy, build a greener future and create change for a more equal Wales. In the first Budget since the pandemic, the package delivers an extra £176m for local government to support schools, social care and local services that have been critical to our response to the pandemic. The package includes a £10m boost to the Social Care Grant, which now stands at £50m, in recognition of the significant impact the pandemic has had…

According to his former teammate Iker Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo’s rivalry with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi made him a better player than he was, as he backed the Portuguese star to remain at the top for a long time. The Juventus forward was beaten to the FIFA Best award by Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski recently, an award he has won on two occasions while also taking home five Ballons d’Or so far gone in his career. Barcelona superstar Messi has been the only player in Europe, who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Portugal international having also been responsible for…

In the last few years, online casinos have seen a surge in popularity. Recent global events have given online casinos an extra boost too, as more and more people have been stuck indoors for longer periods of time during lockdowns and under tier restrictions. More people are playing online casinos regularly than ever before, and there are hundreds of options to choose from. If you are thinking about trying your luck at some of the best online casinos in the UK, then read this quick guide. We are going to take a closer look at what makes online casinos so…

If you wondered briefly if you are the only person experiencing short-term financial woes, there are thousands of others who are in the same boat. Money troubles plague most adults at least once in their lifetime. Losing a job, medical emergencies, and family crises are just some of the challenges people could face requiring an immediate solution. Here are practical steps to follow that will help you emerge on the other side of a monetary quagmire: Seek immediate relief Crises tend to need prompt action, and a financial one is no different. When one creeps up on you unexpectedly, explore…

Talyllyn  Railway has received a £150,000 grant boost from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund to meet the financial challenges relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund aims to provide essential support to organisations in the sector which have all seen a dramatic loss of revenue due to the pandemic. Talyllyn Railway plans to use most of the grant on its winter maintenance programme, which includes completing an overhaul on ‘Talyllyn’, locomotive No.1. Other projects include providing electric vehicle charging points, installing heating in more carriages, Abergynolwyn playground refurbishment, a comprehensive interpretation strategy for the railway and other heritage projects…

Wales and Lions legend Alun Wyn Jones has become a brand ambassador for the new The Residences luxury accommodation at Dylan Coastal Resort, Laugharne. The most capped Wales player in history has also become one of the first owners of the luxurious, hotel-standard lodges, which have been unveiled as part of Luxury Lodges’ £20 million investment at the South-West Wales resort. The high-end lodges complete with private hot tubs, have been extremely popular with post-lockdown staycationers since their unveiling earlier this year. The Residences brand offers a more permanent alternative for investors to enjoy from day to day. Dylan Coastal…

One of the UK’s largest recruitment agencies, Smart Solutions, has been reflecting on an unprecedented year for the country, the business and its staff, and ahead to promising 2021. Despite a challenging year for the company, like many others, the UK and EU-wide business has recently recorded its highest ever daily worker figures, and has reached a monthly revenue peak for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began here in March. Although having to adapt their operations significantly, with staff working around the clock, Smart have this year launched unprecedented recruitment campaigns for sectors in desperate demand, such as…

More than 3000 savers in Wales have earned their first Help to Save bonus payment, each receiving an average of £373 in time for Christmas, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can reveal. Help to Save is the UK government backed saving scheme. It was launched in September 2018 to help those eligible save up to £50 a month in a secure savings account. For every £1 saved, people can earn a bonus of 50 pence, over four years. The 50% bonus is payable at the end of the second and fourth years and is based on how much account holders…

Christmas cheer is spreading through NSPCC Cymru in Cardiff, thanks to a donation of gifts from a local company for the children and young people the charity supports. Casey Wozencroft from Development Bank of Wales has organised the festive donations for the last three years, with staff members buying gifts to donate to children or young people being supported by NSPCC Cymru through the direct services delivered from its Cardiff base. The charity’s Protect & Respect service provides support to young people who may be at risk of, or experiencing, exploitation, whilst its In Ctrl programme aims to prevent online…