Author: Rhys Gregory

Puddle Ducks is spreading the festive cheer to vulnerable families this holiday season, as they have donated supplies to Cwtch Baby Bank in Cardiff and Bundles Baby Clothing Bank and Birth Support in Newport, who provide parents with much needed baby essentials throughout the local area. For their annual Christmas campaign, the swim-school, which operates lessons throughout South East Wales, decided to give back to their local community as they know this year has been such a difficult time for many. Puddle Ducks had to halt their classes throughout lockdown and the firebreak, with lessons stopping in March and only…

St Joseph’s has started recruiting for 50 positions across the hospital, ahead of the opening of a new day surgery unit in April 2021. Roles include qualified theatre practitioners, registered nurses, healthcare assistants, administrators and housekeepers. Applications close on 15 January. Located in Newport, St Joseph’s is easily accessible from Cardiff, Bristol, Monmouth and Abergavenny. 2021 is set to be particularly significant as it marks the 75th anniversary of the hospital, which was founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy in 1946; two years before the birth of the NHS. A £3m project, the new unit is a part of the…

Cardiff-based jobseekers under the age of 25 can now access extra support in their search for work thanks to a new Youth Hub that’s been launched in Butetown. The hub, which is based at the Butetown Pavillion Youth Centre on Dumballs Road, is part of the UK Government’s £30bn Plan for Jobs. This will be discussed by the Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, Therese Coffey, and the Welsh and Scottish Governments’ Ministers for Economy, Ken Skates and Fiona Hyslop, during a virtual meeting today. Young jobseekers across the Welsh capital are among those in many…

It became Britain’s longest running murder trial and sparked a freedom campaign that went around the world. Now the wrongful conviction of three innocent Welsh men and the true story of how the real killer was caught is the basis for a landmark documentary series from BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Two. Diving deep into the Lynette White murder investigation, A Killing in Tiger Bay examines the wrongful arrest and trial of the so-called ‘Cardiff Five’ which would eventually lead to the UK’s biggest ever police corruption case and will broadcast in Spring 2021. When 20-year-old Lynette White was brutally…

We could probably all do with some extra calm and relaxation as 2020 comes to an end. So it’s no surprise that Google Play chose to highlight Medito in it’s list of top apps for 2020. Medito, the meditation app made by nonprofit Medito Foundation, is a winner in the Apps for Good category. In this category, Google aims to highlight mission-driven and user-friendly apps that address some of the most pressing issues we face as a society. Medito Foundation is a volunteer-led organisation dedicated to improving mental wellbeing, which is why they offer the Medito app completely free of…

Retailers, pubs, restaurants and other businesses affected by coronavirus will now be protected  from eviction until the end of March 2021, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales Ken Skates has announced. As part of the action Welsh Government is taking to support the business community from the impact of Covid-19 the moratorium against forfeiture for the non-payment of rent, which was due to end on 31 December, will now be extended until 31 March 2021. While businesses should continue to pay rent wherever possible, the latest measure will ensure no business is forced out of its premises if it…

A temporary COVID-19 Mobile Testing Unit has been set-up in Grangetown in response to a 75 percent rise in case numbers across Cardiff in the past week. Located in the public car park on Jim Driscoll Way, the temporary walk-through testing unit is open between 9am and 3pm, on the following days: Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th December Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th December Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th December Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st December Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th January It is available for local residents showing COVID-19 symptoms to access bybooking an appointment,either by calling 119 or visiting  www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test  online. Members…

RCT Council is delighted to confirm that two new businesses have committed to Pontypridd – with Bradleys Coffee and Loungers now confirmed to occupy the new food/drink units at 3 Llys Cadwyn. In October 2020, the final Llys Cadwyn building was handed over to the Council by contractor Willmott Dixon, marking the completion of the strategic development at the former Taff Vale site. It has been delivered thanks to a significant £10m investment from the European Regional Development Fund, through Welsh Government’s £110m Building for the Future Programme. Number 1 Llys Cadwyn (near Bridge Street) will include a library, customer…

Ambitious plans to progress two flagship school proposals in the Caerphilly county borough took a major step forward yesterday (Wednesday 9th Dec) following Cabinet’s agreement to proceed to the next phase of the statutory process. The council has submitted a bid to Welsh Government as part of its ‘21st Century Schools Band B’ programme for two exciting schemes: Trinity Fields School in Ystrad Mynach – The expansion of the existing Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre with a new building extension and outdoor play space Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon in Cwmcarn – The relocation and expansion of the school to…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet approve plans for the temporary suspension of car parking charges until 31st March 2021. A report was considered by Cabinet at a virtual meeting on 9th December where they have approved the suspension of charges for council owned car parks across the borough until the 31st March 2021 when it will be subject to further review. The economic climate remains extremely challenging for town centres. A key message in the fight against Covid-19 has been to “stay local”. Caerphilly Council support this message so will reduce the financial burden on residents by continuing to offer…