Author: Rhys Gregory

The Cwtch Mawr Multibank charity initiative, which launched in 2024 and has donated more than 640,000 surplus essential goods to 146,000 people in poverty, has officially opened the doors of its newly-expanded premises in Swansea Vale. Cwtch Mawr will now process donations from its newly expanded 15,000 sq. ft warehouse in Llansamlet, Swansea. The new Cwtch Mawr facility will significantly increase the Multibank’s capacity and allow for wider community reach, contributing to more than 8 million goods which have already been delivered to help over 600,000 families from Multibanks in Scotland, Greater Manchester, London, Wales, Birmingham and Tees Valley. This…

A popular hotel in Burry Port which has been welcoming guests and hosting community events for nearly 200 years will be upgraded and expanded thanks to funding from NatWest Cymru. The Ashburnham Hotel, affectionately known locally as “The Ash” is set for an exciting new chapter under the stewardship of local entrepreneurs Caroline and Chris Jones. Additional staff have already been recruited to meet growing demand with the potential for further job creation, totalling 10 new roles within the first year of opening. Having secured a commercial mortgage from NatWest, the couple purchased the premises earlier this year and are…

A North Wales TV company is looking to make two key appointments and harness the power of artificial intelligence as part of ambitious growth plans. Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da is restructuring the senior management team following the departure of managing director Llion Iwan to take up a new role as chief content officer at S4C. Former operations director Bethan Griffiths, who took the helm temporarily after he left in March, has now been appointed as chief executive. The aim now is to recruit a new content director and an operations director to expand the business into new UK and international markets…

A Swansea man has been sentenced to 18 weeks of prison after he admitted to causing a Jack Russell Terrier to suffer after hitting and dropping him. Cameron Lee Wilson of Penllergaer, Swansea, appeared at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 9 July after pleading guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act. The court heard that Wilson was caught on CCTV footage in the area of Pentrepoeth Road, Morriston, on 16 March of this year repeatedly hitting a dog and dropping him to the floor from chest height – causing unnecessary suffering. The dog – named Casper – was…

Schools across Ceredigion have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in the 2025 Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative (WHSI). The WHSI, now in its 35th year, is one of the largest annual history competitions in Europe. It celebrates schools that excel in teaching and learning about heritage, encouraging pupils to explore and share their local and national stories. This year’s competition saw a record-breaking 12,000 pupils from across Wales take part. The awards ceremony was held at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea on 04 July 2025. Ceredigion schools received a number of awards, including: Ysgol Gymunedol Ceinewydd – £800, sponsored…

An array of new Welsh food and drink businesses will feature on the Cywain Stand in the Food Hall at this year’s Royal Welsh Show (July 21st-24th). From concept to counter, the Cywain stand has been the launch-pad for countless up-and-coming food and drink producers, eager to showcase their products to a broad audience. Four different producers will take to the stand per day, each bringing their unique style and flavours to an audience looking to try and buy something new. Cywain is a programme run by Mentera and funded by the Welsh Government, working with food and drink producers…

Don’t leave nature’s future to chance, warns Future Generations Commissioner as he urges action on Wales Environment Bill. A landmark opportunity to protect and restore nature in Wales could fail without crucial targets to save our wildlife, the Future Generations Commissioner is warning, as a new piece of legislation lacks the legal force needed to guarantee long-term action. The draft Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, currently under scrutiny in the Senedd, does not include a legally binding target to drive the recovery of nature—a gap that environmental advocates and the commissioner say must be addressed before it…

Six entrepreneurs from across Wales have been recognised for their creativity, impact and progress after completing the Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator – an intensive programme designed to help high-potential start-ups fast-track their growth. Delivered through the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP), the Start-Up Accelerator equips early-stage founders with the essential tools, expert support and valuable networks needed to grow and scale their businesses. To date, AGP has played a key role in driving entrepreneurial success in Wales, supporting an increase of £486 million in investment, £550 million in export sales and the creation of 13,440 jobs. This latest cohort…

A man who attacked a woman with a hammer and strangled her has been jailed for life, following a South Wales Police investigation. Following guilty pleas, Connor Probert, aged 26, of Penygraig, was sentenced to life with a minimum of two years and 283 days for Grievous Bodily Harm with intent on July 11 at Cardiff Crown Court. He also received concurrent sentences for intentional strangulation (two years and three months) and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place (one year). Probert will also be subject to a lifelong restraining order. This followed an incident on February 17,…

A 47-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman have today been convicted of the murder of their two-year-old grandson, Ethan Ives-Griffiths. Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, was convicted of causing or allowing his death. Michael Ives and Kerry Ives, both of Kingsley Road, Garden City, Deeside, and their daughter, Shannon Ives, of Nant Garmon, Mold, were all found guilty of cruelty to a child. Michael Ives Kerry Ives The jury of seven women and five men delivered their unanimous verdicts on Tuesday, 15 July, following a six-week trial at Mold Crown Court. All three will be sentenced at Mold Crown Court…