Author: Rhys Gregory

A 16-year-old has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and section 18 wounding with intent. The boy from Canton, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, November 28 and is remanded in custody for a further court hearing. Emergency services were called to the Broad Street area of Canton to reports of a stabbing at around 10am on Wednesday, November 25. A 17-year-old boy was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with non-life threatening injuries. Three others arrested in connection with the incident have been released from police custody.…

Having witnessed first-hand the severe impact of domestic abuse on women and children, two social workers and a group of local volunteers came together in 1980 to provide somewhere safe for victims in North Powys. Forty years on, Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre (MFCC) is busier than ever, providing refuge and outreach support for women, men and their children. Demand for the charity’s services, which have saved and transformed lives, is growing every year and has increased during this year’s Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. Between 2017-’18 and this year, the number of families needing support increased from 205 to 306 and these…

Holiday shopping usually means spending lots of time in stores, among vast crowds and high stress so that we end up buying things we would not normally consider, just to get something crossed off the list so that we can go home and rest our weary feet. However, holiday shopping is 2020 is already not a typical year. Individuals are making different choices to normal, largely due to the pandemic and concerns about uncertain economic situations. Even though 2020 has been a challenging year, here are three tips to ensure that you have the best holiday shopping experience that all…

A new charity shop has opened its doors on the High Street in Bangor this month, all to raise funds for national disability charity, Sense. This has come as a welcome addition to the high street as it prepares for the festive period and will play a part in bringing the community back together. The Sense shop has opened as the high street in Bangor gets ready for the festive season and comes back to life post lockdown. The shop is set to be integral part of the local community and an important part of the high street. It will provide…

A care home in Mid Wales continues to expand despite the huge challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Oaks Care Home in Newtown now employs 118 full and part-time staff – an increase of almost 30 since the summer. Since opening in January this year, the 73-bedroom home has been in high demand, helping to meet the area’s growing care needs for the elderly and those affected by dementia. The Oaks provides residential, nursing and dementia care tailored to the precise requirements of its residents in a safe, secure and friendly environment. Staff at the purpose-built home have risen to…

Work has started on the construction of a 16 bedroom boutique hotel at Oyster Wharf, Mumbles. Nextcolour Developments Limited is behind the latest development which is expected to open in 2021. With a £2 million investment from the Development Bank of Wales through funding from  the Wales Tourism Investment Fund and the backing of Visit Wales, the 16 bedroom hotel has been designed by Lawray Architects and Holly Keeling Interiors, who previously worked on The Watergate Hotel in Cornwall. South Wales based Bridgeport 360 are the appointed contractors. Positioned as part of the successful Oyster Wharf development that opened in…

Over 200 vehicles were stopped and fines issued for Coronavirus offences during a policing operation in South Wales at the weekend. Eight people were issued with fixed penalty notices as part of a roads policing operation utilising new powers which was implemented at 9am on Friday 27th November. A further 25 people were warned and instructed to leave Cardiff. Those travelling in breach of Covid legislation included a couple travelling from Essex who told officers they were headed to the capital to give family Christmas presents, and a group of nine people who were travelling in convoy to visit friends…

‘Lives have been transformed by the introduction of a soft opt-out system of consent for organ donation in Wales and we should be proud of what we have achieved’ – Health Minister Vaughan Gething said on the fifth anniversary of the scheme’s introduction. Five years ago today (1 December) Wales led the way in the UK by introducing a soft opt-out system of organ donation, where presumed consent was given for organ donation unless the person had opted out. The system has been so successful that England have now introduced an opt-out system, Scotland will next year and Northern Ireland…

As the virtual Winter Fair gets underway, the Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced financial support of £200,000 for the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for 2020-21. The funding for Wales’ flagship and largest Agricultural event, the Royal Welsh Show, will help improve the environmental impact of the Society activities and support the resilience of the Society by covering some of the costs incurred as well as helping with the reinstatement of future events. Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said:  “On the day we would traditionally have been gathering in Builth Wells for the opening day of the Winter Fair,…

Charities and volunteers aiming to transform lives by helping to put food on the tables of families facing hardship have the chance to do even more for their communities. Swansea Council has set up a £100,000 fund aiming to make a difference by directing cash to projects tackling food poverty or addressing food insecurity.  Applications supporting community growing projects are also welcomed. In a year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, groups awarded grants in the last round of funding stepped-up to make a difference supporting families and vulnerable people through the lockdown and firebreak. Alyson Pugh, Cabinet Member for Supporting…