Author: Rhys Gregory

Parents and carers in Rhondda Cynon Taf have received a letter outlining the school arrangements after half term – with Foundation Phase pupils returning to face-to-face learning in a phased approach from February 22. The letter, sent by the Council’s Director of Education and Inclusion Services, highlights Welsh Government’s latest position on the return to school. On January 29, the First Minister announced that if the number of Coronavirus cases continued to fall, plans would be in place for the youngest learners in primary schools to return to the classroom in phases. The latest published medical evidence supports this position,…

More people will now be eligible to apply for the £500 Self-Isolation Support Payment the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James has announced. The scheme, which has been extended until June 2021, will now be open to applications from people with a personal income of less than £500 per week and those on Basic Statutory Sick Pay who have been asked to self-isolate by Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) service, the NHS Covid-19 App or by their child’s education setting. These changes, will make approximately 170,000 additional people now eligible for the payment, if they are asked to self-isolate…

Major investment proposals totalling £231 million have been unveiled by Caerphilly county borough council, signalling an exciting and ambitious blueprint for the whole area in future. The council has developed a comprehensive ‘Place Shaping’ framework that will set the direction of investment across the area over the next few years. Residents across the county borough will be encouraged to have their say and help shape the proposals, as they are instrumental in helping to complete the jigsaw to ensure that the council is targeting its investment where it is needed most. In addition to future investment proposals, the Place Shaping…

Families, children and adults alike came to the BBC in huge numbers for the return of iconic character Tracy Beaker. On BBC iPlayer, My Mum Tracy Beaker was streamed 2.1m times in its first three days of availability (12-14 February). On the CBBC channel, the premiere of My Mum Tracy Beaker (5pm, Friday 12 February) drew an average audience of 492k (age 4+). Patricia Hidalgo, Director, Children’s & Education, says: “These viewing figures are extraordinary. We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to My Mum Tracy Beaker from viewers of all ages, proving how much love there continues to be for…

A woman has appeared in court after a South Wales Police investigation into allegations that she forged nomination papers for a local election candidate. Amanda Wycherley, aged 41, from Neath, was investigated by the force’s Economic Crime Unit following a by-election in May 2019. Jonathan Liam Jones was due to stand as a candidate in an election for the Resolven ward of Neath Port Talbot Council. As part of his nomination process, he needed to secure 10 names and signatories from the electorate, comprising of the name and signature of a proposer, seconder and the names and signatures of eight…

Patients are to be recruited for a research study which aims to improve the way people with potentially life-threatening chest injuries are treated. It’s the latest phase of an ongoing project led by Morriston Hospital consultant physiotherapist Dr Ceri Battle, and focuses on people who have been sent home from emergency departments after injuring their ribs. While the chest injuries themselves can be relatively minor, they can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications. Often these complications do not emerge for several days, leading to people returning to hospital as emergency cases. Dr Battle has been working on the project…

The 34 year-old man who died following a road traffic collision on the M4 in the early hours of Saturday 13th February has been named as Richard Pring from Llanharry. Richard’s family has paid the following tribute to him:  “As a close family we are truly devastated at the massive loss we have experienced in losing Richard.  Our lives will never be the same, and nor would we want them to. Richard was a son, a father, a fiance, a brother and a friend. “He was a massive presence that never failed to get you laughing. He would help anyone.…

Ahead of Pancake Day, Aldi has donated a selection of pancake making kits to South Glamorgan community group The Need To Feed. The kits, which have been shared with charities and foodbanks across the UK, provide families with all the ingredients they need to take to the kitchen this Pancake Day. The donation is part of the supermarket’s partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly, which sees Aldi donate surplus food from stores to help support its local communities. The Need to Feed (TNTF) in South Glamorgan was established during the first Covid-19 lockdown to provide support and assistance to individuals…

WALES has played host to the culmination of the first phase of an exciting EU-funded project; a series of virtual learning journeys designed to encourage innovation and increase prosperity across eight regions of Europe. The Welsh Government’s Innovation team hosted the final virtual learning journey for the first phase of COHES3ION project, a three-year EU Interreg project which brings together 10 partners from eight European countries — including Wales —with the aim of promoting business growth and job creation across Europe through best practice and policy. During the series of learning journeys, each partner is encouraged to share best practice…

RSPCA Newport Adoption Centre received a surprise donation of £2,000 into its bank account over Valentine’s weekend to help provide for pets in its care during the pandemic. The donation was made by Support Adoption For Pets – the UK’s largest grant giving animal charity started by Pets At Home – to recognise the tireless efforts and hard work at RSPCA Newport Adoption Centre since the Covid-19 pandemic began. In total, the charity is giving away nearly £600,000 to rescue centres up and down the country, to help them look after the animals in their care as the financial hardship…