Author: Rhys Gregory

The Mental Health Foundation has today published its manifesto, Making Prevention Happen, ahead of the Welsh Parliament Elections on 6 May. The Foundation is calling for the next Government to produce a mental health prevention strategy that focuses on addressing social and economic inequalities in Wales and fully recognises the impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health. In its Manifesto the Foundation calls for the following action: Commitment to a new cross-government strategy on preventing mental health problems: this means taking action to increase the protective factors for good mental health and reduce the risks of experiencing poor mental health.…

With Shrove Tuesday upon us (Tuesday 16th February), it’s time to whip up some batter, flip up a feast and tuck into an obscene amount of pancakes. Now your four-legged friend can join in on the fun with this tasty dog-friendly recipe that even you can eat! Quite possibly one of the best foodie days of the year, Pancake Day is a time where we can completely indulge in sugary, buttery goodness without feeling too guilty about it. But as with all foodie days, pet owners can’t resist giving their dogs a treat too. Fortunately, Head Vet Sean McCormack at…

An RSPCA appeal for information has been launched after a suspected double pigeon shooting in the Adamsdown area of Cardiff. RSPCA inspector Darren Oakley was alerted after a member spotted a pigeon with an injured wing on 29 January. The caller had safely confined the injured bird – but as inspector Oakley approached the property, he spotted another pigeon dead on the roadside. Both birds were taken to a local veterinary practice – and X-rays revealed a pellet inside the body of the deceased bird, while the other pigeon had a pellet-sized hole to his wing. Sadly, the extent of…

With Lockdown 3 and nearly a year of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic taking a physical and mental toll of the nation’s health, David Lloyd Clubs wants to do its bit to help by opening its doors (albeit virtually) for the first time. With health, fitness and wellbeing content previously only available exclusively to its members, the UK’s largest health club is today making its David Lloyd Clubs @home available free of charge to the nation. In response to the recent news that nearly half of the UK population are exercising less during the current lockdown than during the…

An intensive care nurse who has described working through COVID-19 as mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting, says that learning Welsh during this time has been a wonderful, much needed distraction. Rachel Williams, who lives in Neath with her husband and two sons, started learning Welsh in September, and has already found the confidence to speak Welsh at work, both with patients and colleagues at Morriston Hospital, as she explains; ‘‘I often found it frustrating when caring for Welsh-speaking patients as I couldn’t communicate in the language which they preferred.  Now I can practice my Welsh at work and my goal…

In two weeks, new laws will be introduced in Wales to create more smoke-free spaces, a Professor in Respiratory Medicine, has revealed it is a great opportunity for the country to “storm ahead of the rest of the UK.” The legislation, being brought in across Wales on St David’s Day, 1st March 2021, will build on the smoking ban introduced in 2007 and mean outdoor spaces including hospital grounds, school grounds, children’s playgrounds, as well as outdoor areas of children’s daycare and childminding settings will be smoke-free. Anyone found breaking the law by smoking in one of these areas could face a £100 fine.…

The dedicated free shuttle bus service helping residents in Swansea to get to the Bay Hospital for their vaccinations has a new route taking passengers much closer to the door. The 51 service has been running between Swansea’s main bus station and selected stops along the way to the mass Vaccination Centre at the hospital on Fabian Way since the start of the month. Starting today it will drop-off and collect passengers much closer to the Vaccination Centre entrance while also still calling at the Phlebotomy Centre at the entrance to the hospital site for those attending blood tests. The…

Welsh Government Ministers have announced over £21.5m to help councils across the country fix flood damage to roads, bridges and boardwalks. Porthcawl’s Rest Bay Boardwalk and Pontypridd’s Berw Bridge will both benefit from the investment, announced by Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James and Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans. Projects being funded include: Rhondda Cynon Taf Council will receive £4.4m for work they are doing to tackle damage to highways, bridges, culverts and retaining walls across the authority; In Torfaen, £120,000 to rebuild and repair the river wall washed away at St Albans car park; Wrexham County Borough Council will…

There’s something deeply satisfying in standing back at the end of a DIY project and seeing a job well done. But wrinkles, spills, uneven grout and wonky lines can make the results look more amateurish than high end. If you want your DIY efforts to look more polished, then help is at hand, with a little bit of help you can do anything you want, from painting and wallpaper to dry lining or even bigger jobs, your possibilities are endless. We have some top tips for giving your DIY projects the most professional finish. Make masking tape your best friend…

The losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have severely impacted the world. For small businesses and start-ups, the situation is even more complex, especially if their credit situation is not the best. However, there are alternatives they can explore. Figures from the study ‘The impact of Covid-19 on UK small business’, elaborated by Simply Business, show that up to September 2020, 234 thousand companies have closed during the last year. And according to statements from The Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB’s) 250,000 more companies could meet the same fate in the upcoming months. Companies with bad credit history are limited…