Author: Rhys Gregory

A blind woman from Bridgend has been shortlisted for an RNIB See Differently ‘Coronavirus Heroes’ Award after she used her singing talent to help lift the spirits of her neighbours, as well as strangers far and wide, during the pandemic. Anne Wilkins, 67, has been blind since birth due to retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that can develop in premature babies. In May, during a ‘clap for the NHS’, Anne sang a mesmerising rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ on her doorstep. She was accompanied by her great friend Sian Davies on keyboard and her neighbour, West End actor Alyn Hawke, filmed her recital and shared it online.…

House parties, large outdoor gatherings and breaches of travel restrictions have all been the focus of enforcement action by South Wales Police in the last few days. In line with forces throughout the UK, the force has worked to maintain a consistent approach of policing by consent regardless of which coronavirus restrictions are in place. While the majority continue to do their bit to support the collective effort to slow the spread of the virus, officers have been left with little option but to enforce the regulations on a number of occasions both during and post the firebreak period. In…

After 205 days, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) has formally left Ysbyty Calon Y Ddraig, Dragon’s Heart Hospital. The hospital will now complete its decommissioning plan to allow for the reinstatement of the Principality Stadium. Ysbyty Calon Y Ddraig, Dragon’s Heart Hospital, the second-largest field hospital in the UK, was constructed as part of NHS Wales’ response to Covid-19. The hospital is an example of how Cardiff and Vale UHB worked collaboratively with a wide range of partners including Cardiff Council, Welsh Rugby Union, Cardiff Blues, The Armed Forces, Mott MacDonald, Archus, Q5, BDP and ES Global. To…

A joint initiative between Bouygues UK and Cardiff Blues Community Foundation to engage secondary school pupils in career discussions was launched this week at Pencoedtre High School in Barry. Cardiff Blues Tackle scheme is a sport engagement programme linked with essential and life skills workshops aimed to engage, inspire and motivate young people through an alternative curriculum experience. The eight-week course aims to engage pupils from years 8 to 10 initially, through workshops and practical sessions geared towards career aspirations and higher education avenues. It aims to give children the chance to develop their employability skills and develop prospects by…

A Cardiff man who turned his life around through boxing has been crowned a  ‘lockdown legend’ in the 2020 National Lottery Awards for his work in the community during the Coronavirus pandemic.   Wasim Said, 29, a doorman and mixed martial arts fighter from Butetown, Cardiff, has been named as the UK-wide winner of the Sport Category in this year’s National Lottery Award for his inspirational work in helping young people and his community in recent months. And there was a special surprise in store for Wasim today, as former heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion, David Haye (aka The Hayemaker),…

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has welcomed the news that a Covid-19 vaccine could be ready this year but has warned “that these are very early days”. Dr Frank Atherton said it could be towards the end next year before a vaccine was rolled out fully to all the eligible population and in the meantime it is essential that everyone continues to observe social distancing, limit meeting in indoor spaces, wear face coverings where appropriate and practice good hand and cough hygiene. “This is an important step and a remarkable scientific achievement. But full safety data is needed before…

Economy Minister Ken Skates has written to tens of thousands of businesses in Wales urging them to make sure they are taking the necessary steps to prepare for the end of the EU transition period. With only 50 days to go, the Minister has set out some of the actions businesses must take to ensure they are best placed for both the end of the transition period and the possibility of a no deal. From 1 January 2021, the UK will have left the EU Single Market meaning businesses in Wales will no longer have access to the frictionless trade…

New covid-19 lateral flow tests, designed to diagnose people without symptoms, will be provided to students who are planning to travel home for the holiday. Universities across Wales will also end the majority of ‘in person’ lessons in the week ending 8th December, allowing anyone who tests positive for coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling home for the Christmas break. Students at universities in Wales who plan to travel home for the holidays will be asked to: minimise their social contacts in the run up to the end of term; get an asymptomatic test, ideally within 24 hours…

For most of us, money is a factor in the vast majority of our decision making. Without an endless fund to bankroll us and make cash concerns a thing of the past, we have to pay close attention to what we spend. It’s not enough merely to track our expenditure. In addition, we need to look at where we can make savings, because the less outlay we have, the more money there is left over to spend on luxuries or set aside as a safety net. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most effective is to…

With Talk Money Week currently aiming to get the nation opening up about their finances, a Cardiff-based pension expert is highlighting the need for financial education for youngsters and better communication within the pension sector. Stuart Price, Partner and Actuary at Quantum Advisory, says: “The key to encouraging people to talk about money is ensuring they understand it, and the best way to achieve this is through education and communication. “I have long been an advocate for offering financial education in schools and ensuring this is maintained and refreshed with workplace training throughout adulthood. Teaching youngsters how to best save…