Author: Rhys Gregory

The Farmers’ Union of Wales says the common sense decision to prolong import limits on steel products should trigger somber reflection over the impact of trade deals that open UK markets up to cheap food imports. The UK Government announced on Wednesday (30th June) that it would extend measures that defend the steel industry against cheap imports of certain types of steel, particularly from China. The steel industry had described the original plan to remove tariffs as “utter madness”, warning that import surges would be devastating for the industry in the UK. Referring to the trade deal recently agreed in…

Detectives investigating the death of Carl Chinnock, 50, from Porthcawl have charged Christopher George, aged 27 from Pyle, Bridgend with manslaughter. George appeared before Cardiff Magistrates Court last week (Friday 2nd July 2021) where he was remanded in custody.  He is scheduled to appear before Cardiff Crown Court on July 30th. Mr Chinnock’s partner, Sandi, has paid tribute to him, saying:  Carl looked after me, he was my soulmate, my best friend and the love of my life.  I am devastated.” Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lewis, of South Wales Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said:  “Whilst a man has been…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is inviting nominations for its annual awards ceremony. You can nominate staff in any part of the organisation right across Wales in more than a dozen categories, including Team of the Year, Learning and Innovation and Inspiring Others. To celebrate the launch of the Trust’s first Volunteer Strategy, you can nominate a Community First Responder or Volunteer Car Service Driver for a Volunteer of the Year Award. You can also nominate a member of the public for a Public Recognition Award, designed to celebrate those who go above and beyond to help people in their community. Anyone…

Founders, innovators and entrepreneurs from across Wales have been recognised as the best in the business as the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2021 finalists are announced. Despite a year of disruption, 81 Wales-based business leaders have been shortlisted out of an incredible 4,800 entrants nationally – the most the awards has ever had. The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in partnership with Starling Bank, acknowledges and champions the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses across the UK. Over the last decade, it has celebrated some household names including Julie Deane OBE of Cambridge Satchel Co, Alan and Juliet…

A valued service that has been supporting patients and staff at Emergency Departments across Wales since 2018 is set to continue. The Welsh Government and NHS Wales scheme, delivered by British Red Cross staff and volunteers, has helped almost 390,000 patients since it first started as a three-month pilot in December 2018. British Red Cross teams provide support in 12 Welsh Emergency Departments, working very closely with NHS staff to prioritise patient pastoral care needs. That could mean sitting with patients and family members while they wait, making sure patients have a drink and something to eat when they need…

A young French man’s inspirational learning journey since arriving in Wales from France as a shy 16-year-old, following the loss of his mother to cancer, has been recognised with a prestigious national award. Five years ago, Thibaud Gailliard could speak little English and had no formal qualifications or previous work experience to help his employment prospects in Wales. Luckily, Thibaud discovered a Traineeship Engagement Programme in Creative Media delivered by Risca-based training provider Sgiliau Cyf and quickly set about learning English, obtaining a long list of qualifications and improving his IT, design and music skills. Following the Traineeship, Thibaud progressed…

Digital technology is transforming the way medicines are prescribed and given to hospital patients – making it safer for them and freeing up nurses to provide more bedside care. Swansea Bay University Health Board is leading the way in Wales, with paper drug charts now almost entirely eradicated in 15 medical wards across Neath Port Talbot and Singleton hospitals. These have been replaced with HEPMA, or Hospital e-Prescribing and Medicines Administration, which automates the entire process. Gone are delays caused by illegible handwriting or by lost or damaged paper charts. Doctors and other prescribers now complete the prescription digitally, with…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is creating a walk-in option at all of its community vaccination centres. From Monday (July 5), anyone over the age of 18, living in the Health Board area, will be able to turn up at one of the CVCs at a time and date to suit them and get their vaccine. It is for first dose only. Second dose appointments are not affected, as those clinics will run alongside the walk-ins. The latest figures from Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s vaccination programme show 88 percent of eligible adults have now had their first dose, while…

A suite of professional tourism-related marketing resources for businesses to use has been launched as part of Denbighshire’s Destination Management Plan. A communications toolkit with key messages to encourage a safe and responsible travel ethos has been produced. This includes encouraging visitors to plan, prepare and pre-book to ensure a positive experience, coastal safety tips, and outdoor safety messages to ensure people have the right skills, knowledge and gear before venturing out. The new Countryside Code is also highlighted to encourage visitors and residents to protect the environment by taking litter home, keeping dogs under control, following signs and keeping…

Students of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David are busy preparing to present an open-air performance of ‘Godspell’. After a very challenging year because of the Coronavirus restrictions, graduating students of the BA Perfformio and BA Musical Theatre courses as well as students from MA Perfformio and MA Musical Theatre have come together over the last five weeks to stage this well-known show. This tremendously successful rock opera needs no introduction, however when it was first produced on Broadway in 1971, it broke new ground in its treatment of the history of Jesus Christ.  Originally the show was created…