Author: Rhys Gregory

The Outward Bound Trust is forging ahead with exciting new plans to take its outdoor adventures directly into Welsh classrooms, to ensure young people don’t miss out on outdoor learning cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 155 schools usually visit Outward Bound’s Aberdovey centre for a week-long outdoor learning and adventure residential each year. But as overnight residentials aren’t currently possible, the charity has been looking at innovative new ways to support young people with adventurous outdoor experiences, immersing young people in nature and helping them to develop key skills including resilience, self-confidence and positivity. From this week, instructors are…

Investor and developer Create Real Estate has acquired a landmark office building in Cardiff city centre and is now drawing up significant refurbishment plans to give it a new lease of life. Marchmount House & Dumfries House, on Dumfries Place, total over 43,000 sq ft of lettable space across two adjoining buildings. The freehold was purchased for an undisclosed sum from Sydney & London Properties Ltd. The buildings, which are now largely vacant, were home to Geldards LLP since their construction until the law firm’s recent relocation. The buildings and location continue to prove popular with professional services firms, receiving…

A FORMER Mayor has launched a new business and clothing range to support people with mental health issues. Stephen Williams, from Colwyn Bay, hopes CBT (Connect Build Transform) will shine a light on problems faced by businesses and individuals across the UK, notably those impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Having qualified this year as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, the 47 year-old has also unveiled the Mind Free Clothing UK range of hoodies and leisurewear, emblazoned with hashtags and messages encouraging positivity. Supported by Hwb Menter/Enterprise Hub at M-SParc on Anglesey, and in collaboration with Mark Bryant from Fast Way to…

Police in Merthyr Tydfil are appealing for information following a serious assault in the town centre. A 37 year-old man was seriously assaulted in Castle Street car park at approximately 5.30am on Sunday, 11th October, 2020. He is currently at Prince Charles Hospital in a critical condition. Anybody who may have been in the area between 5.30am and 6.30am, who may have noticed anything suspicious, is urged to get in touch. Anybody with information should contact 101 and give reference *370774. Alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A 47 year-old man, believed to be known to…

Kellogg’s factory, on Bryn Lane in Wrexham, has donated £5,000 to five local charities. The funds have been divided between charities that have been chosen by the factory’s own employees. Dynamic, Hope House, Nightingale House, Llangollen Canal Boat Trust and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital each received a £1,000 donation from the cereal giant, all of which had been selected as they were close to employee’s hearts. With two-thirds of smaller charities reporting they have already made “significant” cuts to services due to covid-19[1], the team at Kellogg’s are hoping their donations will go some way to…

An award-winning digital PR agency is recruiting following a number of new retainer client wins and additional project work. Mold-based Outwrite PR has grown its client portfolio during lockdown as brands seek to build trust with and reassure key stakeholders. The PR agency, which focuses on integrated communications across multiple channels, has also been engaged by existing clients to carry out extra work outside of agreed retainer actions. And Outwrite PR is now seeking an account executive, with a healthy pipeline of new business opportunities also in place. Outwrite’s owner and managing director Anthony Bullick said: “We are well known…

Potter Alex Allpress and artist Blue MacAskill, who run the Alex Allpress Pottery School in Mid Wales, are launching gift and experience packages for the autumn and winter season. The couple, who graduated from Camberwell College of Arts in London in 2008, have realised a dream of owning their own place where they can build a life together and establish a studio. They live in Newbridge-on-Wye, a village nestled in the glorious Wye Valley, where the pottery school and Alex Allpress Ceramics is based. In time for the autumn and winter, they have launched a series of offers for customers.…

RCT Council’s £38m Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd is now officially complete with the final building handed over to the Council today – and the keys given to Transport for Wales for its staff to move in next month.  A small handover event took place at 3 Llys Cadwyn on Monday, October 19, to markcontractor Willmott Dixon’s completion of the construction phase. The event, which was fully-compliant with social distancing guidance, saw the Council’s Director of Corporate Estates accept the handover of 3 Llys Cadwyn from Willmot Dixon’s Director Richard Jones – and pass the keys for the building to…

Cardiff Council is considering re-opening Castle Street to buses, taxis and emergency vehicles as a temporary measure while a public consultation is held on the future of the thoroughfare. The proposed re-opening – which may be ready by mid-November – will help buses and taxis cross east to west and west to east. This temporary design will seek to ensure that the pop-up cycleway – which will run from Leckwith Road up Newport Road to the junction with Broadway – will be retained throughout the public consultation. The temporary measure under consideration may include a pavement alongside the shops and…

Last year, no one could expect what this year will bring. The Covid-19 pandemic really took the world by storm. This not only changed the way we do some of the most mundane things but it also brought forth behavioural changes. This was particularly true during the lockdown. Needless to say, since people were no longer able to do things the way they’re used to, they mostly turned to the online world. The majority of everyday activities now shifted to the online realm. This resulted in various brick-and-mortar stores closing down – some of them permanently. It also significantly increased…