Author: Rhys Gregory

The International Centre for Policing and Security (ICPS), based at the University of South Wales (USW) has been awarded three Jean Monnet (Erasmus Plus) grants from the European Commission to boost research into counter-terrorism and hybrid security. They are receiving €300,000 to establish the EU counter terrorism network EUCTER involving international academic collaborations to advance blended learning formats with a strong policy relevance in the area of the EU counter-terrorism. A further €100,000 is for a partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol to progress research into European co-operation on security, crime and counter terrorism under…

The first 166 beds are available to accept patients at the UHW Lakeside Wing, a temporary surge facility based at the University Hospital of Wales site, as of this week. On Friday 4 December, 166 beds that make up the ‘Northern Wing’ of the UHW Lakeside Wing will be available to accept patients who need rehabilitation and are recovering from a long period of acute illness. The UHW Lakeside Wing will be adopting a multi-disciplinary model of care, ensuring staff such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, healthcare support workers and registered nurses will be collaboratively working to provide patient…

A trio of Welsh celebrities has signed up to perform at a Christmas concert with a difference that is being hosted this year by Cerebral Palsy Cymru – Wales’ only specialist therapy centre for children and families living with cerebral palsy. The charity will be hosting their ‘Very Merry Christmas Concert’ on Friday 11th December and has announced today that the virtual event will include music from West End singer Sophie Evans as well as a host of festive readings from BBC Wales newsreader Lucy Owen, Welsh music legend Max Boyce and  Hollywood star Matthew Rhys. The fundraising concert will…

South Wales Police Detectives have charged a 37-year-old man with Causing Grievous Bodily Harm (Sec18 GBH) after a serious assault in the Mayhill area of Swansea on December 1. Jonathan Campbell, of Mayhill, has been remanded into custody and will appear at Swansea Magistrates court today. The 48-year-old woman who was the victim of the assault remains in a critical condition in hospital. We would like to thank the members of the public who have assisted us with our investigation. We are also reminding people of the importance of not posting anything on social media which could prejudice future court…

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd is excited to reveal that a star-studded cast will be filming an exclusive online pantomime at Rhyl Pavilion that will be broadcast UK-wide this festive season. The stars will all be heading to the Rhyl Pavilion over a few weeks to ensure social distancing and will film at an undisclosed time and date to create this exciting digital production. 21 Celebrities from across the industry will be heading to Rhyl, including XFactor star Sam Bailey, ITV The Chase’s Mark Labbett  And Anne Hegerty, Britain’s Got Talent Winners dog act Ashley and Sulley, I’m a Celeb winner and…

CARDIFF is set to welcome a new, contemporary serviced workspace, as flexible workplace operator Clockwise expands its portfolio with the opening of its newest space in the Welsh capital. Clockwise’s arrival into Cardiff coincides with the biggest shift in working patterns since the industrial revolution. Comprising shared workspace, private offices and meeting rooms, Clockwise spans over 5,000sqft of Cardiff’s landmark building, Brunel House, located in the city centre. Flexible working has become more than just a buzz phrase this year, with businesses understanding that many employees neither want to work from home permanently, nor retreat back to the pre-Covid model…

A Merthyr Tydfil social club has been forced to close for two weeks after officers from the Cwm Taf Joint Enforcement Team ‘could not believe the lack of control’ of customers who had their arms around each other and borrowed other people’s facemasks to enter the premises. Merthyr Labour Club & Institute Court House has been shut down under the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 for failing to take ‘reasonable measures to minimise risk of exposure to coronavirus or the spread of coronavirus by those who have been at the premises’. The Joint Enforcement Team comprises officers from…

In the year Elaine Sommers started work at Penyrheol Primary School, Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States, Abba were top of the charts and viewers across the world tuned in to the soap opera Dallas to discover who shot JR. A lot has changed since 1980 but Senior Dinner Supervisor Mrs Sommers is still at Penyrheol and pupils and staff have just celebrated and thanked her for her amazing 40 years of service. Every day Mrs Sommers, now aged 78, walks from her home in Grovesend to the school for her one hour lunchtime shift. And all…

Margam Country Park has been voted among the top ten most popular parks and green spaces in the UK after a month long public vote. The accolade comes after a UK-wide “People’s Vote” organised by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to find the country’s ten best Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces. The Green Flag Award scheme is the international quality standard for parks and green spaces, and this year a record-breaking 2,061 achieved the award. And later, the British public were invited to take part in the “People’s Vote” for their favourite park with tens of thousands joining…

Neath Port Talbot Council has issued an improvement notice to a pub in the Upper Afan Valley after checks by council staff found non-compliance with Covid-19 safety guidelines. Council licensing staff found The Refreshment Rooms at The Old Station, Cymmer, failed to take reasonable measures to ensure: • There was a person controlling entry to the premises and allocating a limited time period during which customers could stay in the premises. • That face coverings were worn by customers other than when seated. • That customers were seated when ordering food or drink, being served with food or drink and when consuming food…