Author: Rhys Gregory

Funding of over £4m has been announced today by the Welsh Government to support childcare providers affected by COVID-19. The Childcare Provider Grant will offer dedicated funding for the childcare sector to help ensure more providers re-open as the schools return in September. Since 22 June, childcare providers have been able to care for more children and increase their operations or re-open fully. The grant is available to childcare settings who have been unable to access other business support schemes offered by the UK and Welsh Governments and most providers will be eligible for a one-off grant of £2,500 to…

The Welsh Government has announced an additional £10m to help the bus industry safely transport more passengers to school, college and work. On the same day the Welsh Government has updated its learner transport guidance so that local authorities and bus operators are clear on the steps they must take to ensure that from September children and young people can travel safely to school and college. The new academic term will see children and young people returning to full time school or college for the first time since March. As a result there will be a significant increase in the…

Cannabidiol oil, also often referred to as CBD oil, is extracted from the cannabis plant family. No, unlike marijuana, CBD, and its byproducts, including the oils, are not psychoactive because it contains a minimal amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If you are a novice in the use of CBD oil, this fact may come as surprising to you but to those who have used it before, this is already a piece of common information. Nevertheless, below are some other surprising facts about CBD oil that you should know. You Can’t Overdose in CBD One of the surprising fun facts about CBD…

If there is one place that I’ve missed during lockdown, it isn’t the pub or shopping on the highstreet, it’s the gym. As of yesterday (Monday 10 August), gyms across Wales can finally open their doors again as part of the latest changes to the coronavirus regulations in Wales. Since the closure of gyms in March, I have been trying to get outside everyday and at least go for a walk or the occasional (very rare) jog around where I live. I’ve managed to get into a bit of a routine, walking on average 10km at a time, which allows…

Severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding in the seaside town of Aberystwyth on Monday afternoon. Areas including the town’s main street, North Parade, were underwater as an intense burst of showers caused water to block and overflow drains. https://twitter.com/tomkendall22/status/1292838091481387009 The town of Aberystwyth is no stranger to high-tides claiming back parts of the seafront during storms, but many people have taken to social media to say that they’ve never witnessed anything quite like this in the centre of town. https://twitter.com/ichy_vagenda/status/1292889654551871489 One person reported seeing someone swim past their vehicle. The rain follows a weekend of late summer sunshine which say temperatures…

Innovative plans for an energy positive Swansea Bay Technology Centre building on Baglan Energy Park have been given the green light. Neath Port Talbot Council’s Planning Committee has approved plans for the three-storey building, which will provide flexible office space for start-up companies and local businesses. The new facility will complement the existing adjacent Baglan Bay Innovation Centre building and will continue the focus on the renewable energy – particularly hydrogen -sectors, enabling innovation and research and development. The excess energy from the building, provided by solar and other renewable technologies, will be converted into hydrogen at the nearby Hydrogen…

Plans for the restoration and conversion of Swansea’s historic Palace Theatre building have been unveiled. They would see the 132-year-old structure become an eye-catching new six-storey home to exciting young tech and creative businesses. The public now has the chance to comment on the plans. They show the building’s structure maintained with the retention and restoration of original historic features and the reinstatement of other historic features. The interior includes dramatic mezzanine floors that look down towards a stage – as theatre audiences once would have done. Auditorium balustrading would be reinstated and restored. The stage would be retained to…

Macmillan Cancer Support is asking people to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning to fund vital support for people living with cancer as the annual event turns 30. Traditionally, Macmillan Coffee Morning has seen thousands of people across Wales tuck into cakes and enjoy a cuppa with pals, neighbours and strangers. This year the charity is appealing for people to get involved at a time when it needs people’s support more than ever to be there for people with cancer. Covid-19 may mean we are not allowed to pack into houses, village halls or community centres in the same way we’ve…

A Welsh company that designs and manufactures prosthetic leg covers is expanding rapidly with an increasing number of international customers. LIMB-art, which was established by former Paralympian Mark Williams, is now looking to target customers in America. The company already has customers in Australia, Singapore, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Israel and the Canary Islands. Mark said: “In combination with Business Wales, we commissioned an in-depth market analysis of the American market with renowned international development group IBDG. “The analysis found that there are over 3 million amputees in America who could benefit from a prosthetic leg cover. “We’re excited…

Top Welsh restaurateurs and hospitality bosses have thrown their weight behind the Welsh #nomorenoshows campaign – to stop the hundreds of millions in lost revenue. As the sector slowly tries to get back on its feet following Covid-19, hospitality bosses are warning that no-shows, estimated to cost Welsh businesses £540m a year, could prove just as crippling as the pandemic itself. The industry is now facing the prospect of having to cut 30,000 jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic, and with most bars and restaurants operating at reduced capacity to honour social distancing, just a small number of no shows…