Author: Rhys Gregory

Freelancers working in the cultural and creative sectors in Wales are now able to apply for their share of a £7m fund – which is targeted specifically at those in the freelance sector hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic.   The fund opened yesterday and will run over two phases. Individuals can apply for a £2,500 grant, for further details visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/ The fund will be open to freelancers in the sub sectors of arts, creative industries, arts and heritage events, culture and heritage, whose work has direct creative/cultural outcomes. Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “The…

‘Adopt Don’t Shop’ is the message from RSPCA Cymru this month of ‘Adoptober’ – as the animal welfare charity reveals the number of people looking for puppies online in the UK during lockdown soared by 650%. During ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, UK-based Google searches for ‘Puppies near me’ increased more than six times (650%) with 15,000 searches in July 2020 compared to 2,000 in January 2020. The figure was also five times higher than the same month last year (July 2019). Wales has long had a negative reputation for some poor puppy breeding practices – and has previously been labelled the…

A Wrexham fundraiser has completed the London Marathon virtually at a local National Trust site to raise money for life-saving cancer research. Chris Hall, a 56-year-old legal advisor at the Magistrates courts in North Wales, ran 26.2 miles around the Erddig National Trust estate after COVID-19 restrictions postponed the 40th London Marathon earlier this year. This was the first time ever that the London Marathon has taken place outside the capital, with runners from all across the country choosing various locations in which to complete their miles. Chris, was one of 45,000 successful applicants for this year’s event which has…

AN INDEPENDENT care and education business plans for further growth after an excellent Estyn inspection. And Bryn Tirion Hall School has unveiled a new sixth form at its Caergwrle site to meet demand and support vulnerable children with special needs as they prepare for their future careers. Principal Paddy Prendergast revealed they have recruited six new teachers and learning assistants since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic and welcomed five new children in past months. Having started with one pupil when the organisation was launched in 2008, they begin this academic year with 54, now covering two sites, the most…

Cardiff-headquartered utilities firm Arch Drainage Services has expanded its depot network as its growth plans continue apace with the support of Lloyds Bank. The business, which provides advanced diagnostics and drain repair services for businesses and local authorities across Wales and the South West, has opened a new 7,000 sq ft depot on Avonmouth Industrial Estate in Bristol, creating 10 new jobs. Earlier this year, Lloyds Bank backed the business with a new £250k invoice finance facility to support growth and has now provided a further six-figure round of funding to support the acquisition and set-up of the new Bristol…

The British pound has struggled against other major currencies in recent weeks, in part a consequence of a growing lack of confidence that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union with a deal. The transition phase of the UK’s departure from the EU concludes at the end of 2020, with no extension to the deadline expected. By the start of 2021, markets will have a definitive idea of what a post-Brexit British economy will look like. While the shape of that economy will hinge on whether the UK leaves with or without a deal, at the very least there will…

Ford Performance has launched its much-hyped first fully electric dragster prototype, and it’s received a very warm welcome. The all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 has impressed ahead of its debut and looks set to take the dragster market by storm. Drag racing has always been synonymous with being cool since the days of Grease lightning, and it’s an industry that has seen a rapid rise. It has appeared in a number of huge Hollywood movies over the last decade or so. The likes of the Fast and Furious series has done a lot to shine a light on what is…

There is a lot of literature online on the effects of gaming. Recent studies have recognised that the question of whether games are good is not as simple as black and white. There are many shades of grey in between which make it challenging to address. The violent nature of some games is what has received the most disdain. But numerous social benefits of playing games have also been cited. Gaming has been shown to positively impact leadership skills and problem-solving. But did you know you know that gaming also impacts your cognitive and physical health? Dyslexia The NHS estimates…

You may have noticed the surge in popularity of CBD oil in recent years, as its medicinal benefits become more and more widely known and acknowledged. According to a study conducted by Wowcher, sales of CBD oil in the UK surged by 99% in 2019 and that trend certainly hasn’t buckled this year, with more and more products readily available on the market. With interest and sales increasing, anyone purchasing CBD oil must be familiar with the difference in the types of products available. The two main types you should familiarise yourself with are broad and full-spectrum, while it is…

LORD’S Taverners Wales’ free community cricket programme, ‘Wicketz’, is now running twice weekly sessions at its Llanrumney hub to accommodate the increasing demand experienced since restarting at the end of August. Every Tuesday, youngsters can book to attend one of the two sessions that now run after school from 4:00pm-4:45pm or 5:00pm-5:45pm at Llanrumney Hall. By extending the sessions, capacity has increased from 27 to 54 to cope with the surge in youngsters trying to secure places, and all lessons are delivered outside to comply with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and government guidelines. Wicketz was…