Author: Rhys Gregory

Creative industries research is set for a boost at Aberystwyth University with the appointment of a new fellow. Professor Matthew Jarvis has been appointed to the new role of Creative Exchange Fellow at the University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Professor Jarvis will cultivate links with business, the third sector and artists to develop creative arts and humanities projects. This includes strengthening links with companies working in fields such as digital technologies. The appointment is part of the ‘Strengthening the Research Base’ programme funded by the Higher Education Council for Wales. The scheme aims to enhance the research base…

People across Wales are being encouraged to get crafty with paper to contribute to a new art display marking a year since the UK went into lockdown. Community arts organisation Tanio is organising an exhibition at Ysbyty’r Seren field hospital in Bridgend featuring hundreds of origami cranes (or ‘Tsuru’) – considered a symbol of hope and healing in Japanese culture. NHS staff, patients and volunteers are pitching in to make the origami creations. The charity is now asking people across Wales to get involved by creating paper cranes and sending them in to be featured in the exhibition. The exhibition…

Family Housing, a housing association based in Swansea and covering South and West Wales, is providing 13 new homes for people who were previously at risk of homelessness. The residents will also receive psychological and trauma informed support to help them begin a new chapter in their lives. The accommodation has been made available following a series of successful bids made by Family Housing to Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Councils as part of Welsh Government’s homelessness funding. Working in partnership with these local authorities the initiative will significantly increase housing provision in these areas for those who need it…

A Gŵyl Dewi 72 hour virtual festival is lined up to celebrate this year’s St. David’s Day – with everything from Hollywood star Luke Evans to a cook along with celebrity chef Bryn Williams, and Cerys Matthews reading the story of Dewi Sant. “Gwnewch y pethau bychain / Do the little things” Saint David said in his final sermon. While traditional St. David’s Day celebrations and gatherings are not possible this year, there has never been a better time to communicate this message from Wales’ patron saint – showcasing how Wales is doing good things to audiences across the world.…

People in South West Wales with great ideas to improve their local communities are invited to apply for grants from a new fund designed to help them make those ideas a reality. The new Community Changemakers Fund will directly support local people and organisations who want to drive positive local change in communities along the South West Wales rail network. The initiative has been launched by South West Wales Connected (SWWCo), a Community Rail Partnership set up to support the communities along the railway line throughout Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. SWWCo is hosted by 4theRegion, a community…

Appointment letters for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are now landing on doormats across Cwm Taf Morgannwg. When the Health Board’s six community vaccination centres (CVCs) open on March 1, they will begin by administering dose two for health and social care workers and people aged 70 to 74. The majority of people will find their second appointments are earlier than any previous date given and should stick to their new date, time and venue. It could be you will go to a new CVC this time because one has opened nearer to your home, or you had your…

Scientists from Bangor University are working on a three-year £3million European scheme to save millions of tons of waste from food production being dumped in landfill or in the fields. They aim to turn the unused leftovers from fruit, vegetable and grain crops from agriculture into products ranging from chemicals for the food industry, building materials and beauty products. The University’s Bio-composites Centre is collaborating with public and private sector partners, including food giants Mars and Tate and Lyle, from six different EU countries on the Pro-Enrich project. Their share of the funding is £400,000 from the Bio-based Industries Joint…

With COVID restrictions still in place, for many of us, it can be a challenge finding new ways to keep boredom at bay. When you’re all Zoom-ed out, have binge-watched every box-set, seen all your local landmarks and had enough of online workouts, the next logical step is to start crafting… With the mental health benefits of creative hobbies well known, the official NHS charity for west Wales has come up with a family-friendly activity everyone can take part in, while helping to improve the experience of staff and patients above and beyond what the NHS provides. This week, Hywel…

WILD goats whose cheeky antics on Llandudno’s deserted streets during lockdown attracted global attention are being immortalised in a stunning new work of art. The boundary wall around the town’s Tre Cwm estate is to be given a colourful makeover, after planning permission was granted for an eye-catching new mural to be placed on it. The artwork captures many of the things most associated with Llandudno, including the Kashmiri goats who became known around the world after heading into the town centre en masse last year and munching on whatever took their fancy. The mural will be seen by thousands…

A Natural Resources Wales (NRW) grant has helped to keep green spaces and woodlands accessible to the public during Covid-19. Last year, Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) received the £267,762 grant from the NRW’s Strategic Allocation Fund. The primary purpose was to support them in adapting to the new Covid-19 environment, and to continue to make Welsh woodlands safe and accessible for visitors. Coed Cadw used the grant to undertake the thinning of ash trees badly affected by Ash Dieback at Coed Cadnant – an urban woodland providing a valuable recreational resource for the communities of Peblig and…