Author: Rhys Gregory

Struggling charities across Wales are set to benefit from an “unprecedented” donation of £40,000 thanks to the all-Wales lottery, Loteri Cymru. The lottery, which was established to support Welsh charities, has earmarked the sum to offer vital financial assistance to local causes affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This comes after it was reported by the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) that charities expected to see their voluntary income plummet by 48% due to lockdown measures, while demand for their services continued to increase rapidly. In a bid to offer a lifeline, Loteri Cymru has earmarked £40,000 to support charities across Wales…

Last week (3rd June 2020) multiple South Wales Fire & Rescue crews were called to a fire on Wentloog Road, St Mellons in Cardiff. Upon arrival firefighters were faced with a derelict caravan on fire, which had consequently spread to nearing trees. The fire is suspected to have been caused deliberately and the Fire Crime Team from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have since been monitoring the site which currently has approximately 25 tonnes of rubbish dumped, including four caravans. Fly tipping within the area has grown dramatically over the past two weeks and the team have been liaising…

A father and son team have launched a new division of their family business, designed to help companies in Wales make workplaces safe and enable businesses to re-open as we emerge from lockdown measures in the fight against COVID-19. Family business JIT Comms had initially set-up to help support the need for remote working but have now successfully pivoted the business to establish a new thermal screening division.  As the coronavirus lockdown eases, more businesses are considering how to make their premises safe for staff and visitors. One of the main symptoms of the virus is a raised temperature, and…

Zip Clip, a manufacturer and innovator of wire suspension systems, based in Welshpool, Wales, has received a facility from HSBC UK to support the business during the Covid-19 pandemic, as it looks to ensure it meets demand from its existing and new customers. A customer of HSBC UK since the business was established in 2004, the funding has enabled the company to continue to distribute its products to building services contractors, with the unique design of the products making them easier to handle and simpler to install, which has proved vital due to social distancing restrictions. This includes contractor Geoffrey…

Principality Building Society has been announced as one of the sponsors of LGBTQymru’s Wales-Wide Virtual Pride 2020, the first pan-Wales Pride event, which takes place at the end of July. The Wales-Wide Virtual Pride event, hosted by not-for-profit community group, LGBTQymru, on 24-25 July, has been created to unite all the voices, stories and LGBTQ+ organisations of Wales. The free, two-day event that will feature shows by LGBTQ+ performers, artists and community groups, put together by nearly every regional pride organisation across Wales, including Pride Cymru, Bi Cymru, Glitter Cymru, and Pride Bangor. There will also be a number of…

Wales’s leading dairy company has provided over a ton of its award-winning cheese worth £10,000 to food banks and community schemes across Gwynedd and Anglesey. North Wales farmer co-operative South Caernarfon Creameries has donated 5,000 220-gram packs of its grated Dragon cheddar to help families in need across North West Wales. The company has maintained its milk collections from 135 farmer-members throughout North and Mid Wales and has continued to produce their Welsh cheeses and butter at their headquarters near Chwilog throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to help feed the nation. Managing Director Alan Wyn-Jones said: “Our structure is quite unique…

A pioneering new service has been launched to provide professional online lessons and fun music challenges for children in North Wales to ensure they don’t miss out because of the coronavirus restrictions. The platform, totally-music.com, has been created in record time by the North Wales Music Co-operative whose peripatetic teachers would normally tour the region providing singing and instrumental lessons to individuals and groups of pupils in different schools. From a standing start once the lockdown was imposed, it took just eight weeks to set up the online service with backing from the Welsh Government, Wrexham and Denbighshire county councils.…

Metro Bank, the UK’s community bank, has opened its 76th store in Cardiff on Newport Road, bringing Wales its first drive-thru banking experience. Metro Bank offers customers the choice to bank however, whenever and wherever they choose – whether that’s face-to-face banking in store, on the phone, online or via its mobile app. According to analysis from Which?, Wales has seen more than 230 bank closures since 2015 but Metro Bank is proud to be bucking this trend as it opens its second store in Cardiff. The new store will be opening in line with the latest Government guidance with…

The RSPCA is searching for the owner of a stray corn snake found in Brynmawr. Officers from the animal welfare charity were contacted after the snake was found by a member of the public on Somerset Street in the South Wales town, last Tuesday (2 June). Reports to the RSPCA suggest the loose snake had a near-miss incident with a motorcycle, but fortunately has no injuries. RSPCA Cymru now hopes an owner of the snake can be found and has urged anyone with information to contact them. The incident highlights the importance of appropriate, secure accommodation for exotic pets -…

Businesses can now find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from the next phase of the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF). The online eligibility checker has reopened today and businesses will be able to make applications for support from this phase of the fund by the end of the month. The ERF is designed to support businesses, social enterprises and charities, which are not eligible for other Welsh Government and UK Government support schemes. The next phase of the fund will enable businesses to access a further £100m of financial support. It is being targeted…