Author: Rhys Gregory

TRANSFORMING their business models ensured local food and drink producers and hospitality venues survived the Coronavirus lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history, but it has also led to a sea change in attitudes and innovation. Driven by community concern and health and safety requirements, firms across rural towns and villages adapted their normal working hours and processes to meet demand and support customers when they needed it most. From home deliveries to takeaway services and e-commerce, there have been myriad approaches to supplying the public with fresh, artisan and homegrown…

OWNERS of an exclusive luxury holiday park have made huge strides with the development in lockdown. The first phase of Maes Mynan Park, in Afonwen near Caerwys, was launched by Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Dafydd-Elis Thomas last autumn, but, as with many businesses, the Coronavirus outbreak prevented prospective holiday homeowners from visiting the picturesque site. While restrictions have lifted in past weeks interest has started to grow and Acorn Leisure directors Peter and Louise Barlow have been working hard behind the scenes to lay 23 luxury lodge bases and the foundation for new access roads. The…

THIS September – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – a schoolgirl from Amlwch who survived a rare form of cancer is urging people across Wales to clear out their wardrobes to help save lives like hers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXcFBt_Oxo Maisy Fitzmaurice, 11 was diagnosed with germ cell cancer, back in April 2019, just weeks after her 10th birthday. Now thanks to lifesaving treatment she is cancer free and looking forward to starting her first year of senior school at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones. The kind-hearted schoolgirl who enjoys shopping, football and tik tok now wants to help other children going through cancer by…

Children and young people across the UK will be supported with £1000 grants from Tesco as part of a new scheme launched this week. Thousands of groups and charities across Wales who support younger people will be able to apply for funding provided by the Bags of Help scheme throughout October, November and December. Potential organisations who can apply include those supporting mental health, outdoor activities, educational activities, young carers, bereavement counselling, child poverty and vulnerable at risk children. Since COVID19, the Bags of Help COVID19 Communities Fund has given £4m of support to more than 8,000 charities and groups…

Building work is progressing well at a housing development in Newport, with the first images of the new homes now available to view online. Bellway is building a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes at Heron’s Mead, off Queensway in Llanwern. To help buyers gain an insight into what life could be like at the development, the five-star builder has released a selection of computer-generated images of the properties, some of which are now available to reserve off plan. Sales Manager at Bellway Wales, Carly Maidment, said: “We have worked really hard to design a brilliant variety of new…

Nursing homes are the best possible solution for anyone who can’t properly take care of themselves, as it provides the right care, surveillance, and help anyone can ever ask for. But to some, it’s still a mystery as to what and how nursing homes operate – and to simply put it everything is planned and oriented towards the person and their well-being. Here is a representation of how a typical day at a nursing home looks, to have a better understanding of how important and helpful these nursing homes are. Start of the day Day in the nursing homes starts…

Residents in the Caerphilly county borough are being asked to give their views on a new proposed active travel route from Penpedairheol and Cefn Hengoed to Ystrad Mynach. Caerphilly County Borough Council is asking local residents, including school staff and pupils, for feedback on a proposed scheme that will enhance crossing facilities and improve walking and cycling provision, linking to the National Cycling Network. The proposed scheme, which is funded by Welsh Government, will provide the following improvements: New crossing facilities on the B4254 and modifications to existing junction to prohibit vehicular access, Improved traffic calming measures along B4254 using…

Following a successful bid for funding, the Welsh Government is providing £500,000 to Cardiff Council to improve the infrastructure which transports fibre optic broadband around the city, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters has announced. The work in Cardiff, which will be completed next year, will join up with ongoing investment in the duct network along the M4 corridor, bringing benefits across the South Wales region. Across Wales more than 95 per cent of premises can access superfast broadband following the Welsh Government’s Superfast Cymru programme. In addition a further rollout of gigabit speed fibre broadband is taking…

Five years ago, when asked what eSports was, most people would have thought you’d made a typo and meant sports instead. But, after a huge campaign by the eSports industry, including eSports Wales, far more people in the mainstream understand what the industry is – and a great deal are engaging with it. Major eSports team Fnatic announced in August 2020 that they were to sign Welsh player Chris ‘crr’ Williams. Could this help add further legitimacy to the industry for those who still don’t really understand it? https://twitter.com/ohcrr/status/1296884973522292736 eSports Players’ Success The success of some of the key participants…

For most people, retirement is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it means that you no longer have to worry yourself with the often-stressful world of work. But lots of people worry about their finances after retirement. If you are one of those people, here are some simple things you can do to secure your finances. Plan for Your Pension Income We all have that one friend who seems to have been planning their financial future since they received their first pocket money. For these people, good financial health appears to be second nature. All those good habits that…