Author: Rhys Gregory

Two drug suppliers from Rhondda Cynon Taf have been jailed for a total of 12 years following a police investigation by South Wales Police’s Organised Crime Unit. Paul Taylor, 51, of Deer Road, Llantwit Fadre and Mark Dobbin, 53, of Dan Caerlan, Llantrisant, were both jailed for six years at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, May 26, after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply. South Wales Police caught the two men red handed as they arrived at a farm linked to them in Peterston Super Ely at approximately 7pm on 22 January, 2020. Officers were acting on…

The Prince’s Countryside Fund has awarded five emergency grants to farming and rural community support groups across Wales who are providing assistance to counter the effects of isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic. The beneficiaries include: Builth Wells Community Support CETMA Llandovery Youth and Community Centre Llanwrtyd Community Transport Menter y Plu The Fund received nearly 300 applications for assistance, and thanks to generosity of its corporate partners, players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Royal Warrant Holders Association Charitable Trust, and the Barbour Foundation, were able to release £120,963 in funding to 62 projects, benefitting people living and working in rural…

Cat welfare has been a major focus for frontline RSPCA Cymru officers during the Covid-19 lockdown – with 386 incidents reported in Wales over the period. Since the start of lockdown, up to May 4, there have been 6,630 incidents reported to the charity’s hotline about cats – including 386 incidents in Wales alone. Hot spots for Wales include Cardiff (40), Neath Port Talbot (36), and Swansea (32). The new figures have been released as part of the animal welfare charity’s emergency appeal, launched to keep its frontline rescue teams working during the Covid-19 crisis. Under the Welsh Government’s definition…

Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James has announced new funding of up to £20m to help ensure that no-one in emergency shelter during the coronavirus crisis has to return to the streets or unsuitable accommodation. The Welsh Government’s initial funding package of £10m has meant that over 800 people have been housed since lockdown began. Many of these people were previously forced to sleep on our streets or were the ‘hidden homeless’ living precariously as ‘sofa surfers’ or in unsuitable temporary accommodation. The Welsh Government now wants to build on this success to change the approach to homelessness for…

Lockdown rules in Wales have made some significant changes to the way that we shop. Essential shops like supermarkets are still open to the public, although most of them are operating on reduced opening hours. Stores have certain times allocated for NHS workers or the most vulnerable in society to go inside for their groceries, in order to try and best protect those people who are the most at risk. Online shopping is also business as normal for most brands, although it’s a bit harder than usual to find a delivery slot at Tesco and some smaller online businesses are…

Cardiff-based Smallspark Space Systems has received three major grants to develop their low-cost, environmentally-friendly rocket engines. Smallspark are redefining the UK space sector by bringing to market a new generation of low-cost, eco-friendly engines and propulsion systems, making cost-effective and environmentally friendly access to space more readily available and lowering the barriers to space entry for UK groups seeking space access. The award of three prestigious grants this month brings this ambition one step closer to reality. Smallspark this month secured major grants from Research England, the European Regional Development Fund, administered through the Westcott Business Incubation Centre, and the…

A Bridgend charity has been awarded £97,550 from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) to help ensure the vital support it offers to formerly homeless people can continue amid the coronavirus outbreak. Homelessness charity Emmaus South Wales supports 17 people who have previously been homeless by offering a place to live within a communal setting and the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience in its five charity shops. The £97k award has been made as part of the WCVA’s new grant scheme to enable voluntary organisations providing vital support during the coronavirus crisis to continue. The majority of the…

Artificial intelligence (AI) company Nightingale HQ has been awarded £50,000 from the UK Government’s Research and Innovation organisation after successfully pitching to its Innovate UK grant fund.  The Cardiff-based developer is one of 800 UK companies to be awarded funding to develop projects that will support businesses across the country, making them better placed to deal with future disruption similar to that of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nightingale’s AI Productivity Toolbox project will support SME’s across the UK that need to dramatically lower costs by creating six, free-to-use, AI-based tools. Essentially, the tools will be able to be used ‘off the…

A Welsh furniture and graphics group is launching a new range of workplace shielding products to support the country’s safe return to work, following support from Lloyds Bank. Ministry of Furniture, based in Neath, specialises in creating workspaces for public sector schools, local authorities and offices. It offers interior design services, as well as manufacturing its own lines of furniture and re-selling major brands. Its sister company, Ministry Graphics, provides interior and exterior signage, as well as interior and vehicle graphics. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the businesses have been exploring how they can use their existing design and manufacturing capabilities…

Keep Wales Tidy is delighted to be reopening applications for its Local Places for Nature initiative. With many of us limited to our immediate locality during lockdown, there has never been a better time to consider how our community areas can be improved for nature. A choice of pre-paid garden packages are being offered to local community groups and town and community councils to transform a space in their local area. Groups and potential applicants are being asked to make best use of their time at home, by submitting an application. Keep Wales Tidy staff are on hand to help.…