Author: Rhys Gregory

With a third of people over 65 falling every year, falls cost the NHS two billion pounds annually. And with the inactivity in older people that lockdown and shielding caused, it is feared that falls could pose an increased threat to life. Elderfit, a company specialising in exercise for the elderly, was established to combat the risk that falls pose to the older generation, and when lockdown struck they took all of their face to face classes in care homes and community centres online. Margaret Shanahan, 69 from Splott, Cardiff started Elderfit classes two years ago, following a recommendation from…

Meliden’s Y Shed – a community hub which provides space for up-and-coming businesses, artists, and crafters – had been open for just a few months when the Coronavirus pandemic forced it to temporarily close. The converted old railway building, home to independent businesses, a shop, and café attracted thousands of visitors in its first few months. The enforced closure was a blow for all at Y Shed, a project championed by charitable housing association Grŵp Cynefin and Meliden Residents Action group. Now, four months on, the Grade II listed building has opened its doors again, just in time for its…

Tenants of Family Housing, a housing association in South West Wales, are being given help getting online as part of an initiative that aims to tackle social isolation. The Get Online with Family scheme, which is funded with £4550 from The National Lottery Community Fund, is a direct response to the challenges faced by some tenants during lockdown. It is now more important than ever to be able to connect online, for everything from social to financial reasons – but some tenants remain isolated due to lack of knowledge and equipment. The scheme will provide equipment to get tenants online…

Artists and filmmakers throughout the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are being given the chance to create work to celebrate the beauty and character of the acclaimed landscape as part of the re-imagined Wye Valley River Festival taking place from September 21 – 27. Previously the biennial award-winning festival has worked with local communities to bring internationally acclaimed art, performances and events to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, such as the Museum of the Moon event in 2018. However, the coronavirus pandemic has meant plans have evolved for 2020, with event organisers re-imagining the festival so that…

Vale of Glamorgan farmer Rhys Jenkins has taken on the role of managing the 350-acre estate at Fonmon Castle near Cardiff airport, having been offered the opportunity after his family learned they are to lose the land Rhys grew up farming. Rhys’ family has farmed 250 acres of land in the Vale of Glamorgan for generations but recently learned that the owner of the land they farm is planning to sell it for development. This will leave the family with only their personally-owned smallholding, which is not big enough to support their business. The new owner of Fonmon Castle, Nigel…

Welsh Government and Life Sciences Hub Wales are supporting plans to build a 200 strong team of specialists at Wales’ soon to be launched Lighthouse Lab, which is set to create additional capacity for the UK’s Covid-19 testing strategy. Work to establish the UK Government’s Lighthouse Lab at Imperial Park in Newport is underpinned by a partnership with multinational diagnostics company, PerkinElmer Inc., a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world. Led by the Department for Health and Social Care, a series of partnerships has established a network of Lighthouse Labs across the country to increase the number…

SOUTH West Wales now has its very own Community Rail Partnership, designed to help communities get the most benefit from their existing railway lines. The new Community Rail Partnership, South West Wales Connected, will engage with communities across Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to maximise the role the railway can play in fulfilling the goals of the Welsh Government’s Well-Being of Future Generations Act. SWW Connected has been established by Transport for Wales and is hosted by 4theRegion, a membership alliance working to bring about positive change across the region. It is based in a dedicated community facility…

Not even a global pandemic has stopped a Pontypridd teenager from fulfilling his career goals and landing himself his dream job at a barbering salon. After discovering his grades were a cut above the rest, Coleg y Cymoedd learner Daniel Braund, 17, from Pontypridd, has bagged himself a full-time position with Hawthorn-based Lost Boys Club Barbers after achieving 100% in his barbering qualification at college. The talented stylist, who has just completed his barbering level 2 course at college, is excited to take his first steps on the career ladder, albeit working in a very different environment to what he…

Transport for Wales (TfW) and British Transport Police (BTP) are reminding customers of the need to wear face coverings on board public transport services – those failing to comply with the rules will not be allowed to travel and could be fined. It became mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport on 27 July and over the past two weeks, TfW staff and BTP officers have engaged and advised customers about the new policy.  They have encouraged customers, who are unable to explain why they are exempt from the requirements of the Regulations, to wear a face covering…

Scale model locomotives surpass expectations at auction in aid of Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway An auction house achieved sales that far surpassed forecast results at a highly anticipated Live Steam sale this month (August). The collection from the estate of Leicester-based Kenneth ‘Mike’ Abbott, which was sold by Gildings Auctioneers, resulted in 100% of 229 lots sold, with only seven lots selling below estimate. The final sale total was £132k against a pre-sale bottom estimate of £70k. The proceeds of the sale will benefit the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. Railway enthusiasts competed online, on the phone and through…