Author: Rhys Gregory

Abergavenny’s 160-year-old railway station is set to play host to an exciting new community development thanks to investment by Transport for Wales. The station, which has served the town and wider community since the mid-Victorian era, will see some of its empty spaces converted to become an art gallery. Contractors are now on site with Peak Cymru expected to move in later in the year. The investment is part of TfW’s wider multi-million-pound Station Improvement Vision with a brand new CCTV and Customer Information System also set to be installed latter in the year, the latter of which is funded…

A chef at a Cardiff-based care home has been recognised as one of the UK’s top care chefs at the National Association of Care Catering Chef of the Year awards. On Wednesday 20th January, Cheryl Crook, chef at Heol Don Bupa Care Home, came in third place at the national awards after the Home Manager, Kate Stephens put her forward. The competition kicked off with a regional ‘cook off’ back in February 2020 which saw Cheryl move through to the UK wide finals. Due to the pandemic, the final round took place virtually and the contestants had to do a…

It’s a case of “the sky’s the limit” for one naval man from Comins Coch, Aberystwyth, as Gareth Whalley launches a fundraising raffle which will run throughout February in support of his local NHS charity. Later this year, the 26 year old Navy Outdoor Instructor, whose girlfriend is an NHS junior doctor and mum is a nurse, will face his fears and take part in a fundraising skydive for Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official NHS charity for Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Gareth says, “When I do the skydive, I will be absolutely terrified. I’ve not done one before and…

A Swansea mum who was homeless for eight months has set up a thriving arts and community hub in Swansea city centre, which is helping people with mental health issues. Stacey Hancock set up Driftwood, in Princess Way, at the end of 2020, where she supports creative people to develop skills in everything from tattooing and beauty, to media design. Her story has been highlighted as part of the Big Heart of Swansea’s True Heart social media campaign, which shares the stories of the people behind some of Swansea City Centre’s favourite businesses. The social media account, which is powered…

Scottish Book Trust today announces the 11 recipients of the New Writers Awards 2021, which provide a selection of talented writers who have not yet published a full-length book or collection with professional guidance to help them move towards publication, as well as financial support. Funded by Creative Scotland and run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, the awards have supported over 100 creative individuals since 2009. The prestigious judging panel included Scots Makar Jackie Kay, Niall Campbell and Colin Waters for poetry; Tendai Huchu, Janice Galloway, Denise Mina and Alan Bett judging…

Another global trial of a COVID-19 vaccine, which included participants from north Wales, has published very promising interim results showing more than 89% effectiveness against the virus. The second of three COVID-19 vaccines trialled in Wales, this study has been delivered through a collaboration between Public Health Wales, Health and Care Research Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The UK target reached over 15,000 volunteers with nearly 500 people recruited from a 30-mile radius of Wrexham. These are preliminary results and the study team will continue to collect more data before submitting to regulators for final review in the…

The additional funding, being announced at the start of Children’s Mental Health Week, recognises the effect being away from school and regular support networks has had on young people during the pandemic. The Welsh Government has already demonstrated that it is committed to addressing the issue of mental health across society and spends more on this than any other aspect of the NHS – with a protected minimum spend of £783m for 2021-22. This represents an extra £42m additional funding into mental health support, as it is not just young people who are struggling with this issue during the pandemic.…

Colleagues have paid tribute to Neath Port Talbot Hospital worker who died after testing positive for coronavirus. Helen Mills, who lived in Port Talbot, started her healthcare career working for Homecare. She joined NHS Wales in 2005 as a health care support worker at Groeswen, then worked at Cimla and Neath Port Talbot Hospitals as a physiotherapy assistant. In 2008, she joined the Minor Injury Unit team at Neath Port Talbot Hospital as a health care support worker. Her colleagues at the Minor Injury Unit described Helen, aged 56, as very caring, kind and a well-respected member of the MIU…

Detectives investigating a murder in Penylan, Cardiff have named the victim as 23-year-old Tomasz Waga. His body was discovered by a member of the public at approximately 11.30pm on Thursday (Jan 28) in Westville Road. His family have paid the following tribute to him: “Tomasz was loved by many and was taken from us too soon. “We are devastated by his sudden loss and we ask anyone with information to come forward. “He will forever live in our hearts and will be remembered as the personable son, brother, father and partner that he was.” An incident room has been set…

Dragon Taxis, South Wales’ largest taxi and private hire vehicle operator, has extended its offer of free rides to help roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to elderly and vulnerable patients until February 14. GP practices across South Wales are taking their first steps in the process to tackle the pandemic by vaccinating the elderly and vulnerable in the local community. Dragon Taxis are working with participating GP practices in Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport and Torfaen to offer rides only to those eligible persons who have been invited to make a vaccination appointment, if they have no other means of transport. The…