Author: Rhys Gregory

Boundless, the membership association for public sector and civil service workers, is giving away 10,000 film codes from streaming platform Chili, worth £10 each, for public service workers in Cardiff as a thank you for their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chili service features latest films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Knives Out, Playing with Fire and Spies in Disguise. Boundless’ Darren Milton commented: “Boundless originally formed as the Civil Service Motoring Association as far back as 1923 and ever since we’ve strived to help make the lives of our members better with exclusive events,…

Virtual appointments are helping Swansea Bay University Health Board clinicians maintain services during the lockdown. With social isolation in full swing and the need to reduce footfall in our hospitals and clinics, video chats are proving to be the answer, with patients now able to keep their appointments from the safety of their own homes via Windows, Android and Apple devices. The initiative is being guided by Swansea Bay’s Digital Services team and so far is proving to be a really useful resource. Matt John, Associate Director of Digital Services, said: “SBUHB clinicians are using the internet to provide critical…

The first set of figures from the Insolvency Service for Q1 of 2020 showed that both individual and company insolvencies decreased, and the number of individual bankruptcies rose. The figures largely pre-date the Government lockdown and wider impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). But analysis going deeper into the crisis by the Enterprise Research Centre has warned of a “pincer movement” with a surge in limited companies going bust being mirrored by a drop in new firms setting up. Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair said: “These figures just go to highlight the scale of the challenge that small businesses right across…

Swansea University has used its unique connection to Wuhan to bring together health experts from across Wales with some of the first medics to tackle coronavirus. The University played a key role, alongside Swansea Bay University Health Board, in organising a video conference between representatives from Welsh health boards and senior doctors at Wuhan Union Hospital. The Chinese hospital is home to a joint medical centre, opened two years ago following a long-standing and successful collaboration between the University and the hospital. It was set up to promote clinical and life sciences research, and build student and staff exchanges and…

Local charity Emmaus South Wales is appealing for help during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis to ensure its support of formerly homeless people continues. Emmaus South Wales is a charity that provides a home, work and individual support to people who have experienced homelessness. The temporary closure of the Emmaus shops in Bridgend, Cowbridge, Maesteg and Porthcawl due to the coronavirus situation poses a significant risk to the charity. Marcin, one of the people supported by Emmaus South Wales, said: “I was losing hope before coming to Emmaus South Wales six months ago. I have not only been given a…

Cardiff based fintech company Yoello has joined forces with non-profit organisation FOR Cardiff to launch a campaign to ‘#BackCardiff’ – offering cashflow support to Cardiff based hospitality and retail businesses struggling whilst social distancing restrictions are in place. Through Yoello’s web-app platform, local hospitality and retail merchants can create a shop page to sell their products and services during lockdown. Customers can then purchase products directly from businesses, providing them with immediate cash-flow to help them during the lockdown. The goal of the campaign is to motivate communities to help local businesses increase their cash-flow by purchasing right now to…

Serious Tissues, a 100% sustainable toilet paper brand (recycled), has been in development by the Change Please team for close to a year with the original intention to focus on tackling climate change with a commitment to plant trees all over the world.  But the outbreak of Coronavirus has presented a more immediate need. So, the team behind Change Please, which helps homeless people off the streets by training them as coffee baristas, have brought forward the launch of Serious Tissues from the summer to start making a difference right now. Rather than focusing on climate change, every penny of…

Cardiff City FC Foundation, the official charity of Cardiff City Football Club, is delivering one of its flagship programmes online to help support teenagers during the coronavirus lockdown. Kicks is the charity’s youth outreach programme that aims to create safer communities and reduce offending by giving young people across South Wales access to free football sessions and opportunities for personal development, as well as workshops on healthy lifestyles and the dangers of violence, drugs and alcohol. The programme provides young people with a safe and trusted environment, often in areas of high need. As a response to the COVID-19 crisis, the…

BUSINESS, skills and careers organisations in North Wales are supporting workers at risk of unemployment due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Not everybody is as privileged as many people working in IT Jobs who often can work remotely. With thousands of people across the country facing uncertainty or struggling to find a role. North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the Welsh Government’s Working Wales programme, delivered by Careers Wales, the North Wales Regional Skills Partnership and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have united to provide job seekers with an Opportunity for Change. With thousands of people across the country facing uncertainty…

The Your UK Parliament Awards 2020 have been announced, with the Teacher of the Year award going to Vicky Brown, of Redhill Preparatory School in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. The award recognises teachers or educational leaders who have taught their students and colleagues about the UK Parliament in innovative, inspiring and engaging ways. Vicky Brown is a teacher in Redhill Preparatory School and a UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador. She is keen to prove to children that their opinion matters. She wants them to understand the democratic process and feel empowered to speak up against injustice and fight for what they believe in.…