Author: Rhys Gregory

April 2020 is a very special month for blind and partially sighted people in Britain. Although many people might not be aware of its significance, it marks the centenary of a huge step forward for the rights of people living with sight loss in Wales and the rest of the UK. On April 5th 1920, blind and partially sighted people set off from different locations across the UK and marched to London in the name of equality. Almost 40 people set off from Newport, South Wales, reaching Trafalgar Square on April 25th. Their action led to a significant change in…

Swansea University’s innovative schools’ outreach programme is in the running for a top award for its work promoting diversity in the world of science education. Technocamps, which has additional hubs at every Welsh university, has been shortlisted in the inaugural Wales STEM Award alongside other companies, projects and individuals who champion and make a difference to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in Wales. Technocamps has been shortlisted in the category STEM Educational Programme of the Year where judges were looking for evidence of an initiative which either addresses the STEM diversity gap,  the skills shortage or seeks to inspire and…

More than 300 face-visors have already been produced by staff at Ysgol Bro Pedr, Ysgol Penglais,  Ysgol Bro Teifi and Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi. These face-visors provide much needed protection for front-line workers in Ceredigion. The visors are produced on the schools’ laser cutters. Plans are in place to produce another 2,000 of these vital visors. Meinir Ebbsworth, Corporate Lead Officer – Schools said, “We are extremely grateful to our staff who are using their expertise and school equipment to help others.” Ceredigion County Council are proud of the contribution that our schools are making during this difficult and challenging times,…

Cath Kidston, the home furnishing brand renowned for its floral designs, is set to call in administrators this week unless it finds a buyer. The British high street chain, which has a store in Cardiff, currently employs 941 people across the UK. Last week, it was revealed that 820 of those employees had been furloughed under the Government’s payment scheme. The company, which was established in 1993, sells home furnishings and accessories, including bags, laptop cases and homewares in its trademark designs. In 2009, company profits jumped to £4.6million with sales rising to £31.3 in that year following a string…

As we practice social distancing and stay confined to our homes, here is a list of eight inspiring prison movies to watch during the ‘lockdown’. We asked Nathan Abrams, Professor of Film at Bangor University’ School of Music and Media for some recommendations for films about encarcration and lock-down situations… we’re glad to say that his recommendations all have positive endings! 1. A Clockwork Orange (1971) In this controversial movie by Stanley Kubrick, Alex DeLarge is sent to prison but is released early to undertake an experimental treatment known as the Ludovico Technique. It is a form of aversion therapy based…

The tiny and unwell rabbit was found in Bridgend by a concerned member of the public last month with the RSPCA being contacted. RSPCA wildlife officer Ellie West subsequently took the rabbit into her care. “This young rabbit was found in a very thin body condition, was dehydrated and cold,” she said. “She was checked over by the vets and was fine, but needed continual care. “She was too young to be away from mum so we put her in an incubator to warm her up and hand-reared her. She started to feel much better with a full tummy!” On…

University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) innovative research and design centres ATiC and CBM Wales are providing intensive support for a newly established consortium – SWARM (The South Wales Additive and Rapid Manufacturing Consortium) in its mission to support NHS Wales’ covid-19 response. SWARM is chaired by Roger Evans MBE and run by TechHub Swansea co-founder Paul Harwood, which reports directly to Industry Wales. As the crisis grows, the NHS in South Wales is treating an increasing number of patients in response to covid-19 and needs additional supplies in key areas such as patient ventilators and staff personal protective…

Parents doing jobs critical to Wales’ response to coronavirus will get free childcare during the pandemic. The Welsh Government is launching a coronavirus childcare assistance scheme to support Wales’ critical workers. Under the new plans, councils will be able to use funding from the Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer to support registered childcare providers to care for pre-school-aged children of critical workers. Children who are considered vulnerable will also be included in the scheme. The changes will cover the next three months and provide care for children under five. Wales’ existing childcare offer provides 30 hours of early education and childcare to the working parents of three and…

Locked down care home residents are getting creative to keep their spirits up during the coronavirus crisis. The team at the Pendine Park  care organisation are using everything from music and art to videos and social media technology to counter the emotional and practical impacts of dealing with daily life in the national emergency situation. Artist in Residence Sarah Edwards said: “It might sound crazy but in some of our art sessions residents were encouraged to create models of what they think the virus looks like which they made out of  papier maché, balloons, plastic cups and paint. “The use…

Musical Theatre students at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have created an alternative online version of a project they’d planned to perform on stage. As part of their first year studies, the students had been working on a ‘Musicals Through the Ages’ project but after learning that they wouldn’t be able to perform their end of year project on stage, students on UWTSD’s BA Musical Theatre course set about creating a very different type of performance online. Under the direction of Musical Director, David Laugharne, the students had been rehearsing a range of pieces from Cole Porter…