Author: Rhys Gregory

We’re coming to the end of the second week, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s increased restrictions on movement in a bid to try and prevent further spread of COVID-19. For many like us this is now the third week of working from home and has impacted our daily lives greatly. Those key workers who still commute daily will have noticed the drastic changes in our capital city. Fewer commuters on the trains and buses, quieter roads and streets across the capital and sheer number of businesses that remain closed. It’s Friday once again in Cardiff but tonight instead of people…

Our weekly quiz unpicks the headlines from the news – have you been paying close attention to what’s been going on in Wales and the world? Put your knowledge to the test with our newsworthy quiz, which is just for fun of course! Try it at home, share it with your friends and see whose been glued to the news this week. [wp_quiz_pro id=”88181″]

With the recent self-isolation and Lockdown measures being implemented by government in the UK, St David’s Hospice based in North West Wales predicts huge challenges on the horizon. Their frontline clinical staff continue to care for vulnerable patients in Llandudno’s fourteen bed inpatient unit, as well as community services. Due to the closure of charity shops and events cancelled, nearly 90% of the hospice’s income has stopped due to COVID19. The Hospice has come up with a unique fundraising idea to try and engage with families isolating at home, and in turn could see the charity raise significant funds during…

Blood donors across Wales are being asked to ‘donate differently’ to maintain healthy blood stocks for the NHS during the Coronavirus pandemic. In response to the global pandemic, which has put pressure on the blood collections programme across Wales, the Welsh Blood Service is reducing the number of donor collection venues it hosts each week. Reducing the number of venues it operates will enable the Service to safeguard its collections programme against Covid-19 related venue cancellations and staffing pressures. Where typically the Service would host one-day donation sessions at around 30 donation venues across Wales per week, the Service will…

The first food boxes are being delivered to the doorsteps of people who are adopting strict shielding measures to protect themselves from coronavirus. More than 80,000 people across Wales have been asked to undertake shielding measures because they are classed as extremely vulnerable to serious illness if they are exposed to the virus. Everyone in this group has a particular, long-term, pre-existing health condition, which increases their risk to coronavirus. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton has written to all of them asking them to take shielding measures – including staying at home for 12 weeks –…

Pembrokeshire holiday firm NetLet is helping the fight against coronavirus by offering free date changes and/or cancelling and refunding all April 2020 bookings of its holiday cottages. The company, which also runs a laundry service and a housekeeping service, is focusing its efforts on ways in which these services can be put to good use in the community. Booking fees for the holiday homes are being refunded minus the £35 booking fee, as this money has already been spent on transaction and booking channel fees. Its work now includes cleaning accommodation in several places in Pembrokeshire, including a holiday park,…

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is working with partners in health and social care to support the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The organisation, which was set up by Welsh Government in 2017, is inviting COVID-19 related research questions, evidence reviews and requests for economics support. Dr Susan Myles, Director of Health Technology Wales, said: “We welcome opportunities to collaborate with peer organisations and we’re already talking to fellow HTA bodies about the ways we can collaborate. As we respond to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, it’s imperative that we share information with decision makers as quickly as possible.”…

A special fund of over £50,000 has been set up to help rural communities across North East Wales battle the coronavirus epidemic. The cash is being administered by regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd who are appealing to local organisations to come forward and share in funds worth up to £3,000 each. It’s aimed at helping develop new ways of providing local services such as Meals on Wheels and other outreach programmes to help people in rural Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, particularly the elderly and most vulnerable. Cadwyn Clwyd operate through Local Action Groups in each county and the chair of the…

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has launched a series of podcasts to engage and inspire current and future students. The series ‘Made for Uni’ discusses a variety of topics, with the first podcast offering a number of suggestions on how to look after yourself – both physically and mentally – during this strange and difficult time. With the majority of us now staying at home, this podcast is a great way of hearing how some of our students are keeping themselves busy. The first two programmes are presented by two third-year students, Siobhan Eleri and Chloe Jones. …

Young people with complex needs associated with autism are progressing well at a specialist school and residential service in Cardiff thanks to ‘positive and calming classroom routines that maximise learning’, according to a new report. The latest annual Estyn monitoring inspection at Ty Coryton shows that pupils are supported to form ‘trusting relationships with staff’ and ‘respond positively to the caring and inclusive ethos of the school’. Ty Coryton was also praised for ‘strongly’ promoting values of ‘tolerance and respect’, and for supporting its pupils in developing ‘valuable independence skills’ effectively too. Ty Coryton is part of Orbis Education and…