Author: Rhys Gregory

A pioneering new service has been launched to transform the lives of people hooked on drugs in North Wales. The Dechrau Newydd (Fresh Start) programme will provide rapid-response support and help break the vicious circle of addiction and offending. The scheme has been commissioned jointly by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The support will be provided by three nurses working for Kaleidoscope, a Wales-wide independent charity that works to tackle the stigma faced by people with drug, alcohol and mental health issues. They will speed up the process…

Farmers’ Union of Wales President Glyn Roberts has welcomed the fact that key concerns raised by the FUW in correspondence with members of the House of Lords were echoed by members across the political spectrum yesterday as the Agriculture Bill received its second reading in the house. The bill – considered to be the most important piece of UK legislation in relation to food and farming for more than 70 years – includes a clause that would ensure imported organic food from an overseas country is produced to standards equivalent to those applicable in the UK. However, an attempt to…

A £60 million marine energy project that will help tackle climate change while reviving Pembrokeshire’s economy in the wake of Covid-19 has been given the green light. The UK Government and Welsh Government have now approved the business case for the Pembroke Dock Marine project, which is expected to generate £73.5 million a year to the Swansea Bay City Region’s economy. Pembroke Dock Marine is led by the private sector, with support from Pembrokeshire County Council. The project is expected to generate more than 1,800 jobs in the next 15 years. The project is made up of four elements: The…

Or what it’s like to be part of a Chinook helicopter crew, a member of the RAF Tutor aerobatic display team or to work with the Tigers Parachute Display Team? Well now’s your chance to ask those questions – as part of Swansea Council’s Wales Airshow virtual digital celebration. Key questions could concern the top speed of a Red Arrows jet as it flies across Swansea Bay or how long it takes to pack a parachute. The council’s Cultural Services Events and Marketing teams are behind the Wales Airshow – A Digital Celebration #AtHome. And they’re inviting you to submit…

Older people’s charity, Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale continues its long-standing commitment to supporting vulnerable and isolated older people living in our communities amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. And now the charity has partnered with 95-year-old Cardiff resident Sid who shares his top tips for keeping busy and motivated in lockdown. Karen Steele, Marketing and Partnerships Manager at Age Connects explains: ‘It’s been a difficult few months for all of us but particularly for older members of our communities, many of whom already experienced loneliness and isolation but have had even less contact with family and friends under lockdown. Sid…

Researchers behind a major new study charting how the people of Wales have coped with coronavirus are appealing for volunteers to share their experiences. The study, which is being led by Swansea University’s Professor Nicola Gray, is examining just what impact coronavirus has had on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the Welsh population. Now the team is looking for people to sign up and be a part of the project which will help the NHS in Wales to not only understand the issues affecting the population in Wales, but also to shape support services for the future. Wales…

The end may be in sight for some of the Government schemes put in place to support businesses in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. In this article, Craig Blackmore of Verde Corporate Finance looks at how companies need to anticipate the ‘stabilisers coming off’. The UK Government has largely been applauded for their recent help for UK businesses, with the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (CBILs) and the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) probably the most widely appreciated. With both schemes announced pretty much immediately after the lockdown restrictions were imposed, and actioned shortly afterwards, they have been lifelines to many.…

A MISSING Welsh woodland was brought back to life by Coleg Cambria students. Learners on the college’s Tilhill Forestry Diploma, based at Llysfasi, helped landowner Tim Kirk resurrect 12 hectares of derelict woodland near Ruthin. Tim – a Chartered Forester who has spent more than five decades in the sector – bought the Wern Goed site via an advert in a trade magazine and faced numerous obstacles in bringing it back to its former glory after years of neglect. As the Forestry students are always keen to learn and develop their skills – including chainsaw operation – and gain experience…

Since its introduction, gambling has been quite popular across many parts of the globe. The trend is growing by the year with gambling operators earning billions every year from the lucrative industry. However, gambling is regulated in different countries. Some laws are permissive while in other states, they are quite stringent. In the UK, most parts of the US and Europe, online gambling is legal. UK laws are quite permissive and one of the reasons as to why gambling is deep-rooted in the region. Over the years, lotteries, sports betting online and in casinos, bingo and slots have enjoyed enormous…

The Lawns Industrial Estate in Rhymney currently hosts a number of existing units and will welcome three new buildings of fifteen individual units by the end of 2020. Units are available to lease from Caerphilly County Borough Council and will consist of eight 50m2 units, four 75m2units and three 98m2 units. Welsh construction and civil engineering company EnCon Construction Ltd. have been commissioned to extend the current land in Rhymney into high quality, light industrial factory units as part of the investment in infrastructure in the South East Wales region. This project has been made possible with funding from Caerphilly…