Author: Rhys Gregory

A Cardiff man who turned his life around through boxing has been crowned a  ‘lockdown legend’ in the 2020 National Lottery Awards for his work in the community during the Coronavirus pandemic.   Wasim Said, 29, a doorman and mixed martial arts fighter from Butetown, Cardiff, has been named as the UK-wide winner of the Sport Category in this year’s National Lottery Award for his inspirational work in helping young people and his community in recent months. And there was a special surprise in store for Wasim today, as former heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion, David Haye (aka The Hayemaker),…

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has welcomed the news that a Covid-19 vaccine could be ready this year but has warned “that these are very early days”. Dr Frank Atherton said it could be towards the end next year before a vaccine was rolled out fully to all the eligible population and in the meantime it is essential that everyone continues to observe social distancing, limit meeting in indoor spaces, wear face coverings where appropriate and practice good hand and cough hygiene. “This is an important step and a remarkable scientific achievement. But full safety data is needed before…

Economy Minister Ken Skates has written to tens of thousands of businesses in Wales urging them to make sure they are taking the necessary steps to prepare for the end of the EU transition period. With only 50 days to go, the Minister has set out some of the actions businesses must take to ensure they are best placed for both the end of the transition period and the possibility of a no deal. From 1 January 2021, the UK will have left the EU Single Market meaning businesses in Wales will no longer have access to the frictionless trade…

New covid-19 lateral flow tests, designed to diagnose people without symptoms, will be provided to students who are planning to travel home for the holiday. Universities across Wales will also end the majority of ‘in person’ lessons in the week ending 8th December, allowing anyone who tests positive for coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling home for the Christmas break. Students at universities in Wales who plan to travel home for the holidays will be asked to: minimise their social contacts in the run up to the end of term; get an asymptomatic test, ideally within 24 hours…

For most of us, money is a factor in the vast majority of our decision making. Without an endless fund to bankroll us and make cash concerns a thing of the past, we have to pay close attention to what we spend. It’s not enough merely to track our expenditure. In addition, we need to look at where we can make savings, because the less outlay we have, the more money there is left over to spend on luxuries or set aside as a safety net. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most effective is to…

With Talk Money Week currently aiming to get the nation opening up about their finances, a Cardiff-based pension expert is highlighting the need for financial education for youngsters and better communication within the pension sector. Stuart Price, Partner and Actuary at Quantum Advisory, says: “The key to encouraging people to talk about money is ensuring they understand it, and the best way to achieve this is through education and communication. “I have long been an advocate for offering financial education in schools and ensuring this is maintained and refreshed with workplace training throughout adulthood. Teaching youngsters how to best save…

Three top prizes – Best Film, Teacher of the Year and Ones to Watch – are all coming home to Wales, after winners were announced at the UK-wide 2020 Into Film Awards, in a virtual ceremony hosted by David Walliams this morning (11 Nov). Teacher of the Year: Sponsored by Working title Films Timm Dadds, Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School, Swansea Best Film: 12-15 Years: Sponsored by Paramount Pictures I’m The One – Eden Quine-Taylor, Powys, Wales Ones to Watch: Sponsored by Eon Productions In partnership with the BFI Film Academy Hedydd Ioan, Gwynedd, Wales Known as the young people’s Oscars, the Welsh winners were due to travel in March to the Into…

Wales’ Emerging Tech Fest will go global for 2021, as the UK’s first major technology event of the year is set to be held as a virtual event across 26th – 28th January. Now in its third year, the festival, traditionally held in North Wales, brings together innovative tech companies across a variety of sectors, in a festival featuring global speakers and exhibitions of some of the most exciting new technology. Founding partners non-profit organisation Technology Connected, KTN, CEMET and Innovate UK, hope the move to a virtual festival will help to expand the event to a global stage, following record demand…

Dear Editor, This year has been tough on every single one of us. Scout Groups in Wales are doing their best to help young people gain skills and find their place in the world. But some groups around the UK have told us they’re struggling to pay their bills and even keep the lights on. We can’t afford for that to happen. We won’t let it. That’s why we’ve launched an epic new challenge – our Race Round the World. We’re asking everyone in Wales to travel a mile or more (or do a project at home) and get sponsored…

CUSTOMERS scrambled to buy eggs and local produce when Coronavirus took hold in the UK. Demand surged due to panic buying and a rise in the number of people home baking, which is when David Sharples saw a major increase in customers wanting goods from Clyttir Farm, near Ruthin. The farm has 24,000 free range hens laying more than 150,000 eggs a week and also supplies a range of jams, honey and rapeseed oil. He built a shelter to ensure people could social-distance when visiting the egg store during the Spring months and into the summer, and again when Wales…