Author: Rhys Gregory

A crowdfunding initiative has been launched by Swansea Council to help improve communities throughout the area. The council has teamed up with national crowdfunding platform Spacehive to launch Crowdfund Swansea. The initiative gives residents with project ideas the ability to attract funding from the community, council, businesses and foundations through an online portal. The aim is to provide a springboard for project ideas to attract the funding they need more easily, whilst enabling everyone who cares about the area to contribute. Projects can range from building a new community centre or improving the local park to improving a playground or…

An historic agreement to twin two ancient castles – one in North Wales and the other in Japan – will help attract more visitors from the Land of the Rising Sun and boost the economy. The arrangement to partner Conwy Castle and Himeji Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites dating back to the 13th century, is believed to be the first of its kind for the UK. The Mayor of Himeji, Hideyasu Kiyomoto , travelled to Conwy yesterday (Thursday, November 7), as part of a return two-day visit after the formal signing ceremony in Himeji last week in the shadow…

Research out today [Friday], to support BT launching a new team of 900 Home Tech Experts across the UK, has revealed that despite 38 per cent of people in Wales admitting to buying the latest gadgets and devices, more than half (51 per cent) don’t know how to use all of the features. [aoa id=”1″] The research found that while people in Wales prioritise technology within their households, the average person is missing out on more than a third of their products’ full potential. This could be down to confusing technology, or the fact that 50 per cent of people in Wales admit to never…

Liverpool-based comedian Frankie Allen has the people of Cardiff on his hit-list next as he heads to the Vale Sports Arena on Saturday 25 January for what is set to be another hilariously funny sell-out show. [aoa id=”1″] Known for his stomach hurting one-liners and brutal putdowns, the funny man, dubbed as ‘The UK’s Most Feared Comedian’, is touring up and down the country with his sharp wit and is returning to the Cardiff venue where he has previously played to huge crowds. With more than 20 million views online, Frankie has shot to online superstardom this year following a…

Henry Howard Finance (HHF) has appointed Jon Maycock as Commercial Director to support the independent funder’s drive for further growth. Jon has responsibility for leading the growth of all customer channels across HHF. With over 20 years’ experience in Asset Finance, Jon joins the business from Hampshire Trust Bank, prior to which he held senior roles at Aldermore Bank PLC and GE Capital. Speaking of his appointment Jon says, “I am very excited to be joining Henry Howard Finance. They are a recognised leader in equipment finance in the UK and have invested heavily in all areas of the business to create the…

Leading heart charity, Welsh Hearts/Calonnau Cyrmu celebrates its 7th Birthday this year and is sharing a birthday wish to make all hearts in Wales safe with a new initiative. Welsh Hearts will be launching their City of Hearts Appeal on November 14. As part of this appeal the charity will be working alongside business owners and communities to place 500 public access defibrillators throughout Cardiff as well as continuing to provide free CPR training. To celebrate the launch of the City of Hearts Appeal Welsh Hearts will be hosting a race night at The City Arms in Cardiff. The event is…

PUPILS at leading independent school Christ College Brecon have established an initiative to make the school more sustainable in a campaign to reuse, reduce and recycle. Sixth form students at Christ College Brecon have launched an initiative to ensure the school is working towards being more sustainable. The initiative includes a recycling program, distribution of reusable drinks bottles, and raising awareness of the environmental impacts of the school and how it can become more sustainable. The pupils have introduced a recycling programme that includes recycling bins in all common rooms, houses at the school and main areas as well as…

It will all be occurrin’ in Barry this Christmas, with Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones set to switch on the town’s festive lights.  Nessa Shanessa Jenkins will return to the seaside town for the annual Christmas lights ceremony in King Square, Holton Road, on November 23, ahead of the hotly awaited Christmas special of the much-loved show. The switch-on will mark the end of a two-day festive market in Barry on Friday, November 22 and Saturday 23, and will be followed by a free open air showing of Home Alone in Barry’s Central Park. Barry was well and truly…

The family of a man who died in hospital following a road traffic collision have paid tribute to a “loveable and colourful character”. Jose Fernandez-Castro died at the Princess of Wales Hospital on October 31, following the collision on Sunday, October 20 on Tremains Road in Bridgend. The 85-year-old was originally from Spain but had been a long-term resident of Bridgend. Paying tribute, his family said: “Dad was a loveable and colourful character who moved to Bridgend from Cardiff almost two decades ago. “After spending 39 years as a head chef in some of Cardiff’s best loved restaurants such as…

The Curious Muchness of Stuff and Nonsense: 5 December 7pm, 6 December 7pm (audio description) and 7 December 3pm & 7pm This Christmas join Hijinx Odyssey as they follow Alys, her cat Dinah and the white rabbit on their adventures in a whole new wonderland adventure. Hijinx Odyssey, the community theatre arm of professional theatre company Hijinx, will perform ‘The Curious Muchness of Stuff and Nonsense’ in Weston Studio of the Wales Millennium Centre this December. Written by Hefin Robinson, ‘The Curious Muchness of Stuff and Nonsense’ features a large cast of disabled and non-disabled performers from Hijinx Odyssey, pupils…