Author: Rhys Gregory

Will the government suspend or remove the triple lock to recuperate the funds paid out during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Two Credit Unions in the Welsh Valleys have merged to create an enhanced financial platform for their local members. Smart Money Cymru which has branches in Caerphilly and Tredegar, has joined forces with Islwyn Credit Union (ICU) in Blackwood in a move to strengthen the not-for-profit Credit Union movement, and help members navigate these difficult financial times. Islwyn Credit Union will now be rebranded under the Smart Money Cymru identity. However the 850 members of ICU will see a seamless change-over giving them a wider range of financial services to call on now that it has joined with the much…

Cardiff City FC Foundation, the official charity of Cardiff City Football Club, has launched a new fundraising challenge for fans as demand for its services soars. The charity has supported thousands of young people across south Wales throughout lockdown. One example is the Bluebirds from Home School Festival, which was launched to support children’s wellbeing and improve learning through daily fitness activities and football-themed English and Maths lessons. Over 100 primary schools benefited from the festival and over 28,000 children had the opportunity to get involved. Cardiff City FC first team players took time out of their busy training schedules to…

Stained Glass artists Cariad Glass have seen a boost in online sales during lockdown after developing a fun make at home glass mosaic kit to give crafty customers a creative fix. The Llandysul business received a micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales to support their growth plans and give them working capital shortly before lockdown. Husband and wife team Justine and Chris Dodd use traditional methods and techniques to create bespoke art and glass pieces, specialising in commission and restoration work. They also offer face-to-face courses at their studio for those who wish to learn more about glass…

Loopster, the online platform which closes the loop between the use and reuse of second-hand clothes, has secured a six-figure seed equity funding round led by the Development Bank of Wales. Investing alongside the Development Bank is business angel Jim Lewcock, who owns the internet-focused venture capital Blue14, and experienced non-executive director and angel investor Kate Methuen-Ley. The funding will help Loopster to further develop and commercialise their technology, enabling their platform to catalogue second-hand clothes faster. The Newport-based company will also use the funding to recruit six members of staff. This process is currently underway. A recent survey by…

A former award-winning hotel, which has been closed since October 2018, will be ready to reopen under new ownership in nine weeks – if Covid-19 restrictions allow. The Lion Hotel, Llandinam, near Llanidloes has been purchased by Trevor and Pat Bebb, of Mid Wales Leisure, and is being completely refurbished at a cost of around £600,000. The refurbishment includes a new central heating system and electrical wiring, a small, private function room for up to 20 people and two new flats. Mr and Mrs Bebb plan to lease the hotel, which retains a bar and restaurant, and the flats. “We…

Important overnight work is due to take place on a number of Swansea city centre roads from June 30 to July 17. The operations will allow Swansea Council to make the road surfaces ready for a major milestone on The Kingsway’s £12m infrastructure project – the switch to two-way traffic. To allow the resurfacing work during this short time, roads will be temporarily closed on a phased basis through the night, avoiding weekends. Mark Thomas, the council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure management, said: “This is another important part of our work on this high-profile scheme that will help…

Through Sherman Theatre’s Creative Engagement programme, students at The College Merthyr Tydfil have connected with a local care home to create Tydfil Tales: an audio drama paying tribute to the lives and experiences of the care home residents. Through weekly visits over the course of two months prior to lockdown, 20 UAL (University of the Arts London-accredited) Performing Arts students met with residents at The Daffodils Care Home in Georgetown, Merthyr, to listen to stories of the residents’ lives in their shared Valleys town. The students were then tasked with creating an audio drama based on the memories of the residents they met,…

Macmillan Cancer Support is warning of the devastating impact coronavirus is having on the physical and mental health of people with cancer in Wales as they face the two ‘deadly Cs’ all at once, and is urging those struggling with lockdown to contact its support line service. New research by the charity reveals for the first time the scale of fear and anxiety tens of thousands of people in Wales are facing as they deal with both the threat of cancer and Covid-19. The results suggest a staggering 39,000 people with cancer in Wales (23%)have barely left the house because…

Welsh lobsters hope to stand out in the crowd with the launch of a ‘branded claw band’ scheme. When caught, lobsters have rubber bands placed on their claws to prevent them hurting themselves and those handling them. The new scheme sees lobsters being fitted with bands that clearly identify them as being caught in Welsh waters, by Welsh fishermen. The branded lobster band scheme has been co-ordinated by the Wales Seafood Cluster, a Cywain-led project which encourages and facilitates collaborative working among businesses and individuals in the seafood sector. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 90% of Welsh lobster was exported…