Author: Rhys Gregory

YOUNG shoppers were transported to the plains of Africa in a colourful finale to summer holiday activities raising money for a Wrexham centre which supports disabled children and their families. Youngsters visiting Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham made the most of an animal mask-making workshop with a choice of fantastic creatures such as  elephants, big cats and butterflies. They were entertained by professional carnival performers, dressed as lions, zebras and antelopes, from London-based carnival creatives company Mahogany which created characters for the 2012 London Olympics ceremonies, as well as major celebrations in Singapore, Dubai and other global destinations. It…

Following GCSE and A-Levels results day, young people in Wales are being urged to consider a career in the heating industry through an apprenticeship to help tackle the skills shortage facing the sector. [aoa id=”1″] The Department for Education announced a 24.1% drop in apprenticeship enrolments in 2017/18 compared to the previous academic year with 223 people starting on the new Plumbing and Heating Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard to date. Fuelled by the high costs associated with going to university and the rising cost of living, apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as a highly credible further education option and route…

Chapter is thrilled to announce that Cardiff-based law firm Robertsons Solicitors will be sponsoring the 2019-20 programme of Art in the Bar exhibitions. [aoa id=”1″] These free, public installations are the central artistic feature of the building, visible to 750,000+ visitors who pass through Chapter’s doors every year. The ever-changing programme of contemporary exhibitions – which have included large-scale prints, paintings and photography – transform the Caffi Bar space and are testament to Chapter’s enduring aim of promoting and exhibiting visual art by artists at all stages in their careers. For some artists exhibiting work it may be their first…

Olympic track cycling superstar Sir Chris Hoy, MBE will be paying special tribute to his boyhood hero – the late Colin McRae – at Wales Rally GB (3-6 October), the UK’s round of the thrilling 2019 FIA World Rally Championship. [aoa id=”1″]Great Britain’s joint most-successful Olympic athlete of all time will be honouring his fellow Scot when he slips behind the wheel of a magical Subaru Impreza – a title-winning icon rallied successfully by the great McRae himself. This extraordinary tribute to the man who lost his life in a helicopter accident almost 11 years ago, will come to Oulton…

The show, which features a cast of performers with and without learning disabilities and/or autism, is the most widely toured inclusive show in the world. [aoa id=”1″] To date it has been performed in 3 continents, 17 countries, 109 cities to over 20,000 people, and has been translated into 10 languages, including Chinese, Mandarin, Korean and Finnish. It will return to Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre for three nights this Autumn, before heading back out to tour across the globe. Hijinx, in association with Blind Summit, first presented Meet Fred at a sell-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2016. Its razor-sharp…

STAFF members from a Welsh care provider are celebrating after recently (August, 2019) winning awards at the Care Heroes Awards. [aoa id=”1″] Brett Severn from Abacare’s Rhondda Cynon Taf branch won the Changing Lives Award and Jodie Evans from the Bangor branch, won the Care Coordinator of the Year Award. Peter Angelides, Managing Director at Abacare, which provides care across Wales, said: “We’d like to say a huge ‘congratulations’ too Brett and Jodie on their award wins and would also like to give a special mention to Maria Foley for reaching the finals in the Learner of the Year…

Two leading lights from the Welsh folk scene will be taking centre stage at the North Wales International Music Festival’s first dedicated folk night for over 10 years. [aoa id=”1″] World-renowned trio Awen Celtica will be joined by chamber-folk band VRï for what promises to be an exciting and eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary Welsh folk music at the concert at St Asaph Cathedral on Friday, September 27. Awen Celtica, which was formed in 2016 by long-time friends and Welsh folk exponents, Siân James, Sioned Webb and Arfon Gwilym, have been trailblazers for the genre, both as a band…

A Swansea surgery has welcomed two new members of staff to help transform the way patients’ needs are met. [aoa id=”1″] The move at Llansamlet Surgery follows a Welsh Government directive that calls for the transformation of primary care in Wales, with the emphasis on placing a range of services and health care professionals at the heart of communities to improve accessibility and ease the pressure on GPs. Traditionally, patients go straight to their doctor when they have a health concern. Sometimes they are then redirected to a more appropriate and specialised service such as audiology, physiotherapy or counselling. Now…

Denbighshire County Council and North Wales Police are encouraging residents to walk or use public transport when attending Rhyl Air Show. [aoa id=”1″] The free event, organised by Denbighshire County Council, in partnership with Rhyl Town Council, takes place in Rhyl on August 24 and 25 with displays including an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, a Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane as well as Team Raven, a formation aerobatic display. Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “Attendees are being urged to use public transport, or for those living in or around Rhyl, to walk or cycle to the…

California dreamin’ has seen businesswoman Sherry Edwards set up a new tasty venture from her home in Penyffordd. [aoa id=”1″] Together with husband Tim, yoga teacher Sherry, who was born in California and grew up in Thailand, ran a hat shop in Chester before the couple decided to focus on their online business – thehatplace.com. But for the busy mum-of-two, that wasn’t enough, and now Sherry is using her Bangkok heritage to start a new enterprise and will be cooking up a storm at food festivals throughout North Wales. Sherry has set up Bao Revolution, cooking stuffed Thai Bao buns…