Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales had the highest annual rate of house price growth in the four UK nations during the second quarter of 2019 (April – June), with a rise of 4.1% taking the average house price to £186,360. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society’s Wales House Price Index for Q2 2019, which shows the rise and fall of house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. [aoa id=”1″]While house price growth over the last quarter across Wales has been modest with a marginal increase of 0.1% to £186,360, house prices have risen by 4.1% annually on…

Get ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Summer Reading Challenge with Space Chase, a very special reading mission. The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, launched the challenge in Newtown Library on Friday, 12 July 2019, and was joined by popular author and illustrator Max Low. [aoa id=”1″]This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is Space Chase, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the moon landings. Endorsed by parents, teachers, the Welsh Books Council and Welsh Government, the Summer Reading Challenge reaches children and young people of all ages, with over 40,000 children taking part last…

A primary school in Newport are clued-up on savings after receiving financial education lessons from Principality Building Society. Crindau Primary School, who were visited by the society’s Newport branch colleagues, learnt all about money matters last week. [aoa id=”1″]With research from the Money Advice Service showing that children pick up adult financial habits from the age of four, the society believe it’s more important than ever to be teaching young people about finances. In the past 18 months, the society has reached over 10,000 young people in Wales by teaching financial education to schools.[/aoa] Throughout the workshops, the students learnt…

A 48-year old, from Blaenavon, whose husband has been suffering from chronic kidney disease for over 19 years, has decided to enter her first road race and take part in the Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff 10K, to raise funds for race organisers Kidney Wales. Julie Gulliford’s husband Kevin has been battling chronic kidney disease since 2000 and the couple were recently given the news that his kidney function had deteriorated by 50 per cent since his initial diagnosis. Kevin realised something was wrong when he started having regular nose bleeds and spells of dizziness. He decided to visit his GP…

Students will have a little less to worry about this year as the cost of living around the country dropped by 4%, according to NatWest’s Student Living Index. On the whole students are finding UK cities more affordable, with Cardiff coming top as the most affordable city, closely followed by Manchester, Liverpool, Southampton and Bristol. At the other end of the scale, students in London, Edinburgh and Aberystwyth see the worst value for money during their studies. [aoa id=”1″]Students in the most affordable cities are also taking home some of the highest monthly incomes, with students in Bristol enjoying an…

Young people with mental health issues from across North Wales preparing for an epic voyage aboard a tall ship later this year have been helped out by a £90,000 grant from the region’s policing chief. [aoa id=”1″] The aim is to find a 10-strong crew to help sail the vessel on a trip organised by mental health charity Hafal from Holyhead to Bangor, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Scotland and preparation is well advanced. The latest training session has seen potential sailors from across North Wales take to the water on paddle boards at Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia…

More than 60 people including pupils, parents, teachers and governors attended the schools’ award ceremony for Swansea’s annual gardening competition on Tuesday July 9. [aoa id=”1″] Organised by the Swansea in Bloom group (SIB), the competition was open to all primary schools and special needs units throughout the City and County. The ceremony, officiated by well known Evening Post columnist and Swansea Sounds presenter, Kevin Johns, was held at the Swansea Scout and Guide headquarters in Brynmill. [/aoa] Opening the ceremony, SIB Chairman Paul Chillington welcomed the guests and explained how until two years ago the event had been a…

Monty’s Brewery Visitor Centre, based in Montgomery, is the toast of the town after being shortlisted as a finalist in the Rural Business Awards 2019/20 for Wales and Northern Ireland region, held in partnership with Amazon. [aoa id=”1″] Monty’s will now battle it out with other rural businesses from across Wales and Northern Ireland in the Best Rural Tourism Business category for a place in the national final later this year. Founded in 2009 by Pam and Russ Honeyman, Monty’s Brewery opened a Visitor Centre in Montgomery in 2015 where they showcase their beers, sell merchandise and develop new brews. [/aoa]…

Horses that have not been vaccinated against equine flu will not be allowed to enter Llanfyllin Show next month. The show, which is being held on Saturday, August 10, will be the 150th in the event’s history. Llanfyllin Show Committee followed the lead taken by the Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday to put the welfare of horses first. Show chairman Dyfrig Jones said: “It’s disappointing news for owners and the show committee but we must put the welfare of horses first. We will be checking the passports of all horses that are entered to ensure that they have been vaccinated.”…

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) is pleased to announce that Dr Jason Shannon has been appointed to the role of Lead Medical Examiner for Wales. Dr Shannon will oversee the Wales Medical Examiner Service that will scrutinise all deaths across a local area that do not fall under a Coroner’s jurisdiction. Hosted by NWSSP, the Lead Medical Examiner role will provide leadership and guidance to ensure that the Medical Examiner Service is established and governed effectively, providing advice where necessary on the configuration of local systems, whilst offer leadership and support to Medical Examiners across Wales. Graduating from Birmingham…