Author: Rhys Gregory

The streets of Cardiff aren’t where you would normally find HM Coastguard, but that’s set to change as part of plans to help slow and halt the transmission of COVID19. From the end of this week the government agency will start supporting Cardiff Council and South Wales Police by patrolling the city with a clear message, broadcast by loud hailer, to ‘Stay home, save lives.’ Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “We’re grateful to our partners at HM Coastguard for this offer of mutual aid, which will allow us to expand on the existing patrols being…

AST Plastic Containers, a leading manufacturer of high-quality plastic containers based in North Wales, has increased its production by 20% to aid its cleaning and sanitising clients to meet the demand for their products due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic. The company, based on the Wrexham industrial estate, has seen a surge in demand for its 5 and 10 litre plastic containers and is manufacturing 100,000 more a month. AST Plastics has also increased its production staff by 25% from 16 to 20 employees on the shop floor in order to make the extra products. The plastic containers are…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is appealing to the public not to call 999 for a Coronavirus test. Some patients have been demanding that paramedics perform an on-the-spot test to rule out the virus, according to feedback from crews. Ambulance crews do not, and never have, carried tests for Coronavirus. The Trust also reports that people have been calling 999 under an emergency pretext but on arrival crews are being asked to give a ‘check-up.’ In a video appeal shared on social media, Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “Our people are working incredibly hard to provide you with…

Many company directors will be rightly wondering if they are entitled to the same support as company employees announced over the recent weeks by the UK Government, as a way of supporting those affected financially by the Coronavirus Pandemic. South East Wales’ largest independent accountancy firm, Kilsby Williams, has been exploring whether the grant funding provided under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) can apply to directors of owner-managed companies. Mary McDonagh, Partner at Kilsby Williams, explains: “Many directors will have structured their remuneration by way of a low salary, usually at a level just below the NIC threshold, with…

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is helping people with sight loss keep up to date during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a free subscription to a newspaper or broadcast guide via its Newsagent service. RNIB Newsagent provides plain text email versions of major UK newspapers, and TV and radio guides, which can be easily read with magnification or screen reading software that many blind and partially sighted people use. This offer means that anyone who finds it difficult to read a paper or TV guide in their current print or online formats can get easy access to…

With the whole country affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, having a healthy diet is vitally important.  People need to continue to eat well but many are worried about staying healthy and are concerned they won’t be able to buy the food they normally eat. Here, Chris Cashin, Registered Dietitian and a lecturer in Nutrition at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David outlines what we can all do to continue eating well during these difficult and unprecedented times Start by having a good look at your cupboards and freezers – there is probably quite a lot in there that you…

The Come Together Cast, being overseen by Swansea Council and the Swansea Music Hub, is available to all online. It aims to highlight innovative work across the city, share ideas for maintaining wellbeing and entertain residents during the ongoing isolation period. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “These are uncertain times so I’m glad that cultural services staff from our Fusion Project and friends at the music hub have found a dynamic new way to illustrate what Swansea has to offer. “I urge those with access to the internet to listen to this podcast…

COLEG CAMBRIA is mass producing safety visors and face masks to help in the battle against Covid-19. The north east Wales institution is using 3D printers to manufacture vital PPE (personal protective equipment) for NHS staff and frontline workers facing up to the Coronavirus pandemic. Nick Tyson, Assistant Principal and Director of Technology, Engineering and Construction, and Engineering Technology instructor Len Robinson have been hard at work creating more than 50 visors a day at the college’s University Centre in Deeside. Using the equipment and materials they have at their disposal the pair hope to support the NHS with mass…

The regeneration of a former redundant brownfield site in Barry aims to reconnect the local community with buildings that were once right at its heart.   Avison Young has been appointed to provide valuation services for The Goodshed, Barry, a hugely inspirational project that will see the restoration of former heritage railway buildings in the town. The Goodshed is being developed by Simon Baston’s company Loft Co. Over recent years Loft Co has won a string of national awards for its renovation and rebuilding of historic properties across South Wales. Simon Baston explains, “The aim of this scheme is to bring…

A six year old from Aberdare is taking to her treadmill and walking to help other children during lockdown. Ivey Moore-James will be doing her first ever charity fundraiser and completing a 30 minute walk to raise money for The Children Society. According to her mother, Joanne James, Ivey usually hates walking but wanted to do something challenging to help to kids less fortunate than herself: “Every time we go out after five minutes she starts saying she doesn’t want to walk, so for her 30 minutes is a big challenge. We are very fortunate, when we went into lockdown…