Author: Rhys Gregory

Gladstone Primary School has shown that anyone can join in and support local hospice nurses with Donate A Day campaign. Pupils and teachers at the school located in Heath, engaged in a dress up day to raise money and donate a total of two days of City Hospice nursing care. Celebrating their local heroes, pupils came to class dressed up as their heroes from the community. Among the heroes identified by the three to 11-year-olds were local police officers, firemen, doctors, and nurses. Throughout the day, Gladstone Primary School ran two concerts for families of school pupils to attend as well as holding…

A year on from Huws Gray purchasing the former Wheelers Timber and Builders’ Merchants in Erdington, the store is doing a roaring trade. [aoa id=”1″] The site was previously owned by the Bromley family and has been a mainstay in the town for almost 100 years. Three of them still work at the branch – brothers Nick, Pete and manager Rob – who says the investment and ethos of Huws Gray has already had a big impact on the community and trade partners. Another plus point is that all 17 members of the Wheelers workforce are still employed at the…

Thousands of food lovers will be beating a path to Llangollen this weekend to sample the culinary delights of the town’s annual food festival. [aoa id=”1″] The Llangollen Food Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the international pavilion which is where Wales meets the world at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod every summer. The event, which will provide a shop window for more than 100 stallholders, has been named as one of the UK’s Top 10 food festivals by the Daily Telegraph and Independent newspapers. It will also provide a major boost to the local economy which…

Amazon has announced that Bearhug from Cardiff has been shortlisted at the first ever Amazon Small Business Awards. The Amazon Small Business Awards will celebrate inspiring and unique UK small businesses selling on Amazon. The awards recognise small businesses across three categories: Small Business of the Year, Exporting Small Business of the Year, and Innovative Small Business of the Year. Bearhug, an innovative company that creates and manufactures support products for sport, has been shortlisted in the Innovative Small Business of the Year category. “Our company has gone from strength to strength this year and to receive a nomination for…

A brand new season of photography will come to Wales’s cultural attractions this autumn, with a series of events, exhibitions and workshops to be presented by Cadw, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales and The National Library of Wales. [aoa id=”1″] The season of photography events will feature everything from exclusive exhibitions to stargazing workshops — all designed in honour of Wales’s fascinating history and culture. With Wales’s dark skies season in full swing, Cadw will encourage visitors to discover some of the country’s most photogenic heritage sites after-dark — with a selection of stargazing events on offer in late October. Meanwhile,…

A pioneering manager who helped develop the first and only independent living refuge for domestic abuse victims in North Wales has won a prestigious award. Alison Hamlington, who recently retired from Welsh Women’s Aid Wrexham (WWAW), has spent the past 21 years ensuring survivors of domestic abuse receive the best level of care and support they need to recover from their experiences. As the organisation’s Service Delivery Manager, Alison was part of a multi-agency team behind the launch of a pioneering refuge facility providing five two-bedroom units in Wrexham with additional communal areas to ensure families receive the space and…

A Mid Wales guest house, which opened less than six months ago, has been named the Best Hotel in Wales 2019 by The Sunday Times. [aoa id=”1″] The Royston, on the outskirts of Llanbrynmair, near Machynlleth features prominently in the newspaper’s 100 Top British Hotels, Best Places to Stay 2019. Considering it’s their first foray into hospitality, owner/managers Clive Sweeting and Rob Perham are delighted to have been awarded such an accolade for their guest house. The Royston is a unique, laid back, seven-room contemporary guest house set in 10 acres of rural pastureland. Offering a welcome respite from daily…

VOLUNTEERS from Coleg Cambria took part in a clean-up of streets and rivers in north east Wales. The Big Dee Day saw more than 50 work-based learning staff from the college spend hours tidying up areas of Deeside. Focusing on the River Dee, they picked up litter, pulled up weeds and dragged plastic bottles and other items out of the water. During two shifts, the volunteers spruced up parts of Saltney, Sandy Lane, Broughton and Sealand. Their incredible efforts saw more than two kilometres of riverbank and cycle paths cleared, 40 bin bags filled and a new access route to…

Swansea shoppers will see local green charity, The Environment Centre, take over Lush this weekend, as the store host’s the charity pop-up on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October. This weekend, Lush on Oxford Street will host a pop-up stall with The Environment Centre, who will be raising awareness of local environmental issues, and how people from Swansea can get involved. Shoppers will also be able to purchase plastic free alternatives to everyday items, all proceeds of which will directly support the charity.  Phil McDonnell, Environment Centre manager, said: “It’s great to see businesses in Swansea, like Lush, supporting charities like ours…

The Incurable Optimist, which aired on BBC 2 Wales in March, tells the story of 24-year-old Amy-Claire Davies who, despite living every day in pain and fear of sudden death, retains overwhelming positivity and hope for the future.Originally from Swansea, Amy-Claire, who was born with an unknown genetic disease, spent some time during her earlier years at Ty Hafan children’s hospice, where doctors thought she would die, before latterly moving to Lewis Martin Court, Cardiff, where she currently lives. The documentary gives an insight into her optimistic outlook on life living with her complex medical needs. Speaking after the BAFTA…