Author: Rhys Gregory

Since October 2017, Newydd Housing Association has seen over 450 attend its employability workshops and 37 have gone onto employment. This success rate means that Newydd are keen to further empower and positively challenge its local communities to ‘Be the Best You’ and support individuals into employment. In the last 12 months, Newydd has put in place 13 work experience opportunities, where they have seen an increased appetite from young women to build careers in construction. The housing association, through its community benefits initiative, currently has two apprenticeships at its site in Treforest, which is being delivered by the Jehu…

A pioneering social enterprise has delivered a £33m dose of wellbeing, health and happiness to keep the wheels of business and industry turning in North Wales. [aoa id=”1″] The news was revealed as Rhyl City Strategy (RCS Wales) prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, since it was first set up with just two members of staff in 2008 to tackle unemployment in West Rhyl. The Community Interest Company has now expanded to employ 17 staff at two bases in Rhyl and Bangor. One of their main aims is to combat absenteeism at work through ill-health, which is costing the Welsh…

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Wales, as further heavy rain is expected this afternoon and evening today (Friday 9th October 2018). A spell of heavy rain will affect southwestern parts of Wales during this afternoon and evening, bringing a further 20-40 mm of rain. Much of this will fall within 6-9 hours and lead to further flooding. Scattered heavy showers will follow from the west overnight. Regions and local authorities affected Carmarthenshire Pembrokeshire

To mark the opening of the world’s largest, free, youth film festival this week in Wales, the film education charity Into Film Cymru hosted a pupil premiere of Illumination’s Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch in Cardiff.  Simultaneous pupil premieres were held in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Manchester ahead of the film’s release in cinemas across the UK on Friday 9th November. For their eighth fully animated feature, Illumination and Universal Pictures present The Grinch, based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic. The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s…

A new ‘all-weather’ 3G sports pitch at Porth Community School has been completed for the use of school pupils and the wider community – as part of significant 21st Century Schools investment in the area. The new facility, which has replaced the old astroturf, is the 11th ‘all-weather’ surface to be installed by the Council, helping to fulfil a commitment to provide residents with a 3G surface within a three mile radius, no matter where they live in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This follows the start of construction on the Council’s 12th and 13th 3G pitches – in Penywaun and Beddau…

Cardiff-based Orchard Media and Events Group are overwhelmed with the public response to their #DonateDifferently Huggard appeal for toiletries for the homeless of Cardiff. Over 3,000 toiletry items were brought in to a collection point in the busy St. David’s shopping centre in the city last weekend after Orchard launched an appeal on behalf of the local Huggard homeless charity. The idea started with Huggard’s requirement for small containers that could be easily carried by rough sleepers, with a bid for people to bring all those toiletries they had gathered from their hotel holidays over the summer. Orchard pushed…

THE rail industry in Wales and the Borders are honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom this month. To honour our armed forces heroes past and present, Network Rail and Transport for Wales, with support from the Royal British Legion, are also inviting passengers to leave a message of remembrance on three giant poppies, which have been installed at Cardiff Central, Shrewsbury and Rhyl stations. In addition, 36 trains will be decorated with poppies for the month and there will be a service in Cardiff Central station on Friday, 9November at 10:40am in partnership with British Transport…

One of Wales’ largest further education colleges, Coleg y Cymoedd, has appointed Karen Phillips as its next Principal and Chief Executive. [aoa id=”1″] Ms Phillips, who has served as Coleg y Cymoedd’s Deputy Principal since 2008 (then known as Coleg Morgannwg), will succeed current Principal, Judith Evans, when she retires from 1 January 2019. As Deputy Principal, Karen Phillips has been credited for the leading role she has played in guiding the college through a continuous curriculum development process, major infrastructure projects and strategic analysis of relevant market trends influencing the further education sector. Most notable highlights include the merger…

On sale now at John Lewis & Partners Cardiff, shoppers can pick up a Christmas gift with a conscience called the One Knit Wonder. All profits from the knitting kit will go to Welsh homelessness charity, The Wallich. After selling out of stock in Christmas 2017, the One Knit Wonder is back. The hat-making kit contains everything you need to knit a beanie hat from scratch and includes new colours such as mustard and teal. The One Knit Wonder was designed by The Wallich and contains chunky wool, knitting needles, a knitting pattern for a woolly hat and ‘one warm,…

Health boards across Wales should follow ABMU’s lead by recognising the importance of digital inclusion when giving patients access to services online. [aoa id=”1″] That’s according to a new independent report which looks at how the internet is an increasingly vital tool in keeping people healthy. It has highlighted ABMU initiatives including Patient Knows Best (PKB) – which gives patients and their carers instant, secure access to test results, medical records and treatment information online – as best practice. The efforts of Swansea Bay GP practices to help patients learn the skills needed to book appointments and request repeat prescriptions…