Author: Rhys Gregory

17 year-old school girl Hannah Mathias, from Christ College, Brecon, has returned to Wales after spending two weeks in the summer doing an independent work placement in France. [aoa id=”1″] The trip was organised with the support of the twinning association between Brecon and Gouesnou in Brittany, north western France, which has beenpromoting strong social, cultural, artistic and sporting links between both towns for over 30 years. During her immersion in Gouesnou’s municipal services, Hannah had the opportunity to work at the children leisure centre for a few days before joining the Media Library. [/aoa] Commenting on her experience, Hannah…

An inspirational mum from Cardiff has won a national award for her campaigning and fundraising achievements in support of Diabetes UK Cymru. [aoa id=”1″] Beth Baldwin received the Quality in Care (QiC) Diabetes People’s Award at an awards ceremony in Guilfordon Wednesday 18 October. Beth’s son Peter, 13, passed away from undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes in 2015. Since then, Beth, her husband Stuart and Peter’s sister Lia, 12, have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition, hosting a multitude of fundraising events and presenting to Assembly Members at the Senedd. [/aoa] The family have so far raised over £70,000…

Swansea University have collaborated with the Graig Foundation – a newly-formed charity – to encourage innovation and advancements in the field of cardiology. [aoa id=”1″] The Graig Foundation have partnered with the University’s School of Management to draw on their academic talent, the skills and knowledge of the Bevan Commission and expertise of the world-renowned cardiac surgeon, Professor Stephen Westaby. With heart failure being a major global issue, newer treatments and interventions are required to tackle the growing social, economic and health issues facing the developing world.   Innovative treatments such as stem cell therapy and heart pumps are being developed…

A company that aims to be one stop shop for customers seeking CCTV, access control, networking and electrical expertise was named Micro Business of the Year at the Powys Business Awards. AL Technical, which is based at Cefn Mawr, Newtown, collected the award, sponsored by the Cambrian News and Brecon & Radnor Express, at the annual awards dinner held at The Hafren, Newtown. The company is run by managing director Aled Llewelyn Woosnam who heads a team of seven, including two apprentices. “I am overwhelmed by this award which is a reward for all the hard work by the team,”…

A rundown former railway building on the walkway at Meliden, Prestatyn, is undergoing a £1.2 million revamp, transforming it into a community hub with a café, heritage, bike hire facility, and business start-up units. [aoa id=”1″] The Grade II listed building – Y Shed – is set to open next year and project leaders, charitable housing association Grŵp Cynefin and Meliden Residents Action Group, are keen to ensure the project reflects Meliden life. Village artefacts and old photos could be displayed within the building and people are being asked to help unearth hidden historical treasures. [/aoa] Mair Edwards, Grŵp Cynefin’s Community Initiatives Manager, said: “We all keep…

RUGBY star and testicular cancer survivor Matthew Rees is backing this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign alongside his Cardiff Blues teammates to help speed up life-saving research. [aoa id=”1″] Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK, unites celebrities, scientists and communities from across the UK. Every hour, around two people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales. Matthew, who was diagnosed with the disease when he was just 32, said: “Cancer is a word that scares everybody and it’s a word that certainly scares me. [/aoa] “I hope that by speaking out…

Caerphilly-based recycling and energy-from-waste business, Bryn Group has made an application to vary its operating hours, so it can meet the Council waste department’s requirements and better serve the needs of local residents. The family-run company holds a number of contracts with local authorities to process household and commercial food and green compostable waste at its recycling and anaerobic digestion centre near Gelligaer. The current planning permission limits the hours of operation at weekends and public holidays. Bryn Group manager, Jennifer Price, explained: “The local authority needs to be able to empty its collection lorries whenever they are operating and…

A PIONEERING IT business is going for gold in alliance with a global computing giant. [aoa id=”1″] Risc IT Solutions in Llandudno is one of Microsoft’s key UK partners for cloud services, employing 16 people at their innovative Church Walks complex. Risc is looking to further reinforce their profile by investing in four technical consultants to complete Microsoft’s rigorous Gold standard in Business Productivity, an accreditation that will strengthen their position as a first-class provider of cloud and IT solutions. [/aoa] Managing Director Jeremy Keane says the standard will build on their current Silver status, and act as a benchmark,…

Cash seized from criminals is being used to help combat anti-social behaviour at a beauty spot in Colwyn Bay. [aoa id=”1″] Local people were being put off going to parts of the 50-acre Eirias Park because they were being blighted by petty crime and drug dealing. Now two environmental projects have secured a £2,500 grant from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones. The money has come from the Your Community, Your Choice fund administered by Mr Jones, the Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police. [/aoa] Half the money was recovered through the Proceeds of Crime…

The latest group of GE Aviation Wales apprentices have successfully completed their courses and are now in the process of joining one of Wales’ leading aircraft engineering businesses. Celebrating at a gathering of over 100 friends, family members and employees from all parts of the business, the graduating apprentices received their certificates and awards from Managing Director Nick Blakeney and special guest, Lucy Owen from BBC Cymru Wales. [aoa id=”1″]The GE Aviation Wales apprenticeship programme is delivered in partnership with Coleg y Cymoedd. This relationship allowsGE to equip apprentices with the academic and technical qualifications they need to thrive as…