Author: Rhys Gregory

A wonderland of free, creative ‘crafternoons’ are launching in Swansea’s city centre, where a team of talented, local artists will be presenting a variety of marvellously messy and fun activities for the local community to enjoy. Quadrant Shopping Centre will be hosting the ‘Mad Hatter Crafternoon’ event from Tuesday 7 August until Saturday 11 August between 11am and 3pm. It is open to everyone who has a flair for art or simply wants to have a go at doing something a bit different. Embracing the fantastical world of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, each session will take on a different arts and…

In just three months, the B Active programme has attracted 700 new participants, providing young people in Newport with regular access to sport. This early success was celebrated just yesterday, Tuesday 31st July, at the inaugural B Active summer showcase event. Taking place at Newport’s renowned International Sports Sentre, over 200 young people and volunteers came together in a celebration of sport and community. [aoa id=”1″] The summer showcase kicked off with an 18-team football tournament, a selection of fitness classes were available for young people; there was also a dedicated female zone showcasing poundfit, Zumba and spin classes. Newport…

Welsh Olympian, Iwan Thomas MBE, has teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support to encourage people to sign up to a summer fundraising challenge, including the Mighty Hikes, Wye Valley. The 26-mile fundraising hike from Monmouth to Chepstow takes place on Saturday 4 August and will raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support to help people with cancer to live life as fully as they can. Thomas, who has been a member of #TeamMacmillan since 2008, joined actress Lisa Riley and Liberty X star Michelle Heaton for a workout, when he put the stars through their paces in a bid to…

A Pembrokeshire man who spent more than a decade working abroad has decided to return to his Welsh roots and the very company that kickstarted his career in tourism over twenty-five years ago. [aoa id=”1″] Paul Stone, 48, from Begelly, has been appointed as Business Relationship Manager for Wales’ largest theme park, Oakwood, 26 years after first working at the park in his early twenties. The father of one spent two summer seasons working at the Pembrokeshire-based attraction as a ride supervisor back in the early 1990s, and after an eleven-year stint working abroad, could not pass up the…

Just 10 days in a hospital bed can leave some older patients so weak they will lose the ability to look after themselves independently. So while a medical issue might have been solved during their stay, they could be left with a legacy of problems including not being able to walk to the toilet or even make a cup of tea. This is why physiotherapists at Gorseinon Hospital in Swansea are part of a new campaign to get patients moving as soon as it’s safe. But traditional exercise programmes are not the only option for a very important reason. “As…

A UK-wide campaign which fights to protect vulnerable people living in cold homes has praised a new Swansea Council proposal. Members of Fuel Poverty Action say the council’s idea to set up a not-for-profit energy firm could help many people. Ruth London, of Fuel Poverty Action, said: “We’re really glad to see this development in Swansea. “All such local initiatives have to operate within the constraints of a wholesale market and national grid that are dominated by profiteering fossil fuel dinosaurs. “However, municipal energy companies can still make the supply to households more accountable, fairer and hopefully cheaper. Along with…

Festival-goers can now generate the perfect playlists for their car journey based on the length of their trip with a new interactive tool launched this week. Car insurance brand Veygo, owned by Admiral Insurance, created the Festival Sound Trip to help music lovers travelling to festivals automatically create personalised Spotify playlists based on their festival destination and favourite acts. Simply by selecting a festival and inputting a home address, the Festival Sound Trip maps the journey and collates a playlist bespoke to the user’s time on the road, making finding the right car soundtrack a breeze. The interactive map lets…

Principality Building Society has announced good half-year results as the strategy of growing its core mortgage and savings business continues to deliver.  Its net residential mortgage lending increased by £340.3m in the first six months of this year, bringing total assets to £9.6bn.   To support the growth in its lending the Society grew its savings by £309.3m. Its savings products have maintained its position as one of the best and most competitive on the High Street. Underlying pre-tax profit, which reflects the true trading performance of the business, was £27.4m (June 2017: £29.5m). Statutory pre-tax profit was £24.9m (June 2017:…

Colourful banners have been designed by school children to publicise how Bridgend County Borough Council’s new camera car will target dangerous parking outside schools. The car was officially named ‘Roly Patroly’ by Cwmfelin Primary School pupil Thomas Lewis last month after he won a competition, and a second contest was held inviting youngsters to design banners promoting the car’s presence. Printed banners showing the winning designs were presented to pupils at nine schools across the county borough before the end of term, while certificates and vouchers were handed out as prizes! [aoa id=”1″] [/aoa] As this new camera car will…

The average UK social media user can’t help but exhibit their own dining experiences, taking just 65 seconds to snap the first picture after their meal is served in a restaurant. In new research revealing the importance of a restaurant’s social media potential, OpenTable, the world’s leading restaurant booking service, found that the first minute was crucial to setting up that perfect #foodgram shot. [aoa id=”1″] No longer satisfied with a restaurant’s ambience or menu, UK diners are on the hunt for restaurants which offer them photography opportunities, with almost half of diners (48%) claiming it plays a crucial factor…