Author: Rhys Gregory

Cancer Research Wales has received £17,100 after 19 fundraisers from Whitchurch had their heads shaved for the cancer charity. The team of fundraisers joined forces in April this year to take part in a ‘Close Shave II’ at The Malsters Arms, Whitchurch, and raised more than £12,000, while two more fundraisers helped boost the total a further £5,000 after running the London Marathon this year. Cancer Research Wales was presented with a cheque for £17,100, which will be used to fund research that can result in vital developments into early diagnosis, treatments and cures for cancer right here in Wales.…

From making pizza for astronauts in space to recreating ancient bones for archaeological research, pupils at a Carmarthenshire school have been learning all about the use of 3D printing technology. Dr Dimitrios Pletsas, of Swansea University’s College of Engineering, led a morning workshop at Nantgaredig Primary School, where he talked year six pupils through the history of printers, current uses of 3D printers, and exciting technological advances that are expected in coming years. A digital pioneer school, Nantgaredig primary already has a 3D printer, thanks to funding from Tesco and the Royal Society scientific academy. The funding also enabled the…

An appeal has been launched to find police watchdogs to help North Wales’ four-legged crimefighters to keep paw and order. New recruits are needed for a volunteer dog welfare scheme that’s been set up to keep a check on how police handlers look after the canine cops. The North Wales scheme was set up by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones, a former police inspector. The welfare visitors make monthly unannounced visits to view dog training sessions or visit dog handlers and their canine companions out on patrol. Their brief is to ensure police dogs are properly cared…

A mum-of-two living in Pontypridd is taking on the Simply Health Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, for Diabetes UK Cymru, in support of her dad who has Type 1 diabetes. Jen Matchett’s father, David, 56, was diagnosed in 1991, age 29. Jen, 32, a secretary at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said, “I was 10 when dad was diagnosed. He was a single parent and brought me up on his own. A colleague mentioned how much water he was drinking and suggested he get tested. Dad had just given up smoking so thought that was the…

Nationwide, the UK’s biggest building society, is making £250,000 available to help make a difference in communities across Wales. Now the Society is urging its members to vote for which projects should receive a grant of up to £50,000, with polling due to close on 20 July 2018. The Society invited applications for grants for housing projects that have the potential to strengthen communities and help make a difference in local areas, ranging from preventing people from being homeless, helping people into a home and supporting people to remain in their homes. It comes as new research for Nationwide Building…

Growing media interest about the environmental impact of packaging, new government policy and plastic-free packaging strategies adopted by leading retailers have pushed packaging to the forefront of consumers’ minds. In response to growing consumer concern about packaging, exclusive new research suggests the UK’s interest in recycling is at an all-time high. The research on behalf of Beyond the Box surveyed more than 2,000 adults across the UK, revealing a surge of interest in packaging and recycling. Almost two thirds (63%) of those in Wales claim to be worried about packaging and the types of materials used to package their favourite…

A Marie Curie fundraising group had a surprise visitor to their Blooming Great Tea Party last week – when Russell Grant showed up to support the event. The Meirion and Dwyfor Fundraising Group, who raise money for the terminal illness charity, would like to say a big thank you to Russel Grant, who visited them and their supporters at the Glaslyn Leisure Centre in Porthmadog on June 27. Marie Curie provides care and support to people living with a terminal illness, and their families. Russell chatted to Marie Curie volunteers, and posed for a picture with school children from Tremadog…

A pioneering teacher training progamme at Aberystwyth University has been granted accreditation for five years by the Education Workforce Council. From September 2019, the University’s School of Education will be delivering a new Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) offering two pathways to Qualified Teaching Status (QTS). Student teachers can choose to follow either a Primary Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Secondary Enrichment, or a Secondary PGCE with Primary Enrichment. Professor Malcolm Thomas, Director of the School of Education at Aberystwyth University, said: “This is a pioneering, integrated programme which responds to the needs of teacher education in the 21st…

As universities approach the end of term, TV Licensing is reminding cash-strapped students in Wales that they may be entitled to a refund worth over £50. Since 1 April 2017, TV Licensing has changed the way refunds are calculated meaning that over 111,355 students in Wales packing up and moving home for the summer could be entitled to a refund just in time to celebrate the end of their exams. Students can claim for any full months left on their licence; so if they bought their licence last October and moved out in May, they could receive a refund worth…

A public consultation on the future of adult thoracic surgery in south Wales has been launched this week. The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, on behalf of six affected health boards, is asking for views on a proposal to locate adult thoracic surgery for patients from south Wales at a single centre based at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. Thoracic surgery involves operations on all parts of the chest, including the chest wall, the contents of the chest, and the lungs, however it does not include heart surgery. The services are currently spread across two sites, the University Hospital of Wales…