Author: Rhys Gregory

End of term celebrations are taking place across schools in Wales this week where, for the first time, all primary school children are entitled to a free Christmas meal. Rhws Primary School in Rhoose is one school enjoying their free Christmas dinner thanks to the Universal Primary Free School Meals programme. Since the completion of the programme in September, over 35 million meals have been served, with just under 175,000 learners in maintained primary schools across Wales, newly eligible for a free school meal since then. Free school meals help to improve the attainment and behaviour of learners, as well…

It is often described as the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ but Christmas can affect our mental health in lots of different ways. Celebrating it can sometimes feel stressful due to other events happening in our lives or leave us feeling alone if everyone else seems to be feeling happy when we’re not. Marking Christmas can also be a time where we might look back at difficult memories, regret things about the past, or worry about the coming new year. It can also be tough to cope with the financial pressure of Christmas and, for many of us, rises…

The Dalmatian Bike Ride, an annual challenge sponsored by Acorn by Synergie in aid of St David’s Hospice, has raised £400,000 since its launch 13 years ago. More than 300 cyclists took on five routes of up to 101km in June 2024 to raise vital funds and awareness in aid of the hospice, which cares for over 3,200 patients across Wales in Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, and Mid and South Powys. Acorn by Synergie has supported St David’s Hospice Care since 2016 through sponsorship and partaking in events. In 2024, the recruitment company’s CEO Bernard Ward, Chief Operations Officer Andrew…

The oldest Cornish pasty maker in the world, Warrens Bakery, has opened its newest store at Cardiff Central Station.  Platforms will now be filled with the aroma of freshly baked sweet and savoury goods as the new store expands Warrens Bakery’s presence in the travel sector and is only their second store to open in Wales, further extending their footprint in the region. Located in the main concourse, Warrens Bakery Cardiff was officially opened by Nathaniel Owen, Station Manager of Cardiff Central and Warrens Bakery’s Head of Travel, Katie Anderson. The new store is the bakery’s 42nd shop across the…

61-year-old, Michael Garner, from Gorseinon has won £500, towards his Christmas shopping, thanks to the Quadrant Shopping Centre in Swansea. The Big £500 Giveaway asked the people of Swansea to nominate who they thought would be most deserving of the prize. Over a period of two weeks, the Centre received 195 nominations, with Michael’s story being chosen as winner.  Chosen by a panel of judges made up of Quadrant staff, Michael’s nomination by his wife, Susan, stood out as it detailed a difficult period they’ve faced over the last few years, with Michael fighting neck and throat cancer that has…

BAFTA Cymru winner and fire-chef extraordinaire, Chris ‘Flamebaster’ Roberts, takes his fiery passion on the road across his beloved Cymru.  Along the way he’ll be hooking up with renowned chefs, producers and local characters; showcasing top foodie destinations.  Whether it’s “next-level” restaurants, or local kebab houses – he’s all about celebrating Welsh food, Welsh producers and Welsh communities.   He doesn’t have to travel far for the first stop on his culinary journey, as it starts in his hometown of Caernarfon. Nestled between mountains and the sea, Caernarfon is ideally situated to reap all sorts of tasty riches.   In the first…

A family business has started work on the refurbishment of derelict offices on Abernant Road in Aberdare following a £200,000 investment by the Investment Fund for Wales. NTJ Plasterers is run by Velda and Neil Edwards along with their two sons Tom and Jake. The company purchased the two-storey building in 2018 and is now undertaking a major refurbishment programme that has been part-funded by a £200,000 debt finance loan from the Investment Fund for Wales, which was launched by the British Business Bank in late 2023. Once complete, the new offices will be the headquarters for NTJ Plasterers which…

A former nightclub in Llandrindod Wells is enjoying a new lease of life as a food bank and advice centre, thanks to funding secured by Powys County Council. The council awarded £146,000 towards the cost of the second phase of the building work to refurbish the Oasis site behind the Commodore Hotel, on Spa Road, which has previously been known as The Venue and V Nightclub and Bar. The funding was provided in the form of a Welsh Government Placemaking Grant, through its Transforming Towns Programme, and has been used to help create: Office space for use by the food…

A ROUTINE eye test at Specsavers Colwyn Bay has led to life-saving treatment for a local 10-year-old, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. When Rhea Hamlet-Jolley visited the Bay View Shopping Centre store on 4 August with her dad, Anthony, optometrist Rhian Porter identified abnormalities in her optic discs. She immediately referred Rhea for an emergency appointment at Glan Clwyd Hospital, from where she was transferred to the ophthalmology department at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool the following day. Just days later, on 8 August, Rhea underwent her first brain surgery after specialists discovered a tumour. Following a…

The three directors of Pontardawe-based Westward Energy Services have completed a management buy-out enabling the former owners to retire after 25 years in a deal that has been part-funded by a £775,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Jonathan Garland, Stuart Thomas and Dai Atkins have acquired the heating and electrical services business that was first established 40 years ago. It has been operated by Andrew and Joanne Robinson alongside co-founders Anthony and Andrea Slattery since 2001. SME Finance Partners have been supporting the management buy-out and Capital Law advised on legal matters. Providing domestic, commercial and industrial heating…