Author: Rhys Gregory

Organised by Antur Cymru Enterprise, the SMART Busnes Cymru Conference welcomed organisations, start-ups and individuals from across the country to historic Cardigan Castle in Ceredigion. Together they championed the strides made by town centres and high streets embracing advances in technology – notably in recording footfall and consumer trends – and encouraged neighbouring local authorities and other stakeholders to adopt bespoke, sustainable IT solutions such as IoT (Internet of Things) and LoRaWAN. The forum explored opportunities and challenges in Ceredigion’s ‘tech revolution’ and the impact of the SMART Busnes Project, delivered by Antur Cymru in partnership with Ceredigion County Council via the…

A groundbreaking project aimed at addressing antisocial behaviour across the county borough was spotlighted at Wales Safer Communities Awards 2024 on 28 November.  A collaboration between Bridgend County Borough Council Youth Support and South Wales Police (SWP), supported by Ospreys in the Community, the ‘Tackle after Dark’ scheme claimed the ‘Partnerships’ category award at the ceremony. ‘Tackle after Dark’ is a mobile youth service provision which targets identified areas at specific times when antisocial behaviour is known to be at its highest.  With an array of skilled professionals involved, including council youth workers and staff from South Wales Neighbourhood Police…

Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, is spreading the joy of Christmas as it gifts free flights for an entire year for reconnecting with loved ones. Inspired by its feel-good Christmas Advert, Loganair, Actually, which features emotional moments of families reuniting across the UK for the holidays, the airline is encouraging entrants to a competition to showcase the magic of their own meetings with loved ones called A Season of Connections. To enter the competition, entrants must submit a picture or video that captures their heart-warming moment and a small blurb on the reunion. Whether it’s the joy of seeing…

The Persimmon Foundation is proud to announce a donation of £7,500 to Swansea City AFC Community Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving lives through sport and education in Swansea and South West Wales. The Persimmon Foundation, established in 2015, has a track record of advancing urban regeneration, health, education, and poverty alleviation. With around £1.5 million donated to more than 1,400 organisations in the past three years, the foundation continues to make a tangible impact in communities where the Persimmon Group operates. Swansea City AFC Community Foundation runs innovative programmes that address challenges such as social isolation, health inequalities, and…

Staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) have raised a total of £29,000 for their 2024 Charity of Choice – Alzheimer’s Society. This is the second time the charity has been selected since the initiative began in 2014 with DVLA staff raising vital funds for support and research into Alzheimer’s disease – one of the UK’s biggest health and social challenges. Sponsored runs, football matches, choir performances and cake sales were just some of the ways staff have raised money over the year. And during a sold-out staff choir concert and a Christmas fayre in Swansea, the total…

Wayne Greenshields, of Plas Isaf, Rhosymedre, Wrexham, appeared before Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence yesterday, Wednesday, December 18th, having been convicted of nine offences. They included three counts of sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault, inciting sexual activity, rape and two counts of attempted rape. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and handed an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim who was abused by Greenshields over a two-year period. It was when she bravely disclosed what had happened to a parent that he was arrested in July 2022. He denied the offences but was found guilty…

A vacant and derelict former commercial building in Neath Abbey has been given a new lease of life, having been fully refurbished and transformed into three new apartments, thanks to a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Once a newsagents, the building has stood empty for several years and following previous unfinished attempts at refurbishment, RWP Properties acquired the premises at St John’s Terrace. It has since been renovated and converted into three modern and stylish apartments, providing much needed, high quality living accommodation for the local area. The refurbishment was carried out by Glynneath based contractor, Alpha Building…

Proposals to update and refurbish Port Talbot’s Princess Royal Theatre and the adjacent Civic Square have been given the go ahead by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Planning Committee. The scheme, backed by UK Government funding, aims to ‘rejuvenate and modernise’ the 798-seat Princess Royal Theatre by improving customer experience with new cafes, an extension to the south west elevation of the building, a remodelled bar servery area and an auditorium entrance lobby with a large, modern foyer. There will also be a “premier” green room for artists. Other additions for the theatre include a conference hall with capacity for 250…

Pembrokeshire County Council has recently achieved the insport Partnerships Gold standard, recognising its commitment and passion to providing inclusive opportunities for disabled people across the local authority area. ‘insport’ is a Disability Sport Wales programme delivered with the support the of Sport Wales, which aims to support the physical activity, sport, and leisure sectors delivering inclusively of disabled people. The purpose of the insport programmes is to support the development of inclusive thinking, planning, development and delivery by everyone within an organisation so that ultimately, they will deliver across the spectrum to disabled and non-disabled people, at whatever level they…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced a series of significant upgrades to its Leisure Lifestyle facilities, made possible through funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). These improvements aim to provide residents with modern and flexible facilities, promote active and healthy lifestyles, and create new opportunities for events and revenue generation. The upgrades align with the objectives outlined in the council’s Sport & Active Recreation Strategy. Heolddu Leisure Centre: New Group Cycling Studio Heolddu Leisure Centre now boasts a state-of-the-art group cycling studio featuring Keiser M3i bikes. These top-of-the-line bikes offer an exceptional cycling experience suitable for all fitness…