Author: Rhys Gregory

Applications to receive up to £200 per learner to help with the cost of the school day are open. The School Essentials Grant is available for families on lower incomes and who qualify for certain benefits. Schools also receive additional funding as a result of claiming this grant. Eligible families can apply for a grant of £125 per child per year. Families with children entering year 7 can apply for £200 to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school. All looked after children qualify for the grant. The School Essentials Grant can be used for school essentials such…

More people will be seen, diagnosed and treated at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital following a £4.8m investment in new equipment. The Welsh Government is funding the replacement of a new CT scanner to replace a 14-year-old machine. This will improve productivity and help reduce waiting times for scans. The new and advanced scanner will be more reliable and deliver clearer images quickly – meaning more people can be scanned and assessed. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles said: “By replacing outdated equipment with cutting-edge technology, we are ensuring the NHS can deliver better outcomes for people and work…

Work to transform the Wrexham to Liverpool line has been given the green light, with upgrades on the line at Padeswood confirmed as the first major step to realise more rail services between the two cities. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the site today to see the planned upgrades. The UK Government committed to supporting the work at Padeswood as part of last month’s Comprehensive Spending Review. The overall UK Government investment in Welsh rail, worth at least £445 million, will see people across Wales benefit from…

As Merthyr Tydfil’s Cyfarthfa Castle marks its 200th birthday, there’s another reason to celebrate – the iconic Cyfarthfa Heritage Area is to receive £4.5million to undertake urgent conservation works to help ensure its future for many more years to come. Welsh Government – through its historic environment service Cadw – and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council will each contribute £2.25 million to address the deterioration to the oldest part of Cyfarthfa Castle as well as protecting Pont-y-Cafnau bridge, located to the south of the wider Cyfarthfa site – reputedly the oldest iron railway bridge in the world. Standing since 1825,…

he Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K returns this weekend (Sunday 6 July) and residents are reminded that there will be some safety measures in place including temporary road closures and bus diversions. Entries for the 10K are sold out and local residents are encouraged to cheer on all those taking part, with 6,200 participants arriving from all over the United Kingdom. Taking in a whole host of landmarks and stunning views, the runners will set off from the Eastern Promenade before passing locations such as Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Coney Bay, the town centre, Grand Pavilion and the iconic Porthcawl Lighthouse.…

A high-energy augmented reality sport is coming to Caerphilly and you can try it for FREE! HADO UK will be hosting a free taster event at Caerphilly Leisure Centre on Wednesday 9th July, offering schools, businesses, and individuals the chance to experience this unique, tech-powered team sport with support from Esports Wales. HADO combines physical movement with augmented reality as players wear headsets and armbands to launch virtual energy balls at opponents, creating a fast-paced, competitive experience unlike anything else. The day will include the following sessions: School Session (12:00pm–2:00pm): Up to 6 teams of 4. Schools can book their…

Bearhug, a Welsh sports and fitness brand redefining joint support through bamboo-based products and a bold community-first ethos, has surpassed the one million pound turnover mark for the first time – doubling its revenue for the third consecutive year to exceed £1.2m in 2025. The Pontypool-based company, which designs bamboo joint supports and muscle sleeves for injury prevention, pain relief, and recovery, has seen record-breaking growth, driven by a focused expansion strategy and the appointment of high-profile Welsh rugby ambassadors. Over the last 12 months, the Pontypool based business has welcomed ex Welsh international, Josh Navidi, and WRU national squad…

Wales will be bringing more than just football to this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (2-27 July) in Switzerland, using the platform of their first major tournament to show the world the values of the nation through a vibrant cultural celebration thanks to a £1m partner support fund from Welsh Government. With Welsh footballing heroes like Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James ready to showcase skills on the pitch, off the pitch, artists including Aleighcia Scott, Adwaith and DJ Molly Palmer will star in a cultural programme set to champion the country’s language, music, creativity and values of equality…

Measuring air quality is a legal requirement in Wales, and Ceredigion County Council is pleased to announce that the county boasts one of the best results in the country. The Welsh Government requirement involves measuring Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Airborne Particulate Matter (PM10), which are air pollutants associated with vehicle emissions. Ceredigion County Council’s Environmental Health Team monitor the level of pollution through Diffusion Tubes which are placed on roadside lamp posts. The annual statutory limit for NO2 is a mean of 40µg/m3. In Ceredigion, the NO2 concentrations are well below this limit. A total of 13 locations are monitored…

SOS: Extreme Rescues returns for a third gripping instalment on BBC One Wales, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this July. Produced by Caernarfon-based independent production company Darlun, the 12-part observational documentary series follows the remarkable work of emergency responders as they brave extreme conditions to save lives across the Eryri region of north Wales. Covering more than 800 square miles, Eryri is Wales’ largest National Park, attracting millions of visitors every year. It’s here where towering mountains and dense forests sit alongside miles of coastline, a landscape which can pose serious risk to both visitors and seasoned explorers. Building on…