Author: Rhys Gregory

A TREHARRIS-based entrepreneur and their business have been awarded £10,000 to support future growth plans and ambitions. Veronique Mbida and her business Bantu Chocolate have been given the grant funding by the entrepreneurship charity Hatch Enterprise in partnership with NatWest. Bantu Chocolate is one of 10 businesses across the UK to receive a share of the £100,000 grant funding round in celebration of Hatch’s 10th anniversary. Bantu Chocolate is a bean-to-bar craft chocolate and cocoa pulp juice maker specialising in single origin cocoa products. Bantu is dedicated to turning a broken system into a fair, sustainable and modern supply chain.  …

A new affordable housing development will bring 16 houses and 15 apartments to land near Caerphilly town centre. The Cwrt y Rhos development by United Welsh is in an ideal location in Bedwas, Caerphilly with local shops, schools and transport links nearby. The mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, and one and two-bedroom apartments, will be available for people seeking affordable housing through the Caerphilly Council Common Housing Register. The homes are also being built to an EPC-A, the highest rating of energy efficiency that a property can be awarded. They will be fitted with energy-efficient technology such as…

Mentrus Developments has started work on phase two of ‘Maes y Teirw’, a residential development of 21 eco-friendly homes on the site of a former cattle breeding centre near Carmarthen that has been part-funded by a seven-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales. The 2.2-acre brownfield site includes a mix of 17 five- and four-bedroom homes along with 4 three-bedroom affordable properties. All have solar panels and air source heat pumps to ensure maximum energy efficiency. With good transport links and a range of local amenities, Maes y Teirw is proving popular with families and commuters alike. The first…

A CHARITY representing thousands of carers in Wales has a visionary new leader. Becky Evans is now the CEO (Chief Enabling Officer) of carers organisation, Credu. Becky, from Llandrindod Wells, has been with Credu for five years, having also worked in outreach and as a lead enabler. Backed by wife Tara and children David, Daniel and Rosie, she has spent more than two decades in the childcare, education and youth sectors and is determined to continue the charity’s transformative work in helping the 8,000 young and adult carers they support in Wrexham, Conwy, Denbighshire, Powys, and Ceredigion. Having received the…

A 19-year-old man from Swansea appeared before Winchester Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, September 19, 2024) after pleading guilty to terrorism offences and an assault that was motivated by and demonstrating hostility towards the victim based on her transgender identity. Alex Hutton, who has previously been convicted of offences under the Terrorism Act was arrested in November last year after South Wales Police received a report from a member of the public stating they had viewed a video on Hutton’s Instagram in which he claims to have kicked an unidentified person in the head. The video also contained far right imagery.   Hutton has…

Celebrate with Mickey and friends as Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder returns to the UK for a second and final time, offering a magical experience for families in Cardiff. Bringing together your most beloved Disney characters, be wowed by the stunning costumes and incredible special effects as your favourites spin, sparkle and come to life before your eyes. The production will skate into Cardiff’s Motorpoint  Arena from 13th – 16th March 2025. Priority Customers can take advantage of the pre-sale from 9am on Friday 20th September 2024 by heading to www.prioritycustomer.co.uk to sign up. Tickets then go…

Swansea University has been named The Times and The Sunday Times’ Welsh University of the Year 2025. It took the honour thanks to its consistent focus on career-building, a seafront student experience and a four-place year-on-year rise. It also broke into the top 300 QS World University Rankings with a leap of 118 places. Cardiff University is the highest-ranking institution in Wales, however, the Russell Group university slipped seven places to 32nd, so no university in Wales makes the top 30 UK rankings this year. The universities of Aberystwyth and Bangor also fell in the league table. Cardiff Metropolitan University…

Sambou Kassama did his best to evade officers by throwing his drugs out a window and jumping from the first floor of his house. But he was found hiding in a neighbour’s garden and now he’s in jail. A police investigation revealed that the 27-year-old from Ely, Cardiff, had been running two drug lines in the area, dealing crack cocaine and heroin. On July 4, 2024, officers conducted a warrant at his home address. Drone footage captured the moment Kassama discarded drugs out of a back bedroom window before jumping and running away. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty…

unners competing in the Cardiff Half Marathon this October will be able to catch the train in for the start for the first time ever. More than 20,000 are expected to compete on 6 October. Traditionally the race has always taken place on a Sunday morning and the early start time has meant very limited public transport options for those traveling in. However new agreements with train crew on Sunday working have meant TfW are now able to run earlier services from key stations to get people in on time for the start. People traveling from Swansea, Hereford, Maesteg, Gloucester,…

A Rhyl nature reserve has been recognised for its contribution to supporting local nature. Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve was honoured at the recent Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony at Abergavenny. Denbighshire Countryside Services and volunteers supported by Nature for Health have worked to improve the site both for nature and for the enjoyment of the local community. Ongoing development work has seen a new community orchard and pond opened up, improvements to the walkways, removal of dead trees and the tidying up of the viewpoints around the main waters. Areas have also been improved around the nature reserve to…