Author: Rhys Gregory

Caerphilly County Borough Council employees, alongside volunteers from external business Willmott Dixon, came together in the spirit of giving this Christmas by supporting the ToyBox Project during a dedicated volunteer day at Penallta House. The event, held on Thursday 28th November, saw an incredible turnout, with 48 council staff members and additional volunteers from Willmott Dixon working together to check and process an impressive 270 toys, equating to around 66 hours of collective volunteering. The ToyBox Project, a volunteer-driven initiative, aims to provide families and not-for-profit organisations with access to pre-loved toys. By refurbishing and redistributing toys, the project ensures…

Monmouthshire County Council have collaborated with Streetwave to provide a mobile coverage checker for its residents to check their mobile signal. The council began working with Streetwave to measure signal quality in the county in September 2023. Streetwave permanently integrated its cutting-edge data collection equipment into the council’s waste collection vehicles. This allowed for weekly mobile coverage surveys across the region. The survey was commissioned by The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR). The RSPAWIR was awarded £3.75m of funding from the Government to support the growth of wireless innovation and technology in some of its key economic…

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, has this week (16 December 2024) announced an extension of the Help to Buy Wales scheme, providing continued support for prospective homeowners and the housebuilding industry.  The current scheme is set to close for applications at the end of March 2025, however, the Cabinet Secretary has announced an 18-month extension, ensuring the scheme will continue to provide support until September 2026. The scheme helps people who might otherwise be unable to afford a home and since its launch in January 2014, Help to Buy Wales has helped more than 14,000 households…

Over £12m of grants will be awarded in 2025-26 to a range of organisations to support curriculum priorities, including extra funding for literacy and numeracy projects. Organisations from the third and public sector, universities and private companies are invited to bid for the grants to support schools and settings with expertise, training, materials and events, securing a range of support from outside organisations. Projects will focus on a number of key curriculum priorities: Curriculum design Literacy Mathematics and numeracy Science and technology National Music Service (via the WLGA) Foundation learning Changes have been made to the way grants are awarded…

The JD Cymru Premier is the top tier of Welsh football, renowned for its competitive nature and rich heritage. It serves as a testament to the evolution of football in Wales, showcasing growing professionalism within the sport.  Whether you’re new to Welsh football or looking to deepen your understanding to potentially refine your matched betting strategy, this article offers a comprehensive guide to the league, exploring its history, structure, key clubs, and future prospects. History And Evolution Of The JD Cymru Premier  The roots of the JD Cymru Premier trace back to the early 1990s when Welsh football sought a…

A TALENTED singer-songwriter returned to college for a celebration of Welsh culture. Megan Lee headlined the latest Culture Collective event, held at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi, near Ruthin. A graduate of Cambria Yale in Wrexham, Megan began performing at the age of 11 with her family and is now a skilled multi-instrumentalist set to appear at major festivals next summer, including Roadhouse Weekender and in It Together. She joined students and staff for an evening of music, food and language, following the news her album Origin has been nominated for a British CMA (Country Music Association) Award. The Culture Collective has…

Liam Mackay, Youth Justice Sport Coordinator at Cardiff Metropolitan University, has been named Wales’ winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 Unsung Hero Award. This prestigious accolade celebrates his outstanding contributions to grassroots sport and community wellbeing. Liam leads Cardiff Met Sport’s ‘Step into Sport’ project – an innovative partnership with The South Wales Police Youth Trust. This programme uses the power of sport to address youth offending, offering early interventions to reduce crime and promote positive futures. By fostering confidence and motivation, Liam’s work through the project empowers young people in Caerau and Ely to overcome…

Policing teams will be on patrol in nightlife hotspots this winter to target crime and anti-social behaviour associated with the Christmas and New Year period. Visible and plain-clothed South Wales Police teams will be operating in town and centres including Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend, and Cardiff to monitor alcohol-related anti-social behaviour (ASB) and other crime. South Wales Police is reminding everyone to report ASB concerns as part of its Project Pinpoint campaign this winter. Reporting issues allows police to take appropriate action, whether by arranging suitable diversionary activities, educating the public, increasing resources to an area or taking more…

Ceredigion County Council is consulting on proposals to introduce charges for parking along sections of the Promenade in Aberystwyth. The Ceredigion County Council (Prohibition and Restriction of Waiting and Loading and Unloading) Order 2019 (Aberystwyth Seafront) (Parking Places and Charges) (Amendment Order No. 13) 202x is being proposed to introduce changes to parking restrictions which fall under the Order, with a view to: Increasing on-street parking turnover, and therefore to boost trade Encouraging greater use of public transport and interchange between travel modes Reducing traffic congestion and improve traffic flow around traffic in sensitive areas of the town Promoting greater…

The inaugural Gwobrau Caru Ceredigion Awards 2024 were held last week (12 December), and celebrated the exceptional contributions and achievements of businesses, community projects, and individuals across the county. Organised by Cynnal y Cardi under the Caru Ceredigion banner, over 130 applications were received for the awards, with 36 finalists featuring across 12 categories. The event was a night of celebration and recognition, which saw County Councillors, officials, representatives from across the business world and community groups honour the exceptional efforts and accomplishments within the county. The evening was hosted by BBC Cymru Wales presenter Ifan Jones Evans and ITV…