Author: Rhys Gregory

The shortlist for Wales’ only dedicated cancer awards has been announced, ahead of the third Moondance Cancer Awards this June. Held every two years, the awards celebrate and spotlight individuals, teams and collaborations across NHS Wales and its partners who deliver, lead and innovate cancer services. A record 110 nominations have been whittled down to 62 outstanding organisations, teams and individuals across 10 categories, showcasing representation from across NHS Wales health boards and trusts, as well as academic, third sector and industry partners. Thirty organisations are recognised for a diverse range of work, including frontline clinical services, system-wide improvement, research…

Award-winning Welsh butcher Edwards of Conwy launches its new “From the Deli” range in Tesco stores across Wales. With roots firmly grounded in traditional butchery and a passion for quality, the new range brings the authentic deli-counter experience from Edwards’ high street shop into homes across the country. The launch forms part of Tesco’s continued commitment to championing Welsh producers, giving customers access to premium, locally made products with heritage at their heart. Edwards of Conwy is celebrating an exciting new milestone with the launch of its “From the Deli” range in Tesco stores across Wales and selected border locations.…

Teachers, pupils and governors at Ysgol Dolafon are celebrating a significant milestone following a positive monitoring visit from Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. The school has officially been removed from Estyn’s list of schools requiring significant improvement, after inspectors judged that it has made sufficient progress in addressing the recommendations from its most recent core inspection. The decision, welcomed by Powys County Council, follows a period of focused improvement work, strengthened leadership and close collaboration between the school, governors and the council. During the monitoring visit in March 2026, Estyn recognised clear improvements across the…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he deliberately set a fire in his supported accommodation, risking the lives of others in the process. 40-year-old Matthew Draper, from the city centre, used an accelerant to set a locker alight inside a The Wallich hostel for people with complex needs, before staying at the scene to watch the fire take hold. Draper pleaded guilty to arson and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. He has been sentenced to 27 months in prison. PC Gareth Bennett said: “Idiotic behaviour like that shown by Matthew Draper could have resulted…

Carrog Railway Station will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its reopening on Saturday, 2 May 2026, with a special community event marking three decades at the heart of the Llangollen and Corwen Railway. The station was formally opened by the late Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster and the late Bill Shakespeare, former President of the Railway on 2 May 1996. The celebration will take place at 11am at Carrog Railway Station, when pupils from Ysgol Carrog will perform in a ceremony bringing together local residents, railway volunteers, and visitors to honour the station’s past and present. Children from Ysgol…

St John Ambulance Cymru has unveiled a range of new courses to help transform the nation’s wellbeing and create a ‘mentally healthy Wales,’ to combat a crisis that currently costs the UK economy millions of lost workdays. The first aid charity for Wales, which trains hundreds of people in Mental Health First Aid each year, is calling on businesses to integrate it into the core of their operations, treating it with the same lifesaving urgency as physical first aid. In a recent interview for the St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John, the charity’s Lead Trainer,…

Swansea University researchers have been awarded £102,949 by the charity BRACE Dementia Research, to investigate a stomach hormone’s role in a potential new dementia treatment. The funding has been awarded to Prof Jeff Davies and will be used to support a PhD student who will work alongside Prof Davies to conduct laboratory research into ghrelin, a stomach hormone best known for regulating appetite. The hormone also plays a role in the brain’s immune system. The team will pursue the positive benefits of ghrelin in the hope of developing a dementia treatment. Why is the stomach hormone important? Ghrelin exists in…

Valleys to Coast Group has announced the launch of its new commercially driven development company, alongside its largest and most significant house-building project to date. Sylfaen, a fully owned subsidiary of the Valleys to Coast Group, is set to transform the housing landscape across South Wales. It will kick-start by purchasing a phase of 200 homes in North East Cardiff, with a potential for 300 additional homes in future years, a strategic development that will offer homes for private sale, rent, and shared ownership alongside traditional affordable social housing. Sylfaen is designed to drive the Valleys to Coast Group’s ambitious…

Cardiff-based HR consultancy EffectiveHRM has entered a new phase of growth after joining forces with Impact HR Consulting Limited, a move that will expand the support available to local SMEs in South Wales. Established in 2011 by employment lawyer Emma del Torto, EffectiveHRM has built a strong reputation supporting more than 150 businesses across sectors including care, professional services, manufacturing, hospitality and construction. The partnership will see EffectiveHRM join the Impact HR group of companies but continue to operate under its existing brand, with its Cardiff team remaining at the heart of delivery. The partnership will also provide additional resource,…

Mid Wales Opera (MWO) celebrated a resounding success with its OpenStages 2026 project, culminating in performances in Brecon and Hay-on-Wye earlier this month. Two fully staged performances of Dido and Aeneas at Brecon Cathedral alongside a special Musical Soirée at Hay Castle sold out in record time. Demand for the cathedral performances was so high that two additional release of tickets had to be created, with a waiting list introduced at Theatr Brycheiniog. At the heart of this success was the OpenStages project itself, an intensive and inspirational week of music-making that brought together professional artists, students and amateur musicians…