Author: Rhys Gregory

A memorial plinth will make its home in Kyiv to honour of Gareth Jones, the Welsh journalist from Barry who risked his life to expose the Holodomor famine which killed millions in Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. Following a request for funding from the Senedd Cross Party Group Friends of Ukraine, the Welsh Government has agreed to offer a donation of £16,000 to support the commissioning of the plinth in Welsh, English and Ukrainian to mark a street in Kyiv that has already been named in Jones’s honour. Born in Barry in 1905, Gareth Jones became a freelance journalist whose…

Welsh households looking to cut their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint will benefit from more than £5 million in new funding for the Green Homes Wales scheme in 2026-27.  Green Homes Wales is a Welsh Government initiative, managed by the Development Bank of Wales, designed to support eligible homeowners in making energy-efficiency and low carbon heat improvements to their homes. Since its launch in October 2024, the Welsh Government has invested almost £12 million into the scheme The scheme offers interest-free loans ranging from £1,000 to £25,000, with repayment terms of up to 10 years, as well as fully funded expert advice — giving households…

Transport for Wales (TfW) will trial a new post match crowd management approach for the upcoming Six Nations fixture aimed at improving the match day experience for fans and prepare for major works at Cardiff Central. Wales take on Italy in the final home game of this year’s Six Nations campaign on Saturday 14 March with fans heading home on Valleys and Vale services now directed to Cardiff Queen Street station instead of Cardiff Central. The rear of Cardiff Central station will soon be redeveloped as part of the station enhancements project and Cardiff Crossrail programme, meaning the space previously…

A Swansea brewery founded by two women is celebrating International Women’s Day by highlighting the role women have played in brewing throughout history and the growing influence they continue to have in the industry today. Swansea based Drop Bear Beer Co., founded by Joelle and Sarah Drummond, has grown from humble beginnings in a Mumbles kitchen to become the city’s largest brewery producing award winning alcohol free craft beer distributed across the UK and internationally. The story of brewing in Britain began largely with women. In medieval times, alewives brewed beer from their homes, supplying their local communities. However, as…

North Wales Housing is celebrating the 100th birthday of Frances, a resident of its Llys y Coed extra care scheme in Llanfairfechan. Frances celebrated the milestone with nearly 100 guests at a birthday event held at Llys y Coed, where she has lived for almost six years. She described the day as ‘wonderful’. Born in Finchley in 1926, Frances’ early life was shaped by the Second World War, which brought her schooling to an early end. She later gained qualifications through night school and went on to work in a range of roles, including 15 years managing surgical appliances at…

A partly-converted former West Wales chapel could make an ideal holiday bolthole once converted. Capel Blaencaron, near the west Wales town of Tregaron, provides what could be an ideal opportunity for the entrepreneur builder to set their seal on the intriguing property. James Hollingsworth, of Paul Fosh Auctions who are selling the historic building, said: “This could be an ideal opportunity for someone with vision to acquire what is currently a derelict former chapel with an adjoining house and a recent side extension which together offers significant redevelopment potential. “We have been informed that there are no graves on the…

A historic Cardiff mansion that has featured in several major television productions is opening one of its most rarely seen spaces to the public this March. Insole Court, a Grade II listed Victorian mansion in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff, will offer visitors the chance to explore its tower during National Lottery Open Week. The special access is available to National Lottery players and tourists as part of the nationwide celebration taking place from 7 to 15 March 2026. Often described as one of Cardiff’s hidden gems, the mansion has served as a filming location for several well known productions.…

Nikki Lawrence, chief executive of Careers Wales, explains how careers guidance in Wales is adapting as the job market continues to change. As we mark National Careers Week 2026, with its powerful theme of ‘Own Your Future’, it’s the perfect time to reflect not only on why careers guidance matters, but how it must continue to evolve to meet the realities of today’s world of work. In Wales, a wide range of factors — including technological innovation, the transition to a greener economy, shifting skill demands and new ways of working — are reshaping what careers look like and how…

With a crucial Senedd election on the horizon, the Newyddion S4C news service will question, hold to account and break the latest news, with a feast of text and video content across its digital platforms. The output will include an interactive map of the constituencies, a new provision for vertical videos and a live feed on the day of the election which will bring together all the results on the Newyddion S4C website and app. S4C appointed Jacob Morris as a digital-first political reporter in September, in partnership with BBC Wales, who will travel the length and breadth of Wales…

Legendary British saxophonist Courtney Pine will open Brecon Jazz Festival 2026 with a special headline concert on Thursday 6 August at Theatr Brycheiniog. A long-standing favourite with Brecon audiences, Pine’s return sets the tone for four days of live jazz and contemporary music across the town from 6–9 August. Now in its 42nd year, Brecon Jazz Festival brings together leading artists from Wales, the UK and beyond. Performances will take place at Theatr Brycheiniog, alongside concerts at Brecon Guildhall and The Muse, with free outdoor performances on the popular Bulwark Stage and throughout the town’s streets. The 2026 headline programme…