Author: Rhys Gregory

A play staged at Swansea’s Grand Theatre has been named as one of the UK’s best of 2023. Sorter is listed by influential arts publication The Stage as one of last year’s top 50 productions across the UK and Ireland. Staged in March, it was presented by the Grand-based Grand Ambition team. Written by Grand Ambition co-founder Richard Mylan, Sorter tells the story of two heroin addicts and was seen by more than 1,300 people. Starring Mylan and Swansea-born Sophie Melville, it was the team’s first original production. It drew on Mylan’s own experiences in recovering from heroin addiction. It…

Newport City Council’s cabinet is recommending that all members support a proposal to charge a council tax premium of 100 per cent on long-term empty properties and second homes. Most local authorities in Wales have already introduced a council tax premium. Councils are allowed to charge up to 300 per cent. A consultation on a proposed charge found that 76 per cent of 470 responses were in favour of the council doing more to tackle the problem of vacant homes. More than half supported the introduction of a council tax premium with only around a third disagreeing. The most popular…

Plans to close a council-run coffee shop in Caerphilly town centre have attracted much attention over recent days, with many people wanting to understand the rationale behind the proposal. The council is keen to set the record straight and help explain the reasons for the recommendation, which forms part of the authority’s budget savings proposals for 2024/25. Is Coffi Vista making a profit? No – Unfortunately Coffi Vista is currently operating at a significant loss. How much is the current subsidy? The council is currently paying more than £100,000 p/a of public funds to plug the hole in Coffi Vista’s…

Biker Down! Cymru is a free emergency first aid course for motorcyclists wishing to enhance their knowledge and broaden their experience in dealing with incidents or collisions that may require first aid at the roadside. The course includes topics such as: initial on scene management first aid for motorcyclists the science of being seen The course is delivered by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and is available free of charge to residents and road users of Powys thanks to Road Safety Grant funding from Welsh Government. Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, is an…

The Welsh Government has announced further support for its scheme to help unemployed people facing hidden barriers to start their own business. The extension to the Barriers to Start-up Grant will provide assistance to 250 more unemployed individuals. To date, 1,637 unemployed people have received supported since the launch of programme in 2020. Recent findings show that 78% of those supported to start their own business are still trading and on average have been running their businesses for two years – a slightly higher level than the two year survival rate of all business start-ups across Wales (74.5%). The grant…

A pioneering project in Neath Port Talbot to help manufacturers boost productivity and sustainability has been granted £1.5m of Welsh Government innovation funding. High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult Baglan, a joint venture by the UK HVM Catapult and the Welsh Government, will include an office space and digital factory hub. It will showcase support, tools, techniques and advice to manufacturing companies to improve their capabilities. The £1.5m from the Welsh Government will provide AMRC Cymru, part of the HVM Catapult network, with technology and equipment to showcase the latest research, development and innovation to local manufacturing industries in Neath Port…

Summer is the perfect season to embrace the comfort and style of maxi dresses. These floor-length wonders are not only incredibly comfortable but also offer a variety of styles to suit every occasion. Whether you’re heading to a beach, attending a summer wedding, or just strolling around the city, there’s a maxi dress to fit your needs. Let’s explore some of the different types of maxi dresses you can try this summer to enhance your wardrobe and stay on-trend. Bohemian Rhapsody For those who love a free-spirited, bohemian aesthetic, boho maxi dresses are the go-to. Characterized by their flowy fabrics,…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service has introduced 48 state-of-the-art emergency ambulances to its fleet. Fitted with the latest technology, the ambulances have been added as part of the Trust’s commitment to modernising its fleet, ensuring that each of its operational vehicles are fit-for-purpose, reliable and provide a safe environment for staff and patients. The ambulances are comprised of 13 additional vehicles and 35 replacements and will operate across Wales. The brand-new Mercedes ambulances are equipped with a more efficient engine ensuring that they are environmentally friendly. The Trust’s non-emergency service – its Ambulance Care Service – is also piloting five new…

Caitlin Etheridge, from Danadd Davies Dental Practice in Caernarfon, has become Busnes@LlandrilloMenai’s first dental nurse to complete a brand new ‘Dental All Wales Qualification’. Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is the first training provider to deliver the new dental nurse apprenticeship which was developed collaboratively with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, Bangor University and awarding body Agored Cymru, both of whom are specialists in the delivery of Level 3 Apprenticeship qualifications in Wales. The new qualification makes it possible for individuals wishing to study dental nursing to do so in Welsh. It’s part of a wider drive to provide Welsh medium education, to protect Welsh-speaking communities…

As the lambing season begins, a Welsh farmer – who developed a life-threatening infection – is urging his fellow farmers to be aware of the dangers posed to human and animal health by antibiotic resistance. A seemingly simple cut resulted in Corwen beef and sheep farmer Arwel Evans developing an infection, which put his life in danger as doctors battled to find an effective antibiotic. Now recovered, Mr Evans said, “I developed sepsis, and the doctors tried all different antibiotics, but none would work on me because the infection I had was resistant to them. We were down to one…