Author: Rhys Gregory

Children in some of the poorest parts of Africa are being clothed thanks to the sewing skills of a team of volunteer women from Denbighshire. The Dress A Girl Around the World project is based at the North Wales Women’s Centre in Rhyl where their group of enthusiastic seamstresses has just been boosted by a £700 grant which is buying them six new sewing machines. They will be used by up to 20 volunteers aged from 21 to 80, some of them new to sewing, who are using their skills to turn donated material into clothing for children in Africa.…

To celebrate the launch of Huw Stephens’ new weekday show on BBC Radio 6 Music, Cardiff Music Board are supporting a free gig at Clwb Ifor Bach, headlined by fast-rising psych-rockers CVC. With their Welsh Music Prize nominated album described by the NME as “a cracking debut album of feelgood, uber-retro gems” and by The Times as “remarkably fully formed,” CVC were one of the break-through acts of 2023. The six-piece musical collective from Church Village, just outside Cardiff, will play Clwb Ifor Bach on Thursday January 11th, alongside two other Cardiff-based artists, hotly-tipped by Huw Stephens to break through…

The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt and the council’s Welsh Labour Group Leader, Cllr Rob Jones, have paid tribute to Cllr Sheila Penry who died over the Christmas Holiday period. Cllr Penry, who represented Welsh Labour on the council’s Neath East ward, died on December 27th, 2023. Cllr Penry had also served the Penrhiwtyn ward of Neath Town Council. Cllr Hunt said: “I am deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our esteemed councillor, Sheila Penry. “Sheila was not only a dedicated public servant but also a dear friend to many of us.…

The major Berw Road Bridge (White Bridge) repair scheme in Pontypridd will now enter its next phase. All required concrete repairs to the underside of the Listed bridge have recently been completed, along with the final painting of the structure. From Monday, January 8, the bridge will need to be closed to pedestrians (for the remainder of the scheme), so the scaffolding can be removed and the next stage of work can start. A road closure on The Parade, between numbers 70 and 84, will also be implemented from Monday, with a diversion route in place. Outstanding work to the…

Newport City Council’s cabinet will next week consider its budget for 2024/25 and how services will be provided in the face of increasing demands and challenging funds. At the meeting on Wednesday 10 January, a number of proposals will be considered in detail before the cabinet agrees which will go out for public consultation. Savings of around £5 million need to be found to deliver a balanced budget. As well as proposed savings, cabinet will also consider areas that will receive additional investment. These include priority areas including social care, homeless provision and schools. The demand for social care for…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is asking residents to give their views on ambitious regeneration plans for Blackwood town and the surrounding area. The ‘Draft Greater Blackwood Masterplan’ identifies development and regeneration opportunities in the area.  It seeks to strengthen the economy and improve cultural, environmental and social conditions for residents and visitors.  The Masterplan sets out proposed objectives to achieve this, including: Protect and enhance greater Blackwood’s status as a sub-regional employment centre. Establish Blackwood town centre as a sub-regional hub that is attractive, accessible and busy during the day and at night. Expand and diversify the visitor economy. Improve…

Blaenau Gwent Council continues to provide advice and support to residents struggling with the Cost of Living. A task group has been working together for over a year to ensure a coordinated approach with our partners to support people, focusing around five main areas: Housing; Food; Fuel; Financial Support & General Support. This has included: Producing a comprehensive information booklet and webpage packed with information on support schemes which were available and how to access them. This was regularly updated to offer the latest advice. Working to administer Welsh Government support schemes locally such as the Winter Fuel Support Scheme…

On a visit to Oasis in Cardiff, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles, had the chance to see how a Welsh Government funded project was helping volunteer teachers teach English to refugees and asylum seekers. The project is one of six Citizen’s Curriculum pilots which, supported by almost £250,000 of Welsh Government funding, is managed by the Learning and Work Institute. Each of the projects has a different theme, with adults involved in the design of the curriculum content to ensure they are learning skills relevant to their lives and work. Volunteers and teaching staff have been…

Corris Railway’s new Falcon steam locomotive is in the running for a Heritage Railway Association Award for the second year running. In 2022, the locomotive was nominated following its initial steaming at Alan Keef Ltd in Ross-on-Wye. For the 2023 awards, it is again on the list following its entry into traffic at Corris in September. There are now two steam locomotives permanently based on the line for the first time since 1948. The award winner is chosen by readers of Steam Railway magazine and Corris Railway is competing against nine other projects that were completed in 2023. These include…

Business operations refer to the daily activities that businesses undertake to generate value, sustain their functionality, and achieve their strategic objectives. They encompass a diverse spectrum of processes, from product development and customer service to human resources management and financial planning. The role of business operations is pivotal in determining a business’s success, as they directly influence the quality of products or services, customer satisfaction, and overall profitability. By optimizing these operations, businesses can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately, drive growth. As such, business operations serve as the backbone of any enterprise, underscoring the necessity for efficient management and…