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The past year has redefined the meaning of ‘busy doing nothing’. Between lockdowns, cancelled holidays, and exercise limitations, people have flocked to social media to divert their attention away from the adversity that 2020 brought. This year is looking slightly more optimistic, bringing hope that we can return to a near-to-normal existence sometime soon. The opportunity to reinvigorate our lives and prepare for the year ahead must be taken now. Plan the year ahead and put down your mobile phone,…

Virgin Media is on the hunt for Cardiff and South Wales’ unsung hero; an individual, organisation or community group, which has gone the extra mile during the pandemic and has made a huge difference to people’s lives. They could be recognised and rewarded for their efforts with an incredible technology makeover worth up to £10,000. The winner will be decided by a panel of judges, including the nation’s hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore, TV presenter, Konnie Huq and others. Virgin Media…

Two of this year’s Young Innovator Award winners, announced recently by Innovate UK and The Prince’s Trust, are from Wales. Alex Newnes and Shannon Thomas have started the new year with a boost after winning a coveted award for their new business projects. The innovators from Wales looking to make the world a better place are: • Alex Newnes (27 years old, pictured left), Aberystwyth – who is trying to reduce the use of plastic in agriculture. Alex’s company PlantSea…

Submissions are now open for the 2021 Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival. Celebrating its 15th edition, the Cardiff (UK) based festival, will take place in October 2021. The organisers are keen to continue to share LGBT+ stories from all over the world and closer to home, with the introduction of community and education awards at main festival. The festival present 9 awards: ·         Iris Prize – the largest LGBT+ short film prize in the world supported by The Michael Bishop Foundation ·         Iris Prize Best…

A 9 year old girl from Whitchurch decided she would run a marathon in 10 days to raise money for her local NHS Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and she did it in just 7 runs! When Elinor Roberts, a pupil at Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd finished early from school last month, she had been assigned PE as a homework option, so after a chat and much nagging to her Dad, Aled they decided they would run a marathon before…

Unable to afford the latest tech? Spotty WiFi wreaking havoc? Kids battling to all use the same device? Child research psychologist Dr. Gummer (above) offers top ways to maintain learning at home using household items. Home-schooling continues to disrupt families across the UK and every families’ circumstances have meant that its success is felt differently by many. Whether you’re battling to keep the kids sat in front of the laptop for their latest remote learning lesson or whether you’re unable…

Sarita Sood who leads the Bollywood Goldies sessions online   As Lockdown in Wales puts an even greater emphasis on the isolation and wellbeing of older people, the Goldies Cymru Charity is increasing its online content to include gentle exercise at home. Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said: “Keeping active is really important for older people’s well-being and helps them to stay healthy and independent. But the pandemic has meant that many of the usual opportunities for…

    New research from the British Red Cross suggests that the pandemic has changed our attitude towards asking for help, as almost a quarter (24%) of people in Wales say they find it easier to reach out when they are struggling. The pandemic has also made us more compassionate, with people more concerned about those in need, and many saying they will be kinder to others long into the future. In Wales, the survey found that: • Half (50%)…

A lost World War Two letter discovered inside a book, has finally reached its destination after 76 years thanks to a nationwide campaign by World of Books Group, the UK’s largest retailer of used books and media. The letter was written by a British soldier serving in Italy in the winter of 1944. At the time, Allied forces battled through the tough Italian Campaign in freezing conditions – a campaign that would claim the lives of around 70,000 allied soldiers…

The first donor in Wales to donate plasma through the Welsh Blood Service’s new ‘plasmapheresis’ process is calling on other males who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating their plasma to support medical trials. Clinical trials are currently underway to explore if the antibody-rich plasma of recovered Covid-19 patients could be used in the treatment of hospital patients that are unwell with the virus. Andrew Thomas, a police officer for South Wales Police, was the first donor in Wales…