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Based in the Vale of Glamorgan, the Amelia Trust Farm is a countryside sanctuary for all to enjoy. As an independent and local charity they support disadvantaged and vulnerable teenagers who are going through a difficult time. They are usually open to visitors throughout the year with woodland walks, animals to see, play areas, special events and a café. However, the Farm has had to close due to the current COVID-19 crisis and this has had a big impact on…

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Business Response Network has made nearly 1,200 (1,191) matches between local community groups, schools and charities and UK businesses that have been able to meet their urgent needs during the crisis.  In Wales, this equates to 84 matches with recipients. A recent example of a match in Wales is: Through ACT Training Ltd, a BITC Cymru member, the NBRN , was introduced to Ian Bills, the director of South Wales &…

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has made a substantial contribution to a major treatment breakthrough for COVID-19.   The health board was the first in the UK to open the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY) trial, which found that the low-dose steroid treatment, Dexamethasone reduces deaths of hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of COVID-19.   The trial, which was implemented by the University of Oxford, found that dexamethasone reduced deaths by one third in ventilated patients, and…

Staff from Caerphilly-based hygiene services firm phs Group are on a mission this month to raise hundreds of pounds for a mental health charity. While they may be based at different locations across the company, seven members of the phs team have signed up to take part in June One Ten – an initiative to run 110 miles each across the month of June. Between them, they aim to clock up in excess of 770 miles and raise more than…

Cardiff based International Mountain Leader Alan Ward regularly travels to long haul destinations for trekking and expeditions. However, Alan has a Corporate Social Responsibility policy with his company – Bigfoot Services Limited. Through this policy, Alan gives his time freely to working with and training local mountain guides in far off destinations as they don’t have access to the training and certification we have here in the UK. Today we look at two recent adventure and training achievements in the…

Over 500 jars of Whole Earth peanut butter that would have been destined for British athletes to have at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are now a valuable cupboard staple for refugees and asylum seekers self-isolating in Cardiff. These were generously donated to the British Red Cross by its official charity partner Team GB following the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics until 2021. Since the coronavirus outbreak, British Red Cross set up a Hub in partnership with the Oasis centre in…

    Decca Records are deeply saddened at the passing of the brightest and most enduring star on the label, at the age of 103. From the 1930s, Dame Vera Lynn recorded regularly with Ambrose and his Orchestra for Decca Records even before her singing and entertaining the troops during World War II made her a national icon. Blessed with a pure voice and presence she has come to represent a whole era, and never stopped encouraging people to, in…

It is now more crucial than ever for changes to be made in our society, and 2020 marks the beginning of a decade of action on the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals. This is what the Global Social Leaders Festival @ Home aims to do, inspire young people all over the world to unite, be leaders and build towards a brighter more sustainable future for all. Future Foundations, an award-winning organisation that inspires young people across the world is…

I was having a look around our garage the other day and came across our suitcases under a dust-sheet.  I felt it was only fair to break the news to them that there would be no holiday this year.  I wish I hadn’t because now I have to deal with emotional baggage. They say that everyone’s got a book in them.  Painful, I would have thought.   According to the Daily Mail, Cadbury has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds…

Plants can certainly brighten up your living space, but did you know that they can help improve your health too? There are a multitude of different ways that indoor plants can benefit you, both physically and mentally. Indoor plants can improve the air quality in your home by breaking down compounds from man-made fibres and absorbing nasty chemicals from the air, essentially acting like a natural air filter. They are also highly effective at balancing humidity levels in the home…