Blog

18/05/2020

Organic Apoteke: Anxiety Reducing Yoga Flow for Mental Health Awareness Week (18th – 24th May) 1. Inhale & Exhale – Stand with feet under hips, lengthen the muscles of back and move crown of head towards the ceiling to gain as much length in the body. Place hands on either side of hips with palms facing outwards. Inhale as you take your hands out to the sides and upwards and over your head. Once all the way up, turn palms outwards…

18/05/2020

The Welsh Government published a document on the 15th May setting out how it is considering the next phase for schools, in response to COVID-19. The Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, has described the working document as “setting out our current thinking” for how schools, other education settings and childcare providers’ operations will change to allow social distancing and other factors. Most schools have been closed since the start of the pandemic, with some open for the children of critical workers…

15/05/2020

Futuregen by Dr Jane Davidson A new book by Dr Jane Davidson urges other nations to learn from Wales’ Well-Being of Future Generations Act.  In her new book, #futuregen: Lessons From a Small Country, ex-Minister for Environment, Housing and Sustainability, reveals what governments, policy makers and activists around the world can learn from the creation and implementation of the Well-Being of Future Generations Act, and the strong vision put forward by Wales.  Topics cover zero waste, supporting agriculture, supporting local…

14/05/2020

Loyal blood donors in Cardiff have responded to a request from the Welsh Blood Service to ‘donate differently’ by rolling up their sleeves to make a lifesaving donation at one of the Service’s new regional hubs. Across Wales, of the 6,234 individuals that visited a Welsh Blood Service donation session last month, almost two thirds (65%) of donors attended a clinic that was not their usual donation venue. In Cardiff, 820 donors came forward to give blood in April, with…

14/05/2020

Despite the on-going situation surrounding the Covid-19 crisis, the management team at what will be the new Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill in Swansea have started looking to recruit staff to work in the new restaurant. Located in J Shed, in the SA1 area of the city, the plan is to open the new venue later in the year once the lockdown restrictions have been eased. And as the final details are put in place and work starts…

14/05/2020

In response to COVID-19, Kitchen CUT has developed a tool for all businesses to offer delivery or click + collect at no cost to the business, customer or community. The past few weeks have seen a seismic change in the nature of hospitality operations all over the world.  For the F&B businesses that have been able to remain trading, options such as takeaway, delivery, drive thru and even operating as shops for fresh produce have been a lifeline.  Businesses of…

14/05/2020

The recent news that hair salons, along with other businesses in the personal care sector, could reopen from the 4th of July, Ken Picton, owner of Ken Picton Hair Salon in Cardiff Bay and current President of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing is sharing his thoughts on what customers can expect from their post-lockdown appointment. Ken explains that although the easing of restrictions is a welcome announcement for the hair and beauty industry, it comes with great responsibility. Because of…

14/05/2020

People across Wales are being urged to stay safe and well and to remember emergency department staff are available if they need urgent help. The number of people attending Welsh emergency departments has fallen by up to 50% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But chief executive of NHS Wales, Dr Andrew Goodall, has emphasised that emergency health services continue to be open for all those who need urgent care. Patient safety within emergency departments has been prioritised and…

14/05/2020

Award-winning actor Florence Pugh (Little Women, Midsommar, King Lear) joins L Y R – Simon Armitage, Richard Walters and Patrick J Pearson – for a special setting of Armitage’s newest poem, ‘Lockdown’, recorded remotely at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first time Florence Pugh has contributed both spoken word and vocals for a song. Proceeds from the release, out digitally via Mercury KX on 14th May, will go to Refuge, a UK-based charity providing specialist support…

14/05/2020

Top tips for keeping morale high, with ideas and resources to help As the virus threat and the lockdown restrictions continue, it is no surprise many of us are feeling much more anxious than we would in normal circumstances. It’s easy for this to become a downward cycle of worry, lethargy and depression. The threat is real, and we can’t make it go away. What we can do is boost our resilience, finding ways to keep our spirits up. Here…