02/07/2020

The world’s largest space incubation programme for space tech start-ups will extend to the new Space Park Leicester in the East Midlands, in a drive to support the vibrant, growing regional space clusters across the UK. The European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre United Kingdom (ESA BIC UK) supports start-ups using space technologies to develop new products and services or developing technologies for use in space, enabling them to gain a competitive advantage in today’s global market place. Managed by…

02/07/2020

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK’s Gardening Charity, has like many other organisations, suffered losses of millions of pounds due to the impact of the Coronavirus and, as a result, the RHS has taken the tough decision to cancel some of its shows next year.   The RHS expects losses this year of up to £18m and the charity has had to look closely at its finances in order to safeguard its future. This will mean stopping some areas…

02/07/2020

Welsh local authorities, schools, colleges and work-based learning providers will be hosting a series of Virtual Open Days for Year 11 pupils for the first time this month. An event specifically for pupils from Bridgend, the Vale of Glamorgan, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff will take place on Friday 10 July and will cover a series of sessions on post-16 options including A Levels at sixth form or college as well as work-based qualifications. Jonathan Davies OBE will…

01/07/2020

Following the huge success of the first 80s LockdownFest last month, Let’s Rock have announced a second online festival, 80s LockdownFest2, happening on Friday 3rd July from 7:00pm.    The evening will feature performances from Let’s Rock legends including OMD, Marc Almond, Tony Hadley, Wet Wet Wet, Sister Sledge, The Boomtown Rats, Go West and many, many more.   The first 80s LockdownFest took place on May 16th 2020, which would have been the start of the Let’s Rock summer…

01/07/2020

Like with many aspects of our society, the world of sport has historically assumed a ‘male default’. Women in sport have long stood by the side lines, waiting for their moment to come into play. Even the terms ‘women’s football’, ‘women’s athletics’, and ‘women’s — or sometimes ladies’ — tennis’, assume that there is something unusual, against the norm about a woman picking up a racket or running on to the pitch (we never hear it referred to as ‘men’s…

01/07/2020

Image credit: Future Foundations Over 2,000 young leaders aged 11 to 15, will be able to attend, a fully funded summer school from home in July and August, with support from Innovate UK and Future Foundations.  Future Foundations is an independent award-winning organisation which believes in the power of young people to create a more sustainable and brighter future. The funding that has been commissioned by Innovate UK, will enable the summer school programme, ‘Global Social Leaders (GSL) Summer Programme’…

01/07/2020

Image by: Daniela Andrea   Another month of isolation is nearly coming to an end and we are entering into my favourite season of the year, summer. It brings a fresh breath of life into all our wardrobes and lets us bring out all those beautiful summer dresses from the murky depths of the back of the wardrobe. Now, let’s be honest, spring can be a difficult time for us fashion icons. We are left awkwardly placed between the need…

30/06/2020

The British Red Cross has re-opened its charity shops in phases, following Welsh Government guidelines allowing non-essential retail to open. Extensive new safety measures have been implemented by the charity to make sure its shops are safe for customers, volunteers and staff.  In Wales, six of the charity’s shops have opened including: Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Chepstow, Llandovery, Monmouth and Swansea. To check and call ahead if your local shop is open, visit www.redcross.org.uk/shop/find-a-charity-shop. In store physical distancing, quarantining of new donations,…

29/06/2020

Possibly the oldest writing group in Wales, the circle came into being on 6th May 1947 when eleven people met to share their interest in and love of the craft of writing.  The format of future meetings began spontaneously when three manuscripts were read and constructively criticised. Seventy-three years later the Circle still meets every week, and Coronavirus  hasn’t stopped us with forty plus members joining a Facebook virtual group either on the usual Monday evening slot of 7 -9pm…

26/06/2020

With just over a week to go until the deadline to apply for a slice of a £50,000 community fund, Wales & West Utilities is urging charities and bodies supporting people affected by the coronavirus pandemic to apply for support. The gas pipeline and emergency service established the Safe and Warm Fund in response to the crisis to help communities affected by the outbreak with essential funding. Wales & West Utilities has been working hard throughout the pandemic to make…