Learning is for life and should be accessible to everyone. That’s the mission The Open University has had at its core for over 50 years. From our inception, we’ve continuously explored new ways to bring the best quality university education direct to people’s homes wherever they live – whether that was via the late night BBC TV broadcasts, posting books, floppy disks and DVDs in the post, or producing the latest online content, webinars and interactive tutorials.   As the…

At times like this, it can be very difficult to notice situations outside of our own circumstances. We are now all in lockdown and practising self-isolation however, the need for Foster Carers continues to rise and the current global situation does not change that. There are still young people coming in to care who need the opportunity to live in a healthy, loving home with healthy boundaries and emotional support. At this current time, there is also a lot of…

Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale have always supported older people in need and as the Coronavirus hits hard, the local charity has teamed up with Bro Radio to spread the word about how they are helping and also to highlight the help that they desperately need.   Karen Steele from Age Connects explains: “As more older people, their friends and family members need to self- isolate, the number of vulnerable older people needing our support is rising immensely. In the…

  A Cardiff care home have become ‘pen pals’ with another home in Wiltshire in an effort to stay connected during the coronavirus outbreak.   People living at Tŷ Llandaff, a private nursing, residential and respite care home in Pontcanna, have taken up old-fashioned writing workshops to help build friendships whilst the home is unable to host visits from friends and family.   The home took the necessary steps to safeguard its residents by closing it to non-essential visitors before…

The Rock House, Llanbister mid Wales   Welsh gardens are flying the flag for the launch of the National Garden Scheme’s Support Our Gardens Appeal.   Despite having to close its garden gates for the first time in its 93-year history under current government guidelines on Coronavirus, the National Garden Scheme today launched a new scheme that will keep its stunning gardens virtually open through the coming weeks and raise funds to replace lost income from gardens not opening.   Virtual garden visits, many filmed by their owners,…

  The MS Society is looking for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to provide vital information on how coronavirus is affecting them. MS damages nerves in the body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. Having MS alone does not increase your risk of getting Covid-19, but many people with MS are at an increased risk of infection, or severe complications. Thousands with the condition are classified as extremely vulnerable, and have been…

A research project based at Aberystwyth University is offering free online training to frontline practitioners across the United Kingdom dealing with cases of domestic abuse among older people during the current coronavirus lockdown. Based at the Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice in the Department of Law & Criminology, the Dewis Choice project has been delivering face-to-face training on domestic violence and abuse in later life to almost 6,000 practitioners from the statutory and the third sector for the…

  Local Welsh pub, Rummer Tavern, is organising weekly online concerts to raise funds for local charity and children’s hospital, Noah’s Ark. Every Sunday, Aaron Sullivan-Bisset, operator at Rummer Tavern, will be performing and streaming live gigs which can be watched via the pub’s Facebook page – providing the local community with musical entertainment and giving them the opportunity to donate money to the local children’s hospital. The news, which comes after the Government requested the closure of all pubs,…

  With the country in lockdown, and people isolated in their own homes, many have taken to social media to suggest that now might be the right time to write that novel, or screenplay that’s been on your bucket list for years, but… where to start?  We asked Fran Poletti, published author, screenwriter and lecturer at MetFilm School to give us her top tips.   What elements go together to make a great story? What are the necessary ingredients? I always start…

  Lewis Martin Court, a specialist nursing and residential home for disabled adults in Cardiff, received a visit,  early March,  from local AM, Vaughan Gething. Residents had the opportunity to chat with Mr Gething, the AM for South Cardiff and Penarth who also serves as cabinet secretary for health and social care in the assembly, about their experiences of living with disability. He also took part in an arts and crafts session run by Creative Mojo. Lewis Martin Court is…