Hot on the heels of Export Week,  UK Export Finance’s export finance adviser Matthew Hughes explains how Welsh businesses wanting to export in emerging markets should consider the value in using letters of credit to help secure funding.   For as long as international trade has existed there have been concerns from exporters or sellers about releasing goods or providing services before they have been fully paid. At the same time from the buyer’s viewpoint, there are concerns about paying…

A new handbook, Talking Together: facilitating peer support activities to help people with learning disabilities understand about growing older and living with dementia is being launched by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities on Wednesday 20 May as their contribution to Dementia Awareness Week. Christine Towers, who wrote the handbook after facilitating peer support groups with Cindy Glover, said: “More needs to be done to help people with learning disabilities understand the changes associated with the ageing process and…

St David’s Hall Wednesday 24 June 8pm     AWARD-WINNING folk artist Chris Wood is set to bring his breathtaking new show to St David’s Hall on Wednesday 24 June.   Dubbed the “renaissance man of English folk” by The Irish Times, Chris has won a glut of accolades including Songwriter of the Year at the Spiral Earth Awards 2014, as well as the prestigious prizes of Folk Singer of the Year and Best Original Song (for Hollow Point) at…

St David’s Hall Friday 26 June 8pm   SENSATIONAL songwriting duo Amy Wadge and Pete Riley will captivate a Cardiff crowd at St David’s Hall on Friday 26 June. Amy and Pete first came together in 2010 and immediately clicked after many years performing in various bands. Since then they have written together, toured and released a pair of highly acclaimed albums. Now widely regarded as one of the country’s most successful female singer-songwriters, Amy even co-wrote the No.1 hit…

I am writing to draw the attention of your readers to the ever-growing and urgent need for more foster carers in your area. Sadly the number of children entering the care system continues to rise, with a particular shortage of foster carers for young people aged 10-17 years old.   I was fortunate to spend part of my childhood with foster families who gave me a sense of belonging, stability and security – something I passionately believe all children and…

People in Wales take longer to research finance options for phone contracts than they do to find the best car finance or mortgage, a new survey from BMW Group Financial Services has found.   Around three quarters (74%) of those questioned admitted to taking up to two months to research finance options for their phones, compared with under half (39%) who spent the same time looking for their mortgage.   The survey also showed that 54% of people in the…

This June we are calling on people to wear an RNIB Sooty Badge to show support for people with sight loss.   Our favourite TV teddy bear has helped RNIB, the UK’s leading sight loss charity, to raise money since the 1960’s and during June, for the first time ever, specially made Sooty badges will be available.   But we need volunteers to help at our UK-wide RNIB Sooty Badge collections. Can you spare some time? Visit rnib.org.uk/volunteering, email volunteering@rnib.org.uk…

One of the UK’s foremost aid charities working for the eradication of poverty in the world, has announced that its new Head in Wales is Huw Thomas. His responsibilities at Christian Aid will include providing leadership to the team in Wales, developing and implementing key policies and contributing to the organisation’s strategic vision.   Welcoming the appointment, Bishop John Davies, Chair of Christian Aid Wales’ National Committee, said, “Huw brings with him a wealth of leadership experience in both the…

THE HOME SHOW (Working Title)   Most of us dream of owning our own home but for a lot of first time-buyers it will stay a dream for a very long time as soaring property prices and needing a big chunk of money for a deposit makes getting onto the property ladder nearly impossible.   But that could all be about to change for some very lucky couples …   Imagine being offered the chance to get your hands on…

National Maritime Charity Calls On Volunteers to Visit its ex-WW2 Sea Mines   May 2015 Seventy years after they were used in the defence of Britain’s coast and harbours a national maritime charity is on the lookout for budding adventurers to visit its red sea mines which are now used as charity collection boxes. The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society is calling on volunteers to circumnavigate the UK to complete a mine to mine challenge, by visiting all fifty mines situated around…