A teenager who wants to volunteer as a Childline counsellor when she turns 16 has covered 870 miles in a four-month-long fundraising challenge for the NSPCC. Liz Brennan from Nantgarw started her challenge to run, walk and cycle the equivalent length of the Wales coast path in September, with hopes of raising the £1,600 it costs to fund the training of a Childline counsellor. The GCSE student has been a long-term supporter of the NSPCC and came up with a…

A six-figure investment in female health specialists Health & Her is revolutionising the way women manage the symptoms associated with menopause. Founded in 2017, Health & Her is the first holistic menopause hub offering products, specialist advice and symptom tracking through their menopause app.  The Development Bank of Wales made an initial six-figure investment in 2019 alongside funding from a syndicate of angel investors and the Wales Angel Co-investment Fund. The Cardiff based health-tech company has grown five-fold over the…

Over 200 staff from across South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have volunteered to support their communities and blue light colleagues by offering support including driving ambulances over the past six months of the pandemic. Since last summer 33 firefighters from across the Service have completed the specialist training programme and have been actively supporting our communities and 999 family as part of the Covid-19 response. This deployment requires personnel to complete a joint course facilitated by the Welsh Ambulance…

A young mum from Cardiff says she’s optimistic about her family’s future after technology created by a UK startup enabled her to cut out addictive painkillers to cope with the debilitating effects of a rare genetic disorder. Clare Smith, her sister Lucy Gardener and middle daughter, Chloe, all have Alagille Syndrome, which can affect the liver, heart, skeleton, eyes and kidneys and can be fatal. Clare, 33, who has heart and spinal problems, said: “My condition means that I get…

The first donor in Wales to donate plasma through the Welsh Blood Service’s new ‘plasmapheresis’ process is calling on other males who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating their plasma to support medical trials. Clinical trials are currently underway to explore if the antibody-rich plasma of recovered Covid-19 patients could be used in the treatment of hospital patients that are unwell with the virus. Andrew Thomas, a police officer for South Wales Police, was the first donor in Wales…

Inspired by Captain Tom Moore, Alan is taking on one last charitable challenge in his 90th year.  Aiming  to navigate the majestic hills and mountains of Wales, England, Scotland and beyond, without leaving his own garden. To complete this challenge Alan will climb the 120 circular steps around his garden on a daily basis.  The same amount of steps as it would take to climb the mountains that he loves. Since October Alan has climbed the Blorenge, the Sugar Loaf,…

Dame Helen Mirren has urged the people of Cardiff to help raise money for homeless and vulnerable people in an appeal launched by Just Eat and Social Bite.  Other well-known faces including Rob Brydon and Sir Chris Hoy have posted videos backing the new Christmas Meal Appeal launched by Just Eat in partnership with charities Social Bite & FoodCycle. The appeal comes after reports detail the increasing issue of homelessness in the UK, and the increased pressure and reliance on charities as the…

Left to right – Wales & West Utilities’ Helen Mabhena, Joshua Rankin & Lowri Rees celebrate donating to three UK charities Wales & West Utilities colleagues have donated money, that would have been spent on company Christmas celebrations, to three UK charities. In light of this year’s unique situation, colleagues working for the gas emergency and pipeline service in Wales and the south west of England have come together to pool money which is now set to benefit Marie Curie,…

#HeartsForHomes Campaign  A new campaign by Picture News linked schools across the UK with care homes for their #HeartsForHomes campaign which ran between 1st-11th December. Most care home residents have had a difficult year with visiting restrictions, coronavirus fears and ever-changing lockdown regulations. The #HeartsForHomes campaign aimed to reconnect residents with their community. Care Home residents passed  a Christmas message to the younger generation, while Primary School children wrote their own message for the residents. #HeartsForHomes – tackling isolation and…

Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, a proud part of AB InBev, and renewable energy company, CleanEarth, today announces reaching a new milestone in the brewer’s sustainability efforts. A new wind turbine has been installed at Budweiser Brewing Group’s brewery in Magor, South Wales to help power the site with renewable electricity. With blades of an incredible 68 metres in length, the turbine is believed to be the longest to enter commercial operation on UK soil. The blades’ tips reach a height…