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Four years ago, Mitch Chalmers from Midsomer Norton near Bath suffered a spinal cord injury while taking part in a motor cross event. At the time Mitch was employed as a plasterer and spent any spare time and weekends taking part in events across Europe. Mitch’s accident resulted in him being left paralysed from the chest down and having to re-evaluate his life and plan for the future, especially what he could do for a living. He explains: “I loved…

The 1970s was a time when the Government released a lot of Public Information Films (PIFs) which were shown on television.  A PIF is a television commercial aimed at keeping children safe.  The first PIF that I can remember is “Charley Says Always Tell Your Mummy.”  It begins with a little boy named Dominic and his cat Charley playing at the back of the house.  Then along come two of Dominic’s friends, Vera and Dave, who ask him if he…

Mother’s Day is traditionally an opportunity to spend time with your family, feel appreciated and of course put your feet up.  But what about if you’re a single mum? Perhaps this is your first Mother’s Day without a partner around to make plans on your behalf and you’re not sure how to approach the day. With this in mind, relationship support charity, Relate Cymru has compiled tips on how to enjoy Mother’s Day as a single mum. Relate Cymru’s National…

Two world-class artists, Elvis Costello and Angelique Kidjo, join Patti Smith, Gruff Rhys, Passenger and Billy Bragg as headline music acts at this year’s Festival of Voice (7-17 June, across Cardiff). Elvis Costello & The Imposters will close this year’s 11-day festival at Wales Millennium Centre, with the skilled wordsmith and unique vocalist covering everything from politics to love songs. Beninese vocalist and activist, Angélique Kidjo, performs her latest project, a reinterpretation of the classic Talking Heads album ‘Remain in Light’. Well-known…

The Patient Experience Team at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have organised group activity sessions at University Hospital Llandough aimed at bringing staff, patients and the local community together to help tackle loneliness and isolation in hospital. There are two activity groups which patients, staff and the local community are welcome to come join in with.  The knit and natter group takes place every Monday between 2pm-4pm in the Information and Support Centre at University Hospital Llandough.  All wool…

250 cinemas are hosting dedicated autism friendly cinema screenings this month right across the UK in partnership with Dimensions, a national not-for-profit support provider for people with learning disabilities and autism. These partnerships allow Dimensions to advise on adjustments for people with autism and sensory differences to enjoy watching films in an environment conducive to their needs and for parents to enjoy the trip knowing they are in an inclusive and welcoming environment. Adjustments include the lights left on low,…

A Cardiff mother whose husband and young son died tragically two years ago is bringing her ‘Fraser Bear’ to life through an animation that is to be screened in schools across Wales, encouraging families to talk about organ donation. Anna-Louise Bates set up the Believe: Organ Donation Support charity after her husband Stuart and seven-year-old son Fraser were fatally struck by a car in December 2015. She has been working with Mike Young, the Welshman and prolific animation producer behind…

New BBC schemes to improve opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to get sought after apprenticeships in the BBC and creative sector Two new initiatives are being launched to help young people from low income families compete for future apprenticeships at the BBC. The first programme, based in London and Salford, is a training course designed to level the playing field for 50 school students from socially diverse backgrounds. The programme, being developed with advice from social mobility charity The Sutton…

Patisserie Valerie opened their second store in Cardiff on Tuesday 13th February 2018. The popular cake shop and continental café, which is renowned for being a true haven of self-indulgence opened their new store on Queen Street, making this their second store in Cardiff and fourth in South Wales. This is therefore, the brand’s next step towards their expansion strategy of opening 20 new stores annually. Patisserie Valerie currently operates 155 stores across the UK and the Republic of Ireland,…

  I entered Llanover Hall Arts Centre on Saturday night with a level of uncertainty and, if I’m honest, a preconceived notion about the quality of student-art performances based entirely on my own awkward and cringe-worthy experiences. On this particular evening, Cardiff University’s Act One Drama Society had kindly invited me to review their performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. I have to admit that within a very short space of time my concerns had vanished and…