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Charity Easter Collection is a Massive Success
A local butcher’s shop is celebrating this Easter after a fantastic charity campaign. Howard, Sue and Christopher Powell of Howard’s Butcher on Commercial Street, Pontymister have been collecting Easter Eggs for children at Velindre Cancer Centre for the last 15 years. However, the last few years have been so successful that Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice has also benefited. This year, over 230 eggs were collected – the highest number yet – meaning that children at the Royal Gwent Hospital (Bluebell Ward) in Newport also received some eggs. Commenting on the success of this year’s appeal, Howard Powell said: Thank you very much to our customers for donating these eggs. Their generosity gives pleasure to all of these children.
“We Are Ghosts” Exhibition
A young artist Dafydd Williams is staging a new exhibition in Blackwood Miners Institute in Blackwood town centre over the next few weeks. Entitled “We Are Ghosts” the exhibition comprises of a series of photo’s which aims to highlight and help preserve the architectural beauty of South East Wales. Architects working in the valleys in the late 19th and early 20th century drew their inspiration from the great European cities and sought to create miniature versions of buildings from Vienna, Paris and London. Blackwood Miners’ Institute is the third and final destination of the exhibition which has been organised thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Wales. “We are Ghosts” is open to the public until the end of March. Dafydd Williams said: I really wanted to draw people’s attention to the architectural heritage of the area and so used black and white images. Each photo only shows the tops halves or details of the buildings so that the contemporary context doesn’t detract from the architecture.
Exotic Pet Shop Opens in Blackwood
A new independent pet shop has opened in Emily’s Indoor Market which is situated above Wilko’s in Blackwood town centre. Feathers an Scales is run by Lauren Bailey who has turned her talent for hand rearing birds into a new business venture. The exotic pet shop stocks numerous birds of different breeds which are hand reared by Lauren in her home aviary, as well as snakes and other reptiles. Lauren said: I always wanted to run a pet shop as I love animals and breed reptiles and birds at home. Renting a unit in Emily’s Indoor Market has offered me a great way to establish my business in Blackwood. Emily’s has lots of small business like mine so please call in and see us. If you are interested in finding out more about how to rent a unit in Emily’s Indoor Market on Blackwood High Street please contact Sue Jenkins on 07920 054124
Launch of £1 Billion Support Programme for UK’s Co-operative Businesses – ‘The Hive’
Launched by Co-operatives UK, the Hive is a £1 billion business support programme designed to enable growth among the UK’s £37 billion co-operative economy. The initiative will help people who intend to start or grow co-operative or community enterprises, using various online resources, training and advice. http://www.uk.coop/the-hive/
Empty Shop Becomes an Art Gallery
A ‘Pop Up’ art gallery is holding a new photographic exhibition in Bargoed town centre from 9th– 26th March. ‘Lost & Found’ is being staged by the Kickplate Project in a vacant shop on Hanbury Road. The exhibition is the sixth at the location and is jointly funded by The Arts Council of Wales, Caerphilly Council’s Arts Development and Bargoed Town Council. Dafydd Williams said: The aim of this exhibition is to create a unique social history of the Bargoed by encouraging people to bring in their old family photos which we can digitalise using our scanner. If you are interested in utilising an empty shop to set up a Pop Up shop or community project, the Council’s Town Centre Management Team have produced a ‘Pop Up Guide’ which explains the process.
Superfast Business Wales Inspiring Action Workshop
Join Superfast Business Wales for a practical and realistic presentation explaining how businesses of any size can reduce costs and increase profits from even a basic use of digital technology. Topics covered will include: Sell more to your customers – an overview of Customer Relationship Management systems The impact of mobile – work anywhere anytime Sell more through Social media: an overview of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for business Websites – sell regionally, nationally and globally The Cloud – what is it and how can you use it to build your business? Further support available to help businesses improve efficiency through new technology All delivered in a non-jargon and easy-to-understand way. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to gain a real insight into the competitive advantage that a faster broadband connection and new technology can bring. An Ideal Event for Micro, Small & Medium sized businesses Registration: 10.00am Event: 10.30am – 12.30pm Various locations throughout March and April. Please book as places are limited. For available dates please click here.
Bargoed Sight Centre first business in Bargoed to receive Dementia Awareness training
Bargoed Sight Centre became the first business in Bargoed to receive a Dementia Awareness training session on Wednesday 9th March, making it a “Dementia Friendly” business. The aim of the training is to make businesses more aware of how to assist people who are living with dementia. The interactive session – provided by the Alzheimer’s Society – only takes about an hour, but provides a useful insight into what people who are living with dementia experience in their day-to-day lives and how businesses can support them. Alice Lewis – owner and manager of Bargoed Sight Centre – said: I’ve learnt a huge amount this morning, particularly in relation to the emotional issues that people living with dementia experience. The session has been incredibly useful and allows us to better serve our community. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Town Centre Management team has been working with the Alzheimer’s Society & Torfaen County Borough Council to offer this free training session to any business who would like to take part in Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Risca or Ystrad Mynach town centres.
Looking for funding living in a Rural area in Caerphilly
Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 – EOI windows NOW OPEN Owen Ashton on 01443 838632 or email ashtoo@caerphilly.gov.uk Food Business Investment Scheme Support for investments in processing/marketing and/or development of agricultural products. Rural Community Development Fund The Rural Community Development Fund (RCDF) offers grants which are primarily aimed at LEADER Local Action Groups and other community-based organisations. Sustainable Management Scheme The Sustainable Management Scheme will provide financial support for a range of activities that will improve the management of our natural resources and in doing so contribute to the well-being of our rural communities. Sustainable Production Grant Scheme The Sustainable Production Grant (SPG) scheme is a capital grant support package aimed at farmers in Wales. Timber Business Investment Scheme Enhancing forestry potential and adding value to forest products.
New Estate Agents Chooses Town Centre Location
A new estate agents urpad has opened in Hayden’s Designer Flooring which is situated on Castle Street in Caerphilly town centre. The Welsh franchise of urpad is being rolled out by Andrew Dillon and Daniel Murphy who have over 25 years of experience in the industry. The Caerphilly shop is the first in Wales and aims to provide vendors with a cost effective way of selling or renting houses by combining online sales with a high street presence. Director Andrew Dillon said: I am delighted to bring the urpad brand to my home town of Caerphilly, the franchise has already enjoyed great success in Bristol by bringing a new approach to the property market. As a business we are also keen to put something back into the local community and have sponsored a rugby kit for my old school Plas-y-Felin Primary. Plas-y-Felin Primary, “urpad” sponsored rugby kit