Search results for : Articles only in Caerphilly
Thousands show their support for Armed Forces heroes
Residents and visitors turned out in their thousands on Saturday (25th June) to show their support at the South Wales Armed Forces Day event. Over 10,000 people descended on Caerphilly to show their support for the Armed Forces community at the event, which started with an impressive military parade through the town centre. Hundreds of Armed Services personnel, cadets and veterans marched through the streets to rapturous applause from the thousands of people of all ages who lined the streets to show their support and to say thank you to the Armed Forces. The parade was followed by a special Drum Head Service, which was held against the backdrop of Caerphilly Castle. The service provided an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and featured contributions from the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones AM and the Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns MP. Following this, the attention turned to a fantastic family fun day event on the Owain Glyndwr Playing fields. The area was taken over by military stalls and marquees as well as a music stage and events arena which included semaphore displays, cadet gun run displays, drill displays – and perhaps the highlight of the afternoon, a spectacular parachute jump courtesy of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Silver Stars parachute display team. Phil Hubbard, Chair of the South Wales Armed Forces Day Committee said: We’re really proud to have been able to hold Armed Forces Day South Wales in Caerphilly for the first time this year. It has become…
Welsh Artist’s New Exhibition Opens in Caerphilly
This summer, Y Galeri Caerffili hosts a new exhibition by Welsh artist Louise Collis. Entitled Forty@Forty it features 40 landscape paintings of places which are significant in the artist’s life. The gallery, which is located on the ground floor of the Visitor Centre opposite Caerphilly Castle, specialises in showcasing the work of established and emerging artists. Y Galeri Caerffili was set up in 2015 by Jan Pennell who formally ran the art gallery at Rhondda Heritage Park. Jan has turned her love of art and eye for spotting talented artists into a successful business. The exhibition space is supported by a range of exclusive and handcrafted contemporary arts and crafts such as jewellery ceramics, glass and textiles. Jan said: Our ethos to promote Welsh art and Welsh artists will hopefully help boost the development of the arts in the area and put Caerphilly on the map as a centre for culture. We certainly seem to be gaining a reputation with the local community and visitors alike. (Photo – Jan Pennell left / Louise Collis right)
West Sussex business woman relocates to Caerphilly
When Tina Topham relocated to Wales from West Sussex she sold her successful letting business. Once settled it wasn’t long before Tina decided to start a new business in Caerphilly town centre and she saw an opportunity to be part of the emerging market selling vaping products. The Vape Place Café opened in 2014 and is located in Pentrebane Street’s café quarter which situated off Cardiff Road by Specsavers. Tina said: I wanted to make the move into retail and this seemed to be an area of the market that we could bring something different to at The Vape Place Café we not only sell products but also offer space for people to socialise, our next idea is to serve cream teas in the cafe.
Crafty Creatives and local businesses get involved in Arts Week 2016!
Cwm a Mynydd Creatives Arts Week 2016 will be kicking off from the 9th of July until the 15th of July for a week-long festival which celebrates the area’s finest creative talent! Potters, artists, carvers, glass artists and animators will be popping up at a number of locations throughout the valleys during the week, with local businesses keen to show their support by offering their premises as popup galleries including Ystrad Mynach Dentist Phillip Davies, M and R Barbers and St David’s Hospice. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Ty Penallta building will also host an exhibition in the atrium, while Parc Penallta will host a local artist painting in the wild. Further afield, The Living Room in New Tredegar will open its doors for members of the public to view their exhibitions while Argoed Chapel will host open workshops on the 11th July, where the public can see the artists at work while they demonstrate a range of techniques and styles. As part of the week, a number of the Cwm a Mynydd Creatives will be opening their workshop doors to allow visitors to see the creative magic as it happens. This event is supported by Cwm a Mynydd, a project funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: I am delighted that Arts Week is back for 2016. The week-long event provides members of the public with a fantastic…
NoFit State – new outdoor show – BLOCK – Acrobatic Stunts & Parkour skills
NoFit State Circus have teamed up with United Welsh and Communities First to bring some special performances to our communities. As part of the national tour of their new outdoor show, BLOCK, NoFit State will bring the production to the centre of the communities of Bryn Aber, Lansbury Park, Aberbargoed and Tredegar where United Welsh homes are located. NoFit State will also be hosting weekly circus and parkour workshops in these areas over the summer holidays and anyone who takes part in the workshops has the chance perform for their community as part of the BLOCK performances in August. Open Evenings A fun evening for all ages to meet the company, watch some spectacular circus and dance, join in and learn about this amazing free summer project. Open Evenings have now past already – but Workshops and the show are still to come. Workshops Come and learn skills from the the show right on your doorstep – from parkour to acrobatics. Bryn Aber, Abertridwr, Caerphilly Wednesday 11am – 1pm on 20th July, 27th July, 3rd August, 10th August, 17th August Lansbury Park Wednesday 3pm – 5pm on 20th July, 27th July, 3rd August, 10th August, 17th August Aberbargoed Thursday 11am – 1pm on 21st July, 28th July, 4th August, 11th August, 18th August Tredegar Thursday 3pm – 5pm on 21st July, 28th July, 4th August, 11th August, 18th August The Show Come and have your mind blown by BLOCK, NoFit State‘s brand new Jenga-like show that mixes amazing acrobatic stunts and risky parkour skills with circus and dance. BLOCK performance dates and times: Bryn Aber,…
Graig Y Rhacca Gets Thrifty
Graig Y Rhacca Resource Centre Ltd a trading Social Enterprise has just opened its first “Thrift Shop”. The American idea was spotted by Gareth Mitchell Centre Manager as an excellent business model for generating income and recycling nearly new clothes, toys and various other items. The project has already been looked at by other Social Enterprises in neighbouring local authorities with a view to franchising the project in their areas. Gareth explained: We initially trialled our new concept by converting an office space into a make shift shop and from there we saw just what we could achieve. We accept nearly new, good quality clothing, toys and other unloved items which we then sell on behalf of our customers. All profits generated are then reinvested back into the community in the form of projects and activities for all of the residents of Graig Y Rhacca. With the support of the Communities First we were able to open our first Thrift shop and are looking to grow the business. Soon, we will be able to offer work placements and volunteers a place where they will have the chance to learn all about retail industry, all about employment and all about community projects, whilst building their confidence. Stephanie Mitchell project lead of Thrift Shop said: The first day was a great success and once customers saw the great quality clothing and items we have here, we were kept really busy. This project is still new and still small but I think it has a great future as we have had masses of…
Social Business Wales Awards 2016 – spread the word!
Apply for the Social Business Wales Awards for your chance to win £1000 and be crowned a Wales social business champion. Open to Social Enterprise Businesses. The Social Business Wales Awards (previously branded as the Social Enterprise Awards Wales) celebrate the success and achievements of social enterprises and co-operatives in Wales. Now in their sixth year, the Awards recognise the most dynamic, entrepreneurial and ambitious social businesses in Wales – those which are expanding, diversifying, transforming and collaborating, and which are taking the sector forward through business growth. There two headline categories – Social Enterprise of the Year and One to Watch. For the first time, social enterprises can also enter five categories which are specific to the business sector they are trading in. The winners of all categories will be announced at an awards ceremony being held at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea on Wednesday 28th September. The winners of each category will then go on to compete against winners from Scotland, Northern Ireland and in the UK finals. The Awards application deadline is midnight on 8 July. For more information and to register for an application pack, just visit http://wales.coop/social-business-wales/awards/
Funding boost for Business Start-up Grant Scheme
Caerphilly County Borough Council has recently received funding to support their Business Start-up Grant Scheme, which is used to fund a variety of businesses starting out within Caerphilly County Borough. Tata Subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise has given £5,000 to partly fund the scheme, which is jointly funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: Thank you to UK Steel Enterprise for their continued commitment to the Business Start-Up Grant Scheme. As a result of this, we are able to provide up to £500 of funding to brand new businesses within Caerphilly County Borough. I am looking forward to continuing to provide support to new businesses within the area, as we have done for many years. Andy Morris, Manager in Wales, UK Steel Enterprise said: We are delighted to be supporting the scheme and working with Caerphilly County Borough Council for a fourth year. In that period, 58 new businesses have been launched and 74 new jobs created. He continued: The quality of applicants has been very high and we are confident that the scheme has made an important contribution to the economic life of the area. This flexible scheme is designed to help residents of Caerphilly County Borough set up a full-time business for the first time, who are not able to access any other source of funding. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500. Business start-ups from all business sectors may be…
Here Come the Girls
Working in retail has given four women in Caerphilly more than a just job; it has also provided them with the opportunity to make lifelong friends with the people they work with. Dawn Shaddick, Kerry Ball, Sandra Mills and Zorka Honeyball are all employed by Boots in its Caerphilly store which is located in Castle Court Shopping Centre. Dawn and Kerry have been with the health & beauty retailer for over 30 years, originally working for the company when it had a shop in Pentrebane Street. Whilst Sandra and Zorka have worked for Boots for 16 years joining when the retailer relocated to the new Castle Court Shopping Centre in 1995. Dawn said: Boots is an excellent company to work for and treat their staff really well, which is why we’ve all stayed so long. Working together the four of us have become really good friends and we take care of each other.