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Miss Divine UK Finals – 2018!
The sun sparkles against the river Usk as we arrive at the modern Riverfront Theatre in the heart of Newport. This is the first time Miss Divine UK have held their grand finals at the impressive venue and it’s the perfect setting for the crowning of this year’s Queens. The competition is high and there’s an air of excitement as contestants from all over the United Kingdom arrive at the theatre with shared hopes of taking home their very own Miss Divine title. The girls have worked exceptionally hard to earn their place as a contestant in one of Wales’ most empowering beauty pageants; after having already won their divisional titles. Glamorous ball gowns, high heels and glittering crowns are carefully escorted through the reception area as the girls make their way backstage in preparation for the busy day ahead. It’s not the first time we have joined Miss Divine UK in their grand finale celebrations. After attending their first crowning ceremony the year before we were in awe of the determination, hard work and passion radiating from all of those involved; attributes which have become fundamental to the pageant’s success. This year I have been given the unique and exciting opportunity of joining the Miss Divine UK judging panel; gaining an insight into all the hard work put in by everyone involved. We will be scoring the girls based on a variety of different qualities and the great work they have carried out throughout the year working tirelessly to support a wide range of charities and communities. Joining me…
Miss Divine UK Finals!
Miss Divine UK would have struggled to find a more beautiful setting to celebrate the final night of their beauty pageant competition. The New House Country Hotel stands proudly overlooking the dynamic city of Cardiff. The original period features are only enhanced by the gentle candle light as they welcome guests to the majestic 19th Century manor house. A charming marquee sits in the hotel garden and it’s immediately evident why so many couples choose this venue as the perfect setting for their wedding ceremony. Tonight however, the hotel is hosting an entirely different celebration and we are overwhelmed by the number of guests who have turned up to see the next Miss Divine UK receive their crowns. Stalls selling make up, hair and beauty products decorate the beautiful marquee and friendly traders are more than happy to share beauty tips and advice as the customers sample their exclusive products. Having never attended a beauty pageant before, we weren’t really sure what to expect, but the organisers welcomed us with open arms and the evening’s entertainment did not fail to impress. This included a very talented dance show from Rhians Dancer‘s and a very powerful enjoyable performance from Yasmine. The girls are all here for different reasons, but it is clear that this opportunity gives girls the chance to shine and increase their confidence. Maegan Beaton chose to brave the stage to help her overcome her own challenges: I never thought I’d ever be on stage again.. for many reasons, but mainly due to struggling constantly with my mental…
Miss Divine UK a pageant unlike any other
Miss Divine UK is an organisation with aims to support and empower females from all over the United Kingdom to achieve their individual success. The organisation works with women and young girls from a variety of different backgrounds and offers them a platform to develop important life skills, make new friends and gain incredible opportunities. It is extremely important to them to provide a positive, happy and fun place for young girls to grow and express themselves while learning valuable skills. The females that are involved in the organisation are all truly inspirational and powerful in their own right, and Miss Divine UK encourage them to recognise their strengths and how they can use them to make a difference in the world. Miss Divine UK have an outstanding range of females from all walks of life that want to use their personal experiences to inspire others to follow their dreams. Some of their girls are; cancer survivors, burns victims, mental health sufferers, rape/sexual assault victims, victims of bullying etc. The main thing that they all have in common is that the trauma they have suffered has given them a purpose, which is to empower other women and raise awareness for these issues so that other sufferers are not alone. It is all about making a positive impact on your community and society as a whole. The phenomenal stories that we hear from girls as young as six that are a part of Miss Divine UK leave us speechless, these females are true inspirations. Of course, there is still a huge stigma…
New venture begins thanks to council grant – soft play centre in Blackwood
A new soft play centre in Pengam, Blackwood has opened its doors thanks to the Caerphilly council and UK Steel Enterprise, start-up business grant. The start-up business grant offers up to £500 to help residents, who may not be able to access other funding, to set up their first, full time business enabling it to grow and develop. Cerys Mayne, Owner of Tumble Jaks said: I became inspired for personal reasons to open a soft play centre where adults and their children can come and enjoy. The grant and the support from Caerphilly council were amazing. The girls I spoke to were so helpful and without the grant I would not have been able to afford to buy much of the kitchen equipment. Tumble Jaks opened on Wednesday 14th September and has received great success ever since. With opening day reaching full capacity, the centre continues to prove its popularity even during off peak times. Cerys used Facebook to advertise and promote her business and was blown away by the amount of support. Using Facebook to promote the business was a great success. So much so, I have decided to advertise my events on there. The Halloween Disco has already been sold out because of social media and through word of mouth. I hope to do the same with my Santa’s Grotto for Christmas event. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: It is great to see the positive impact the start-up grant has made to Cerys and her new venture. This is the very…
Start-up grant gives new Caerphilly business a boost
A new business in Caerphilly county borough has recently received start-up support thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. Specialist recruitment business Profession Direct Ltd has been awarded a start-up grant, as well as business support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise, allowing the new business to purchase IT equipment and marketing materials. Profession Direct Ltd is a specialist recruitment business which offers recruitment, training and consultancy services. Simon Hughes, Managing Director of Profession Direct said: Profession Direct Ltd was formed out of the wish to capitalise on the demand for professional recruitment services in the specialist professions of financial services, medical, education, legal and estate agents, as well as utilities and energy. Thank you to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise for the start-up support that they have provided, which has given our new business a firm foundation to build on. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: I am thrilled that Caerphilly County Borough Council has been able to assist in the start-up of yet another business within Caerphilly county borough. The grant and support received by Profession Direct Ltd from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise will enable the new business to grow to its full potential. The business start-up grant enables residents of Caerphilly county borough who are not able to access any other source of funding, to set up a full-time business for the first time. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible…
Applications open to bag a share up to £12,000 for community projects
Tesco are inviting local community groups and good causes to apply for their share of a £12 million carrier bag charge fund. The supermarket teamed up with Groundwork to launch its Bags of Help initiative, which sees grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to environmental and greenspace projects. For more information click on the link below. http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme/pages/applications-open-to-bag-a-share-up-to-12000-for-community-projects
Green scheme brings community benefits
Community schemes across South Wales will be able to tap into a £50,000 funding pot every year over the next 25 years thanks to a new green partnership. Viridor, the firm working with the ‘Prosiect Gwyrdd’ council partnership, have announced the launch of a new Community Fund to support projects across Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport and Vale of Glamorgan. The 25 year scheme represents the term of the Prosiect Gwyrdd contract, which will see Viridor handle the treatment of residual (non-recyclable) waste from the 5 council areas at Trident Park in Cardiff. Charities, and properly constituted not-for-profit groups, will be able to apply for funding (up to £3,000) to deliver projects that positively impact their local community. Funding of projects is awarded on a set of criteria based around sustainability, local need, community involvement value for money and education. A panel will meet quarterly to review eligible applications and make the final decision on how money from the fund will be distributed. Cllr Nigel George, Caerphilly Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services said, “We welcome the launch of this new funding stream and look forward to the benefits it will bring to communities across South Wales. We are also pleased to be a key partner in Prosiect Gwyrdd, a collaboration which will provide a sustainable solution to the region’s residual waste for many years to come.” Funding criteria and the application forms can be found at https://viridor.co.uk/our-operations/energy/energy-recovery-facilities/cardiff-erf/community/ Original Article
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/