Latest news with #Dafydd
Rhyl Journal
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Gamlins Law directors climbed North Africa's highest peak
Ron Davison, managing director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts, scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison at the top of Mount Toubkal. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: "The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. "We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. "Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. "It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. "Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh, including a trip into the Sahara Desert. On our final night we even bumped into the chef Tom Kerridge who was in Marrakesh on holiday!" Dafydd added: "We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. "We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year."
Leader Live
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Gamlins Law directors climbed North Africa's highest peak
Ron Davison, managing director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts, scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison at the top of Mount Toubkal. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: "The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. Read more: North Wales trio to embark on cycle to Thailand for charity "We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. "Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. "It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. Read more: Mountain rescue husband and wife recognised in the King's Honours List "Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh, including a trip into the Sahara Desert. On our final night we even bumped into the chef Tom Kerridge who was in Marrakesh on holiday!" Dafydd added: "We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. "We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year."
Business News Wales
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
North Wales Growers Offered Chance to Contribute to School Meals
Food producers and independent businesses could benefit from a partnership with Conwy schools. Conwy council's Catering department has piloted a Welsh Government Foundational Economy and Business Wales initiative encouraging more local authorities to use Welsh suppliers when designing primary school menus. Following a pilot study which focused on green vegetables including broccoli, the organisations are calling for growers in the region to meet the demand and explore pathways to supplying fresh produce for schools. Consultant Dafydd Aled Williams, former Health and Wellbeing Manager for Conwy, says partnerships have been formed in light of Welsh Government's Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) initiative, with local authorities focused on health, sustainability and supporting families facing cost-of-living challenges. 'There has been a lot of research and work behind the scenes over the last year to introduce more Welsh produce onto schools' menus,' said Dafydd. 'Taking broccoli as an example, there was a test period where pupils were given fresh broccoli for a period of three weeks and much preferred it to frozen. 'The task then is to see how financially viable it would be to introduce fresh locally grown broccoli, which on evaluation would be on a long-term basis, but at present there is nobody in the region producing the quantities needed to supply schools. 'We can see the project unfolding over the next three years initially, identifying potential local commercial vegetable growers to work with the current fruit and veg wholesaler to explore budgets and costs. 'This demonstrates that there are commercial opportunities in growing other foodstuffs including leeks, onions and also salad vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce, which would have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy, for the environment and ultimately the healthy eating habits of future generations of children.' He added: 'Conwy Council has worked incredibly hard to use independent businesses and local produce where possible and other local authorities have done the same, so hopefully if everyone keeps moving in that direction it will be of long-term benefit to businesses and schools in North Wales and beyond.' Earlier this year, Business Wales held virtual events on Social Value in the Public Sector and Welsh public sector supply chains, in addition to procurement, frameworks and tendering processes. Menter Môn's Food Project Manager David Wylie says there is an exciting journey ahead and 'opportunities' for growers in North Wales. 'We have interested parties and are working hard to encourage more independent producers and businesses to capitalise on what will be huge demand,' he added. 'We want them to play a major role in public sector supply chains and appear on the menus of schools in Conwy and other local authorities keen to use more local food and drink. 'This in turn will boost the economy, employment, and give these small businesses a new revenue stream.' Examples of recent projects include the Larder Cymru Welsh Food for Schools scheme, backed by the Welsh Government Foundational Economy Team, which promotes Welsh produce and producers from across Wales and highlights how, by buying from them, schools will shorten their supply chains, encouraging sustainability, lowering carbon emissions. For more information, email david@ or visit Homepage | Business Wales.
Business News Wales
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Gamlins Law Directors Complete Mount Toubkal Charity Challenge
Gamlins Law's Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison Two directors at North Wales' largest law firm have raised funds for charity after successfully climbing North Africa's highest peak. Ron Davison, Managing Director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: 'The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. 'We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. 'Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. 'It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. 'Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh including a trip into the Sahara Desert.' Snowy conditions on Mount Toubkal Dafydd added: 'We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. 'We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year.' The hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to patients with life limiting illness, and support to their families across its catchment area of Denbighshire, West Flintshire, and East Conwy. Clinical services are delivered free of charge to patients and their families. The hospice, which includes a 12-bed inpatient unit, employs 95 staff, supported by a large team of volunteers. It costs over £4.4 million a year to run. Gamlins Law, which employs over 85 people, has its head office at Morfa Hall in Rhyl and further offices in Mold, Ruthin, Denbigh, Abergele and Holywell.
Leader Live
16-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Flintshire teacher's Welsh tutoring in maths, science and biology
Recognising local demand for tutoring delivered in Welsh outweighed existing provisions, Dafydd Jones, from Hawarden, founded Tiwtora ATOM in January 2024, offering personalised tutoring in maths, science, and biology, for Welsh-speaking learners. Qualified teacher Dafydd, turned to Business Wales for vital support in structuring and launching his venture that directly aligned with the Welsh Government's Cymraeg 2050 goal to support and facilitate a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Read more: Report has headteacher "exceptionally proud" of Wrexham school Business Wales Adviser, Gwawr Cordiner, played a pivotal role in guiding Dafydd through the initial phases of business development, helping him identify effective paths to achieve his company's objectives. He benefited from one-to-one guidance and workshops covering essential business skills such as financial management, administration, and strategic planning. Thanks to the comprehensive support Business Wales provides to companies, Dafydd has successfully established and rapidly grown Tiwtora ATOM into a viable and sustainable service offering focused learning for Key Stage 3, 4, and 5, specifically designed for Welsh-speaking students. Read more: Paper mill supports Flintshire schools with donation and site visit Speaking about the inspiration for his service and the Business Wales support that made its creation possible, Dafydd said: "Tiwtora ATOM was born from my desire to make a meaningful impact on students who need extra academic support, particularly Welsh speakers who may find fewer tutoring options. I want to give each student a personalised experience where they can thrive without the pressure often associated with traditional classroom settings." "Since our initial communication, Gwawr has been a rock of support for me. She listened to me and my thoughts about the kind of service I wanted to provide from the beginning, and she supported them. That greatly increased my self-confidence." Read more: Report reflects "care, hard work and dedication" at Flintshire school Dafydd took part in several Business Wales webinars to support entrepreneurs to gain valuable insights into the fundamentals and practicalities of business ownership, including 'Start and Run Your Own Business' and 'Managing Your Finances and Taxes'. Dafydd added: "Gwawr took the time to understand my objectives and skill set before making recommendations that enabled me to rapidly acquire and hone the abilities I would need to launch my company. "She has been instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges of running a business, especially the administrative side. Their guidance has made it much easier for me to get started and feel confident in my decision to go self-employed." Read more: From homeless mum to award-winning Flintshire business owner Dafydd plans to hire additional staff ahead of the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, allowing him to focus on further developing the business and expanding Tiwtora ATOM's ability to deliver a positive impact for Welsh-speaking students. Business Wales Adviser Gwawr Cordiner said: "By offering his services in the Welsh language, he has a real niche that other similar businesses in the area don't have. This may seem strange considering the level of love and use of Cymraeg in Flintshire, which is clear to see from the scale of customer demand Dafydd has experienced. Read more: "Dynamic" Flintshire headteacher "immensely proud" after Estyn inspection visit "It's rewarding to know that the services we provide exclusively to Welsh companies are directly supporting the crucial Cymraeg 2025 target to create a million Welsh speakers. Passionate teachers and entrepreneurs like Dafydd are key to achieving that goal, and I look forward to further supporting the continued growth Tiwtora ATOM. "I hope other Welsh entrepreneurs both follow Dafydd's example in supporting our Welsh language and understand that they have ready access to expert business support that simply isn't available in other nations." • Business Wales is funded by Welsh Government. For more information and support, visit: or call 03000 6 03000.
