Latest news with #BridgingtheGap
Business News Wales
2 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Cardiff's Farmers Markets Shortlisted for UK's Organic Market
Cardiff's Farmers Markets Shortlisted for UK's Organic Market Cardiff Farmers Markets are finalists at the BOOM (Best of Organic Market) Awards 2025 – the only organic awards in the UK, celebrating excellence in organic and recognising quality and success in the organic sector. With their original Riverside Market launching in 1998, Cardiff Farmers Markets have grown to become some of the best-known farmers' markets in the U.K. They are widely recognised as key food attractions in the Welsh capital for local residents and visitors alike, with the success of the original Riverside Market enabling them to branch out into a weekly Saturday market in Roath, and a weekly Friday market in Rhiwbina. Now up against the best that the organic market has to offer, the markets faced a rigorous judging process by a professional panel of industry experts. The BOOM Awards, run by leading organic certifier Soil Association Certification in partnership with headline sponsor Ocado, honour the brands, organisations and people behind the UK's organic industry. 'We're absolutely thrilled to be named a finalist,' said Carol Adams, General Manager of Cardiff Farmers Markets. 'This reflects the dedication of our local growers, market team, and partners working together to make organic food more accessible for people across Cardiff.' Over the last year, as part of the UK-wide Bridging the Gap scheme, Cardiff Farmers Markets launched The Planet Card – a collaboration between Cardiff Farmers Markets, Food Cardiff, local organic growers, and community members. Bridging the Gap is coordinated by the food and farming charity Sustain, which is testing scalable solutions to food inequality. The Planet Card holds a value of up to £11 per week – enabling holders to switch their normal weekly shop for fruit and vegetables to organically produced versions, without being left out of pocket. Shoppers are able to use the card at a choice of organic fruit and vegetable stalls at the Roath or Riverside markets, every weekend. The initiative is helping to ensure that high-quality, sustainable and organic fruit & veg is within reach for more people, and is contributing to a fairer, more resilient local food system in Cardiff. Cardiff University is also supporting the project through research and evaluation, to better understand its impact and contribute to policy change. Soil Association Certification Commercial and Marketing Director, Georgia Phillips said: 'Demand is growing for organic as more people are looking for products that are better for them and the environment, so we are delighted to see Cardiff Farmers Markets named as a finalist.' The finalists are being announced at a time when the UK's organic market has shown exceptional growth (significantly outperforming non-organic), growing 7.3% in 2024. Total sales of £3.7bn are double what they were just 10 years ago (2014 – £1.86bn), according to Soil Association Certification's 2025 Organic Market Report. The BOOM Award winners will be announced at the BOOM Awards ceremony on Thursday, 10th July 2025 at Paintworks, Bristol (home of the Soil Association). You can view the full list of BOOM Awards finalists at:
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Albertans Want to Use Technology to Support Health Care Access
New study reveals over half of Albertans (57%) believe that hybrid care could improve access to health care amid ER closures and staffing shortages. LETHBRIDGE, Alberta, May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey conducted by Nanos Group, commissioned by Teladoc Health Canada, reveals that while Albertans continue to face challenges in accessing timely care, particularly in rural areas, there is strong openness to new, innovative solutions that could help relieve pressure on the health care system. How Open are Albertans to Innovation? Over seven in ten Albertans are comfortable or somewhat comfortable with virtual care being used for non-urgent care (39% are comfortable; 35% are somewhat comfortable). Two-thirds of Albertans are comfortable with a hybrid model of care that leverages technology to combine in-person care with virtual clinicians. "These results show that Albertans are ready to see what their options are when it comes to health care—they are ready for new solutions," said Joby McKenzie, Managing Director of Teladoc Health Canada. "It also tells us that many Albertans believe virtual and hybrid care can result in quicker and convenient access to health care. That's why we're committed to working with local leaders and health care partners to expand services that help people get the high quality of care they need faster, while easing pressure on the frontlines." Released during Alberta Rural Health Week, the survey also highlights the urgency behind this openness. Long wait times, staffing shortages, and delayed care continue to impact patients across the province. Why Innovation is Important: Over one in five Albertans wait seven or more hours to be seen in an ER or urgent care centre. The average wait time to access primary care is 10 days. Over one in three Albertans say they've delayed or avoided seeking care due to long wait times. Among people who experienced delayed care, nearly one in five reported worsened health (17%), prolonged pain (10%), or delayed recovery (9%). The survey findings are being released in conjunction with Bridging the Gap: Advancing Rural Health Care through Innovation & Collaboration, an event hosted by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Teladoc Health Canada. The event brings together health care leaders, decision-makers, and providers to explore the role innovation plays in expanding access to care across Alberta. "As members of the community, we see firsthand how health care access issues affect our families, from overall well-being, productivity, and also, workforce stability," said Cyndi Crane, CEO of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. "We're proud to host an event that puts local experts, our unique challenges, and innovative solutions at the centre of the conversation." Teladoc Health Canada is sharing this new data to help inform ongoing policy and public conversations. Teladoc is committed to collaborating with local and provincial health care leaders to explore how virtual and hybrid care models can help make health care more accessible and timely for Albertans, while supporting care teams and keeping ERs open. About Teladoc Health Canada Teladoc Health Canada is a Canadian company within the Teladoc Health Group, with a dedicated Canadian team across all functions of the business. Headquartered in Toronto, Teladoc Health Canada has more than 20 years of experience delivering virtual health care to millions of Canadians coast to coast. Through experiences and learnings from providing services in over 175 countries across the world, Teladoc Health Canada has access to world-class research and innovation, enhancing care delivery while maintaining a strong Canadian focus. About the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business, advocating for policies that support a thriving local economy. With a strong network of members, the Chamber champions innovation, growth, and collaboration across all sectors. As a catalyst for positive change, it remains committed to building a prosperous future for Lethbridge and our surrounding region. View source version on Contacts For media inquiries or to request an interview, please contact: Yvette LokkerTeladoc Health 416.629.3269 Sign in to access your portfolio
South Wales Argus
24-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire County Council celebrates food partnerships
This comes after Food Sense Wales published the Local Food Partnership Status Report, which highlights the diverse food activities happening across the country. The council has adopted food strategies, setting measurable targets for procuring and providing local, healthy, and sustainable food. One of the projects implemented by the Monmouthshire Food Partnership is the Welsh Veg in Schools initiative. This pilot project, coordinated by Food Sense Wales, aims to incorporate more organically produced Welsh vegetables into primary school meals across Wales. The project collaborates with partners such as Castell Howell, Farming Connect Horticulture, and various growers to achieve this goal. The initiative recognises that Welsh organic vegetables are more expensive than conventionally grown ones. Therefore, the pilot has covered the price gap between local, organic produce and standard prices. In 2024, the Welsh Veg in Schools initiative served 200,000 portions of fresh, organic veg in more than 200 schools across Wales, including 12 Monmouthshire primary schools. Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby, said: "There's a good food movement happening all across Wales, and we're proud to be part of it. "Local food partnerships are some of the key drivers of change." In spring 2024, Food Sense Wales received additional funding from the Bridging the Gap programme to scale the project and expand its reach across the public sector.
Business News Wales
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
'Incredible Work' of Food Partnerships Across Wales is Hailed in Report
Monmouthshire County Council is celebrating the 'incredible work' of Food Partnerships across the country, including the work of Monmouthshire Food Partnership. Food Sense Wales has recently published the Local Food Partnership Status Report, showcasing the diverse food activities happening all over the country. Monmouthshire County Council has adopted organisation-wide food strategies, setting measurable targets for procuring and providing local, healthy, and sustainable food. One project which has been implemented by the Monmouthshire Food partnership is the Welsh Veg in Schools, a pilot project co-ordinated by Food Sense Wales that aims to get more organically produced Welsh vegetables into primary school meals across Wales. Working with partners including Castell Howell, Farming Connect Horticulture and a host of growers, the Welsh Veg in Schools project is helping to get more locally produced organic vegetables into school lunches. Recognising that Welsh organic vegetables are more expensive than vegetables which are conventionally grown, the pilot has covered the price gap between local, organic produce and standard prices. In spring 2024, Food Sense Wales received additional funding from the Bridging the Gap programme to scale the project and expand its reach across the public sector. What began as a small pilot project has since grown into a movement and in 2024, Welsh Veg in Schools served 200,000 portions of fresh, organic veg in more than 200 schools across Wales, including 12 primary schools in Monmouthshire. The Status of Local Food Partnerships in Wales 2025 report offers a snapshot of the current landscape, highlights best practices from the 22 Local Food Partnerships, and includes valuable feedback from partnership members. Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Mary Ann Brocklesby, said: 'There's a good food movement happening all across Wales, and we're proud to be part of it. 'Local food partnerships are some of the key drivers of change. They bring together public bodies, community food growers, and the voluntary sector to develop local solutions for food resilience.'
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
YMCC chasing more success in festival clash
YMCC will be in pursuit of first place in the Stiles Electrical Premier League men's standings when they take on Whitford in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Saturday. The clash, starting at 7pm, is the second leg of a special double-header as part of the 2025 Goldfields Festival of Hockey. With six wins, YMCC trail only Fremantle-Cockburn — also with six wins, but with an overall record padded out by two draws. It is in stark contrast to Whitford, whose best result to date was a draw last weekend against Hale. The match is preceded by a women's clash between the same clubs at 5.30pm. YMCC are seventh on the women's ladder, with Whitford winless. The festival program starts on Thursday night with Hockey WA's groundbreaking Bridging the Gap course. Designed to strengthen communication and collaboration between coaches and umpires, the 60-minute course starts at 5.30pm. From 6.30pm, local officials will hone their skills in an umpire briefing, while academy athletes from the Eastern Goldfields Hockey Association will train alongside elite coaches. Friday's itinerary comprises instructional sessions at local schools from 11am-3pm, and the Welcome To Hockey program at 5.15pm. Junior instructional clinics will take place at the stadium on Saturday between 10am and 11.30am, followed by three local fixtures from 12.30-5pm before the two showcase games.
