Latest news with #Cerys
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Welsh language social media use 'limited' among young people
Young people's attitudes towards the Welsh language are "encouraging" but English is by far the main language used by teenagers on social media, a report has found.A large majority of Welsh children communicate mainly through English on social media even when speaking to other Welsh-speakers, according to the report set to be released at the Urdd Eisteddfod on survey of around 1600 youngsters found "limited" use of Welsh by children outside of school, but added it was more likely to be spoken in activities such as to the report, Welsh Language Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones said it highlighted "significant challenges... [but] also identifies opportunities". Cai Saunders attends English medium secondary school Treorchy Comprehensive in Rhondda Cynon Taf. He and his friends, who are studying Welsh, have a group chat where they practice before lessons and exams, the 16-year-old said, speaking from this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd. "Sometimes we share things on Instagram or Facebook to show friends and family, but my friends who study A-level have set up a group chat so that we can talk in Welsh." Cerys, from Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, near Newport, speaks Welsh with her said a lot of her friends went to English schools and used English outside of school because their family and parents "don't speak Welsh"."If there are more places where they are able to speak Welsh, I think more would speak Welsh," she Franklin from Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni on Anglesey said he usually mixed Welsh and English when talking with friends at said he liked to speak Welsh, adding: "I don't get a lot of time to speak [Welsh] with my friends." Cari Lovelock from Anglesey said she thought it was "important" that the younger generation use the Welsh language when socialising."We are the next generation who are going to promote the language and keep it alive so that we get things like the Eisteddfod and I think that is an important thing," she ap Llwyd Dafydd from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, in Caerphilly county, said he speaks English with his friends because that is the home language for many of he speaks Welsh at home, he said: "We don't see any entertainment in Welsh, they're all in English, so it's not easy to speak Welsh with friends." 'Positive' attitude to Welsh language 1,600 children and young people - most of them between the ages of 11 and 16 - took part in the research for the report to the Welsh Language the main findings of the report was that the general use of Welsh by children and young people outside of school was "limited".But children are more likely to use the language in sporting activities, especially with coaches and leaders, it towards the Welsh language were also generally "positive", especially among those who were fluent and had learnt the language at the report found there was very little use of Welsh on social media, with the majority using English "because it is easier and reaches a wider audience".Around 80 percent of those who responded to the questionnaire said they use English every time or usually to communicate online, even with other Welsh fluent speakers were more likely to communicate directly through the language, with half saying they usually text in Welsh, or use both languages equally. According to the Welsh Language Commissioner, the information gathered will help inform the commissioner's future work, as well as others."Children and young people are vital to the future of the Welsh language. This wide-ranging research offers us an insight into the use of Welsh by young people," said Ms Gruffudd Jones."There is no doubt that the report highlights significant challenges particularly in the field of social media but it also identifies opportunities, in the area of sport for example, and I will prioritise creating and strengthening strategic partnerships in order to further develop those opportunities."Myfanwy Jones, director of Mentrau Iaith Cymru, a national organisation that supports a network of 22 local Welsh language initiatives, said there was a need to expand the opportunities to use the Welsh language outside of school."It is clear that there are a large number of respondents who do not use Welsh very often outside of school but are generally supportive of the Welsh language and wish to have more opportunities to use the language," she said. "As part of our remit, we are constantly looking for further opportunities to expand our community activities in order to offer opportunities for young people to use the Welsh language naturally. The report shows that this work is crucial and we will work with the commissioner and other partners to develop it further in the future."
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I'm a 24-year-old mum-of-3 on UC – I work at Tesco but here's the real reason why I'm begging strangers online for help
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A YOUNG mother works at Tesco but is now begging strangers online for help. Cerys Elizabeth, a 24-year-old from Wales, is currently on a journey to be 'debt free'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A mum-of-three has revealed that she works at Tesco and receives Universal Credit payments Credit: TikTok/@ceryselizabethxox 2 But Cerys Elizabeth, 24, claimed that she may have to quit her job and is now asking strangers online for support Credit: TikTok/@ceryselizabethxox But the mum-of-three who has a six-year-old, five-year-old and four-year-old, claimed that the nursery fees for her youngest child are more than she gets paid per hour. Not only this, but Cerys admitted that she may have to 'give up' her supermarket job as she is under threat of no longer receiving a contribution to her nursery fees. Posting on social media, the blonde beauty begged strangers for help as she uploaded a clip with the caption 'One last try' and the hashtag #helpmeplease. Cerys then revealed: 'I'm a working mum on Universal Credit that might have to give up their job.' Cerys acknowledged that she lives in Wales and is a recipient of 30 hours free nursery education from the Welsh Government. However, she stressed that to get the free childcare hours, you must meet a set of criteria. Cerys continued: 'I am only contracted to 15 [hours] but I do roughly 10 to 20 hours of overtime a week - I'm hitting 30, 35 hours." In order to qualify for free childcare, you must work at least 16 hours a week, as Cerys recognised: 'I had a notification on my portal saying 'your free childcare is under review, we're gonna look into this, we don't think you're working enough.'' As a result, Cerys has had to provide 'payslip after payslip' and has even had to share her 'Universal Credit payment breakdowns where they show that they're taking £500/£600 a month away from me because of my earnings from work.' Cerys acknowledged that if she loses her free childcare, she will have to quit her job, as is only paid £12.45 an hour and her childcare cost will be £13.50 an hour. I'm a mum-of-5 on £1.5K Universal Credit per month - people think I'm popping kids out to get 'lots of money' but I still have to use food banks - its embarrassing As a result, she stressed: 'My childcare literally costs an extra pound versus what I'm paid - I wouldn't be able to afford it, I cannot afford it.' Cerys has now amassed over 7,700 followers on TikTok and needs 10,000 to start earning cash through the platform's Creator Fund. How much Universal Credit can you get? TRYING to work out how much Universal Credit you can get can be overwhelming. There are so many different elements that can affect your claim and it makes the whole process even more complicated. There are several free calculators that you can use to help you get an estimate, such as Citizen's Advice, MoneySavingExpert, StepChange and Turn2Us. You will need: Details of all your income, such as existing benefits, tax credits, earnings from employment and your pensions, Details of your partner's income if you're married, in a civil partnership or living with someone as a couple. You will be assessed as a couple Information on any savings you have, How much you pay in council tax per year, and whether you get any discounts, reductions or exemptions, Details of your rent or mortgage payments, Employment and income information about anyone else living with you, such as grown-up children, Details about your carer's allowance if you receive it. You'll need to make sure that the information provided is as accurate as possible to get the truest estimate. She then continued: 'I am just surviving, so please, if there is just one video you sit here and engage with and there's one account that you follow today, can you please make it mine?' The aspiring content creator confessed that she is trying to get herself in a position to have another income stream, so that she can pay for her son's childcare 'if the worst comes.' Social media users react The TikTok clip, which was published under the username @ceryselizabethxox, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 178,000 views in just 24 hours. Commenting to support TikTok user Not only this, but it's also 16,700 likes and 1,221 comments, as many eagerly raced to share messages of love and support. One person said: 'Commenting so you get paid!' What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. Another added: 'Fill the jar with hearts.' A third commented: 'Commenting to support.' At the same time, someone else asked: '£13.50 an hour?? Is that for one child??' To this, Cerys confirmed: 'Yes, just the one.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
I'm a 24-year-old mum-of-3 on UC – I work at Tesco but here's the real reason why I'm begging strangers online for help
A YOUNG mother works at Tesco but is now begging strangers online for help. Cerys Elizabeth, a 24-year-old from Wales, is currently on a journey to be 'debt free'. 2 A mum-of-three has revealed that she works at Tesco and receives Universal Credit payments Credit: TikTok/@ceryselizabethxox 2 But Cerys Elizabeth, 24, claimed that she may have to quit her job and is now asking strangers online for support Credit: TikTok/@ceryselizabethxox But the mum-of-three who has a six-year-old, five-year-old and four-year-old, claimed that the Not only this, but Cerys admitted that she may have to 'give up' her supermarket job as she is under threat of no longer receiving a contribution to her nursery fees. Posting on social media, the blonde beauty begged strangers for help as she uploaded a clip with the caption 'One last try' and the hashtag #helpmeplease. Cerys then revealed: 'I'm a working mum on Universal Credit that might have to give up their job.' Read more real life stories Cerys acknowledged that she lives in Wales and is a recipient of 30 hours free nursery education from the Welsh Government. However, she stressed that to get the free childcare hours, you must meet a set of criteria. Cerys continued: 'I am only contracted to 15 [hours] but I do roughly 10 to 20 hours of overtime a week - I'm hitting 30, 35 hours." In order to qualify for free childcare, you must work at least 16 hours a week, as Cerys recognised: 'I had a notification on my portal saying 'your free childcare is under review, we're gonna look into this, we don't think you're working enough.'' Most read in Fabulous As a result, Cerys has had to provide 'payslip after payslip' and has even had to share her ' Cerys acknowledged that if she loses her free childcare, she will have to quit her job, as is only paid £12.45 an hour and her childcare cost will be £13.50 an hour. I'm a mum-of-5 on £1.5K Universal Credit per month - people think I'm popping kids out to get 'lots of money' but I still have to use food banks - its embarrassing As a result, she stressed: 'My childcare literally costs an extra pound versus what I'm paid - I wouldn't be able to afford it, I cannot afford it.' Cerys has now amassed over 7,700 followers on TikTok and needs 10,000 to start earning cash through the platform's Creator Fund. How much Universal Credit can you get? TRYING to work out how much Universal Credit you can get can be overwhelming. There are so many different elements that can affect your claim and it makes the whole process even more complicated. There are several free calculators that you can use to help you get an estimate, such as You will need: Details of all your income, such as existing benefits, tax credits, earnings from employment and your pensions, Details of your partner's income if you're married, in a civil partnership or living with someone as a couple. You will be assessed as a couple Information on any savings you have, How much you pay in council tax per year, and whether you get any discounts, reductions or exemptions, Details of your rent or mortgage payments, Employment and income information about anyone else living with you, such as grown-up children, Details about your carer's allowance if you receive it. You'll need to make sure that the information provided is as accurate as possible to get the truest estimate. She then continued: 'I am just surviving, so please, if there is just one video you sit here and engage with and there's one account that you follow today, can you please make it mine?' The aspiring content creator confessed that she is trying to get herself in a position to have Social media users react The TikTok clip, which was published under the username @ Commenting to support TikTok user Not only this, but it's also 16,700 likes and 1,221 comments, as many eagerly raced to share messages of love and support. One person said: 'Commenting so you get paid!' What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. Another added: 'Fill the jar with hearts.' A third commented: 'Commenting to support.' At the same time, someone else asked: '£13.50 an hour?? Is that for one child??' To this, Cerys confirmed: 'Yes, just the one.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
Powys County Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Builth Wells butchers is crowned best in Mid Wales
A BUTCHER'S shop in Builth Wells is celebrating after being crowned the best in Mid Wales – less than six months after the proprietors lost their father. Morgans family butchers, run among others by the brother and sister team of Rhys Field and Cerys Hickey, picked up the award for 'Best Butcher' at a glittering Best of Welsh Business Awards 2025 ceremony held at Llangoed Hall earlier this month. Rhys and Cerys have stepped up to take on the running of the shop in Builth's town centre, after they unexpectedly lost their dad, Dave Field, days before Christmas. Dave, a larger-than-life presence who had run the shop on Builth's High Street, for 25 years, died in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 7. He was just 57. Rhys and Cerys, plus mum Carol and grandfather Arwyn, were on hand to collect the award at the ceremony, held on Sunday, April 13. 'We had no words when we found out about our nomination,' said Cerys. 'We thought it was a scam.' 'It's a special moment for the family,' said Rhys. 'We didn't know who voted for us, but it's for dad. We're a proper family-run business, we've carried it on since he's gone and we feel like we're carrying on his legacy.' Watsons Family Butchers, from Rhayader, was runner-up in the category, while Hay-on-Wye's Small Farms Butchers was highly commended. Dave had been butchering for 37 years and had run the shop himself, owned by his father-in-law Arwyn, for a quarter of a century. In more recent years, he had been running it alongside his three children, including Rhys and daughters Cerys and Morgan-Ellen. Wife Carol also helped out at the shop – where customers were regularly greeted by Dave's cheery face and warm character. He also enjoyed a special bond with his grandson, Hugo, who called him 'Pops'. 'I still think even now, it hasn't really hit home that he's not here,' said Cerys, who is Hugo's mum. 'It's weird not having him here,' added Rhys. 'We'd always have a joke and a laugh. Some people still can't come back in because they can't face it. "We still get people coming in choked up about it. He'd been the face of the business for 35 years.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Despite suffering such a devastating loss so close to Christmas, Morgans was back open for business on the Monday after Dave's death, with the family informing customers that Christmas orders would still be fulfilled. The Best of Welsh Business Awards work by businesses receiving an initial vote; after which they are notified and can then collect further votes from clients and customers. There was further success in Builth at the awards, with Georgie Porgie's Coffee Stop named Mid Wales' 'Best Café'.
The Guardian
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The week in theatre: The Women of Llanrumney; North By Northwest
The date is 1765. Llanrumney is a slave plantation in Jamaica, established by Captain Henry Morgan, a privateer and former lieutenant governor of the Caribbean island, who named it after his supposed birthplace, now a suburb of Cardiff. This is the setting for Azuka Oforka's drama The Women of Llanrumney. Rooted in the truths of slavery, the play tackles its horrors with verve, energised by anger and laced, unexpectedly (if not always successfully), with broad humour. The action is confined to a Georgian-style plantation mansion, with realistic period furniture and costumes (precise designs by Stella-Jane Odoemelam). It opens with light-skinned, long-serving housekeeper Annie introducing dark-skinned, pregnant Cerys (a field slave and the lowest of the low in the island's hierarchy – skin tones matter here) to her new duties as an indoors maid. Annie proudly declares herself the 'one true friend and confidante' of their mistress, the white-skinned, Welsh-born Elisabeth (harridan-like Nia Roberts). 'Her slave,' corrects clear-sighted Cerys (Shvorne Marks, strong in her stillness). These three women embody extremes of Jamaica's putrid, slavery-based society, where everyone is either inherently corrupt or is corrupted by a brutal system. The only exceptions are those enslaved people who dare oppose it, in thought, word or deed. 'Rebellions aren't just fought in battle,' Cerys tells the appalled Annie (chameleon-like Suzanne Packer), who has spent a lifetime schmoozing in the hope of winning the 'gift' of freedom. 'Love is a revolutionary act… we will dance to the drums they try to ban.' Intricacies of the island's social strata are conveyed via characters off stage (the nouveau riche creole hostess, the torture-devising overseers) and on stage (the Irish indentured labourer, liberated and now rich; two landowners, one English, one Jamaican – all three distinctly rendered by Matthew Gravelle). The plot follows Elisabeth's (mis)fortunes and the men's efforts to obtain mastery over her body and her plantation, with all its 'livestock' of animals and enslaved people, including Annie and Cerys. There's a lot going on here; at times, too much. In information-packed scenes, characters interact schematically while the tone veers between Restoration-style bawdy, broad-stroke humour and incisive psychological revelation, interspersed with accounts of appalling atrocities. Powerful characterisations from the four actors and assured direction by Patricia Logue bring out the strengths of Oforka's text, but cannot hide its flaws. That said, this is a daring, ambitious debut by a playwright who promises much if she develops the dramatic craft to match her imaginative scope. This production premiered last year at Cardiff's Sherman theatre; Oforka's women deserve to be seen by audiences across the country. Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 film North By Northwest was presented on stage by the Australian Melbourne Theatre Company in 2015, using a combination of live theatre and film effects. This new version, adapted by director Emma Rice for her company Wise Children (in a co-production with York Theatre Royal, Home Manchester and Liverpool's Everyman and Playhouse theatres), delivers the multiple famous scenes (from the UN building in New York to Mount Rushmore, via train stations and carriages) through the adroit movements of six multitasking actors, manipulating elements of set and props, supported by an excellent creative team. This emphasis on performance will come as no surprise to fans of Rice's other acclaimed stage adaptations of films, including the much-produced Brief Encounter. For the most part, the core chase and suspense elements of Hitchcock's classic, cold war-era thriller are sidelined by Rice in favour of a presentation that emphasises period style and a vaudeville-like format, with the action interrupted for character asides, lip-syncs to classic crooner numbers, dances, random acrobatics and audience participation (Katy Owen as the Professor, making sure we are following the plot). The love triangle of hero (Ewan Wardrop in the Carey Grant role, less suave but just as charming), heroine (cooly blond Patrycja Kujawska) and chief baddie (lip-curling Karl Queensborough) is interestingly extended to include the unrequited passions of Simon Oskarsson's murderous henchman for his chief, and of the henchman's wife (Mirabelle Gremaud) for her husband. One big question – 'How will they do the famous crop-duster scene in the cornfield?' – was answered by Rice in an interview published before opening night: 'With paper and a pair of scissors, an aerosol can and some suitcases.' It's accurate, yet gives nothing away. The effect is still surprising – and delivers one of the production's few really satisfying dramatic moments. Another big challenge, the Mount Rushmore cliffhanger, is less adroitly managed, leading to an extraneous conclusion with historic speeches on war and peace – not so much spine-shivering as toe-curling. Star ratings (out of five) The Women of Llanrumney ★★★★North By Northwest ★★★ The Women of Llanrumney is at Theatre Royal Stratford East, London, until 12 April North by Northwest is at York Theatre Royal until 5 April, then touring until 22 June
