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The Update: 25 June 2025
Here is your Wednesday update, covering:
- Travel advice for Blackweir Live Concerts in Cardiff
- Addressing local priorities with city-wide regeneration projects
- Don't lose your vote - residents in Cardiff urged to check voter registration details
- From learner to Eisteddfod finalist: Ffion's remarkable Welsh language journey with Uned Drochi Iaith Caerdydd
Travel advice for Blackweir Live Concerts in Cardiff
A series of concerts will be held at Blackweir Fields alongside the River Taff in Cardiff this summer, from June 27th through to July 9th.
To ensure all those attending the concerts can get into and out of the venue safely, there will be road closures in Cardiff city centre from 4pm until midnight for these events.
The events are as follows:
- Noah Kahan - Friday June 27th
- Alanis Morrisette - Wednesday July 2nd
- Slayer - Thursday July 3rd
- Stevie Wonder - Wednesday July 9th
The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy for these concerts - so please plan ahead.
For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go tothe Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook.
Anyone attending these concerts are strongly advised to plan their journey in advance and get into Cardiff early.
Answers to some frequently asked questions about the forthcoming Blackweir Live concerts are availablehere.
Addressing local priorities with city-wide regeneration projects
Cardiff Council has announced its Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme (NRS) programme for 2025, underscoring its continued commitment to investing in communities across the city.
Now in its 25th year, the programme champions local priorities by funding environmental and public realm improvements proposed by local ward members for their areas. These projects aim to enhance neighbourhoods and improve quality of life for residents, and are designed and delivered in partnership with local businesses, residents and community groups.
With support from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Funding in addition to Council funding, more than £2m has been secured for the schemes this year.
The initiative plays a key role in delivering the Council's Stronger, Fairer, Greener vision, supporting the creation of safe, confident, and empowered communities throughout the capital.
This year, 27 project ideas were submitted by local councillors and each proposal was assessed against key criteria including regeneration impact, sustainability, tackling disadvantage, community involvement, and deliverability.
As a result, nine community regeneration projects have been prioritised for full delivery in 2025/26, with an additional four projects selected for scoping and design work.
Don't lose your vote - residents in Cardiff urged to check voter registration details
Cardiff residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.
The annual canvass allows Cardiff Council to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it's too late.
Paul Orders, Electoral Registration Officer for Cardiff, said: "Keep an eye out for important updates from Cardiff Council. The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date. To make sure you don't lose your say at any upcoming elections in Wales, including the Senedd elections next May, simply follow the instructions sent to you.
"If you're not currently registered, your name will not appear in the updates we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote."
Residents are reminded that young people aged 16 and above are eligible to vote in the Senedd election which will be held on May 7, 2026, but they must be registered first to ensure they can use their vote. Young people can register to vote from 14 years and up so households with eligible occupants should ensure these individuals are included in the information they provide to the Council.
From learner to Eisteddfod finalist: Ffion's remarkable Welsh language journey with Uned Drochi Iaith Caerdydd
In just six months, nine-year-old Ffion has transformed from a non-Welsh speaker to one of the top three Welsh learners in Wales, thanks to the support and dedication of Uned Drochi Iaith Caerdydd. Her journey is a shining example of the power of late language immersion and the life-changing impact of Welsh-medium education.
Ffion joined Uned Drochi Iaith in November 2024. Having not spoken Welsh before and with no Welsh spoken at home and no prior experience of the Urdd Eisteddfod, she began attending the unit four days a week, with an additional day at Ysgol Melin Gruffydd. By January 2025, she was preparing for her first-ever Eisteddfod competition.
Her rapid progress was nothing short of extraordinary. In March, she won first place representing Cardiff schools in the Gylch round for her recital of ‘Mewn Siop Anifeiliaid Anwes' by poet Myrddin ap Dafydd. The following month, she triumphed again at the Sir round at Cardiff University, competing against schools from across Cardiff and the Vale. In the national final at the Urdd Eisteddfod, Ffion placed third out of 19 participants - an incredible achievement for someone who had only been learning Welsh for half a year.
Ffion's story is a testament to the success of Uned Drochi Iaith Caerdydd, which has supported nearly 500 children and young people since 2010. The unit provides a welcoming, inclusive environment for learners of all backgrounds, helping them gain the language skills needed to thrive in Welsh-medium education and feel a sense of belonging in their communities.
