A Vision Network Comment On Cardiff Festival Launched In The Bay

A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company, were recently pleased to hear of the launch of the capitals annual arts festival. The Cardiff Festival, now in its 26th year, aims to showcase another season of diverse events for local families and tourists. Organisers and sponsors gathered at St David’s Hotel & Spa in Cardiff Bay yesterday afternoon to officially launch the packed programme of events planned for the city.

“The Cardiff Festival is always amazing fun,” said our source at A Vision Network, “There's so much going on, and it's a great chance to get out and see the city, and have a fun time checking out all the events.”

Organisers have planned a total of 21 events for this year’s festival, which runs for three months from Saturday, June 2 until September 2. The city will officially celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as part of the festival, as well as making the most of the capital’s involvement in the Olympics.

Cardiff council leader Heather Joyce said: “I am very pleased to be launching what will be a special Cardiff Festival this year. I am delighted that there are so many landmark and historic events joining the festival in my first year, it may be a few years before we have Olympic and Jubilee events within the programme again. Alongside new and exciting events, old favourites will return to keep residents of Cardiff entertained and brings tourists from across the UK and beyond to our fantastic and vibrant capital city.”

Cardiff will host a Big Lunch event on St Mary Street on Sunday, June 3, as part of the city’s Jubilee celebrations. The city centre will also play host to full day of music, comedy and sports entertainment to mark the very first event of the London 2012 Olympic Games – a women’s football match featuring Team GB on July 25 at the Millennium Stadium.

“It's a real boost to the profile of Cardiff every year,” said our source from A Vision Network, “People come from all over to the city to experience the festival, and we hope this year will be no different, as the festival looks to be one of the best yet.”

Visit www.cardiff-festival.com for more information on the events taking place during the festival.

A Vision Network Comment On New University Hospital Of Wales Park And Ride Scheme

A new park and ride bus service to the University Hospital of Wales is set to be launched on Monday, May 14, in a bid to ease parking problems at the site. AVision Network heard that the new service, which will be run in partnership with Cardiff council, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Newport Transport. It aims to provide staff, patients and visitors with an affordable and convenient way of getting to and from the hospital. It is hoped the service will also help ease traffic congestion at the hospital’s Heath Park site by providing buses that are flexible, regular and low-cost.

“This should prove to be a really helpful service,” said a spokesperson from A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company, “There has always been problems with parking in the area, and this will really alleviate that.”

Scott Pearson, managing director of Newport Transport, said: “Everyone involved has recognised the need and importance of a park and ride service to the hospital to help offer more public transport opportunities to users and staff, as well as easing congestion and pressure on parking spaces.”

The service will run from the Pentwyn Park and Ride East site, off junction 30 of the M48, where a special area has been designated for parking and using the bus. The service timetable takes into account staff’s shift patterns with the first bus leaving Pentwyn at 6.30am. The service will operate every 20 minutes with a journey time from the park and ride site to the hospital of just seven minutes. The last bus will leave the hospital at 8.17pm. Users will be charged £1 to park their car and £1 per person for a return ticket to use the bus.

Our source at A Vision Network said, “It’s not only going to help the parking problems, but these services in general are really good for the environment. You see so many people driving to work with one person in one car, and the benefits to the environment, and to peoples wallets, of switching to public transport are very noticeable.”

Concessionary pass holders will be able to use the bus for free and only have to pay to park their car. The service will feature brand new buses with low-level flooring, CCTV and complimentary newspapers.

A Vision Network comments on Cardiff teenager taking on Westminster in a bid to raise awareness of type one diabetes

Teenager Marcus Burch has not only had to learn how to manage his diabetes but lobbies MPs to raise awareness of the condition. Not many teenage boys could say they had been to Parliament to help lobby MPs about something they feel passionately about. A source close to AVision Network said “This is rather touching as diabetes affects more people every year and to spread news about it is vital.” “What Marcus us doing can be very effective if he gets the right backing, so taking his speech straight to parliament is the best way to be recognised.”  Marcus Burch, dedicating his spare time to working with diabetes charity JDRF and helping them to raise awareness about the issues faced by those with the condition is something that is high on his list of priorities.

The 16-year-old who is currently studying his A-levels at Eton College but is from Cyncoed, Cardiff, has just been part of the charity’s campaign group who visited Westminster to talk about their experiences and highlight the impact of the condition. Marcus said “We have always worked with diabetes charities so when this opportunity with JDRF came up, I really wanted to be a part of it. I hope that through this Parliament we can build some lasting momentum towards searching for a cure. It’s great to be doing something proactive and it’s a chance to consolidate and push forward with MPs here.  “It is clear to any reader that Marcus’s passion runs high when it comes to finding a cure for type one diabetes. What is clear to me is that Marcus has to battles to fight. One is diabetes the other is raising awareness for diabetes.” said A Vision Network.

Marcus said “Going to Westminster has really opened my eyes. It allows us to show others the ups and downs of diabetes and that’s very invigorating. Marcus was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of seven when he complained to his parents about being thirsty all the time. His mother, Lis, 46, said: “He had shown all the signs he was going to the toilet more often and just generally feeling unwell. Thankfully, the care we received was marvellous.”  “There are so many types of diabetes and if not detected early can result in lifetime consequences. Marcus’s campaign to raise awareness is a necessity as people need to be made aware of the signs. We wish Marcus the best of luck we his campaign.”