Made in Newport, for anyone who fancies a mooch

It started with a family and nowhere new to go

I was born and raised in Newport. When my own family was young, we went to the places we already knew: the same few parks, and the odd event we happened to hear about through school. That was about it.

Years on, there still isn't one place that pulls together everything happening around here. I wanted to change that.

Beautiful places people don't know about

There are some lovely parks, beaches and walks in and around Newport that plenty of local people have never heard of. Putting them on Moochify gives everyone another place to go and have a little mooch about.

Know a spot that's missing? Anyone can add a place, so the rest of us can enjoy it too.

Events without the hunting around

Facebook can be great for events, but not everybody is on it, and it's a bit hit and miss whether you ever see the one you'd have loved. Other listings websites lean towards business events and meetings, and trawling through them to find something fun is hard work.

So Moochify is a simple place where organisers can share what they're putting on, and you can find it in a couple of taps. There are some fantastic local events that never get the attention they deserve. I'd like there to always be something somebody can go to.

Clubs, venues and trades, all in one place

I see the same questions on social media all the time. Where can I hire a hall for a party? Is there a dance class nearby? Can anyone recommend a plumber? So I thought, why not put it all in one place.

• Clubs. If you run a football team, a kids' club, a dance group or a taekwondo class, get it listed. Let's get more people out and enjoying themselves, not stuck indoors on consoles and phones. There's so much more to do as a family.
• Venues for hire. Somewhere for the birthday, the wedding or the anniversary, without having to ask around.
• Trades. Local tradespeople can list themselves, and hopefully pick up a few more customers in tough times.

Free to use, and fair for businesses

It's free to join and free to search, and it always will be. Community groups and charities list for free too.

Everything is free for businesses until 1 April 2027. Even after that, I want to keep the fees as low as I can.

And no pop-up adverts. I can't stand them on other websites, and I don't want you getting frustrated when all you're after is something to do this weekend.

Where we're heading

We're starting here in Newport and the surrounding areas, and I'd love to be able to say this is where it all began. The plan is to open up more towns as we grow, and one day be the UK's number one directory for events and places.

So wherever you live, or wherever you're off to on holiday in the UK, you'll be able to open Moochify and see what's going on around you.

Thanks for stopping by. Now go and have a mooch.