Making sure no-one goes hungry is Llan Foodshare's mission

* A Food Share volunteer wheels away more baskets of 

donations from local supermarkets. 

The small team of dedicated and unpaid volunteers at the heart of Zero Waste and  Food Share Llangollen were already busy enough before the coronovirus pandemic hit.

But the lockdown has given massive new impetus to the help they have been providing to the local community. 

In just the past eight or nine alone weeks the team has made 250 deliveries and collections of essential packs, parcels and surplus to those in need of assistance.

Here, team member Jane Louise Tornado explains what Food Share is all about ...

Food is the medium, love is the message. We care, you matter. 

We have two aims: Stop food waste, reduce food poverty.

It is for everyone. No-one in need goes hungry. Everyone shares the surplus.

We started in June 2019 by collecting food surplus from well-known supermarkets, mainly fruit, veg and bread, sorting it at home and then delivering it to people or taking it to community groups who could use it. 

We shared them with people who needed a bit of support to help reduce their food bills and also whoever wanted to join us in using the food to reduce waste. 

We were lucky enough to then be offered storage space at Pengwern Community Centre which we are rapidly filling!

* More donated supplies on the way to distribution by Foodshare. 

We post up recipes and have recently developed a meal planner that will have a weekly pack to make all the meals on it, which gives a variety of food. This is for supporting someone back on their feet if e.g. they have lost their job and are awaiting benefit payments.

Covid-19 has vastly expanded both what we need to do and what we can do, by means of grants and funding to do so. 

Currently we are open 2-2.30 every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at Pengwern Community Centre. We also do deliveries on those days from 2.30-4pm.

So, what do we do?

1. We provide care packs to the over-70s – they can request or a relative can 

2. We provide food parcels to people from food we buy, supplemented with food surplus from supermarkets, in instances of losing a job, delay in benefits such as Universal Credit, and before Covid, for people who were on zero hours contracts and had weeks of no work or who wouldn’t use a traditional food bank but are happy to help share with us all reducing food waste, which in turn supports them and reduces their food bill

3.  We run a night surplus round four nights a week, delivering food surplus to people (fruit, vegetables, ready meals, meat, bread, pastries, packed food) this is between 7.45pm and 9.30pm we usually finish by.

4.  We share the food surplus (veg, fruit, breads) too at the four sessions we do each week at the community centre – anyone can join in with this – we post up when we have lots of eggs, bread, fruit, etc.

Care Packs and Food packs we do:

Approximate costs are (subject to fluctuations due to current availability)

Care Pack costs £12-£13 per pack depending on availability of items

Food Parcels cost: 1 person: £12.00, 2 people: £20.00, 4 people: £30.00 

Food surplus from supermarkets:

We have had soups made from surplus food which have been distributed with care packs and food parcels. Soups and meals numbers in the 100s now. Thanks to Steve at the Swan Inn, Pontfadog and more recently this week TynDwr Hall.

We had 35 adults and 30 children on our night surplus delivery list as at the end of April. And we have 20 more people come on to our lists in the last two weeks for help.

The last few weeks 

Overall, we have done over 250 deliveries and collections of packs , parcels and surplus in the last 8-9 weeks. These are either to an individual, couple or families, plus the VE Day distribution. 

There is a lot of admin, coordination, collecting of surplus food, shopping at wholesalers etc plus dealing with all the cardboard packaging afterwards! 

We have also been finding help and signposting people to other services to help them with housing, Universal Credit etc.

We have been very grateful to have funding so far as follows:

Denbighshire Council, Llangollen Town Council, The Welsh Food Poverty Grant via Flying Start, Llangollen Raffles, Evans Home Improvements and Joinery, Jane’s UAREUK birthday fundraiser and several private donations.

We have had donations of surplus food from businesses, for which we are very grateful and we have had two food deliveries from Flying Start from the Welsh Food Poverty Grant.

And last week we had a big delivery from a local resident who works at Kelloggs which will keep Llangollen breakfast bowls full. 

You can join our page at www.facebook.com/llanfoodshare

By the work we do at the foodshare we have built up trust also of the users and helped them by identifying other services that could help them/signposting.

Food Share was set in June 2019 and was run from home until we started doing sessions at Pengwern Community Centre, where we are now lucky enough to have a base.

It’s run by Jane, Kirsty, Steph and Lesley, with Jen also kindly running our Friday session to give us a rest. We are all unpaid volunteers.

The need is such that we have, through one of our volunteer’s other charities, set up another separate fund to help Wrexham residents who are struggling to access help.

We have had some really touching messages from people we have delivered too and a few tears shed all round. 

Our fundraising link to help us continue our work will be up in the next few days and we will share it with everyone. 

We are also hoping to find a local shop or two who can collect food for us and also a shop or two to have a virtual donation charity tin for us which can be used contactless.

We continue our mission to make sure no one goes hungry and that food is not wasted.

Latest roadworks in the area

Latest local roadworks notified by One Network are:  Castle Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 20 May — 22 May Delays likely - Traffic control (multi-way signals) Works location: Castle Street Works description: 18/05/20-23/05/20/Jayne Valentine/Trial holing/multiway signals... Responsibility for works: Sir Ddinbych - Denbighshire Current status: Advanced planning Works reference: QR015S000000001470 Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 20 May — 22 May Delays possible - Traffic control (multi-way signals) Works location: Market Street Works description: 18/05/20-23/05/20/Jayne Valentine/Trial holing/Multiway signals... Responsibility for works: Sir Ddinbych - Denbighshire Current status: Advanced planning Works reference: QR015S000000001473 East Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 20 May — 22 May Delays unlikely - No carriageway incursion Works location: East Street Works description: 18/05/20-23/05/20/Jayne Valentine/Trial holing/3 way lights... Responsibility for works: Sir Ddinbych - Denbighshire Current status: Advanced planning Works reference: QR015S000000001469

Public back police boss's call for tougher coronavirus fines

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A police boss is calling on the Welsh Government to do a U-turn and increase fines for breaking coronavirus travel restrictions after an opinion poll came out overwhelmingly in favour of the idea.

More than 90 per cent of people who took part in the survey conducted by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones backed his call for a big hike in the penalty for flouting the rules.

Last week the Welsh Government rejected calls by Mr Jones and Dafydd Llywelyn, his counterpart in Dyfed Powys, to introduce heavier fines.

The row came to a head after Prime Minister Boris Johnson eased the travel restrictions in England where people are now allowed to travel to take exercise.

It led to fears of an influx of people into Wales where the lockdown remains in place and where people can only take exercise in the vicinity of their own homes.

Mr Jones launched the poll “out of frustration” after seeing a tweet from a North Wales Police officer which said: “I had one guy from Liverpool laugh at me and said me that a £30 fine is only like a parking ticket…What else can I say.”

The commissioner retweeted it and tagged in First Minister, saying: “Hey @MarkDrakeford @fmwales you want evidence to increase fines, how about this from a North Wales Police officer?”

The strength of feeling about the issue was demonstrated by the fact that his retweet gained 50,000 impressions.

Fines for people who breach the travel restrictions start at £60 and go up to £120 for repeat offenders, although the amount can be reduced to £30 if the penalty is paid within 14 days.

Around 2,000 people took part in the poll and 91 per cent of them were in favour on increasing the penalty, with 65 per cent of them opting for a fine of £500.

Another 15 per cent wanted the fine to increase to £250 while 11 per cent of respondents recommended a fine of £100.

Only nine per cent of people who participated didn’t want any increase.

According to Mr Jones, a former police inspector, the poll had demonstrated clearly that the Welsh Government was “out of step with the mood of the Welsh people”.

He said: “The tweet from the frustrated police officer hit the nail on the head because Welsh police forces are being denied the tools they need to do the job.

“What this survey shows is that the Welsh Government are not listening to their own people and are ignoring the needs of police officers on ground.

“I will be drawing the attention of the Welsh Government to the findings of the survey and I will also be raising this matter at a meeting of the four police and crime commissioners and the four chief constables in Wales.

“If people know they stand to be fined up to £500 for travelling to Wales, they are not going to come.

“We need a realistic deterrent to reduce the number of people coming to Wales for leisure and exercise purposes which is not allowed under Welsh law.

“Increased penalties will ensure we have the capacity to deal with anybody who continue to flout the restrictions.

“Our priority as police forces is to protect life and that’s the bottom line for me.

“What’s crazy is that the restrictions in Wales are tighter than England but the penalties in England are greater. It doesn’t make any sense.”

MS praises Llan care home boss for promoting testing for all

* From left, Old Vicarage residents and staff highlight the need for general testing by holding up a banner outside the home.

After hearing the concerns of a Llangollen care home boss about the lack of Covid-19 testing for all residents and staff Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates raised the issue with the Welsh Government, he says.

And at the weekend the campaign paid off after Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced that Coronavirus testing will be extended across the board.

Ken Skates said: "I raised the issue of testing for care home residents and staff with the Welsh Government after Bethan and other local people contacted me with their concerns. 

"I know from visiting care homes in our area what a remarkable job they do, and I'm acutely aware that they are all having to deal with the many new challenges that coronavirus has brought on top of the usual demands of providing professional and compassionate care to the people they look after.

"I welcome this announcement by the Health Minister and hope it provides reassurance that the Welsh Government is committed to supporting our care homes."

Previously only residents and staff in care homes with confirmed case of Coronavirus were tested.



From this week every care homes in Wales will have access to testing.  

Care homes who have not reported an outbreak or any cases of coronavirus will be able to use an online portal to order testing kits for their residents and staff. 

Test kits would be provided for the whole care home, this includes all residents and staff.  The system will be rolled out shortly.

The new policy will be in an addition to the existing testing arrangements that test:

• all residents and staff of care homes with ongoing cases prior to May
• all residents and staff members of care homes reporting an outbreak
• all residents and staff in the larger care homes, with more than 50 beds.

• all individuals being discharged from hospital to live in care homes regardless of whether or not they were admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

• all people who are being transferred between care homes and for new admissions from the community. 

Vaughan Gething said: “How we tackle Coronavirus continually changes as we receive more emerging evidence and scientific advice.


“We have been very clear in our approach that our strategy is about reducing harm first and we will adapt policies in order to do this. Today is a step change in how we will be testing in care homes, adapting our policy so that every resident and member of staff can be tested for Coronavirus.

“I hope this brings further reassurance to those living and working in care homes and their families.”

Emergency services at park after "barbecue" fire spreads to bench, reports paper

Denbighshire Free Press is reporting that emergency services were called to Riverside Park yesterday evening to deal with a fire which spread to a bench after being started by what is described as a "group" having a barbecue.

* For the full story, see:
https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18455845.emergency-services-called-llangollen-barbecue-fire-started-group-ten/?fbclid=IwAR2Cg6amX7iEWTkjoTEOw3sm5bdso-1bugtKtZaQmAl30miP7fF1ywQMqAY

Raffle brings in over £500 for Llangollen Railway appeal

* Cat Meade's wheel of fortune produced over £500 for Llangollen Railway in yesterday's raffle.

Llangollen Railway has sent out a big thank you to Llangollen Raffles for raising over £500 to help it survive the coronavirus lockdown.

Its closure about two months ago due to the Covid-19 threat has plunged the heritage railway into a financial crisis.

It has so far raised over £75,000 from a public appeal and also has cash from a share issue.

But the railway says more money is needed to help keep the top tourist attraction in business.

Yesterday (Saturday) Llangollen Raffles, which was started by Cat Meade of Llangollen Coronavirus Support Group, did its bit by holding one of its largest ever games which saw all £535 in proceeds being donated to the railway.

There was a host of worthwhile prizes in the raffle, all of which were donated by businesses in the area.

Top prize included £50 in cash donated by a local resident, a limited edition print from Witzend Gallery, a box of fruit and veg from Dee Valley Produce, afternoon tea for two from Pretty Vintage Tearoom and Barista Coffee, a necklace from Llangollen Museum and a mounted vintage railway postcard.

There was a total of 10 valuable prizes available at £5 per ticket.

   

Railway general manager Liz McGuinness said: “A huge thank you to Cat Meade and Llangollen Raffles for their fabulous, very kind donation to Llangollen Railway.

“We will support future raffles as much as we can.

“We hope we can be back together soon and work together to make Llangollen the place to visit.”

* The Coronavirus group itself is celebrating its volunteers distributing over 3,000 information leaflets over the past few days.

Cat Meade posted on Facebook:  

"Thank you to ALL Volunteers who distributed today and will continue tomorrow 👍

Thank you to Cath Miller Sandra Forkin Gareth Williams and Charlie Jones who helped pack over 200 each 👏👏

BIG Thank you to Mrs Meade (aka my mum) at age 79 sat for 2 days packing over 1500 leaflets 👏👏 while Im trying to work and help 🙃

We have supported over 15 local businesses with this FREE distribution and to advise locals on support out there for you ❤

This is a REAL Community effort 👏👏👏

The support group has raised almost £3000 these past 7 weeks, which is great and has been used to continue the group. WE are aiming for another possible few weeks, so will need more support and funds to continue.

PLEASE support the group with as little or as much as you can, we want to keep supporting you." 

Hospice keeps in touch with its day unit patients

* Team Nightingale zoom in on their day patients to stay connected and provide a friendly listening ear and join in the banter with their patients.

Clinical staff are organising ‘keep in touch’ days for patients who are missing their regular visits to Nightingale House’s Day Unit on Chester Road.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak and the way that the hospice is now operating under strict guidelines, day patients with life-limiting illnesses are no longer able to visit and access the valuable face to face services previously available to them. 

These include physiotherapy, counselling, aromatherapy, art and music therapy, as well as the support and social interaction they benefit from.

In order to keep the contact going, Kay Ryan, who heads up the Day Services Unit, is organising regular online group calls to bring the patients together to ensure they are not left feeling lonely and isolated. 

It is an opportunity to chat and link in to the services that so many of them benefit from on a daily or weekly basis. 

This is in addition to the regular (sometimes daily) consultations that take place with individual patients either by phone or video call.  The number of people needing this adapted service is currently over 40.

After one patient told them they were missing the home-cooked meals made at the hospice by award-winning chef Peter Jackson and his team from CaffiCwtch they are now preparing home-cooked dinners to each day patient who wants one and lives within five miles of the hospice, delivered to their door, once a week for free.  

Feedback from the day service patients and their families have been flooding into the team and are being seen as a great motivator for all involved. As well as the regular calls, the team is sending regular resources by post and email to help maintain individual treatment plans.

Kay Ryan said: “By the very nature of our operations our Day Service Unit is an important aspect of our patient’s lives. Ordinarily the benefits of each patient being able to spend time with people who are living with life-limiting illnesses and gain comfort and support from each other is immeasurable. 

"We felt that whilst we couldn’t see each other face to face we could do the next best thing for all of us. The staff here are all missing the patients so we wanted them to feel part of the service even if they weren’t attending.

“The feedback has been very rewarding and given them the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns they have with the group, or privately with our expert nursing and therapy teams.”

Whilst the Zoom calls are connecting the group for a chat, the Day Services team is planning planning more interactive sessions to boost well-being over the coming weeks for patients to re-engage with the activities they would normally access during their normal weekly visits.

MP explains why he supported new Agriculture Bill

Clwyd South Conservative MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has explained why he voted against changes to a government Bill that would, amongst other things, have prevented chlorinated chicken coming into the UK.

Last week in Parliament MPs took part in a virtual vote on the Agriculture Bill which covers post-Brexit food imports into the UK, including washed chicken and hormone-fed beef.

Opposition members and a group of Tory rebels backed amending the Bill but their move was defeated by 328 votes to 277.   

Ministers argued the issue of protecting food standards in post-Brexit trade will be dealt with in the upcoming Trade Bill.

But opponents of practices such as chlorine-washing chicken say this could lead to farm standards being bargained away in negotiations.

Amongst those who voted against amending the Bill was local MP Simon Baynes and explaining his position he said: “I strongly value the UK’s agricultural sector and our high domestic standards - particularly food standards. 

“The UK is a high quality and competitive producer and exporter of agricultural and agri-food products and Government analysis shows that the UK’s new trade agreements, including with the US, will bring significant new opportunities for the UK farming sector.

“This UK Government is committed to not compromising on domestic standards. No UK import or food safety standards will be diminished as part of a Free Trade Agreement. We will also not undermine our high domestic environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards.  

“I was not able, however, to support the approach of the amendments, as they would prevent the Government from being able to secure fair and reciprocally beneficial trade deals. 

“Trying to force all trading partners to produce to UK domestic standards will only result in fewer export opportunities for the farming sector and cut it off from world markets and we are explicitly arguing against this concept in the EU negotiations.  

“Now more than ever it is important to ensure that food supply chains remain resilient – through both domestic production and international trade. Erecting new trade barriers through these amendments would inhibit Government’s ability to ensure food supply chain resilience.”

Government says travelling to Wales for leisure is not allowed

According to the Welsh Government, The stay-at-home coronavirus regulations remain firmly in place in Wales to protect people’s health – this means travelling to Wales for leisure purposes is still not possible.

Campsites, outdoor activities and tourist attractions, together with many popular footpaths and beauty spots, such as Snowdon, remain closed to the public to keep people safe and protect the NHS. Changes made to the law in England, allowing people to go out for open-air recreation do not apply in Wales. In Wales, the stay-at-home rules have been relaxed to remove the once-a-day restriction on exercise. All exercise must be done locally. The Welsh Government’s Economy and North Wales Minister Ken Skates is issuing this important reminder to anyone considering travelling to Wales. He said: "Wherever we live, we are all facing the threat of coronavirus. Our message in  Wales remains very clear. Please stay at home.  “This goes against our normal welcoming nature, but for now please don’t visit.  “We want nothing more than to welcome visitors to enjoy our wonderful scenery and attractions but to protect our NHS and keep people safe as we deal with coronavirus, please stay home and stay local. “Lifting restrictions now would risk increasing spread of the virus, which could endanger more lives and cause longer term disruption and hardship for our tourist industry.  “If you travel a significant distance for leisure purposes into Wales or within Wales you risk being stopped by the police and fined under Welsh law.  Don’t put yourself and others at risk, and for now please don’t visit. “I look forward to giving you all a very different message in the near future.  I look forward to saying “croeso” – welcome – to you all, but not now – later.”