Santa steps in to help youngster with rare neurological disorder

* Santa gets ready to zoom into action and chat virtually about all things Christmas with Nightingale House Hospice’s young supporters.

Santa Claus is all for making children’s dreams come true and this year is no exception, after fundraisers at Nightingale House rallied to take the stress off one youngster and his family. 

Normally the very sight of Santa Claus in person can cause upset and distress for 15-year-old Jake Edwards-Owen from Johnstown.  

Jake, a pupil at St Christopher’s School in Wrexham has a rare condition known as Angelman Syndrome affecting around 1:20,000 births. As a result, he has severe learning difficulties, delayed development and very limited speech.

 

It is not unheard of for Jake to run away at the very sight of the real Santa, when a trip to St Giles’ Parish Church Christmas concert in Wrexham turned into a hunt by his mother for the youngster after he bolted from the pews as he caught a glimpse of the man himself coming down the aisle.

 

The hospice is organising virtual Santa Calls for 2020 and as the hospice’s Santa is an expert in Makaton sign-language the team were happy to help arrange an extra special call for Jake. 

All money raised from the event will go directly towards patient care and family support at Nightingale House Hospice.

 

Jake’s mum Helen Edwards said that as her son cannot communicate verbally a virtual chat with Santa from the comfort of their own home would be the perfect setting to eliminate any stress. Nightingale House is close to her heart as her late father used the facilities in 2004 so the family have always thrown their support around the hospice.

 

She said: “I rang the hospice and told them about Jake’s communications difficulties. When I spoke to Sam in the fundraising team, she couldn’t do enough to help us as a family. 

"Some people may think it’s unusual that a 15-year-old wants to see Santa so I wanted to see if I could go on the call with him. 

"They went one step further and told me that Santa signs in Makaton which Jake can understand and put plans in place to make it happen. I think he’ll be much more comfortable with this arrangement rather than seeing him face to face.”

 

Sam Amis, fundraiser at Nightingale House, said: “We are delighted to help Jake and his family have an extra special call with Santa this year and I’m sure he’ll have a long list of gifts he’d like ready to pass on to him. With many Christmas events being cancelled this year – we didn’t want our lovely younger supporters missing out on the opportunity to see Santa.

"The Santa Calls have been a magnificent success and we have introduced extra days to ensure he can speak to all the children who would like to chat.”

 

Helen added: “Thank you to Sam and the fundraising team at Nightingale House for making this happen for us – I am confident that our Santa Call will make it an extra special occasion for Jake and his younger brother Callum this year. Please support the hospice as it deserves every penny that it gets.”

 

* You can book a personalised chat with Santa direct from the North Pole via the website https://www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/event/santa-calls/or by ringing the fundraising team on 01978 316800. Santa will also send each child a personalised letter and a bag of magic reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. Tickets are £15 per family (maximum of 3 children, additional children £5 each).

* From left, Jake with his brother 

Callum and Nana Jean.

Isherwood selected to fight Delyn for Welsh Conservatives

Mark Isherwood MS (pictured), the Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales since 2003, has been selected to fight the Delyn seat for the Welsh Conservatives in next May’s elections.

He said: “It is a privilege to have been selected as Delyn’s Welsh Conservative Candidate for the 2021 Welsh General Election.

“Twenty plus years of Labour Welsh Governments have been a disaster for devolution in Wales. The people of Delyn deserve better.”

Mr Isherwood, who is Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing and Communities, Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces and North Wales, has also held the shadow briefs including Finance, Education, and Europe,  added: “Using my extensive experience as a Member of the Senedd for North Wales since 2003, I want to give the people of Delyn the voice and recognition in Cardiff Bay that they deserve.”

Still time to take part in climate change consultation

There is still time to have your say on plans by Denbighshire County Council to tackle climate and ecological change.

Last year the council declared a climate change and ecological emergency which included a commitment to make the authority net carbon zero by 2030, enhance biodiversity across the county and call on the Welsh and UK governments to provide assistance and resources to enable the council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A public engagement event was held earlier this year asking for the public’s views and now they can have their say on the council’s draft Climate and Ecological Change Strategy which covers the years 2021/22 – 2029/30.

Members of the public can complete an online survey to give their feedback on the document up until December 7 at https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/560

 

Welsh beef on the menu at three local schools

* Head cook Louise Roberts with Harlech Foodservices's Mark Lawton. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

Welsh beef is on the menu for pupils at Llangollen schools now a North Wales food distribution company has won the contract to supply over a million school meals a year for the county.

Harlech Foodservice won the three-year contract from a US-owned multi-national and have pledged that wherever possible the county's seven secondary and 48 primary schools - including Dinas Bran, Bryn Collen and Y Gwernant - will receive food sourced in North Wales.

Harlech Commercial Director Mark Lawton said: "This is a hugely important contract for us to win against competition from one of the biggest wholesalers in the UK.

"It shows we have the quality and the capacity to supply and deliver high quality food, including beef sourced from farms in North and Mid Wales, for well over a million meals a year.

"Pupils in Denbighshire eat 7,500 meals a day and each week the head cooks in each of the 55 schools in Denbighshire place their orders for some 35,000 meals and we have the capacity to guarantee delivery for that through our fleet of lorries and vans.

"It extends the service we provide for schools in North Wales where we already supply similar numbers of school meals for Gwynedd and Conwy which makes for over 100,000 school meals a month."

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council's Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: "We're very pleased to have been able to award this contract to a North Wales company because it is important that we support the regional economy wherever possible.

"Ensuring pupils at Denbighshire schools get healthy, varied and nutritious meals to improve learning and development is a priority for the council and this partnership helps ensure our School Meals Service can provide that.

"We know that the majority of their meat comes from their own farms and is prepared by their own butchers and that is another box we can tick.

"The contract has started and is going very well and Harlech have gone out of their way to adapt their systems to match with ours and it's good to know there is always someone on the end of the phone we can speak to.

"All the schools operate the same menu for the week and Harlech have that as well but it is still the head cook who orders for each school."

School Head Cook Louise Roberts places her orders twice a week and she said: "It works really well and the people we deal with at Harlech are very friendly and helpful.

"Most importantly it comes when I need it and that makes it much easier for me to organise the work and the menus.

"We have just done an American-themed week and Harlech were able to supply us with corn on the cob, potato waffles, donuts, ice-cream, milk shakes and burgers."

Harlech Foodservices bid for the contract through their membership of TUCO - The University Caterers Organisation - a framework which qualifies businesses to provide catering services for the public sector.

They recently signed a deal to supply meat to the expanding BBQ chain Hickory's Smokehouse which has 11 outlets from Southport to Worcester and other clients include Pendine Park Care Homes and the Portmeirion Hotel.

Welsh Conservatives choose Clwyd South Senedd candidate

* Barbara Hughes will fight Clwyd South for the Conservatives next year.

Farmer Barbara Hughes has been selected to fight the Clwyd South seat for the Welsh Conservatives in next year’s Senedd elections.

Mrs Hughes, who was born and bred in the constituency in Corwen, said she was delighted at her selection and planned to get straight on with holding the Welsh government to account for "failing policies".

She added: "I intend to stand up for local people, who deserve so much more than they get from the Welsh Government. Rural communities, like ours, are the backbone of Wales. We need more support and I will fight to make sure we get it.”

Securing more backing for local businesses is close to her heart, she says.

She runs a 220-acre dairy farm with her husband Derek on the Clwyd South border – as well as PYO pumpkin and strawberry ventures.

Mrs Hughes, who is a Welsh speaker, said: “I understand the needs and challenges of working in business, because I have set up and developed my own from scratch.”

A mentor for the Welsh Government Farming Connect programme, she says she is also passionate about improving communication and connectivity.

“I want to see the digital agenda developed further. With Covid-19 and more of us working from home, we need to make absolutely sure that rural communities are not disadvantaged by slow broadband speeds.”

Increased funding for local schools and the health service are among her top priorities, she explained.

Mrs Hughes is a former National Vice Chairman for the Women’s Farming Union (WFU) and served as Dairy Chairman. 

She was also the first lady chairman of Wrexham National Farmers Union (NFU). She  won the NFU Cymru Wales Woman Farmer of the Year in 2011.

Married with three children and five grandchildren, in her spare time, she enjoys reading, swimming and equestrian sports. 

New coronavirus measures from this Friday announced

PUBS, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales will be forced to stop selling alcohol and to shut by 6pm in a new round of restrictions that begin on Friday night ahead of Christmas, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

The new regulations that come into force from 6pm on December 4 will also see cinemas, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues forced to shut their doors until they are reviewed on December 17.

The announcement comes just three weeks after the end of Wales's 17-day firebreak lockdown and amid another rise in coronavirus cases particularly among under-25s in 17 of the country's 22 local authorities.

Earlier this afternoon Mr Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff that scientific and medical advisers believed unless further restrictions were put in place, the number of people in hospital in Wales with Covid-19 could rise to 2,200 people by January 12.

Modelling suggested another 1,600 people could also lose their lives over the winter period, he said.

Mr Drakeford told the Welsh Government's press briefing: "The measures we are taking are based on what the UK SAGE group of experts tells us has worked best elsewhere.

"From 6pm on Friday, our national measures will be amended to introduce new restrictions for hospitality and indoor entertainment attractions.

"Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will have to close by 6pm and will not be allowed to serve alcohol. After 6pm they will only be able to provide takeaway services."

* The Welsh Government is making a further £340m available through the Economic Resilience Fund to support businesses affected by the new changes to the regulations. It will include a specific fund to support hospitality and tourism businesses.

The new Welsh Government support is split into two funds: a £160m Restrictions Business Fund and a £180m sector-specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

The Restrictions Business Fund will enable eligible businesses in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors which pay non-domestic rates (NDR) to access grants of up to £5,000.

It is estimated around 60,000 businesses, with a rateable value of under £150,000 will receive this support.  

Businesses not on the NDR system, will be able to continue to apply to local authorities for the Lockdown Discretionary Grant of up to £2,000.

In addition, hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses will be able to access a sector specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

Small and medium sized businesses meeting the criteria could receive up to £100k. Larger Welsh-based businesses could receive up to a maximum of £150k.

This part of the package is expected to support up to 8,000 businesses in these sectors and a further 2,000 in the related supply chains.

More information about the funding and how it can be accessed will be published on the Business Wales website in the coming days.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “These are incredibly difficult days for businesses and these decisions have not been taken lightly.

“We expect today’s £340m announcement to support tens of thousands of businesses and help protect many more jobs and livelihoods. It must also be remembered that UK Government support is also available to businesses.

“We will continue to do everything we can to support our firms and our people through these challenging times.”

Health centre booking flu jab appointments for 50-64 year olds

* The huge queue for over-65s drive-through flu jabs at the Pavilion recently.

Llangollen Health Centre is now booking appointments for a flu clinic at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday December 13th for the 50 to 64 year-old age group.

* If you wish to have a flu vaccination and you fall into this age category please ring the health centre on 01978 860625.

Former Llan PE man could have a role at Wrexham FC, suggests story

* The picture by Rob McElhenney that appeared on Twitter.

Hollywood star Rob McElhenney has hinted that a former PE teacher in Llangollen could have a role in the new-look Wrexham FC, suggests a story in Welsh news service Nation.Cymru.  

McElhenney, who recently sealed a deal for the club alongside fellow star Ryan Reynolds, tweeted that he would “never get into an airplane unless you trust the people flying it” and included a picture of himself standing next to Peter Moore, who is also a former Liverpool CEO.

He was wearing a Wrexham AFC face mask and Peter Moore a Liverpool FC facemask.

The story says Moore, 66, spent three years as CEO at Anfield having arrived in June 2017 and oversaw a period of growth and success on and off the field before handing over the reins to Billy Hogan at the end of August.

He had previously been linked with a return to the game to oversee the challenge of getting Wrexham into gear in the event of a successful takeover by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The former Reebok, Sega, Microsoft and EA Sports executive has his roots in Wales and recently became honorary president of Gresford Athletic, a lower-tier Welsh side that plays four miles from the Racecourse Stadium.

Moore was a PE teacher at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen before moving to the United States.

County council describes test and trace efforts

Great efforts are continuing to be made in Denbighshire to try and reduce the number of coronavirus cases in the county, says the county council.

Moli Lloyd Evans from Pwllglas near Ruthin is a member of the Contact Tracing Team within the Test, Trace and Protect service.

Moli said: “My role is to phone anybody who tests positive for coronavirus. The first thing I’ll do is check how they are doing, whether they need any help. 

"I’ll monitor their symptoms or if they have any concerns, I can signpost them to other services in the NHS.   

"I will then give them their isolation advice to self-isolate for 10 days after their symptoms began or  it will be ten days after a test if they have no symptoms."

She added: "The symptoms are a cough, high temperature  and no taste or smell. That’s what we ask people to look out for.  

"Then everyone else in the household will also be asked to self-isolate. I then conduct an interview to establish all the contacts and locations they’ve been during their infectious period so that we can contact those people and give them the advice they need and put them in isolation as well.

“Generally the response from the public is really good. People are happy to work with us, to give us the information and they want our help as well. Sometimes  people can be scared or anxious or sometimes they can be unwell.  

“As a team we always work with those individuals to guide them through things in a friendly and supportive manner.   If  someone needs a bit more time to gather their thoughts and provide the information then that’s fine.  The biggest hurdle we have is working against the clock and it does sometimes hold us back if we cannot get hold of someone. We’d rather be one step forward and try and prevent any further cases of coronavirus from spreading."

Meanwhile, the council is advising residents in Denbighshire of two testing centres that have opened to the public in the county.  

One has opened at County Hall car park in Ruthin since Wednesday, 18 November and will remain open for another two weeks between the hours of 9.30am and 4.30pm. No appointment is necessary for this walk-on and drive-in service.

A walk-in testing centre has also opened in Rhyl.   The testing centre is located on Quay Street car park, near the blue bridge. People will need to make an appointment to have a test and can do so by visiting the Welsh Government website: www.gov.wales/coronavirus or by phoning 119.

Councillor Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “I would like to commend the teams working on the Test, Trace and Protect service right across Denbighshire.   

"They are doing a sterling job in tracing the contacts of positive cases and providing advice for people to self-isolate. It’s an extremely demanding job but completely essential in our efforts to try and reduce the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

“This work is being complemented by a number of testing centres that have been set up in the county, to provide tests for residents.  

"I would urge people that require a test to use their great facilities in our communities.  You don’t need an appointment to visit the Ruthin testing centre, you simply need to turn up and a test will be carried out.  The testing centre in Rhyl requires an appointment, so I would ask you to get your appointment booked at the earliest opportunity."

Campaign starts to bring back lost recycling facility

 

* A poster produced to promote the campaign. 

A Llangollen resident has started a campaign – complete with petition – for the return of a recycling facility to the Dee Valley.

Phil Jones claims that while 13 years have passed since the closure of the old refuse tip at Wenffrwd off the A539 no action has been taken by Denbighshire County Council (DCC) on commitments to look for a replacement site or a joint deal with neighbouring Wrexham for Llangollen residents to use its Plas Madoc recycling centre.

He said: “Both the Welsh Government  and DCC trumpet their achievements in recycling, but this doesn’t match reality in the Dee Valley where we have been kept in the dark by DCC and our elected representatives.

“So, 13 years have passed and what has DCC achieved?

“No replacement site was ever found and facilities were closed in Carrog and Corwen. Plans are now in hand to build a new facility in Denbigh, though.

“Negotiations with Wrexham CBC fizzled out without a conclusion and no formal agreement for access to Plas Madoc was obtained.

“With covid restrictions we now have little or no recycling service in Llangollen, and Wrexham CBC has banned non-resident access to Plas Madoc.

“I asked one of our county councillors what officers were doing to address this problem and was told there was ‘no appetite’ to negotiate a deal with WCBC.

“This information was soon contradicted when I subsequently wrote to the Welsh Minister and to the chief executive of DCC. I was assured that DCC was more than willing to collaborate with its neighbouring authorities to negotiate cross border arrangements for such things as access to recycling sites.

“Happy to know that common sense had prevailed, I waited a month or two expecting that an announcement would soon be made. I heard nothing, so I wrote to both chief executives of DCC and WCBC. I have never had a reply from DCC but I did get a response from WCBC.

“They are open to negotiation of an access agreement, but of course DCC will have to pay for it. Nothing will be set up before April 2021, I am told, and then it must be conditional on DCC allocating the necessary funds required.”

Mr Jones added: “Based on DCC’s performance over the last 13 years I have no confidence that they will be resolving this issue anytime soon.

“And because of their inability to communicate with their ratepayers, I think it would be foolish to wait until April next year to find out whether they intend to offer a full recycling facility in the Dee Valley.

“As a first step we should ask our county councillors, Messrs Timms and Mile, to get the free collection of bulky waste items for residents in LL20 reinstated.

“In order to push DCC into action we have to start a campaign.”

He says a petition is now open for signature, either online at https://www.change.org/p/denbighshire-county-council-return-of-recycling-in-llangollen-and-the-dee-valley or in person at Watkin & Williams, Gwyn the Butcher, Lilly Rose Interiors, or Fouzi’s Cafe.

Mr Jones added that paper copies of the petition will be available for signature as an alternative to the online version at these shops in week commencing today (Sunday).

Collen Players present smash-hit online Christmas show

* Show chairman Father Lee Taylor.

The Collen Players went online to present their Christmas variety show yesterday evening.

Unable to perform before their usual audience due to the pandemic they observed strict social distancing to livestream their hour-long mixture of song and fun on their own Facebook page.

Their aim was to bring a little pre-festive light to a grimly locked-down world.

And hundreds from across the UK and abroad tuned in to watch them.

Acts were accompanied on the piano by Owen Roberts. 

Presented as usual by their founder Father Lee Taylor, vicar of St Collen’s, who opened with his traditional brand of patter, the whole thing kicked off with a rousing version of Couple of Swells from Julie Thomas and Gethin Davies.

* Julie Thomas and Gethin Davies are a couple of swells.

Next to take to the stage was Phil Robinson reprising a couple of music hall favourites, Champagne Charlie and The Spaniard That Blighted My Life.

* Phil Robinson is Champagne Charlie.

Things were slowed down beautifully when Susan Stokes sang Wouldn’t It Be Lovely from My Fair Lady and O Holy Night.

* Wouldn't It Be Lovely sings Susan Stokes.

The show stayed in reflective mood as Mike Connolly presented the very seasonal Do You Hear What I Hear? And Adeste Fidelis.

* Mike Connolly sings Adeste Fidelis.

Gethin Davies returned for a light-hearted couple of numbers, My Old Dutch and Have Some Madeira M’Dear.

* Gethin Davies presents Have Some Madeira M'Dear.

Young Shea Ferron, who also arranged the technical bits of the show, switched into his other mode as a talented singer to ring out If I Can’t Love Her from Beauty and the Beast and the poignant Christmas in the Trenches.

* Shea Ferron sings the moving Christmas in the Trenches.

There was more music hall-style patter from Father Lee – including the naughty Marrow Song - before special guest Santa Claus was called up to deliver a Christmas message which spoke of Llangollen’s resilience in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

The show ended on just the right note with a rousing version of White Christmas.

* Santa Claus, a close associate of the new Town Mayor, Austin "Chem" Cheminais, delivers his Christmas message.

* A recording of the show can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/collenplayers      

Tune in for some Christmas cheer this evening

* Neil Barrett and David Lyne's double act will be on the evening's bill. 

The Collen Players are to stage a special Christmas Variety show this evening.

But because they’re not yet allowed to perform for a live Llangollen audience due to social distancing rules, they will be bringing some roistering seasonal cheer through the airwaves.

The group was founded a couple of years ago by Father Lee Taylor, priest-in-charge of St Collen’s Church and a music hall enthusiast.

He said: “Collen Players have now done a number of very successful shows which attracted large and appreciative audiences.

“Unfortunately, we had to cancel one of the shows soon after the pandemic began but we were determined to go ahead with our Christmas special.

“We’ll be streaming it live on our own Facebook page observing the very strictest social distancing rules.”

He added: “Like so many other entertainers we’re having to adapt to this new way of performing but we can’t wait to be involved in the show.

“People have had such a very bad time over most of this year and we think they deserve a little cheering up in time for Christmas.

“We hope as many people as possible will watch the show which starts online at 6.30pm tonight (Friday).”

Father Lee will as usual be the evening’s chairman and the performers will be Shea Ferron, Julie Thomas and Gethin Davies, Mike Connolly, Susan Stokes, Phil Robinson, Neil Barratt and Dave Lyne.

Accompanying them on the piano will be Owen Roberts.

* To see the show being livestreamed at 6.30pm this evening, go to the Collen Players Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/collenplayers      

Entries invited to business champions awards

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has shown his support for small community-based enterprises in his constituency by backing the Wrexham and Denbighshire Business Champions Awards.

The awards were launched to highlight the achievements of the UK’s very best small businesses who have shown great community spirit in their local area and are aimed at any businesses with up to 50 employees, including hairdressers, cafes, accountants, solicitors and graphic designers.

Small businesses in both Wrexham and Denbighshire have the chance to be in the regional finals, competing at town and country levels. The awards will culminate with five regional finals in Wales, Scotland Northern Ireland, Northern England and Southern England.

Simon Baynes MP said: “In Clwyd South we have so many excellent small businesses who are worthy of the Business Champions Award. 

"So it’s wonderful to see that these businesses have an opportunity to be recognised for their efforts, particularly during these challenging times. I would strongly encourage small businesses in Wrexham and Denbighshire to apply for this award and I want to wish them the very best of luck in this competition.”

Awards Director, Damian Cummins, said: “This year, more than ever, we have learned to appreciate our local independent businesses. From the local corner shop to barbers, pubs and cafes.

“Lots of these small businesses are put off by business awards as they feel they are too small to compete. We wanted to create an awards ceremony that recognised and celebrated the very best of local businesses, from the High Streets to those hidden away in the nooks and crannies of towns and villages.

“The Wrexham and Denbighshire Business Champions are all about the story. We want to know why you are the best in your area and how you support the local community. From being the latest craze or ‘go to’ restaurant in your town, to the family business that’s been going quietly for generations.

 “These are truly local, transparent awards, celebrating local success stories and are incredibly easy to enter. Just reaching the finals alone will help companies to successfully market their business and thrive.”

* For more information, or to enter the awards, you can visit www.townandcountybusinesschampions.co.uk or www.tcbchamps.co.uk.

Update on the coronavirus cases at Llangollen Fechan

According to Denbighshire County Council, latest figures available from the Coronavirus incident in the Llangollen Fechan Care Home in Llangollen show there have been five further deaths, taking the total in the last three weeks to 20.

There have been 11 new positive coronavirus tests, which include four residents and seven members of staff, resulting in a total of 60 residents and 40 staff since the start of this incident (as of 26 November)

The Incident Management Team, comprises of Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

These organisations are bringing together their expertise and continue to work with the owners of the home and to co-ordinate the response. 

The IMT is taking the incident very seriously, it says.

Co-chair of the IMT, Nicola Stubbins, said: “We continue to work together closely to monitor the situation and to help the owners and staff to implement the control measures.

“We are very sad to report these further deaths and are very concerned about a number of residents who are currently very poorly.

Unfortunately, residents who are already vulnerable through their age or pre-existing conditions are more likely to suffer the worst outcomes from this deadly virus and our thoughts are with all of those affected.

“We still expect to see cases in a variety of settings, and we manage any clusters of Coronavirus appropriately.  This can include providing advice around infection prevention and control, and by supporting contact tracing where required.

“Anyone who meets the definition of a contact will be contacted as a routine part of theTest, Trace and Protect process and provided with additional advice for themselves, their household and other contacts.

“We remind the public that they have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus.  They can do this by adhering to Welsh Government regulations currently in place in Wales, and by observing social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others – and washing hands regularly.”

Council reminds residents of self-isolation support payments

Denbighshire County Council is reminding the county’s residents that have been contacted by NHS Wales Test, Trace and Protect service (TTP) and told to self-isolate that they may be entitled to financial support from a package announced by Welsh Government.

The Self-Isolation Support payment is being administered by local authorities and the application process has now been implemented.

People are entitled to a Self-Isolation Payment of £500 if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They have been told to self-isolate by NHS Wales, Test, Trace, Protect service (TTP) on or after 23 October 2020
• They are employed or self-employed
• They cannot work from home and will lose income as a result
• They or your partner are currently receiving at least one of the following benefits:
  • Universal Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit

A discretionary payment of £500 may be available if people meet all of the following criteria:

• You have been told to self-isolate by NHS Wales, Test, Trace, Protect service (TTP) on or after 23 October 2020
• You are employed or self-employed
• You cannot work from home and will lose income as a result
• You or your partner do not currently receive:
  • Universal Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • income-based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit
• You will face financial hardship as a result of not being able to work while you are self- isolating.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Assets, said: “We fully recognise that some people will have suffered financial hardship as a result of the covid restrictions and worrying about finances only adds to people’s concerns.

“The Isolation Payment has been made available by Welsh Government to assist those that have suffered financially and the scheme is open until the New Year.   The Council has published the information on its website, on social media and through the local press, in the hope that people who may be eligible come forward to apply.

!The Council is responsible for administering the scheme in Denbighshire and information on the criteria, as well as how to apply and the application forms themselves are available on the Council’s website and we would encourage people to take a look and consider whether they are eligible for the payments.

* To apply, please visit the Council’s website: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business

SM calls for support for "desperate" B&Bs

North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has again called on the Finance Minister Rebecca Evans to provide an urgent statement detailing how she’s going to support "desperate" small B&B businesses, or explain why she’s “abandoned this key sector and its support for our local economies.”

Throughout the pandemic Mr Isherwood says he has made repeated calls for support for these businesses, yet they continue to miss out on funding sources.

Yesterday he again challenged the Minister over the lack of support.

Calling for an urgent statement on the matter during yesterday’s Business Statement in the Welsh Parliament, he said: “When I asked you for a statement on this six weeks ago, I said the Welsh Government again excluded them from financial support to help them survive the pandemic, this time barred from a third round of the economic resilience fund. 

"They were also deemed ineligible in previous rounds and have been denied small business grants, unlike their counterparts in England and Scotland.

"In reply, you said they should speak to Business Wales advisers to explore whether they can point them in the direction of other forms of support. Having tried this, they told me that only loans were available, and these would push them into unmanageable debt.

“They've since told me that they are also ineligible for your lockdown discretionary grant and ask if the Welsh Government were going to help them before we go into this winter, stating, 'Our sector cannot possibly survive without additional help'. 

They therefore need a statement from you, detailing the support you will now give them, or explaining why on earth you've abandoned this key sector and its support for our local economies.”

The Minister told Mr Isherwood to send her details of the reasons why the B&B owners he referred to were not eligible for the discretionary fund

She added: “We are looking to explore what we can learn from this current ERF phase 3 in terms of our package of support as we move forward for business. So, I'd be keen to understand why they were unable to access funding through the discretionary fund, which is deliberately very wide and broad in order to meet the needs of those businesses that have not yet been able to access support.”

Mr Isherwood added: “I will now go back to the desperate B&B businesses who have been in touch to inform them of the Minister’s latest response and ask for their feedback once more, before writing to the Minister.”  

Christmas quiz papers available from Saturday

Papers to enter this year's Cancer Research Christmas Quiz will be available to collect from this weekend.

Organisers say: "Unfortunately, Llangollen Tourist Information is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, but you can pick up your Christmas Quiz as usual from Pro-Adventure.  

"For those who don’t know the town so well, it’s near the traffic lights at the top of Castle Street.  

"The quiz will be available from Saturday, 28^th November. 

"After being so badly compromised by Covid this year Cancer Research UK will more than ever appreciate all the support you can offer to put its valuable work back on track."  

New guidance on face coverings in schools and colleges

Denbighshire County Council is reminding pupils and parents about changes to guidance regarding face coverings in schools and colleges.

The Welsh Government has updated its guidance and face coverings should now be worn in all areas outside the classroom by staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges, on dedicated school and college transport for learners in year 7 and up and by visitors to all schools and colleges, including parents and carers picking up and collecting children.

The Council understands sufficient time will be needed for schools to communicate these changes to staff, parents and pupils and the expectation is these changes will be implemented as quickly as possible over the coming weeks.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “Schools have worked tirelessly to keep pupils safe with a range of measures and this new guidance on face coverings will keep pupils, staff and parents as safe as possible.

“It is especially important to note that parents and carers picking up and collecting children from school grounds will now be required to wear a mask.

“Along with hand-washing and social distancing, the use of face coverings will help ensure our schools are safe and reduce transmission of Covid-19. We are encouraging pupils, staff and parents to follow this guidance so they can all play their part in keeping our communities safe.

“When cases have arisen in our schools they have been dealt with effectively and the Test, Trace, Protect procedures have been followed.

“The commitment and resilience shown by our pupils and schools has been outstanding. They have worked tirelessly and shown true courage and determination through what has been a difficult time.

“Protecting the health and well-being of our pupils and maintaining a high quality education remains our priority.”

Parents/guardians have been advised to remain alert for the main symptoms of coronavirus:

•  A new or continuous cough

•  A high temperature

•  A loss of or change to sense of smell or taste

Those advised to self-isolated should book a coronavirus test if they develop any of these symptoms, even if they are mild. A test can be booked by phoning 119 or online: www.gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus

Advice requires those self-isolating to stay at home, not to go outdoors to exercise, to visit shops, family or friends, or to other public spaces. Please do not invite people to your house.

* Further formation on Test, Trace, Protect can be found here https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus