Big game could spark domestic violence, warns AM

In advance of today's Six Nations match between Wales and England, Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has warned of the increased levels of domestic abuse that can occur around big sporting weekends.

During last year’s Six Nations tournament, there were over 4,300 calls to the All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline an increase of almost 10% on the previous year.

 

Evidence shows that the number of incidents reported to the police increases dramatically around the time of big matches.

The AM, who sits on the Assembly’s Local Government Committee, said individuals needed to be vigilant in spotting and reporting domestic abuse over the coming weekend.

He explained: "The spike we see in domestic violence incidents over the days of a major sporting event is nothing new to those who work on the frontline combating violence against women and domestic violence right across Wales. 

 

"During last year’s Six Nations there was an increase of almost 10% in the numbers contacting the All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline.

“Whilst everyone should have fun this weekend and enjoy a Welsh win, we need to be vigilant about domestic violence, fuelled by an excessive intake of alcohol, that can occur at this time of the year.

“Figures from the British Crime Survey show that one in three women will have experienced domestic violence at some point in their lives and one in five will have experienced some form of sexual violence. Tragically two women every week in England and Wales lose their lives as a result of domestic violence.

“We all pay a huge price for the domestic violence that goes on in our communities every day across Wales. It costs £800m to the Welsh economy through the direct additional costs it places on our health and social services as well as employers through absence at work. It also has a cascading impact down the generations too as children who witness sexual or domestic violence are more likely to be perpetrators later on in life.

“However most costly of all is the social price we pay as a community if we allow any woman or man to be abused, mistreated, injured or killed as a result of domestic violence. We need to take a zero tolerance approach, both this weekend and in the future, towards any form of domestic violence.

“Anyone suffering abuse or who suspects that it is going on, should contact the Police or ring the All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline.”

When Wales played England during the Six Nations rugby match in 2012, South Wales Police recorded a 76% increase in the numbers of domestic abuse incidents compared to the previous weekend.

The Welsh Government is expected to take forward a Domestic Violence Bill later in 2013.

Anyone affected by domestic abuse in Wales can call the All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline on 0808 80 10 800 for confidential, bilingual, 24-hour information and advice. In an emergency, always dial 999.

 

Terry Waite looks forward to another eisteddfod

* Terry Waite is heading once again for Llangollen.

Human rights campaigner Terry Waite has hailed the contribution of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in helping to give world peace a chance.

 

As he prepares to take his place at the head of the 67^th annual festival , Mr Waite has spoken of the crucial role music played in helping him through his dark days of captivity as a hostage in Beirut.

 

The Eisteddfod President has also described how the festival, which attracts people from across the globe, is a“powerful example” of how ordinary men and women can make a positive difference in a world torn apart by war.

 

Mr Waite, 73, has been awarded the MBE and CBE for his humanitarian work.

 

He was serving as special international peace envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury when in 1987 he journeyed to Lebanon– then one of the world’s most dangerous place – in a bid to secure the release of four hostages, including the journalist John McCarthy, being held by an Islamic jihad organisation.

 

During the tense negotiations he was himself taken hostage on January 20, which was the start of his journey into the hell of four years of captivity in a Beirut dungeon.

 

For most of the time Terry was kept in solitary confinement in a room without any natural light, chained to the wall and forced to sleep on the floor. He was beaten and subjected to mock executions.

 

He recalls of how every day he did his best to hold himself together spiritually, mentally and physically.

 

In the final stage of his captivity, his robust health began to deteriorate when he contracted a severe lung infection.
 

His torment eventually ended in November 1991 after 1,763 days as a hostage.
 

Mr Waite, who will make his ever-popular appearance as President at this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod from July 9-14, has now spoken of the important part his lifelong love of music played in helping him endure those harrowing times.
 

He said: “I have always been interested in music since I was a boy and was a member of the local church choir.
 

“My grandmother taught the piano and to supplement the family income in the days of the Depression played in the theatre for the silent movies.
 

“When I visited her I always requested her to play some of those old tunes for me.
 

“Alas, I never had opportunity to learn to play an instrument but my interest in music continued across life.
 

“During the days of captivity as a hostage I was kept in strict solitary confinement without access to books or music for many years.
 

“During those dark days I recalled music I had listened to and played the melodies in my head in so far as that was possible.
 

“Music, like good language, has, I believe, the capacity to breathe harmony into the soul and in those days inner harmony was something I sought and needed.
 

“As Gareth Malone has so clearly demonstrated in his television series, music does have the capacity to bring people together who would not be brought together in any other way - which brings me to the Eisteddfod.
 

“As President of this great event I have seen across the years people from all across the world come to a small Welsh village bringing with them their musical talent.
 

“Participants from groups that back home were fighting each other have forgotten their differences and joined together in music, song and dance.
 

“Llangollen is a powerful example of how ordinary men and women - for the Eisteddfod is still organised in the main by volunteers - can make a positive difference in this war-torn world.”
 

Terry added: “It is a mistake to think that it is only people in high political office who can bring peace.
 

“Peace begins in the hearts of ordinary men and women who learn to share and trust. Music is one powerful means to this end.
 

“It was an honour for me when Karl Jenkins invited me to contribute words for his recent work, The Peacemakers.
 

“I wrote the words for the soprano solo and they sum up the message of the Eisteddfod.
 

“I look forward to meeting many old friends there this coming year and of course to making many new ones.”
 

In the years since his release, Terry has continued his tireless quest for world peace and has become the founder of or associated with a wide range of humanitarian organisations, such as the international development agency Y Care and Hostage UK. 
 

On the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s opening day, Tuesday July 9, he will lead the colourful traditional procession through the town to signal six days of world-class competitions and contests.
 

The fesitival's Musical Director, Eilir Griffiths, was honoured that a man of such“great humanity and courage” was their Patron.
 

Mr Griffiths said: "Terry Waite is a great man whose passion and dedication to the cause of peace is an inspiration to us all.
 

"His personal ethos chimes perfectly with the fundamental purpose of the International Musical Eisteddfod which was founded as a means of promoting global harmony in the aftermath of the Second World War."
 

This year’s event is from Tuesday, July 9, to Sunday, July 14. For more information go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen

Major youth event at pavilion

Pupils from across Denbighshire will be gathering for a special event at Llangollen Pavilion on today (Friday) to celebrate the 14-19 Learning Pathways Network.

This helps young people to achieve their potential and become active citizens who contribute to the economic prosperity of the region.

The Pathways to Success event will show how 14-19 Learning Pathways has impacted on the lives of Denbighshire's young people, and demonstrate the success of partnership working.

There will be young people from all secondary schools in Denbighshire present, with some sharing their story of their Learning Pathway.

Young people will be acting as guides taking visitors around to see all of the activities during the day. At the plenary session, young people will be invited to take part in a question and answer session.

There will be many presentations and activities during the day which will include a display by all schools and colleges in Denbighshire, an opportunity to see the ESF Potensial project, where partners will exhibit and learning providers will demonstrate activities with participation by young people.

There will be a School Council meeting conducted during the day where official business will be discussed, as well as a Design and Fashion master-class.

There will also be an opportunity to see the Llwyddo’n Lleol ESF Enterprise Project, school displays of bursary projects, Education Business Partnerships, and the Hospitality & Tourism Work Based Learning Pathway.

The Denbighshire Youth Bus will be present, where young people will have the opportunity to see Careers Wales on-line.

Whilst refreshments are served, there will be an opportunity to see an exhibition of Art & Textiles work by young people in Denbighshire.

The event will run from 09:30 for 10am start, then a plenary at 1:50 pm.

Griffiths moved from health in government re-shuffle

Wrexham Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths has been replaced as Health Minister in a surprise Welsh Governmnet re-shuffle announced this afternoon (Thursday).

 

Taking over the portfolio is Cardiff West AM Mark Drakeford.

Ms Griffiths has recently been criticised by some for her refusal to intervene in the on-going row over the major shake-up of health services in North Wales, including last week's controversial closure of Llangollen Cottage Hospital.  

She now takes over as Local Government Minister from Deeside AM Carl Sargeant.

Business Minister Edwina Hart keeps the economy brief as the minister for economy, science and transport.

Huw Lewis becomes the minister for communities and tackling poverty. His old role as housing and regeneration minister goes to Mr Sargeant.

Labour won power at the last assembly election in May 2011, although it fell one seat short of an outright majority.

Commenting on the re-shuffle, Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales, said: “From the perspective of people in North Wales, this could be seen as a vote of no confidence in Lesley Griffiths’s handling of the NHS changes.

 

"As such it’s a welcome change and an opportunity for the government to show it’s willing to listen to the people of North Wales and alter course.

“The new minister will hopefully have new priorities, otherwise it will just be a hospital pass that means a continuation of the same old policies that are so unpopular across the North.

“This new appointment is a chance to wipe the slate clean and look afresh at local health services in North Wales.

 

"I would ask the new health minister to make an early announcement as to his intentions. Is he happy to see critically ill babies from Wales being exported to England’s health service, which Carwyn Jones himself has described as being “wrecked and privatised”?

 

"And does he support community facilities being arbitrarily axed without any alternative services being put in their place.”

Early days of the Cottage Hospital

* The padlocked front door of the hospital.

llanblogger has been delving into the excellent Welsh Newsapers Online archive for any mention of Llangollen Cottage Hospital, which closed last weekend after 176 years of devotedly serving the local community.

We wrere delighted to come across two articles - printed 22 years apart - from the long-defunct Llangollen Advertiser which has shed a fascinating light on the much-loved hospital in its early days.

The first comes (pictured below)  from February 18, 1876, not long after the hospital opened. The second, dated March 8, 1898, is a report of the hospital's annual meeting.

Here is the article from 1876:

THE LLANGOLLEN COTTAGE HOSPITAL. THE COTTAGE HOSPITAL is now, we are happy to say, complete so far as the building is concerned. It is admirably arranged for the object for which it is intended, the whole work being of a thorough and substantial character, and it now only awaits the furniture and nursing matron to enable the committee to open it for the reception of patients. The furniture will shortly be in its place; Mr. Wagstaff, with great liberality providing every requisite, thus rendering, complete this inestimable gift to the town. We understand that the services of a trained and experienced nurse have been secured by the managing committee in order to make the Hospital as efficient as possible. We trust everyone in this community and the neighbourhood will do all in their power to further the utility of this valuable institution,and support it liberally by annual subscriptions, of which a handsome list has already been obtained; but we hope before long to see many other names added to it. We must not omit to mention that two handsome gifts for the garden have been received, one being a large supply of shrubs and rose trees from Messrs. A. Dickson and Co., of Chester,—the other, tile edging, from Mr. J. C. Edwards, Trevor Hall.

And here is the article from March 8, 1898:

LLANGOLLEN COTTAGE HOSPITAL. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of donors and subscribers to Llangollen Cottage Hospital was held in the Board Room of that institution on the afternoon of the 24th ult., as briefly reported in our last issue. There were present Capt. J. C. Best, R.N. (in the chair), Dr. R. Drinkwat' r, Messrs. S. T. Jagger, S. Morton, J. E. Griffiths, John Rowlands, Mrs. Pugh, and Mr. W. G. Dodd (hon. sec).

THE REPORT. The chairman said all had had the report sent to them, and there was really nothing of any parti- cular nature to remark upon from it. It read as follows:—"In presenting the report of another year's work the committee have no special feature to draw attention to, but to report that the institution continues to do good work in the neighbourhood. Forty-eight patients were admitted during the year, being a decrease of five as compared with the pre- ceding year. The out-patients numbered 32, as against 35 in 1896. In the district nursing branch, good work has again been done, 80 persons having been attended to in their own homes, the number of separate visits being 656.

The demand upon the convalescent funds has been larger than usual, no less than 32 patients having been sent for change of air as compared with 14 in 1896. The committee have much satisfaction in seeing that the institu- tion continues to command the generous support of the subscribers and donors. They would, however, like to see more appeciation amongst workmen of the benefits, to be derived from regular and sys- tematic subscriptions to the workmen's collection cards, entitling contributors to free entrance to the hospital when suffering from illness."

The hospital, he continued, still continued to do a good and wholesome work, and was very well supported by the, people of the district, the committee could not complain about that. There was always a difficulty in keeping up subscriptions for an institution like theirs, owing to the death or removal of benefactors and subscribers. On the other hand that might be supposed a cause for the institution being so well supported by the people of the district.

It would, however, be a mistake to take it altogether in that light. Outsiders, who only saw the report, had no notion of the trouble Mr. Dodd experienced in getting in funds by these small amounts. Of course, as they would see by the report, it was wonderfully well kept up, and much of that gratifying fact was owing to the penny subscribers, and to the work- men themselves, going about with and contributing to collecting cards.

That should certainly be en- couraged, as the committee wanted to see the working man doing a little more to provide for himself against a rainy day while he was well. The institution did not intend him to contribute when he was out of work, but if he put a penny into one or other of the collecting boxes now and again while he was well he was only doing that for which he was very likely some day and in some way to reap the benefit. To say that at the present time there were only eleven entries of regular working men subscribers was rather a slur upon the workmen of the district, and the needs of the institution ought to be taken up by them.

The name of a penny a week subscriber was recorded in the book, and was published with the other items. The expenses during the past year had been pretty much the same as before. The con- valescent fund for sending people to the sea-side had done a good work, and that fund had been more than exhausted, they had to dip into other money from the general hospital fund. He did not think there was a call for any further observations, the report had been sent to the subscribers, and he now moved that it be approved and adopted. The proposition was seconded by Mr. Jagger, and carried unanimously.

SUBSCRIBERS' REPRESENTATIVES. It was resolved that Sir Theodore Martin, K.C.B., K.C.V., Mr. S. Jagger, and Mr. Griffith Williams, be the subscribers' representatives on the Managing Committee for the ensuing year.

VOTES OF THANKS. Mr. Morton moved that the best thanks of the meeting be given to the medical gentlemen who had tendered their services free of charge to patients while in the hospital to the treasurer (Mr. W. Richards) to the matron (Miss Edwards); to the clergy and ministers of all denominations who had made Sunday collections in places of worship on behalf of the hospital; to the proprietor of the Llangollen Advertiser for inserting free of charge the artices, &c., relating to the hospital to the collectors of penny cards and alms boxes; to contributors of gifts in kind; and to Miss Edwards (Hand Hotel) for providing free con- veyance of patients to the hospital when necessary. Mr. Jagger having seconded the proposition, it was carried.

Dr. Drinkwater next proposed that the thanks of the meeting be passed to the committee and secretary (Mr.! Dodd) for their successful management of the hospital during the year. Mrs. Pugh seconded the motion, and was it carried with great heartiness. The chairman replied, and said they were particularly indebted to Mr. Dodd for his very active services and attention to the requirements of the hospital (applause).

He thought the committee ought to thank Mr. Dodd very much for the work that he did. Mr. Dodd, in reply, said that whatever services he might perform in connection with the institution the work afforded him both pleasure and satisfaction when he knew that he had the confidence of his colleagues. He could not but be pleased to see that they worked together so harmoniously. Mr. Morton then moved, and Mr. Dodd seconded, a vote of thanks to Capt. Best for his services. The Captain had taken an interest in the hospital from the very beginning, and it spoke well for him and the institution that things were going on so well.—The proposition having been carried, the chairman admitted to taking an interest, in the welfare of the institution, and hoped that all would continue to go on well in connection with it. He thought the very fact that they had not large meetings was testimony that all was proceeding satisfactorily. This concluded the business of the meeting. 

Skates backs North Wales prison plan

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates as thrown his weight behind plans for a new prison to be sited in North Wales.

In January the Ministry of Justice named the region as one of three areas alongside London and the North West of England, in the running to house a new facility.

The AM said there were ‘compelling’ reasons to site a prison in North Wales which consultants believe could be worth over £17m to the local economy.

However, he said there needed to be close consultation with any community proposed as a site to ensure public support for the project.

Mr Skates said: “I’m fully supportive of efforts to bring a secure and modern prison to North Wales. There are compelling reasons to site a prison in the region which currently does not have any facilities to house local prisoners, the only region in the UK not to do so.

“Research has suggested that the economic impact of a 1,500 place prison could be over £17m to the local economy and help to bring nearly 1000 much needed jobs to the area around it.

“One of the reasons I feel it should be considered is that many prisoners from North Wales are currently housed at HMP Altcourse. It means families of prisoners having to travel all the way to Merseyside to visit relatives and I feel that if we are going to build a new prison anyway, North Wales would be a good location.

“Importantly, I feel it could help reduce crime rates in the North Wales area. The odds of re-offending are 39% higher for prisoners who do not receive visits from a partner or a family member so it would help reduce the incentive for North Wales prisoners to commit more crime when they get back home after their sentence.

“What we need now is to look closely at all the potential sites in the region. However the main consideration in all of this is that wherever in North Wales we think is best for a prison it has the backing of the local community.

“As the process develops we need an on-going dialogue with the areas considered most appropriate and a rigorous consultation process to ensure all the issues and concerns people and communities might have are addressed adequately.”

The release of site criteria and the timescale for site selection has not yet been advertised by the Ministry of Justice but is expected imminently.

New Pope chosen

Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, a Jesuit, is announced as the Roman Catholic Church's new Pope, to be named Francis I.