Call MEIC to help with exam stress

 

 

Emotional support is on hand for pupils across Wales who are feeling the stress as they wait for their exam results, Communities Minister Jeff Cuthbert has said.

 

MEIC, the Welsh Government funded advocacy and advice service for children and young people, is highlighting the support it offers to those waiting for their GCSE and A-Level results.

 

It has started a Facebook campaign to make pupils aware that whatever their problem, they are there to listen.

 

MEIC is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can be contacted by phone, SMS text and instant messaging.

Since going 24/7 in January 2011, just over 17,000 children and young people have contacted MEIC.

The Welsh Government provides £850,000 a year to support the service.

MEIC can be accessed online at www.meiccymru.org or by calling 080880 23456.

Jeff Cuthbert said: "This can be a very stressful time of year for young people as they wait for their exam results and they think about the options open to them as they prepare for the next stage of their lives.

“We want to make sure they know they are not alone and have somewhere confidential, anonymous and free to discuss their concerns and help solve their problems.

“MEIC has shown it can make a real difference to people’s lives and it ensures children and young people across Wales have a voice and are listened to."

County council set to launch new website

Denbighshire County Council has announced that it is launching a new website www.sirddinbych.gov.uk | www.denbighshire.gov.uk soon.

A council spokesperson said: "As part of our priority of  modernising the council to deliver efficiencies and improve services for our customers, the new website will make it much easier for our customers to access and use our services.

"We’ve introduced a wide range of new improvements including new online content that’s clear, concise and easy to understand, new and improved services for our residents, businesses and visitors, better website navigation for quicker access to services, and a fresh and modern design.

"Our website will be temporarily unavailable on Tuesday, August 20 whilst we make these improvements.

"We understand the inconvenience that this may cause and we would like to apologise to customers in advance for this temporary disruption to service."

Golden Mold Cape on show just up the road

* The golden Mold Cape. 

 

The Mold Cape, one of the British Museum’s top 10 treasures and one of Wales’s most iconic archaeological objects is now on display at Wrexham County Borough Museum.

 

The cape was found by workmen digging stone from a stone cairn just on the eastern outskirts of the town in October 1833.

It was brought to the notice of the antiquarian authorities by the local vicar and in the absence of a museum in Wales was acquired by the British Museum shortly afterwards.

Research into the cape and its significance has continued ever since. It is now thought to date to the Early Bronze Age between about 1900 and 1600BC, and to have been associated with a female burial.

This summer’s exhibition is only the second time the complete reconstructed cape has returned to north east Wales. Its first visit to Wrexham Museum in 2005 attracted over 11,000 visitors. This visit is in association with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

The museum has attempted to place the cape in its archaeological context by looking at other sites of similar date in the immediate area. The exhibition will also reveal for the first time the results of recent research into the cape and its place and significance within wider understanding.

Councillor Neil Rogers, Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that the cape is making a return visit to Wrexham Museum.

"The cape is one of Wales' most important cultural artefacts and I would urge everyone to take the time to see the amazing cape for themselves.

"I would also like to thank both the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museums Wales for facilitating the loan and in the case of the latter for working so closely with Wrexham Museum to develop the exhibition itself."

Capes Beads & Burials will be open to the public   until Saturday September 14.

The museum will open from 10am until 4pm on Saturdays to cater for the expected crowds and will also be open on the August Bank Holiday.

The Mold Cape Spotlight Tour has been financially supported through the Art Fund Prize as part of the British Museum’s Partnership UK programme.

The Capes, Beads and Burials exhibition has been jointly funded by Wrexham County Borough Council and Amguedda Cymru – National Museum Wales.

Search for builders of historic narrowboat

* The narrowboat Cressy which was built at Pontcysyllte Boatyard in about 1915.  

Hanes-Llangollen-History has been contacted by Professor Timothy Peters of the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, Birmingham University, who is researching canal history.

At the moment he is anxious to find more information on the men who originally built the narrow boat Cressy, which was rebuilt in the 1930s by Tom Rolt, who was instrumental in re-opening the canal system, much of which had fallen into disrepair. 

Cressy was built at the Pontcysyllte Boatyard (now Anglo-Welsh) in Trevor in about 1915 and Professor Peters would like to hear from anyone who remembers the men who worked there at the time or who has a family member associated with the boatyard.

He has discovered a list of men who worked at the boatyard during the period 1890-1920.

Their names are: Stephen Robert, Alfred Moses Jenks, Edward Gillens, Theophilus Mellor, Richard Evans, Jas Stacey, Evan Davies, John Peter Dainty, Jonah Evans, Henry Price and E. Fisher.

Tom Rolt bought Cressy in 1939 and adapted and fitted her out to make a permanent home for himself and his first wife, Angela.

He had had his first trip on Cressy with his uncle and cousin 10 years earlier.

After he bought Cressy, Tom and Angela Rolt made a journey of some 400 miles along the canals of central England.  He got to know the network of canals and the life and culture of the people who used them.  You can read about Cressy's journey in Rolt's classic book on canals, Narrow Boat. See also the map of 'Cressy's' journey, which was retraced by narrow boat 'Heron' in 2010, as part of the Rolt Centenary celebrations.

Professor Peters is working with the Llangollen Museum on this project and any information should be sent to Peter Jones, Llangollen Museum, Parade Street LL20 8 PW Tel: 01978 862862, email: enquiries@llangollenmuseum.org.uk

County council to carry out Welsh language audit

Denbighshire County Council has announced it is to carry out a county-wide audit of the Welsh language, to try and halt the decline in the number of Welsh speakers in its communities.

The 2011 Census data notes that 24.6% of Denbighshire residents can speak Welsh, with 18.6% able to speak, read and write in Welsh. 

This compares to 20.7% of residents being able to speak, read and write in Welsh in the 2001 Census, a decline of 2%. 
. 
Hywyn Williams, Corporate Director for Communities and Learning, said: "Nationally, efforts are being made to enhance the Welsh language through  the publication of the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011,  the appointment of a Welsh Language Commissioner,  the imminent introduction of Welsh Language Standards and the publication of the Welsh Government’s  A Living Language:  A Language for Living, a Welsh Language Strategy.

"The Council feels it is timely to undertake a full audit of the use of the Welsh Language within our community, to respond to the situation locally.  The findings from the audit should pave the way forward in order to develop a strategy to secure the growth of the language well into the future.

"Other key developments within the County such as the adoption of the Local Development Plan, the Modernising Education Strategy and our Regeneration & Economic Ambition Strategy will present challenges and opportunities in terms of the development of the Welsh Language.

"The risk of a further decline in the use of the Welsh Language is a real one, and if no action is taken, in all likelihood, the 2021 Census will confirm this decline.

The audit will look at four key areas:

1) Education provision, which will include the provision of Welsh Medium and Bilingual Education across the Authority, childcare provision, informal learning provided largely through the statutory Youth Service and broader Youth Support Services, pre-school provision and Adult Learning Provision

2) The support provided for families.  This to include the information that is provided for families and the information and support provided for the most vulnerable of families, together with the support for families to develop the Welsh Language within the home context and the support provided for non-Welsh speaking families, where their children are educated in Welsh medium/bilingual education.

3) The support for the Welsh Language and culture within communities which includes the support for voluntary sector organisations, business support and key policies that shape the future of communities such as the Local Development Plan, Modernising Education Policy and housing provision

4) Services provided directly and indirectly by the Council to include internal working arrangements, our ability to respond through the medium of Welsh and bilingually to residents and visitors, the way the Council promotes the use of the Welsh Language, the minuting of meetings, translation facilities, the use of social media, and the place of the Welsh Language in policy development

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for the Welsh Language said: "Our intention is to begin the audit in September and we will consult widely with interested groups and individuals such as Menter Iaith, Urdd, the business and voluntary sectors.

"The audit work will be carried out by an independent organisation and we expect to have clear recommendations as to how  Denbighshire should take the important matter of promoting and facilitating the acquisition and use of the Welsh Language within its community further through a robust action plan, which will lead to a greater number of residents able to use the Welsh language confidently by 2021".

Groups invited to lottery funding surgery

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is inviting community groups in the region to a Lottery funding information surgery in Flint on Friday, August 16.

 

The session will be held between 10.00am – 12:30pm at Flint Town Hall, Y Farchnad, CH6 5NW, and will provide information on Lottery funding programmes and its impact throughout the constituency.

 

There will be opportunities to discuss specific issues around funding your project with staff from the Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sport Wales, and Flintshire Local Voluntary Council.

 

Anyone interested in attending the session should email Jessica.Webb@wales.gov.uk

 

Mr Isherwood said: “This is a great opportunity for projects in the region to find out what funding they may be eligible for. Lottery funding is having a positive impact throughout Wales with money helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities and it would be great to see more North Wales projects benefit from this funding opportunity.”

Police advice to avoid vehicle theft

Don’t give car thieves an easy ride – remember to lock your vehicle and remove all valuable items.

 

These are two of the main top tips that police in Denbighshire and Conwy are re-iterating to motorists in a further bid to drive down car crime.

 

With schools out for the summer, scores of people are heading for the nearest beach or attraction but sadly these are very same places that thieves are likely to go. Furthermore, opportunist thieves will try car doors anywhere on the off chance that they have been left open and will target a car should they see anything valuable or of interest to them left inside.

 

“Car thieves know where to target, what to look for and don’t just restrict their crimes to the car park for the local beach – they also target cars parked at rural beauty spots or landmarks which don’t have the same volume of visitors,” said Sergeant Aled Eynon who is based in Denbigh. “It also goes without saying that any items left on show inside cars and vans are enough to tempt thieves. The saying ‘Leave it on show – expect it to go’ is certainly true when it comes to theft from vehicles.”

 

Never leave anything on display in your vehicle. If you can, remove all valuable items and belongings.

 

Sgt Eynon added: “We appeal to people to please make sure they lock their vehicles and whilst we have increased patrols, we also ask that both visitors and residents play their part in preventing this type of crime.”

 

Posters reminding motorists of the dangers of leaving goods on show inside vehicles have been produced and put on display at many car parks including those near beauty spots and attractions.

 

Sergeant Sian Williams is based in Colwyn Bay. Recently a number of cars have been targeted in the area and items including,  lap tops, sat navs and an electronic pad were all stolen from inside.

 

“Simple tips can prove to be the most effective and that’s certainly the case when it comes to preventing car crime,” said Sgt Williams.

 

“Please remember to lock your car – even if you leave it left parked on your driveway. Take all electronic items, purses, bags and even coats and sunglasses out of your cars and vans. There have been some cases where thieves will look into the cars at the windscreens to see if there are any sat nav cradles or any tell-tale signs of suction marks from where sat nav system has been stuck on to the windscreen.”

 

“Remove all belongings from your car,” added St Williams. “Furthermore, thieves like to steal from cars parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen. If you can, avoid parking in places that are concealed from public view or people passing by.”

 

Top tips for vehicle owners:

 

·         Never leave anything on display in your vehicle; a bag on the back seat is enough to tempt a thief

·         Remove all belongings – including bags, sunglasses etc.

·         Always remove portable sat nav systems including any support cradles and suction pads fitted to windscreens. Wipe the windscreen clean as thieves have also been known to look out for tell-tale signs of suction marks left on windscreens

·         When you leave your car, close all windows including your sunroof and ensure your car has been locked

·         Never leave credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment and don’t leave the vehicle documents in the car.

 

For further information on keeping your vehicle secure, click here.

 

Anyone with information regarding theft from vehicles is urged to contact North Wales Police on 101. Alternatively, individuals can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.