Government scheme to help people stay in work

Denbighshire will benefit from a new programme to help people with health problems stay in work which is to be set up in Wales following a multi-million pound EU funding boost.

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The £4.7m programme, which includes £3.2m of European Union funding through the Welsh Government, aims to help more than 4,000 people receive additional support and addresses health-related barriers to remaining in employment.

The programme will operate in Denbighshire, Conwy Gwynedd, Anglesey, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.

People taking part in the programme will benefit from rapid access to tailored and work-focused therapeutic interventions designed to help those on, or at risk of, a long-term sickness absence to remain in work or return to work sooner.

People in work with health conditions, including musculoskeletal problems, mental ill health or drug and alcohol problems will also be able to access the programme via their GP, their employer or a self-referral. The scheme will support employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the private and third sector, which lack access to occupational health services.

Support will also be available to SME managers and employees through 130 workshops to help improve workplace health and wellbeing and reduce sickness absence. In addition, GPs will also be engaged to help address patients’ work-related health problems.

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This new in-work support programme will help more than 4,000 people with health problems stay in work.

“This will help tackle poverty and social exclusion by preventing people falling out of work due to common health problems, which are often musculoskeletal and mental health-related.

“It will provide rapid access to early, work-focused interventions, including physiotherapy, psychological therapies and occupational therapy.”

Company now running D&C plant has full order book

* The former Dobson & Crowther printworks now has a full order book, say directors.

THE company which has taken over the former Dobson & Crowther printworks in Llangollen reports a full order book and says it is considering adding extra production capacity to meet demand.

Telford-based Mail Solutions stepped in to buy the assets after D&C went into administration last June with 55 of its 79-strong workforce being made redundant.

Now, a few months after production resumed at the newly-built Cilmedw factory, Mail Solutions’ directors have given an update on progress being made.

Business development director Karl Lee said: “Equipped with an array of specialist manufacturing plant, the Llangollen site has been set up to strengthen overall production capabilities, broaden our product portfolio as well as create opportunities to target new markets.

“Mail Solutions has established itself over many years as a market leader for supplying clients with mailing envelopes and direct mail. However, the new venture will bring about a key step change for the business.

“With the kit we have at Llangollen, we have not just expanded our direct mail capacity but we now also offer an array of new niche products, including seed packets, photographic envelopes, gift card envelopes, coin envelopes and jewellery gift envelopes to name a few.

“The 45,000 square foot site is only just operational but already the company has seen a positive response from the marketplace by generating a solid order book in such a period of short time.”

Another Mail Solutions director, Simon Prescott, said: “At the moment, we are operational five days a week, but given the current growth rate we are already considering adding production hours or creating more shifts to accommodate the workload.”

AM hits out over tax office closure

North Wales’ Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Aled Roberts has commented on the closure of Wrexham’s tax office announced today (Thursday).

 

He said: “On the morning that the Welsh Government are trying to secure over a billion investment in the Cardiff City Region – which already contains areas with the best economic record in Wales – the UK government announces that they are to close a tax office in Wrexham and jobs will be moved to Cardiff and Liverpool.

 

"We need to stand up and campaign for North Wales because at the moment we are being ignored by the power brokers in Cardiff and Westminster.

 

"Projects like Wrexham’s prison are no more than the scraps left behind after most investment goes elsewhere.

 

"UK and Welsh Government Ministers come to Wales for individual investment announcements but there is no strategy to boost North Wales."

 

He added: "The Welsh Government in Cardiff seem obsessed about South Wales where they have bought an airport at a cost of over £50m, proposed a new section of the M4 at a cost of over £1 billion, a metro at a cost of £4billion and over £1 billion of investment in a Cardiff City Region jointly funded by the Welsh and UK Governments.

 

"Meanwhile, the UK Government seems obsessed by a Northern Powerhouse and there appears to have been little work done on the impact this could have on North Wales.

 

"In July the Chancellor said he was going to have a look at rail electrification in North Wales – that means nothing will be done during this Parliament and probably the next one too.

 

"Electrification on the West Coast Line through Crewe, not far from North Wales, was started in the 1950s and the extension to Glasgow – a long way from Crewe – was completed in 1974. That shows how far behind North Wales is and how long it has been ignored.”

 

County urges Llan to back Small Business Saturday

Businesses in Denbighshire are being urged to lend their backing to a national campaign that encourages people to support their local shops and businesses.

 

December 5 is designated Small Business Saturday and Denbighshire County Council has produced posters and banners encouraging people to shop local on this day.

 

The day is also being promoted through the council’s website, in the media and on social media.

 

Councillor Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire, who is also lead member for the economy, said: “Our teams of staff have already been out and about talking to businesses and encouraging them to display posters. The response has been really positive and we would encourage all businesses to display a poster and speak to their customers about the campaign and the importance of local support.

 

“We have also received the backing of a number of our city, town and community councils who are more than happy to work with the Council to help spread the word. We are grateful for this support as it means we can get the message out there far and wide in our communities.

 

“By doing all of this activity, we are encouraging people to think about what’s right on their doorstep and support the wide range of businesses that offer services and products to meet everybody’s needs.”

 

* To find out more information about Small Business Saturday, please visit: www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

Treat North Wales as colleague, Skates tells PM

A North Wales politician has called on the Tory UK Government to treat the region as a colleague of the North West, not as a competitor.

 

Ken Skates (pictured), the Labour Assembly Member for Clwyd South, said his party is urging Prime Minister David Cameron to support projects which would boost the economy of both the North West and North Wales, not pit them against each other.

Mr Skates’s comments came on the eve of today’s cross-party North Wales Rail Summit in Llandudno, which was organised by the North Wales Economic Ambitions Board.

 

He said: “I welcome these talks and I ’m delighted that the Welsh Labour Government initiated this cross-party, cross-border summit to discuss transport issues affecting both regions. 

 

“We want to see a more integrated transport network that would benefit both sides of Offa’s Dyke. There is huge potential in driving forward an agenda that links the strengths of North Wales and the North West of England to create a world-class economic powerhouse.”

 

Labour has launched a petition calling on Mr Cameron to ensure North Wales is fully linked to the proposed Northern Powerhouse, and the party’s AMs and MPs from the region this week issued a joint statement in which they said: “Without North Wales, the Northern Powerhouse will never reach its true potential.”

 

Welsh Labour’s First Minister Carwyn Jones recently unveiled his party’s vision at a meeting of the influential group Wrexham Business Professionals, saying: “North East Wales needs a solution that connects to Liverpool and Manchester and reflects economic realities, not the invisible political and geographical boundaries.”

 

Mr Skates added this week: “The UK Government should be seeing us as potential colleagues in this, not as competitors. North Wales has got a phenomenal amount to offer this partnership, so I hope we’ll be listened to.”

 

Stressing the need for cross-border cooperation, the statement – which Mr Skates has signed– continues: “We understand the importance of working with the North West of England to ensure that North Wales prospers . Our links with North West are crucial to the economy.

“Tory plans for EVEL (English Votes for English Laws) undermine the potential success of North Wales by limiting the ability of North Wales and the North West to work together. Why have competition, when you can have co-operation?

“The Welsh Labour Government is already showing the lead on this, and as Welsh Labour politicians we stand ready to work with the UK Government and with the North West of England in the interests of our communities. Working together for North Wales to be a real part of the Northern Powerhouse and deliver integrated bus and rail services that will secure job opportunities for our communities.

“But, to make this work, we need real commitments from the Prime Minister. We have heard what the UK Government want to do for the North West of England – it is time they stepped up to the plate on the issues that matter to North Wales.”

 

The statement is also signed by AMs Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham), Ann Jones (Vale of Clwyd), Sandy Mewies (Delyn) and Carl Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside), as well as MPs David Hanson (Delyn), Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South); Ian Lucas (Wrexham), Albert Owen (Anglesey) and Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside).

 

 

Santa specials to run again at the railway

* Santa Specials will run again this year at Llangollen Railway.

What better way to kick off the festive celebrations than visiting the Llangollen Railway's popular Santa Specials?

A well established tradition for many families in the Dee Valley and further afield, the Santa Specials are sure to create memories which you and your family can share forever.

What's included:

• Take a steam train ride to Carrog (which we have renamed Lapland especially for Santa's visit) and back along the scenic Dee Valley.
• Come face to face with Father Christmas and his crew of happy elves as they travel through the train handing gifts out to the children, as well as a mince pie and festive tipple for the adults. Children also receive a treat and a juice during the outward journey.
• Soak in the festive atmosphere at Carrog, with children being able to join Father Christmas on-board his sleigh for photographs.
• Guaranteed seats at a train time of your choice

Trains depart from Llangollen at 11.00am, 11.55am, 1.35pm and 2.30pm on selected dates throughout December

A limited number of compartments will be available on-board each Santa Train, offering you an exclusive space away from the other passengers. Compartments are available for up to a maximum of 8 people and are priced at £150.

Advance booking for our Santa Specials is essential. Spaces are booking up fast to get your tickets today.

* For full details and availability, visit: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/santa-specials-2015/

 

Local pick up for The People's March

Llangollen Friends of the Earth has asked llanblogger to publicise the following event ...