Drug services can make better use of council change cash says police boss

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A police boss says vital services for victims of drug abuse in North Wales can make better use of £12 million in funding thanks to the Welsh Government decision to abandon a council shake-up.

According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, the stability of working with existing public bodies will help him deliver on promises in his Police and Crime Plan by working collaboratively across the region with local authorities and the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board.

He has pinpointed building effective partnerships as a cornerstone of his work and he said: “We need a co-ordinated approach with everyone working to the same plan and I have prioritised services to the victims of domestic abuse, substance abuse and the victims of crime.

“In the area of substance abuse there are various pots of money available but different agencies are commissioning services separately and I want us to provide services together, avoid duplication and get more bang for our buck.

“This is a project that is ongoing and will be helped by the Welsh Government’s decision to scrap plans to slash the number of local authorities because there is £12 million plus available and if we can bring it all together there will be more money for the front line.”

His intervention comes after Wales’s Local Government Minister Mark Drakeford’s announcement that the Welsh Government no longer planned to cut the number of local authorities from 22 to as few as eight.

In North Wales this would have meant the existing six authorities being pruned to three or even two but the £250 million bill and the expected 2,000 job cuts have dissuaded the Government from pursuing the controversial policy.

Mr Jones said: “I fully support and welcome this decision because it will help me to work collaboratively to deliver vital services such as those that help victims of domestic abuse and substance misuse.

“That is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan and it means we can continue to work with our partners the local authorities, the health boards and the fire and ambulance services which will all be affected by Professor Drakeford’s proposals.

“One thing I would caution about is that as part of the process he looks at the number of statutory bodies otherwise all we will be doing is attending meetings and I see this as an opportunity to rationalise these strategic bodies so we can get on with the real work.

“I’m not one to get hung up on infrastructure. What I want is to get the best structure to deliver the most appropriate services most efficiently to the people who need them.

“The Minister must also not forget the role to be played by the non-devolved organisations like the Police, the Probation Service, the National Offender Management Service and the Prison Service in delivering these vital services to the people of North Wales.

“It is important that he issues guidelines to include us as stakeholders within the new regional partnerships.”

His response comes in the wake of the decision by Professor Drakeford to scrap the proposals that were the brainchild of his predecessor as Local Government Minister, Leighton Andrews.

Instead he has set out “a new way forward” which would instead see closer collaboration between neighbouring councils and key services delivered regionally.

Mr Jones added: “This is the right way forward and local authorities will remain as the alternative would cost too much, cause a major upheaval and cultural issues but would put back the delivery of services.

“The main concern should be what services look like and how effective they are and not the structures for their delivery.”

Llan man in line for top care award

* Josh Wilson.

A rugby-playing father-of-one from Llangollen who combines life on the family-owned holiday park with a job as a support worker in a children’s home is in line for a top care award.

Josh Wilson, 25, is a role model for the youngsters he supports at a specialist therapeutic children’s home in Ruthin in encouraging them to strive for the best and keep active through sport.

The home is a six-bedroom unit for young boys aged 11-18 with complex behavioural and emotional difficulties who are given intense support to help them succeed in education and employment.

Josh, who is employed by Branas Isaf, formerly taught swimming to children aged three to 12 at Corwen Leisure Centre. He plays competitive rugby for Chester Rugby Club, which is in North Division 2, has a talent for communicating with children and inspiring them to succeed.

He combines his challenging role as a support worker two days a week with his responsibilities at the family business, Ty Canol Caravan Park in Llangollen, which includes holiday cottages and caravan sales.

The new dad, whose daughter Azaia Wilson, was born a year ago, has now been formally recognised as one of the best support workers in the care industry after being announced as a finalist in the Wales Care Awards 2016.

Josh has been working for the children’s home for just over a year, has been shortlisted for the Exceptional Newcomer Award, sponsored by Coleg Cambria, which is one of a series of categories in the prestigious national awards, run by Care Forum Wales, which acknowledge the hard work and exceptional performances of those in the care sector.

As a finalist Josh, who lives in Llangollen, will now attend a glittering awards ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, October 21.  

It is an impressive achievement for the former fitness instructor who also won the national and regional Newcomer of the Year title in the Caretech Awards in November.

“It was a bigger shock than last time to be nominated. My family are proud and my mum is especially proud,” said Josh, who also worked in Corwen and Llangollen Leisure Centres as a fitness instructor after leaving school.

“I’m not bothered about winning. I’m just flattered to be shortlisted. I’m looking forward to representing my company as they’ve done a lot for me.

“I feel like I’m putting something back and making a difference. When I come back from work I feel happy, it’s very rewarding.

“When you drive home at the end of the day you always think about what you’ve done with the kids and what I would’ve liked to have done better.

“I love working there. The whole team is brilliant and my manager has done a lot for me. I’ve come a long way since joining the team.

“I’d never worked in care before. I was in the deep end quite quickly but I wouldn’t have had it any other way as it meant I learnt very quickly.”

Josh, who attended Ysgol Dinas Brân, said the most satisfying aspect of his job was watching the youngsters’ progress and reform their behaviour through sport and other goal-driven work. The home has even created a squash league to build their self-confidence.

One of his most notable achievements was seeing a young boy for whom he was a key worker move on from the home and flourish.

“I feel like I’m a role model to them. I always tell them what the score was in the rugby. I’m trying to inspire them and keep them active by encouraging them to the gym,” said Josh, who is in the completion stages of his QCF Level 3 in Caring For Children and Young People.

“I’ve recently had a child myself and it’s put a different perspective on things. I’m much more empathetic.

“You have your bad days but I’m level-headed and can deal with most things thrown at me. You want to see the lads do well.

“I would like to continue working with young people in the future. I play rugby and I look after myself and the kids look up to me. I try to work on their self-confidence and you develop a bond.”

Josh is attending the awards ceremony with registered manager Leanne Bennett who herself has been nominated for the Peter Clarke Award.

Nominating Josh for his award, Leanne said: “Josh is a very well-liked and respected member of the team at Pant Glas and nothing is ever too much trouble for Josh. He is eager and enthusiastic in his role and works exceptionally well both lone working and in a team.

“He has a good morale which impacts on others and his can do attitude is infectious to his colleagues. Josh is an asset to our team and I feel he has a brilliant career ahead of him.”

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.

He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.

“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.

“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.

“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.

“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce - they deserve to be lauded and applauded.”

Gig raises over £2,000 for Christmas festival

* Captain Zed on stage.

* Marblehead Johnson play.

A recent event at Llangollen Town Hall raised £2,160 for Llangollen Christmas Festival funds. 

Llangollen resident Ross Anderson, a guitarist with local band Captain Zed, organised the sell-out session at the Town Hall where an audience of 275 were entertained by popular local musicians.

Captain Zed were joined on stage by Marblehead Johnson, Jamie Jay and Tom Wilson.

All of the bands and artists performed for free and where supported by Paul Brown and James Barber who provided lights and sound.

Paul Keddie provided the bar with profits going to festival funds. Local businesses also supported the even by providing prizes for a raffle.

The Christmas Festival, to be held on November 26, provides a free family event in Llangollen town centre with surplus funds donated to Wales Air Ambulance. 

Chair of the Christmas Festival Committee Austin Cheminais was thrilled by the way the Llangollen Community came together to help ensure the immediate future for the event.

“Our thanks to Ross and all of those involved in what was a great evening. The local community coming together to support us demonstrates what a special place Llangollen is," he said.

Meanwhile, Austin, who doubles at the town crier, has put out the call for volunteers to help out at the festival ...

Skates calls on council to splash out on leisure centre

Wrexham Council has been urged to follow the Welsh Labour Government’s lead and show its support for Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.

Ken Skates earlier this week welcomed the news that communities minister Carl Sargeant had awarded the Splash Community Trust a £0.5m grant.

The Clwyd South AM (pictured) is now calling on Guildhall leaders to show the same good faith in the volunteer-run Trust, who have asked for a £50,000 loan from the council to ease cash-flow concerns caused by the huge repair bill it inherited.

“I’m proud that the Welsh Labour Government has shown its support for Plas Madoc Leisure Centre and the local community, and I’d love for Wrexham Council to now do the same and agree to help the volunteers,” said Mr Skates, a founder member of the trust set up to save the centre.

“Maintenance problems passed on to the Trust from the council’s watch have already cost more than they are asking for. I would now urge the leadership at the Guildhall to emulate the Welsh Labour Government, which earlier this year gave them an interest-free loan of £1m to fund the revamp of Chirk Leisure Centre and Waterworld in Wrexham.”

Before the council voted to close Plas Madoc in 2014, it was running at a £500,000-a-year loss.

Cllr Kevin Hughes, deputy leader of the council Labour group, said: “This funding from the Welsh Labour Government comes just at the right time. I don’t think anyone envisaged just how much work was required and how much money was needed when they took over the building. It’s a tribute to the dedication of the management team, employees and all the volunteers that they’ve kept this much-needed facility going with limited resources.”

Local councillor Paul Blackwell added: “A loan from Wrexham Council would further ease financial pressures caused by neglect over a number of years. The Welsh Labour Government is investing in the facilities of Wrexham, it's about time the council did as well.”

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones said the Trust has spent in excess of £50,000 on repairs ‘which had been allowed to deteriorate as a result of the council assuming eventual demolition of the building’.

Ms Jones added: “There is clearly great support from the public and the profile of the centre is rapidly growing, its successes being noted on a national scale. I am also aware of the contributions of community councils such as Cefn Mawr, Ruabon and Rhos, who are doing everything possible on very tight budgets to support Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.

“I feel that the population of Wrexham would welcome their council supporting such a worthy cause.”

Culinary maestro to champion local produce at Hamper Llangollen

* Robert Didier will champion local produce at Hamper Llangollen this weekend.

A culinary expert who trained under chef to the stars Raymond Blanc will be championing local produce at one of the UK's best-loved food festivals.

Robert Didier, whose unique brand of pies, pastries and bread has tantalised the taste buds of the food industry’s toughest critics, will be the first to feature in a host of cooking demonstrations at Hamper Llangollen this weekend, October 15 and 16.

The popular event in the picturesque Denbighshire town has been hailed as one of the UK's top 10 food festivals by both The Independent and the Daily Telegraph.

The restaurateur turned businessman, whose gastronomic finesse has been enjoyed by some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones, is excited to be getting back behind a frying pan, where it all began, to show off the region’s finest, home-grown ingredients.

Robert's handmade bakery business, Wrexham-based Orchard Pigs, continues to go from strength to strength and scooped its first two Great Taste Awards this year for its fruit cake with cheese and gingerbread. The prestigious awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, are the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink.

“I’ve always loved demonstrating, it goes back to my restaurant days. I don’t find it very stressful at all now,” he said.

“It’s like the first time you do a public speech – you spend the first minute judging what the crowd are like and then get into your stride. Most audiences at food festivals have come along to be inspired by food and cooking and that’s what I intend to do.”

Robert will open the festival’s cooking programme on October 15 and among the culinary delights he plans to demonstrate is a feast of Welsh rack of lamb, supplied by D & J Thomas & Sons family butchers in Wrexham, locally-picked wild mushrooms and farm-to-doorstep vegetables as well as a mouth-watering desert of Tarte Tatin with hedgerow fruits and apples.

The top chef, who employs five people, is passionate about supporting local food businesses and growers and protecting the livelihoods of independent suppliers.

“It’s always important to back local producers, if we don’t support local farmers and businesses then our food will be imported from overseas. They might be able to produce it cheaper but the quality and taste isn’t the same,” said the 50-year-old, who runs Orchard Pigs alongside his wife, Nicky.

“If something has been on a lorry for two to three days, it’s not going to offer the same quality. If you buy local, the produce is picked locally and is fresher, there’s more flavour and there’s a better quality overall.

“You can talk to local suppliers and engage with them. If you ask your local butcher for something specific, like pig cheek for instance, they will say ‘no problem’ because they have the whole beast there in the shop.

“But it’s not all about taste. You’re also supporting the infrastructure, providing jobs for youngsters and apprentices. As small businesses grow, they employ people and train them up so that hopefully one day they will go on and start their own business.”

Robert, whose French father was a chef, spent his early career working at Raymond Blanc’s bakery and patisserie, Maison Blanc, in Oxford, which supplied Harrods and a host of top London restaurants with traditional French bread and patisseries.

A stint in the kitchen at Blanc's double Michelin starred restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, in the Oxfordshire village of Great Milton, followed before he travelled to the Valence region of the south of France with his grandmother for a year while he worked as a second chef in a bakery and patisserie.

Robert later opened his own restaurant, Petit Robert, in the Borough Market area of London, before it was compulsory purchased to make way for a new railway line.

He moved to Bwlchgwyn in 2003 where he bought Nant y Ffrith forest, a 250-acre mixed woodland, and populated it with a herd of Oxford sandy and black pigs. What originally started out as a means of managing the undergrowth soon became a thriving business with Robert selling pork, bacon, hams and sausages at farmers’ markets. 

The handmade pies followed and went on to become the focus for the business, with 1,000 to 1,500 now made every week – including Robert’s trademark Tractor wheel pie, using local free range produce.

The business, which is now in its 13^th year, now boasts no fewer than 130 products from artisan breads and cakes through to luxury pastries and deserts – success Robert credits to wife, Nicky, 43, who has led the path to expansion.

“Nicky is a much better salesperson than me and she organises me – I can bake but she is behind the new product development and building sales at the markets and festivals,” he admitted.

Previously, the chef unveiled the UK’s most expensive loaf at Hamper Llangollen, made with champagne and 24 carat gold at a cost of £25. 

To this day, Robert remains at the centre of the business operation – in the kitchens.

“I still love the baking side of things,” he said.

“I love making bread – it’s my first passion – and there’s always something new to learn. It really tests your skill as a chef, judging what’s going on with the temperature in the room and how it’s going to impact your bread.

“It really keeps you on your toes.”

Returning to Hamper Llangollen is always a treat for the chef, who has been a regular for the last 10 years at least.

“Llangollen is a focus for us every year,” said Robert.

“Although it attracts a lot of local people, you get visitors from across the UK who come along for the weekend. Many of the visitors have been coming along as long as we have and you get to know them.”   

Hamper Llangollen chair Colin Loughlin is delighted the food festival has played a part in the Orchard Pigs success story.

He said: "Robert is a multi-talented culinary expert and is a very welcome regular at Hamper Llangollen.

"We're all looking forward to his demonstration, particularly because he will be championing local produce which is what Hamper Llangollen is all about.

“Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality products.

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of the local economy."

* For more information about Hamper Llangollen go to www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

MP calls for radical reforms to Universal Credit

Susan Elan Jones MP has written to Prime Minister Theresa May urging her to make "radical reforms" to Universal Credit.

The Clwyd South Labour Member (pictured) said: "If the Prime Minister really wants a country that works for everyone, she needs to reform the current mess that is the Universal Credit system as soon as possible. 

"I think most of us would support the intentions of Universal Credit to simplify benefits and improve incentives to work. However, the system as it operates at the moment is a serious threat to the incomes of low-paid working families, who are left much worse off when they get transferred onto Universal Credit.

“I am glad we forced the Government to change its mind on tax credit cuts, but I want to see Theresa May go much further to tackle the issue of in-work poverty".

"The shopworkers' union, USDAW, has just produced detailed research that shows that a parent couple, both working in retail, earning just above the so-called National Living Wage, one working full-time and one part-time, would be £1,866 worse off on Universal Credit. That can't be right. It isn't an incentive to work and it isn't supporting family life.

"I am calling on the Prime Minister to do a total overhaul of Universal Credit so that it supports ordinary working families."

Learn to play the ukelele course planned