County makes films to help businesses

A series of video seminars have been produced to help and inform businesses.

Denbighshire County Council has produced the clips as part of its annual March for Business month which this year saw more than 400 people take part in 12 workshops, conferences and networking sessions.

The videos are now available on the Council’s YouTube and Facebook platforms and offer tips on digital marketing, digital skills and how to use the Welsh language to benefit your business.

Clips have been produced from events during March for Business including the advanced manufacturing conference, Denbighshire for Growth and a networking dinner hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses.

Mike Horrocks, the Council’s team and programme manager for Economic & Business Development, said: “This year’s March for Business was a fantastic success. We saw record attendances for our biggest ever programme.

“The most important thing is that we have had great feedback from businesses who have told us the sessions have been of real benefit to them.

“One of our goals was to produce a range of materials that would benefit those businesses that were unable to attend the events as we understand that not all businesses can afford to take time out of their day to learn new things. These new video clips are available 24/7 and have already had over 9,000 views.

“The real target for us is to see the success of the programme translate into local business success and there are some strong signs that this is happening.”

The March for Business programme was devised by the Council’s Economic and Business Development team following feedback from Denbighshire’s annual Business Survey.

It is part of the Council’s work on developing the local economy through its Economic and Community Ambition Programme, which aims to support healthy private businesses, see more people in work and improve household incomes.

Since the ten-year plan was launched in 2013, there are 1,700 more people in work in Denbighshire, average household incomes are closing the gap on the rest of Wales, 70 more businesses are starting up every year with 19 out of 20 new businesses surviving for a year with almost two thirds still trading three years later.

You can take part in this year’s business survey here.

You can view the videos on DCCs Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Website aims to keep people well

Looking for advice on staying well ?

Then look no further than the Dewis Cymru website.

The website www.dewis.wales is the place for information about all issues relating to well-being in Wales, as well as the first point of information about local organisations and services that can help.

The website includes information on key topics: Being Well, Being Social, Being at Home;,Being Safe, Managing Your Money, Children and Families and Looking After Someone.

The Being Well section looks at a range of issues, including indoor and outdoor activities, healthy relationships (including sexual health) and dealing with medication. It also details five ways of being well (connecting with people, being active, keep learning, taking notice of your surroundings and volunteering).

Bethan Jones Edwards, Head of Regional Collaboration of the North Wales Social Care and Well-being Services Improvement Collaborative, said: “Being well isn’t just about being physically healthy and free from illness, it’s also how you feel about yourself and your life as a whole.

“People often have a greater sense of well-being when they have strong social networks, suitable housing, they are in employment and/or education (if they wish to be) and they are healthy, both physically and emotionally.

“The Dewis Cymru website is a great one stop shop for all the information you need about well-being. There is a directory of services and activities available in your community. It’s all about pointing people in the right direction to the wealth of support already available”.

People can visit the website to register and to access details of support available in their county.

Labour holds Clwyd South seat

*Susan Elan Jones MP.

Labour held on to the local Clwyd South seat in yesterday's General Election which, overall, resulted in a hung parliament.

Party		Votes	%	Net percentage change in seats +/- %
LAB Labour	Susan Elan Jones	19,002	vote_share 50.7	+13.5
CON Conservative	Simon Baynes	14,646	vote_share 39.1	+8.7
Plaid Cymru	Christopher Allen	2,293	vote_share 6.1	-4.2
UKIP	Jeanette Bassford-Barton	802	vote_share 2.1	-13.5
Liberal Democrat	Bruce Roberts	731	vote_share 2.0	-1.9

Old works will get lit up for the Fringe

* Berwyn Works on the A5, which will be lit up for the Fringe. 

As part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Llangollen Fringe Festival, a renowned artist has been commissioned to produce a large-scale work to exhibit during the event.

On display throughout the festival, the project, entitled ‘Ars Magna Lucis – (The Art Of Great Light)’, will see the Old Berwyn Works building converted into a lantern that will overlook the town.

Fringe artist Alec Shepley looks at reimagining this redundant relic of the industrial age, converting it into, in his own words, ‘a lantern-space - a giver of light’.

* Ars Magna Lucis.

Alec Shepley is an artist and an academic based at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, North Wales where he is head of the School of Creative Arts and Professor of Contemporary Art Practice.

His work has been exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, with examples held in a number of public and private collections in North America, Europe and Asia.

Alec’s individual and collaborative research has attracted funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the British Council, the Arts Council of England and the Arts Council of Wales and his work has been exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, with examples held in a number of public and private collections in North America, Europe and Asia.

Using especially constructed LED light boxes made on site in the town, six of the building’s classical 1930’s windows will be illuminated to create an ever changing palette of coloured light, emanating from the shell of the former brewery and print works every night during the course of the festival.

A spokesperson for Llangollen Fringe Festival said: “We’re really pleased to have an artist of Alec Shepley’s stature on board, we wanted to make a bold statement for the 20th anniversary of the festival and what better way then to create an impressive spectacle in the heart of the town. We hope this free exhibition will attract even more visitors to the town and the festival to catch a glimpse and a photo of Alec’s work.”

The ‘Ars Magna Lucis’ event will be on display from July 15-23, with a special switch-on event taking place near the bandstand at Riverside Park, Llangollen at 10.30pm, Saturday July 15.

The festival line up also includes performances from: WILKO JOHNSON, SETH LAKEMAN, TURIN BRAKES, MARK THOMAS, CC SMUGGLERS, JACK MONROE, BAND PRES LLARREGUB, 9 BACH and KASAI MASAI.

FOR INFORMATON ON ALL PERFORMANCE DATES AND LOCATIONS AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT www.llangollenfringe.co.uk 

Food bank collection at New Dot's latest screening

* A scene from the film I, Daniel Blake.

New Dot Cinema's next screening this Friday is set to be a popular one.

Last year's winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, "I, Daniel Blake" is a moving Newcastle-set tragedy about the failings of modern Britain.

There will be a collection for Wrexham Food Bank at the screening.

If you would like to donate, please bring your item(s) along to the event.

All non-perishable donations will be gratefully received, however the following items are currently urgently needed:

- tinned rice pudding


- tinned tomatoes


- UHT milk (500ml & 1 litre)


- tinned ham


- tinned corned beef


- tinned fruit


- tinned carrots


- tinned peas


- biscuits (cookies)


- juice boxes (200ml & 1 litre)


- instant coffee

The film will be shown upstairs at the Town Hall. As usual, there will be a licenced bar and popcorn. Doors open 7:30pm with the film starting at 8pm. Tickets available here: https://www.skiddle.com/…/Llangol…/I-Daniel-Blake-/12986446/

The latest from legendary director Ken Loach is a gripping, human tale about the impact one man can make. Daniel Blake has worked as a joiner most of his life in Newcastle.

Now, for the first time ever, he needs help from the State.

He crosses paths with a single mother Katie and her two young children, Daisy and Dylan. Katie’s only chance to escape a one-roomed homeless hostel in London has been to accept a flat in a city she doesn’t know, some 300 miles away.

Daniel and Katie find themselves in no-man’s land, caught on the barbed wire of welfare bureaucracy as played out against the rhetoric of ‘striver and skiver’ in modern day Britain.
More details at http://www.facebook.com/NewDotCinema and www.newdotcinema.org

New Dot Cinema Llangollen is a not-for-profit community cinema run entirely by volunteers.

https://wrexham.foodbank.org.uk/

Eisteddfod is family affair for mum and daughter

* Helen Hayward and Betty Jones.

Mother-daughter duo Helen Hayward and Betty Jones will be celebrating a life-long devotion to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this year.

They'll be performing in the Celebration Chorus on Wednesday July 5 – the first time they have appeared together.

They will both be in Calling All Nations with renowned international composer Christopher Tin, which will mark Betty’s 71st festival.

The song-cycle, sung in 12 different languages, sees Grammy award-winning composer Christopher Tin conduct soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and the Celebration Chorus in a spectacular international choral and orchestral performance, compared by Classic FM’s Andrew Collins.

Betty said: “My involvement with the Llangollen Eisteddfod began at an early age. My mother and father hosted competitors at our home in Froncysyllte for the first Eisteddfod, you could say that was the beginning of a lifetime of commitment to the festival.

“When I married Arnold, he was told that if he wasn’t involved with the International Eisteddfod, he wouldn’t see me for the first week in July every year. Needless to say he signed up. For me, this spirit of togetherness is truly what the Eisteddfod stands for.”

The passion for the festival became a family affair when Helen began volunteering at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and then later introducing her husband Neil, who is currently the Chief Steward, and their children, confirming three generations' love for the International Eisteddfod.

“I’ve only ever missed two festivals and even made it to the 1988 festival 10 days after the birth of my son – the ‘Eisteddfod blues’ were just too much to handle,” said Helen.

“This year, not only attending the Llangollen Eisteddfod but performing next to my mum will be truly amazing.”

Betty continued: “I just love the Llangollen Eisteddfod and this is my second time performing on the International Pavilion stage. In 1952 I performed as part of the choir from Llangollen Grammar School – now Ysgol Dinas Bran – and we claimed second place in the children’s competition. This was an incredibly special experience for me and really confirmed my love of singing.

“However, I think this year will be even more special as performing alongside my daughter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience we’ll both treasure forever.”

Speaking of their favourite moments from the collective 120 visits, Helen said: “For me, being in the same room as José Carreras and watching him perform was just incredible. I can’t put into words how honoured I was to see him live. The International Eisteddfod does truly bring world-class talent to Llangollen, which is one of the reasons I love it so much.” 

Betty added: “In 1955 I hosted the Modena Male Voice Choir, one of whom was a young Pavarotti. I later saw him perform as a soloist. Both of these are experiences I wouldn’t have had without the International Eisteddfod. For that I will be forever grateful.”

To purchase tickets to see the Celebration Chorus perform Christopher Tin’s Calling All Nations with Elin Manahan Thomas and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, please visit: www.Llangollen.net

Enterprising Dinas Bran students off to Cardiff

* Team Odyssey from Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Two enterprising teams of students are heading to Cardiff for a national business final.

Pupils from Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinâs Bran and Rhuddlan’s Cambrian Pengwern College will be taking part in the Young Enterprise Wales final on June 15.

The students entered the competition after a series of business courses run by the Young Enterprise charity, with funding provided by Denbighshire County Council for sessions at five schools in the county.

Ysgol Dinâs Bran’s Team Odyssey, made up of six pupils aged 16 and 17, reached the final after winning a host of categories, including best overall company and best presentation, at the North Wales final for work around their hand-made vegan scented soap.

Pengwern Planters, made up of 13 students aged 18 to 22, won the best team prize, as well as the best report and best marketing awards, for their social enterprise work planting flowers in towns including Prestatyn and Rhuddlan.

The courses help students set up their own companies and run them for an academic year, under the guidance of business mentors.

To take part in the competition students prepared and presented a detailed company report, set up a trade stand and made a presentation about their business to a panel of judges.

Ysgol Dinâs Bran teacher Rachel Allen, said: “Team Odyssey were absolutely delighted to have won so many awards in the North Wales final. They worked so well as a team, and put a great amount of effort in.

“They are excited for the trip to Cardiff and are really looking forward to representing North Wales. They really want to win it for North Wales.”

Funding was provided by the council’s Economic and Community Ambition Programme which aims to support local businesses and ensure the county has a skilled workforce equipped to benefit from jobs and opportunities that arise.

Selwyn Griffith, North Wales’ Young Enterprise manager, said: “I want to congratulate students from Ysgol Dinâs Bran and Pengwern College for their excellent standard of work. The sessions provide a great platform for students to develop skills such as teamwork, resilience and to interact with their local business community.

“I would like to thank Denbighshire County Council for providing the funding to deliver these courses in the county.”