Veterans called up for Glyndŵr research

* Dr Nikki Lloyd-Jones is heading the research project at Glyndŵr University.

Armed Forces leavers across the region are being sought for a project which will take their picture and tell their story.

The project is the latest development in a research venture led by Wrexham Glyndŵr University Senior Lecturer in Nursing Dr Nikki Lloyd-Jones.

Dr Lloyd-Jones spent two years on the research and is now looking for Armed Forces leavers who would have their picture taken and talk about their experiences leaving the forces to help spread the word about its findings.

A series of recommendations have been made following the research, which are intended to improve the way communities in North Wales work with veterans and those leaving the Armed Forces.

Funded by the Forces in Mind Trust, the research looked at some of the difficulties and tensions veterans can experience when living a civilian life.

With 51,000 veterans in North Wales – or nine per cent of the over 16s population – it is hoped the research can be used by local councils, the NHS, third sector support organisations and others to help support veterans in their transition to civilian life.

Dr Lloyd-Jones said: “We spoke to 30 veterans across North Wales, beginning with an open question about their life since leaving the Armed Forces. I’d like to thank everyone who took part for their help.

“These conversations were meant to reveal something about the everyday decisions participants made, to let them tell us about their experiences of moving to civilian life in their own way – and to give us an insight into some of the challenges those leaving the military might face in conversations with civilians.”

The research picked up on certain themes which came up in conversations with people who were ex-Armed Forces.  Three aspects of military identity were identified from the conversations.

These were:  “it’s drilled into you” – the way that basic training instils a sense of following direction without question and a sense of order, authority and discipline; “mission command” – a way of analysing, planning and working towards an outcome where each participant plays a role – and “we have each other’s back” – a unique bond and sense of belonging which strengthened group dynamics.

Researchers then examined challenges which people faced as they moved from the military. These included moving forward into civilian life – gaining financial security; changing pace and getting used to the lack of structure and direction faced in civilian life; and putting down roots – something many military people, used to going away on tour, found hard to get used to.

Other challenges included the way military personnel had become accustomed to ‘living the moment’ – coping with combat situations with a heightened state of alertness, dark humour and other methods which can be difficult for those outside to understand.

Finally, participants also identified the experience of being a veteran itself as a challenge – with the implications the word has of an identity between military service and civilian life.

These challenges – and the way that ex-military personnel respond to them – were then used to guide the report’s recommendations.

Dr Lloyd-Jones added: “There is a lot of work being done with the veteran community in North Wales. Our study mapped out some of the challenges that veterans perceive with the change of lifestyle and context they face leaving the military and the decisions they have to make.

“Tackling these changes isn’t just a case of veterans adapting to civilian life, however, but also about how the civilian community as a whole can adapt to - and work with - veterans.

“That means that change doesn’t just need to come from organisations in direct contact with veterans, but also from policies which take those needs into account as part of a wider framework.”

Anyone who wants to find out more about the research, including those who took part – and anyone who wants to have their picture taken and tell their story can contact Dr Lloyd-Jones on n.lloydjones@glyndwr.ac.uk

* To find out more about the Forces in Mind Trust, click here: http://www.fim-trust.org
And to see more about how Wrexham Glyndŵr University works with service leavers who want to study at the institution, please visit: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/ArmedForces/

Blueprint for health and social care unveiled

The Regional Partnership Board have published a new plan for how health and social care services will work together to meet the care and support needs of people in North Wales.

The plan sets out priorities for integrating services between health and social care across North Wales, including for older people with complex needs, children and young people, people with learning disabilities, carers, and mental health.

It’s been written in response to the population assessment which highlighted an increase in the need for care and support. People across North Wales have taken part to have their say about the shape of future services.

Cllr Gareth Roberts is the Chair of the Regional Partnership Board. He said: “Councils across North Wales have worked together with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other partners to write this plan and consulted widely with people who use services, third sector organisations and other partners. The plan will help us design services to meet the needs of everyone needing care and support, and their carers."

* The plan is available at: https://www.northwalescollaborative.wales/north-wales-population-assessment/regional-plan/

 

Talks to be held on Cefn Mawr health centre

* Ken Skates AM and local councillor Ken

Bathers outside the current Caritas Surgery on Well Street.

Campaigners pressing for a new health centre in Cefn Mawr have welcomed a Welsh Government commitment to discuss proposals with local GPs.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has agreed to visit Caritas Surgery to meet with the practice manager, Clwyd South AM Ken Skates and Cefn councillors.

Mr Skates, who organised the meeting, said he was delighted the Health Secretary has committed to visiting the Cefn Mawr. He launched a petition in 2015 calling for the "new facility the community deserves", which was signed by more than 2,000 people.

“I’m really pleased the Cabinet Secretary for Health has responded so positively to my invitation and I look forward to welcoming him to Clwyd South next week,” said Mr Skates.

Councillors Ken Bathers and Derek Wright have previously vowed they would not stop fighting for a new facility ‘until there are spades in the ground’.

They say the only hurdle left to clear is securing funding.

“The current is not fit for purpose and it hasn’t been for some time,” said Cllr Bathers. “The community badly needs this new facility and we’ll keep on pushing for it.”

Cllr Wright said: “We have been fighting for this for a long time. As soon as funding is found it’s all systems go and patients in Cefn, Rhosymedre, Plas Madoc and further afield can finally look forward to having a health centre fit for the 21st century.”

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board funded immediate remedial work to improve the current Cefn premises on Well Street in 2016 after agreeing the building was ‘not adequate’ and said it would also develop a plan for more modern premises.

Road closure warning

The Town Council has just published the following message on Facebook ...

Colas Limited has informed the Town Council of an emergency road closure this Sunday for tree cutting. Colas plan to close the A539 Llangollen Road from the Health Centre in Llangollen up to 1km east of the Sun Inn pub, the road will be closed in both directions from 0530am until 12noon at the very latest, access will be granted to emergency vehicles and pedestrians on foot.

Needlefelting event planned for Plas Newydd

An Introduction to needlefelting with June McLaughlin will be held at Y Caban in Plas Newydd on

Saturday April 21, from 11am-1pm.

Cost  £30 and booking is said to be essential. To book a place or for more details, call 07780 000206.

Plaid slams school closure decision

The decision by Wrexham Council to close Ysgol Pontfadog is wrong and short sighted, says Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales.

Yesterday (Tuesday 10 April) WCBC’s Executive Board unanimously voted to close Ysgol Pontfadog in the Ceiriog Valley. The school is expected to receive its last intake in September and will finally close in the Summer of 2019.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Clwyd South, said: “Ysgol Pontfadog has served the community of Pontfadog well. The communities of Pontfadog, Dolywern and Glyn Ceiriog all wish to see it remain open. The Governing Body of the federated school have supported retaining Ysgol Pontfadog, and the elected representatives representing those communities wish to see it kept open. Yet the Tory-Independent ruling Executive on Wrexham Council have decided to close the school against all local opinion. This is profoundly anti-democratic and shows a complete disregard for the communities of the Ceiriog Valley. Is it any wonder that people are losing trust in the authority?

“The decision is short-sighted in the extreme as it’s unlikely to save money in the long term and will leave the authority with what will be, once empty, a rapidly deteriorating asset on their hands. The people of Pontfadog, Dolywern and Glyn Ceiriog will be bitterly disappointed."

County gets good report from school inspectors

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed the findings of the recent inspection of its education services.

The report, produced after an inspection in February, judged leadership and management to be excellent and the outcome and quality of education to be good. 

A notable feature of the report stated that "outcomes in Denbighshire are strong across nearly all key indicators over several years in primary and secondary schools, and particularly at Key Stage 4".  

Denbighshire was one of only two authorities to receive excellence for leadership in the last round of inspections and is the first to be awarded an excellent rating for leadership under a new inspection framework introduced across Wales.

One of the other main findings highlighted the recent merger of education and children’s services in the county as having a “positive impact” on services for children, young people and their families.  

Estyn have also asked Denbighshire to prepare a case study on the amalgamation of the education and children’s services, to share as best practice with other councils across Wales.

The report also finds that “the authority has a strong moral purpose that underpins its education services, focusing on an ambition to maximise the life chances of every learner”.

The report also says:

• The authority knows its schools very well.
• The authority has a strong moral purpose that underpins its education services, focusing on an ambition to maximise the life chances of every learner.”
• Pupils’ standards in Welsh first language remain strong over their time in school.
• The authority has a very secure understanding of the extent of elective home education in the county.
• A very strong feature of the authority is the way it consults with children and young people when making decisions that affect them and when evaluating the wide range of services it offers.
• Children can influence decision making.
• Schools work well in clusters of primary schools and their partner secondary schools
• The authority sets clear expectations of all schools and parents in relation to pupil attendance.
• The authority’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan demonstrates a strong commitment to developing services through the medium of Welsh.
• There are good quality youth services are provided by the authority that meets the needs of a wide range of young people.
• Officers and elected members implement the authority’s modernising education programme successfully.
• The authority’s political and strategic leadership is highly effective.
• The authority’s approach to managing complex change are very effective.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Children, Young People and the Welsh Language, said: “The opportunities for our children and young people are at the heart of everything that we do. We want them to have the best education possible and have plenty of opportunity to thrive and develop as individuals.  We are delighted that this has been reflected in the report in such a comprehensive way.

“The report itself makes very positive reading and we must pay tribute  to the tremendous amount of work that goes on in the local authority to support schools and ensure that all children receive the best than can with the resources available.  

"The approach to working with our partners in the public sector is also a key factor in this success, as is our commitment to enhancing Welsh medium education.   We are all working together with a common goal:  to improve education and opportunities for our children and young people.

“Education in Denbighshire has been a priority for a number of years and this is paying dividends. We have also made a further commitment to improving education over the coming years and our vision for the best possible education for our children and young people has not changed.

“The report does include a small number of recommendations, as we would expect and we will be drawing up an Action Plan to make these changes."

* The full report can be found on: www.estyn.gov.uk