Childcare funding gets county go-ahead

Denbighshire County Council has confirmed that the roll-out of the Welsh Government’s 30 hours a week funded education and childcare in Wales will be introduced in the county in January 2019, with the whole county benefitting from the roll-out at the same time.

In 2017 the Welsh Government (WG) pledged to offer 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare to eligible working parents of three and four year olds, for 48 weeks of the year by September 2020.

Children will be eligible to access the offer from the beginning of the term following their third birthday until the September following their fourth birthday.

Eligible children will be entitled to up to 20 free hours of childcare during term time, on top of the 10 hours already provided by the Foundation Phase. During the school holidays, when there is no early education, the offer will provide 30 hours a week of childcare for up to nine weeks. Parents are able to choose any registered childcare setting that suits their personal and family circumstance, whether inside or outside of county, in agreement with the provider and the local authority.

Those not currently accessing the 10 hours a week free childcare provided by the Foundation Phase will be able to apply for 20 hours free childcare, as part of the scheme.

To be eligible for free childcare, parents/ guardians must meet a set of criteria: their child must be aged 3 or 4; parents/ guardians work and earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours at national living wage or national minimum wage, or are in receipt of specific caring benefits and they must live in Denbighshire.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children, Young People and the Welsh Language, said: “We are delighted to be able to share this positive news.

“The aim of the Childcare Offer is to allow eligible parents to have more employment choices, increase their disposable income to help counteract poverty for those in low paid jobs and ensure that quality early education and childcare is provided to promote child development and prepare them for early education.

“Denbighshire County Council have worked hard with Welsh Government to lobby for the families in the county to benefit from the offer.”

Denbighshire will have the role of ‘Engagement Authority’ and will be sharing information and promoting the offer to parents/ guardians and to childcare providers within the county.

Information about the registration process will be publicised in due course but in the meantime, general information on childcare can be found on our website www.denbighshire.gov.uk/childcare

 

Llangollen Round presents £65,000 cheque to cancer charity

* James Rogers from Cancer Research UK accepts the £65,000

cheque from organisers Judy Smith and Sandra Woodhall (right).

The third annual Llangollen Round Challenge scooped a record £65,000 for Cancer Research UK.

About 400 walkers from across Britain slogged it out in the gruelling challenge on the weekend of June 2 and 3 with the aim of covering a tough 35-mile course through the hills around the town in either one or two days.

About 200 of the intrepid trekkers did it in just one day, with Anton Wouters from Ellesmere in Shropshire recording the best time of seven hours and seven minutes.

The organisers, Sandra Woodhall and Judy Smith, said “We’ve staged this triennial walk three times now and were delighted to raise £65,000 this year following £43,000 in 2015 and £37,000 in 2012.”

“As well as local people we had walkers from right across the country, including London, Dorset, Somerset, Cambridge and Glasgow. They ranged in age from 15 to their eighties and there were a number of family groups involved.

“Helping to make everything go smoothly was over 100 volunteers who took on tasks such as marshalling, manning checkpoints around the course, driving, catering and administration.

“We also received strong support from a number of local firms such as Spar and Aldi in Llangollen, Tesco at Cefn Mawr, Nisa Store in Ruabon, Arla Cheese in Oswestry, Warburtons and Severn Trent Water.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the challenge and the volunteers for all they did to make the event such a big success.”

James Rogers, local fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK, came over to Llangollen from his base in Herefordshire to receive the £65,000 cheque from the challenge organisers.

A book detailing the Llangollen Round, all proceeds from which go to Cancer Research UK, is available priced £7 including P&P. It can be ordered online at: http://www.thellangollenround.info/how-to-order.html    

* Anton Wouters (centre, wearing headband) celebrates his best time achievement with fellow walkers and challenge officials. Picture: Barrie Potter.

Minister reviews progress on Corwen station project

* Ken Skates AM looks at aerial views of the works area taken by Dewi Davies using a drone at the end of August.

Ken Skates AM, Welsh Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Transport, visited the Corwen station works site and viewed progress with the building of the new platform and signalbox installation.

He was given a briefing on progress in preparation for an opening of the new terminus in 2019.

He said: "Completion of Corwen Central station will be a high boost to the railway and the town opening great opportunities for more visitors in 2019."

Project leader Richard Dixon-Gough said: "We were very grateful for the opportunity to update the Cabinet Secretary with details of the progress being made with the new station and our aim to open it for train services next year."

Library knitters make blankets for the Gambia

* Members of the Nitter Natter group at work on the blankets for the Gambia.

The Nitter Natter group which meets each Wednesday at Cefn Mawr Library has been busy knitting and crocheting blankets for needy children in the Gambia.

For the past year about six ladies have been producing the woollen squares which go to make up the multi-coloured blankets.

They say they would welcome donations of wool.

Guardian diarist walks the Vale of Llangollen

The country diarist from the Guardian newspaper has walked the Vale of Llangollen.

For the full story, see: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/sep/24/vale-of-llangollen-wales-walking-route-william-hazlitt

Missing person scheme launched

A scheme which provides valuable information for those who search for missing vulnerable people has been launched in North Wales.

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme being introduced locally by the North Wales Safeguarding Board and North Wales Police to encourage carers and family members to compile useful key information which could be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing.

This can include details of places frequented, medication required, general routines , description and recent photograph.

In the event of a family member or friend going missing, the information can easily be sent to frontline police officers and PCSOs, to reduce the time taken in gathering this information and will provide those involved in the search for the missing person with essential information to promote their safe return.

The protocol is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the D-Day landings in Normandy. He was suffering from dementia when he went missing several years ago.

Neil Ayling, Chief Officer – Social Services at Flintshire County Council and chair of the North Wales Adults Safeguarding Board, said:  “There is nothing more frightening or distressing than when a loved one, friend or neighbour fails to return home when they are expected.

“For people living with someone with dementia, this could be quite common and the Herbert Protocol could give you some peace of mind.  People still need their independence and the protocol can help to reassure their family and friends that, if their loved one does go missing, the information can be passed through swiftly and there is a greater chance of finding them quickly”.

Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said: “North Wales Police is committed to helping those people with dementia live an independent life for as long as possible.

The Herbert Protocol provides reassurance to families and loved ones, assisting us in obtaining accurate, vital information, giving us the best opportunity to locate the individual as soon as possible.

I would ask those who know someone who is living with dementia to complete the form and keep it safe in the event that they have to report their loved one missing.”

Successful year for Citizens Advice in the county

Citizens Advice Denbighshire secured £7.4 million worth of benefits and credit gains for its clients across the county in the last financial year.

The various branches also handled £6.6 million of debt during the same 12 months and ensured that 64 clients facing repossession received help in court.

These figures are revealed in the latest annual report from the organisation, which gets financial assistance from town councils across Denbighshire, including Llangollen which put in £1,500 last year to ensure the registered charity can continue its good work.

The report also shows that £1.5 million of backdated benefits was received by clients thanks to Citizens Advice intervention.

Over 350 clients were raised out of fuel poverty and two out of three clients said the organisation’s welfare benefit service improved their quality of life.

During the course of the year Citizens Advice helped 5,990 clients with 9,041 enquiries.

A total of  3,391 clients were seeking help with benefit issues and 80 per cent of debt clients said that following the advice process made a lot of difference to their peace of mind.

Others figures revealed in the annual report are that 27 per 10,000 adults in Denbighshire entered insolvency during 2017 – higher than the England and Wales rate of 21.5.

Two in five clients with council tax arrears also had rent appears, according to the report.

Eighty per cent of the welfare benefit appeal and reviews assisted by Citizens Advice were successful.