Young people help shape region's policing

* Youth Commission members with, centre, 

Deputy PCC Ann Griffith and PCC Arfon Jones.

A team of young people are laying down the law in North Wales.

The 30 members of the Youth Commission – the first of its kind in Wales - are helping to draw up a new plan for the way the region is policed.

The scheme was set up by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and is being overseen by his deputy, Ann Griffith, whose portfolio includes children and young people.

All of the members are aged between 14 and 25 and the four main topics identified by them as major concerns are the relationship between young people and the police, drug issues, anti-social behaviour and mental health issues.

The North Wales Youth Commission meets once a month under the guidance of Leaders Unlocked, a specialist social enterprise organisation that works with young people across the UK and which has been running eight similar schemes across England since 2013.

Also involved is Sian Rogers from Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the youth organisation, who is there to ensure equal access to the Welsh language.

At a meeting held in Colwyn Bay, project manager Alison Roberts said: “The young people who sit on the commission all applied for the role and were selected from as wide a range of communities as possible from right across North Wales.

“The group is so diverse. We have A* students who are really academic, some who are or have been through the care system, young people form ethnic minorities and others who have experience of the criminal justice system.

“We have pulled together a group of young people who in normal circumstances probably wouldn’t have mixed socially. However, they all have a common goal, to improve the lives of young people in North Wales.”

She added: “It isn’t just about sitting around a table at our monthly meetings. Members of the North Wales Youth Commission are speaking to other young people in schools, colleges, youth clubs and even those in the youth justice service to get their views and come up with ideas and solutions to feedback to the PCC.

“The hope is by mid-February we will have spoken to 1,200 young people across North Wales. The plan then is to put the information gathered before a conference which will be run by the young people themselves

“What eventually comes from that conference will be recommendations that will be put to the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and his deputy Ann Griffith and will then form part of the next North Wales Police and Crime Plan.

“After some very detailed debates the four issues identified by the young people involved include relationship between young people and the police, drug issues, anti-social behaviour and mental health issues.

“As a group these young people are coming up with all sorts of ideas but it’s those four main topics that keep coming up.”

Emily Jones, of Denbigh, Seren Hughes of Corwen, Ruthin’s Hanna Roberts and Erin Gwyn, all 17, say the Youth Commission is a great way for young people to get their views across.

Emily, who has ambitions to become a youth worker, said: “It’s great being able to discuss ideas with other young people from different backgrounds and to try and find solutions.

“It’s certainly important that young people are listened to and that we are given a voice. What we are doing can make a difference not just to young people but the whole of society.”

Seren, who wants to train a social worker, added: “There simply isn’t enough youth provision across North Wales. If we are going to address anti-social behaviour, we have to give disadvantaged young people a purpose.

“Ignoring young people isn’t the answer. We need to be listened to. I’m hoping we can make a difference to what the police concentrate their efforts on as that would benefit everyone not just young people.”

Hanna, who has plans to study criminal investigation at university, added: “We need to see more police on the street but importantly, police officers willing to build a relationship with young people.

“We rarely or never see police officers coming into our schools and that’s a shame. It’s a two way thing and we need young people to build relationships with the police.”

Erin, who wants to study criminology and hasn’t ruled out a career in the police service, added: “There is a real perception that some police officers believe certain young people will behave in a certain way.

“That needs to change as young people need to understand why the police are doing the job they are and the difficulties the face.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Griffith, who has a lead responsibility for young people as part of her role said: “I am really proud of the work these amazing young people are doing.

“This is a wonderful and innovative project and it’s fascinating to hear the views of so many young people. They really do have a voice and we need to listen. I have no doubt the voice of young people will feature strongly in our next Police and Crime Plan.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones dropped in to listen to the young people taking part in the Youth Commission meeting.

He said: “I was fascinated to hear some of the views from these young people who come from right across North Wales.

“It’s clear they are putting a great deal of thought into the issues that affect young people and in particular in their day to day relationships with the police.

“We will listen very carefully to their views and what they believe is the way forward as we develop our new Police and Crime plan.” 

Healthy eating project for schools to be launched

Denbighshire County Council is launching a three-year school nutrition project.

From January pupils will benefit from additional activities to learn more about healthy eating and cooking skills and so far nine schools have signed up, with more able to engage in the next two years.

The project will be open to all schools in the county and will be based on the Nutrition Skills for Life Come and Cook Programme developed by dieticians at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Sessions will focus on nutrition, food hygiene, safety, practical cooking skills, food tasting, as well as planning and budgeting meals. 

Staff will benefit from training to run the sessions and parents/carers will be presented with an opportunity to engage in the project. 

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “The project will create a learning environment where it is easy and enjoyable to learn about eating healthily and making good food choices.

“A healthy balanced diet has a positive impact, not only on physical health, but also on mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as school performance.

“This project is part of our work to ensure young people in Denbighshire have the best possible start in life.”

Some pupils will be selected as food ambassadors to work with their school and school cooks to promote healthy diets while a cooking competition will also be held annually, working with local chefs.

* For more information contact healthy.settings@denbighshire.gov.uk 

£10m in upgrades planned for all Llan schools

* Ysgol Dinas Bran is to benefit from a major rebuilding project. 

Over £10m has been earmarked by Denbighshire County Council for major improvements at all three of Llangollen’s schools.

According to local county councillor Melvyn Mile, the council’s cabinet voted at its December meeting to spend £5.4m in the next financial year at the two primary schools - Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gwernant.

This will provide an extension for additional classrooms and refurbishment of existing provision.

A council report says: “The purpose is to provide a clearer demarcation between the two schools – currently the layout of the building has an impact on both schools’ ability to operate independently and meet any demand for additional spaces.”

Of the money being spent £3.5m will come from the Welsh Government with the remaining £1.9m being provided by the county council itself.

The cabinet approved a further £4.8m being spent at Ysgol Dinas Bran.

The report explains: “The proposal allows for an extension to the dining block to provide spaces to remove poor areas of learning and for the provision of a new parking area to remove the current issues regarding segregation of cars and pedestrians on site.”

Of the total amount being spent £3.1m will come from the Welsh Government with £1.7m being laid out by the county council.

County Cllr Mile said: “I welcome the investment in all three of our schools, particularly the scheme for the two primary schools which will give each one its own separate identity.”

Llanblogger wishes readers a Happy New Year

Ambulance service prepares for busy New Year

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is reminding New Year’s Eve revellers to stay safe and know their limits as they ring in 2020.

As with Black Friday, the Trust has teamed up with blue light partners, health boards, St John Cymru Wales and local authorities across Wales to ensure one of its busiest nights of the year goes off without a hitch.

Louise Platt, the Trust’s Assistant Director of Operations, said: “After a busy Christmas period our ambulance service is preparing for New Year’s Eve with a plea to those celebrating to start 2020 safe and well.

“The traditional party night puts more demand on 999 call handlers, ambulance dispatchers, clinicians in the control room and ambulance crews than any other time of the year.

“Whilst most people will drink responsibly, unfortunately there are some who will overdo it.
“From causing a scene in a bar, falling over and breaking your leg, to driving home over the limit, we urge everyone to stop and think.“We don’t have an endless supply of ambulances and our message is clear: behave responsibly and only call us if it is a genuine emergency.”The service is urging people to consider these tips to have a good time and keep safe:

·       Don’t drink on an empty stomach – make sure to eat something before you go out

·       Drink in moderation and pace yourself – alternate your alcoholic beverages with soft drinks or water

·       Don’t drink and drive – pre-book your taxi home or arrange a lift

·       Think carefully about when you jump in the car the following day – tiredness itself can impede your ability to drive

·       Keep away from hostile situations

·       Look after yourself and your friends

Health chiefs deny claims of cuts to heart failure service

* Mabon ap Gwynfor claims the heart failure services faces the axe. 

A pioneering heart treatment service in north Wales faces the axe as the local health board looks to make savings, it has been claimed.

But this has been denied by a board spokesperson.

Since 2015, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) has funded the heart failure service - a series of community hospital based one-stop diagnostic clinics, heart failure nurses and pharmacists - to look after the most seriously ill heart patients.

The money was designated as “spend to save” and has resulted in significant savings for the health board, hospitals and their patients.

But health campaigner Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru's National Assembly candidate in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, says the board's "dire" financial situation means that there is no core funding to continue the service in the longer term.

He said: "The service has been shown to prevent between a quarter and a half of heart-failure patients being admitted to a district general hospital.

"It costs about £430,000 a year but is estimated to save at least £1.5m a year because of reduced admissions.

"Concerned GPs contacted me over plans to cut funding last month and the service has had a six-month extension. However, the future of the service remains uncertain and is likely to deteriorate further without guarantees of long-term funding."

He added: "The health board has spent the last year unable to decide on whether to continue the service funding, despite the evidence presented of lives improved and hospital admissions saved.

"GPs say this has exposed serious deficiencies in the health board management’s ability to make simple decisions. Despite intense lobbying of different managers and executives, the board’s funding lapsed and the service was due to be disbanded until a last-minute temporary reprieve.

“The community heart failure service is saving around £1.5 million each year in direct inpatient hospital costs, not to mention the benefits in patient safety, lives saved and quality of life improved, enabling our DGHs to avoid further overcrowding.

"With further investment to a total of £600,000, the service could be extended across the region and make the £2.5 million annual savings that it was on the verge of reaching previously."

Mr ap Gwynfor said he was disappointed that a service that was delivering good outcomes for patients and making savings was "under threat" and called on the health minister, who has direct control over BCUHB, due to it being in special measures, to intervene.

But a BCUHB spokesperson said: “It’s entirely wrong to suggest we are looking to cut funding to this service.

“We asked the service to complete a business case which takes into account an evaluation of the service and its performance, as well as detail on how it can be replicated in other areas of North Wales. 

"As with all requests the health board receives to commit funding, we need to go through a robust evaluation of the benefits of non-recurring projects to ensure the best use of public funds.

“This request for a business case is not about stopping the service, but about ensuring we have the best approach to providing this service to people across North Wales.

“More work is needed to ensure this business case takes into account the future development and provision of the service.

“We fully recognise the value of the heart failure service, and are actively working with the service so that, together, we can continue to ensure this service remains available to people in North Wales.”

Railway volunteers in running for top award

* The new track looking west into the station site.

The Llangollen Railway Trust is in line for an award for the work put in by its volunteers to complete a new track layout for the Corwen station project.

The Trust has been listed for the Heritage Railway Association's 2020 Award for Large Groups for the completion of the trackwork to connect with the extension railhead into the station site.

There are five entries in the Large Group category with competition from projects including the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway, TalyLlyn Railway, Isle of Wight Steam Railway and the Volk's Electric Railway at Brighton.

The winner will be unveiled at the annual Heritage Railways Association Awards night to be held in Birmingham on February 8 when the shortlisted entries in all categories are announced.

George Jones, spokesman for the Corwen project, said. "We hope the immense effort to infill the gap in the embankment and lay a new rail formation across it during the course of the past eight months will receive appropriate recognition at the awards ceremony, although we recognise we are up against some stiff competition."

Following the Golden Fishplate occasion on December 10 the volunteers continued to work laying track for the siding and completed the 300 ft length on December 21. There is a now an impressive length of double track on the final approach to the Corwen terminus where once there had been a void in the embankment.

Looking forward to the New Year, the project members plan to concentrate on completion of the island platform with the insertion of drains, installation of lamp posts and running-in board, and the final pair of canopy columns, with a need to level up the infill material and spread fine grain sand ready for the pavers. 

There is also the matter on completing the gap in the platform wall, which has provided road vehicle access, with the final layer of easi-blocs and platform edging.

All this represents a lot of work for the project volunteers, who are mainly retired and working on the basis of three day a week.

Ballasting, packing and alignment of the track in the platform loop, with the aid of a hired in tamper machine, will follow before an official inspection later in the year.

If all this can be achieved, the new station will open on a date to be announced in 2020. It is all subject to available resources and continued support to complete the project.