Council staff continue wellbeing checks on vulnerable residents

Denbighshire County Council is contacting vulnerable residents to check on their wellbeing and offer community support during the coronavirus outbreak.

Everybody receiving shielding letters from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales is being called by a council officer to arrange community support or food box deliveries if required.

So far more than 3,000 residents have been contacted and support provided has included referrals to community groups or local charities for help with, for example, advice about finances, grocery shopping or dog walking.

A number of residents have contacted the council to offer their thanks to staff as well as posting their thanks on social media.

One resident said: “I recently received a call from the council advising me I was on the NHS shielding list and I was given valuable information about the available services for myself and my wife. This included food and medical deliveries.

“We later received a food parcel with much needed essentials. I would like to pass on our thanks and appreciation to the staff for everything they are doing for the community and everyone else making deliveries and other jobs during these difficult times.”

Another resident said: “I would like to applaud what Denbighshire County Council is doing and I’d like to thank the council for the call. We really appreciate it and we really appreciate all those still going to work and everything that has been done for us. Well done.”

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “We have been getting some fantastic feedback from residents receiving these calls, it is encouraging to know the calls are providing the right support for our residents.

“Staff are extremely appreciative of the comments and I would like to thank them for their outstanding work during this time.

“We will continue to stay in touch with residents who have received a call throughout the lockdown period. We also understand it is not only those in receipt of a shielding letter that need support. If anyone is worried about themselves or a friend, relative or neighbour they can call the Council on 01824 706000 and a call-back will be arranged as soon as possible.”

* Residents who are concerned about the legitimacy of these calls can hang up and call the council back direct on 01824 706000.

County chiefs put out virus scam warning

Denbighshire businesses are being warned about scams as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malicious email attachments, false government grant phone calls and impersonation scams have led National Trading Standards to launch Businesses Against Scams – a free online training tool to help protect businesses from costly scams.

With remote working and many businesses having to diversify their trading practices, criminals are seizing the opportunity to target employees isolated from colleagues.

Scams include criminals impersonating government officials or a senior member of the business to pressure employees to give out sensitive information or make payments.

Cllr Mark Young, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “As a council we are supporting Businesses Against Scams and I would encourage traders in the county make use of this free resource.

“It is important businesses are aware of scams at this time and do everything they can to protect themselves. At a time when businesses are facing unprecedented challenges these scams are adding further unnecessary strain. Taking part in this training will help protect against these scams.”

Criminals will try and gain access to businesses devices and networks by sending emails with malicious attachments, exploiting vulnerabilities in operating systems if they are not up-to-date and trying to get you to click links or visit malicious websites.

Scams targeting customers also undermine businesses, as criminals often impersonate businesses to defraud their customer base, causing reputational damage and potential loss of business.

Louise Baxter, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said: “Criminals will use every opportunity they can to defraud innocent people. They will continue to exploit every angle of this national crisis and we want businesses to be prepared. We’ve launched Businesses Against Scams as a free tool for organisations to help them protect their business, their staff and their customers.”

If a business believes they have been the victim of a scam they must contact their bank immediately and report any suspicious activity to Action Fraud www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Businesses Against Scams is a new element of the successful Friends Against Scams initiative, run by National Trading Standards, and to sign up visit www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/BAS

Latest news from North Wales Resilience Forum

The latest update from North Wales Resilience Forum is:

"North Wales will increase its Coronavirus testing capacity with the opening of a new drive-through centre in Llandudno this week.

The North Wales drive-through testing centre, located on the Builder Street coach park, becomes operational on Wednesday (April 29^th) and will begin by testing critical workers.

Given its central regional location and significant size, the site greatly increases testing capability as North Wales Resilience Forum partners continue to work with the Welsh and UK Governments to protect communities during the outbreak.

Only critical workers displaying symptoms of the virus will be referred to the drive-through at present. These include staff from the NHS, police, fire and ambulance services; care homes and other critical workers defined in Welsh Government policy. They will be able to drive on to the site and self-swab without leaving their vehicles.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Executive Director of Public Health, Teresa Owen, has led work to set up the centre on behalf of the North Wales Resilience Forum.

She explained, “The new drive-through testing centre in Llandudno will play an integral part in our response to Coronavirus in North Wales.”

“The site will greatly increase our regional testing capability and complements several existing Health Board Community Testing Units (CTUs) for critical workers and NHS staff across the region. Together, these facilities will help safeguard the public, provide the best possible outcome for patients and keep essential services running.”

The Builder Street drive-through testing centre is being developed in partnership with UK Government and Deloitte to deliver the UK-wide coronavirus testing of critical workers. Key partners on the North Wales facility also include the Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, North Wales Police, Conwy County Borough Council and other Resilience Forum partners.

North Wales Police's Assistant Chief Constable, Sacha Hatchett, who chairs the North Wales Resilience Forum, added, “The demand for Coronavirus testing amongst our critical workers is growing. The site on Builder Street represents the next phase of our testing response to support critical workers in vital areas of public service.”

“We have mobilised quickly with the support of partners and the military to create a suitable drive-through centre which increases our testing capacity in North Wales. This new centre allows us to provide Coronavirus testing in a convenient, timely and, above all else, a safe way for all involved in the process.”

The testing centre will not pose a risk to the public as stringent infection prevention measures are in place to protect people, staff and the wider community."

Minister to set out plans for allowing more children to return to school

Wales Educatiom Minister Kirsty Williams will today explain her plans for a phased approach in allowing more pupils to return to school.

Schools are currently only open to children of critical workers and vulnerable children, with many local authorities adopting a hub approach rather than opening all schools in their area.

School provision will gradually adapt and extend further during the next phase, in line with changes to the current restrictions outlined by the First Minister last week. The First Minister published a framework with seven key questions to help lead Wales out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kirsty Williams will set out five guiding principles which will determine when and how schools will return to providing education for most school pupils:

1. The safety and mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of students and staff
2. Continuing contribution to the national effort and strategy to fight the spread of COVID-19
3. Having the confidence of parents, staff and students – based on evidence and information – so that they can plan ahead
4. Ability to prioritise learners at key points, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds
5. Consistency with the Welsh Government’s framework for decision making, to have guidance in place to support measures such as distancing, managing attendance and wider protective actions.

The Minister said:

"Our latest understanding of the rate of transmission of COVID-19 allows us to be hopeful, but still requires us to be cautious.

It is vital that parents, staff and students have confidence in returning to school. We will only enter the next phase when the evidence and advice suggests that it is the right thing to do.

I will communicate any decision to change the operation of schools well in advance of any required action, allowing school staff, pupils and parents to plan ahead.

Schools will not immediately return to operating at full capacity. It will be a phased approach and I do not expect schools will suddenly open for all pupils, from all years, all week.

The ongoing challenge of COVID-19 means we will prepare schools for a range of scenarios for the foreseeable future. However unlikely, we must prepare for an eventuality that requires schools to reduce operations at specific future points.

I would like to thank the all those working hard to ensure that schools and hubs are able to provide support for those who need it. As I have said previously, our teachers, support staff and childcare workers have proved themselves to be national heroes."

* Following the announcement of the free school meals funding made by Education Minister Kirsty Williams AM last week, Denbighshire County Council will be increasing the amount of the direct payment for free school meals from the current £15 per child, per week to £19.50 as of Monday, 4 May. The council says it is still in the process of processing a small number of applications.

It said: "Please bear with us, the funding will be made available very soon."

  

Latest Welsh Government coronavirus updates

Latest updates from the Welsh Government, issued yesterday, are

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has today confirmed financial support of £60,000 will be provided to an eligible beneficiary of frontline staff working in the NHS and social care, if they die in service as a result of Covid-19.
• The scheme will see eligible beneficiaries receive a one off sum of £60,000 and will apply particularly to those working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who may have contracted coronavirus.
• The scheme is non-contributory and there are no additional costs to employers. The payment will be made in addition to any existing benefits already earned through existing pension scheme membership.
• https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-death-service-scheme-nhs-and-social-care-frontline-workers

• Swansea University has successfully won funding to reduce the time it takes to sanitise ambulances after carrying a suspected Covid-19 positive patient.
• Students from the university are helping slash the time it takes to clean an ambulance from 45 minutes to under 20 minutes
• https://gov.wales/swansea-university-helping-fight-coronavirus-by-getting-ambulances-back-on-the-road-in-rapid-time
• A series of coronavirus related statistics have been published by the Welsh Government covering:
• Tourism
• Education and skills
• Health and social care
• https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19-related-statistics-and-research
• A quick guide to public rights of way and access land closures is available at https://gov.wales/public-rights-way-and-access-land-closures
• Public Health Wales has today reported a further 203 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number of cases to 9,280.
• Very sadly, it has also recorded a further eight deaths of people with confirmed coronavirus in Wales. The number of deaths recorded by Public Health Wales now stands at 796.
• The First Minister will be taking part in a one minute’s silence at 11am tomorrow, which is International Workers’ Memorial Day, to remember all those who have died in the pandemic and pay respect to all those caring for others.
• Further information about the minute’s silence is available at: https://www.tuc.org.uk/international-workers-memorial-day-iwmd 

Where to find the latest information

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Queries about support for businesses, including about eligibility for the Economic Resilience Fund? Visit the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• If you can help the effort to produce PPE in Wales please visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/provision-critical-equipment-and-personal-protection-equipment-ppe
• The Welsh Government holds a daily media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and routinely supported by a BSL translator. They will be held at 12.30pm every week day. They are live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel and are broadcast live on BBC One Wales and S4C.
• The First Minister held today’s press conference – you can watch it again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1254735064207814657

Hand at Llanarmon amongst first to get Covid-19 business loan

* The Hand at Llanarmon was one of the first to secure Covid-19 assistance. 

The Hand at Llanarmon near Llangollen was one of the first businesses to secure funding from the Development Bank of Wales under the Covid-19 Wales Business Loan Scheme

Since the scheme was launched on March 30 almost 600 businesses across Wales have been awarded funding totalling £36 million.

As of last week the cash approved included 533 loans of less than £100,000 and 222 of which are less than £25,000. 

With more than 80% of applications processed having been approved, 567 loans have gone to small and micro businesses across Wales safeguarding some 4,571 jobs. 

The average deal size is £61,000 and average turnaround time for a decision on funding is around ten days. 

Over 90% of applicants are new to the Development Bank of Wales.

More than 1,600 applications were received in the first week for the £100 million scheme with the first loans agreed on Thursday 2 April just three days later. The first funds reached applicants on Friday 3 April.

Jonathan Greatorex, owner of the Hand at Llanarmon, applied within an hour of the First Minister’s announcement of the new fund. 
An offer of £100,000 from the Development Bank of Wales was received on 2^nd April and the funds were transferred on 4^th April. 

He said: “The help available in Wales has been fantastic and we are so grateful to the Welsh Government for their support. The scheme really is a lifeline for us. With 25 staff, the funding from the Development Bank of Wales means that their jobs and our future plans are far more secure.”

Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales Ken Skates AM, said: “I want to pay tribute to the staff of the Development Bank of Wales who have worked tirelessly alongside the Welsh Government to develop what I believe to be the most comprehensive package of support for business in the UK.

“In such a short time they are processing three times the number of applications for support usually received in a year. By doing so they have delivered vital funds to firms which form the lifeblood of the Welsh economy with maximum speed and efficiency, helping to safeguard thousands of jobs.

“I believe there is a lot the UK Government and high street banks could learn from how the Development Bank of Wales has adapted its policies and processes to get funding and support to businesses.”

Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Wales Giles Thorley added: “These are exceptionally difficult times for businesses of all sizes and sectors across Wales. That’s why we are doing all that we can to get money out quickly to businesses, helping to protect livelihoods and safeguard jobs.

“Every single available person in our team is focussed on processing applications as quickly as possible to ensure that we can get support to those businesses facing unprecedented difficult cashflow challenges as a result of Covid-19. Every day counts when you are desperate for working capital to keep a business afloat and protect jobs. I’m pleased to say that all businesses who applied are now in the process and it is our hope that we will be able to get funds out to all successful applicants by the end of the month.”

Ben Cottam, Head of External Affairs at FSB Cymru commented:“At the start of this crisis, we heard the real and immediate problems faced by businesses struggling to ensure their businesses survival and the jobs of their workforce. It’s therefore been very encouraging to see the speed with which the Development Bank has moved to support some of these businesses. We know that for these businesses, this funding represents a lifeline.

However, the fact that this fund was oversubscribed in the first week shows the scale of the challenge and demand and it’s inevitable that further support will be needed as we navigate through this unprecedented crisis."

Share your memories of Llangollen Walking Festival

The annual Llangollen Walking Festival, due to be held in May, was one of the early casualties of the coronavirus crisis.

But its organiser has now come up with a novel way of walking fans sharing their memories of the popular event over previous years.

Mike Smart said: "Sadly, as you know, we can't meet up and walk together this May in Llangollen.

"We can, however, share pictures from last year and relive the walks we all love.

"If you have any festival pictures from 2019 or other years you'd like to share with everyone, please email them to us at: hello@treksmart.net and we'll share them with all our walking friends via a slideshow.

"Many thanks and stay safe."