A cyclist from Llangollen has embarked on a 650-mile solo bike ride to raise funds and awareness of homeless veterans.
* For the full story in the Denbighshire Free Press, published before he left, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19648180.armed-forces-veteran-embarks-gruelling-650-mile-solo-bike-ride/
Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) has launched a new round of Dementia Aware Denbighshire Funding.
A total of £10,000 is available to support activities and initiatives spreading dementia awareness throughout the county.
The grant, which has been enabled by funding from the Welsh Government Integrated Care Fund, will give voluntary and community groups, Third Sector organisations, social enterprises and small businesses with less than 100 employees who operate in Denbighshire the chance to apply for up to £2,000.
Individuals can also apply for grants up to £250.
Grants are available for events, activities and training sessions, which can raise awareness about dementia and encourage people to turn awareness into action and improvement in their communities.
“We are looking forward to learn about new initiatives here in Denbighshire that can help support individuals and families living with Dementia," explained Rebecca Bowcott, DVSC Community Wellbeing Officer."
DVSC is operating a rapid grant decision-making process with applications being considered on a rolling basis until funds are disbursed.
* If you want advice and guidance, contact DVSC’s bilingual Community Support team member, Rhys@dvsc.co.uk or call him on 01824 702 441.
The Armed Forces will begin to support the Welsh Ambulance Service from tomorrow (Tuesday).
Fifty troops from 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corp will drive ambulances across
Wales from Tuesday having undergone training at Newport’s Raglan Barracks on
the weekend.
They will
be joined in the next week by a further 50 personnel from the Royal Navy and
Royal Air Force.
A 29-strong team of supporting personnel will make a total of 129 soldiers,
sailors and airmen supporting the Trust until the end of November.
Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We’re
proud and grateful to have the military working alongside us once again, who
did a superb job of assisting us on two occasions previously last year.
“Having our Armed Forces
colleagues back on board will help us put more ambulances on duty so we can get to more patients, more
quickly, while the extreme pressure continues.
“Essentially, they’ll work with one of our clinicians on an emergency ambulance
responding to the full range of emergency calls.
“The winter period is our busiest time, and having military support will
bolster our capacity and put us in the best possible position to provide a safe
service to the people of Wales.”
Major
Alex Wilson, Officer Commanding 60 Close Support Squadron, Queen’s Own Gurkha
Logistic Regiment, 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, said: “Over the weekend we
spent time training with the paramedics and emergency medical technicians to
familiarise ourselves with the ambulances, equipment and processes to make sure
we can assist in the best way we can.
“The soldiers are ready to begin the task we have been deployed to do in Wales.
“It’s a privilege to be working with our Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues in
supporting the NHS in Wales to ease the pressures that currently exist.”
It is the
third time that the military have supported the service through the pandemic as
part of the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangement.
More than 200 British Army soldiers
have already assisted the Trust’s Covid-19 effort by driving and
decontaminating ambulance vehicles as part of Operation Rescript.
Among them were 90 soldiers from 9 Regiment Royal
Logistic Corps, who were enlisted on Christmas Eve at the height of the second wave of the pandemic.
Plas Newydd hosted a family picnic on a recent Saturday.
The event was organised by Cllr Austin Cheminais, the current Mayor of Llangollen and Paul Evans, manager at Plas Newydd.
The picnic was aimed at local families and was advertised with help of Llangollen’s two primary schools.
One parent commented: “It’s great to have something that’s been put on just for local families to get together.”
There was music from Llangollen’s own Wandering Minstrel, Chris Burton, and Harley the Clown entertained the audience with his magic and juggling.
The picnic was well attended and there was overwhelming support for it to become and regular event.
Another parent said: “What an fantastic idea and a wonderful afternoon for both children and their parents, let’s do it again!”
Kate Thomson from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) brought along a camera obscura and some easels for the children to use, which proved very popular.
Kate is currently part of the Picturesque Landscapes Project, which centres on the landscape of the Dee Valley, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.
Cllr Cheminais said: “The afternoon was a great success and both children and adults enjoyed themselves, I’d like to thank Paul Evans and his staff for their support and enthusiasm. Look out for our next picnic in 2022!”
Visitors flocked to the first day of Llangollen's "bite-sized" food festival yesterday.
A scaled-down version of the famous foodie gathering is being staged in the yard behind Gales Wine Bar as the usual full-sized affair would not be possible due to coronavirus restrictions at the Pavilion.
Exhibits ranged from designer chocolate to cheese and from artisan coffee to gin.
Today's line-up of exhibitors includes:
A Llangollen man has praised a dedicated NHS team for the care they gave him when he fell seriously ill recently.* Mike Edwards before his illness.
Mike Edwards says he wants to thank the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) at Wrexham Maelor Hospital's Glyndwr Ward "from the bottom of my heart" for the way they looked after him through a "horrible and difficult time".
Mike contacted llanblogger to say: "On September 28 I was taken ill and my condition worsened by the following day - my birthday, would you believe.
"We were fortunate to get a GP Trainer from Llangollen Health Centre to do a home visit and after examination she dispatched me to the hospital using the GP referral service.
"My wife Lis took me to the hospital where again we were fortunate to get through A&E waiting relatively quickly to be triaged when I was admitted to the Surgical Assessment Unit, Glyndwr Ward.
"An X-ray and scan followed, the latter in the middle of the evening, and as a result early the following morning I was operated on for a perforated appendix.
"Due to complications with a chest infection after surgery I remained in hospital until the following Tuesday morning and I am now convalescing at home.
"What I want to do is pay tribute to the staff of SAU. Firstly to the Consultant, Mr Ben-Sassi, and his team who were highly professional and extremely caring and they got me through a horrible and difficult time.
"Secondly to the staff on SAU Glyndwr particularly Jo, Sue and Shannon who cared for me and the other patients on the ward at the time often in difficult circumstances.
"The whole team on the ward were brilliant and I have to say I learnt that all angels do not wear wings.
"The staff of the NHS often do not get the credit they deserve and even get unfair criticism from certain quarters of the media.
"These ladies and gentlemen work thirteen-hour shifts day after day and I have enormous respect for them and wish to thank them from the bottom of my heart."
llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in a few days time.
