Latest Citizens Advice column

Here is the latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I am a single parent, with two young children. I am already struggling to stay on top of my household bills; my weekly food shop isn’t stretching as far anymore and now my energy bill is going up too. I don’t know how I’m going to afford all of these price rises. What can I do to stop my finances spiralling out of control?

A: First of all, you are not alone in this and there’s support to help you.

It’s always worth checking if there are benefits you don’t know about that you’re eligible for, including support with your energy costs and living costs. On the Citizens Advice website there’s a benefits calculator, advice on how to reduce living costs and information on other ways to increase your income.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/reducing-your-regular-living-costs/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/check-if-you-can-increase-your-income/ 

There’s also emergency support that you may have access to, such as food bank vouchers or fuel vouchers. You could contact your local council to see if they could also offer support.

If you’re struggling to stay on top of bills, it’s really important to understand what money you have coming in and going out each month. Citizens Advice has a budgeting tool on its website that can help with this.

And if you’re already behind on bills, prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first. Not paying these bills has the most serious consequences. You should speak to the person or company you owe money to, to see if they can help you repay your bills sustainably.

We know that times are incredibly tough but please remember, you don’t have to face this alone, do contact your local Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward.

Work planned for next week on 2020 project

Work planned for week starting May 2 on the town's 2020 project is:

• Paving the west side of the bridge
• Begin night surfacing works along Castle Street from 6pm to 12am (midnight), Tuesday to Friday
• Miscellaneous works around Castle Street such as replacing manhole covers

More details of 2022 Eisteddfod and Llanfest revealed

* Performers lined up for this year's Eisteddfod. Top row L to R shows performers at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2022: Aled Jones (credit Simon Fowler); Russell Watson (credit Simon Fowler); Anoushka Shankar. Bottom row L to R: performers at Llanfest 2022: Amber Run; Llareggub Brass Band; Elles Bailey; And a past Llanfest stage (credit Allan Potts).

This July, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Llangollen Fringe Festival join forces to celebrate two significant cultural milestones for the town - the Eisteddfod's 75^th anniversary and the Fringe's 25^th.

These two events combine to make an amazing 100 years of summer festivals in the town.

To mark these two anniversaries, the Eisteddfod and Fringe are collaborating for the first time to produce Llanfest 2022 on Sunday 10th July, the final day of the four-day International Llangollen Eisteddfod music festival, which runs from 7-10^th July.

Llanfest has become a firm favourite in the summer festival diary and this year there will be an emphasis on home-grown talent incorporating eclectic music, theatre and comedy. 

Headliners British indie three-piece Amber Run will deliver lush, cinematic alt-pop with a moody and introspective tone.  

mber Run are supported by Welsh/Bajan singer Kizzy Crawford, described by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens as ‘real talent' and ‘wonderful' by Radio 4's Richard Coles, and Elles Bailey, a smoky-voiced human dynamo, who straddles the worlds of Americana and the blues. 

Tickets are now on sale for Llanfest on the main festival website.

After an online event last year organisers are thrilled to welcome back visitors to Llangollen. 

This year's festival has been redesigned with a more compact site revolving around a single Pavilion music stage and a new in-the-round stage developed for spoken word events, offering a thought-provoking series of talks.  

Live music, talks, food stalls, bars and free community events will be around the site from midday to 9pm plus the Pavilion main acts will start at 6pm.

Llanfest is the final day of the Eisteddfod, which returns after a two-year hiatus with a line-up that celebrates the best traditional and contemporary music from around the world.

Two of the classical world's vocal powerhouses, Aled Jones and Russell Watson will be performing together for the first time to open the 2022 programme and further highlights include Grammy Award winner Anoushka Shankar with Manu Delago and the Britten Sinfonia .

Celebrating its 75^th anniversary, the festival returns this year with a broad cultural programme that spreads the message of peace and friendship on which it was founded in 1947 after the second world war.  

Each year around 4,000 performers from around the world and as many as 35,000 visitors converge on this beautiful small Welsh town to sing and dance in a unique combination of competition, performance and community spirit. 

The festival's ability to spot future talent is renowned and it's credited with helping to launch the career of Luciano Pavarotti among others.

In recognition of the festival's founding principle to spread peace, visitors to the festival and Llanfest will be invited to write a message of peace on a luggage label and attach it to trees around the site to create a forest of peace. 

On Thursday 7^th July, children's day, the festival is teaming up with The Welsh Centre for International Affairs, Size of Wales and Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services to create the first Young Peace Makers' Awards - celebrating young people who have contributed to peace and global citizenship at home and overseas.  Details of how to enter can be found here: www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/get-involved/young-peacemakers-awards-2022/

Camilla King, executive producer of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, is leading the transformation of the festival into a fresh, diverse fusion of contemporary and traditional cultures that will connect with both new and existing audiences.

She said: "For years the festival and the fringe have worked independently to help Llangollen to punch above its weight on the international music scene so it is exciting that for the first time we are joining forces to co-curate Llanfest this year.  

"Together we will be bringing an eclectic and inspiring line-up of music, spoken word and comedy to north Wales in the spirit of peace and togetherness that the Llangollen Eisteddfod was founded on the 75 years ago and is now more relevant than ever."

Paul Keddie, chair of the Llangollen Fringe Festival, said:  "Llangollen Fringe Festival is delighted to be working alongside LIME this year to gather everyone together on the Sunday of the Eisteddfod.  75 years of the Eisteddfod and 25 years of the Fringe gives 100 years' worth of experience to share with the world... it's going to be magical."

The 2022 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod programme comprises:

Thursday 07 July | 7.30pm | Back In Harmony: Russell Watson and Aled Jones  
Following their 2019 sell-out In Harmony tour, two of the world's most loved classical voices launch the Llangollen 2022 concert programme performing songs from their album, Back In Harmony.  Limited tickets available.

Friday 08 July| 8pm | Anoushka Shankar & Manu Delago In Concert   
In this captivating concert highlights from Anoushka Shankar's catalogue are presented in new arrangements by Jules Buckley, featuring several co-written with her friend and collaborator Manu Delago, whose solo compositions round out the performance, for an evening that will transport audiences on a wild and surprising ride.   

Saturday 09 July | 7.30pm | Choir of the World, Dance Champions & Voice of the Future 2022  
Choral finalists compete for the coveted Choir of the World title and the Pavarotti Trophy. Alongside this we crown the 2022 Dance Champions with the Lucille Armstrong Trophy, and the International Voice of the Future. Expect an evening to remember with the best performers and dancers from across the globe.  

Sunday 10 July | from 11.30am | Llanfest  
Llanfest has quickly become a firm favourite in the summer festival diary with outside stages featuring live music throughout the day and a chilled, family friendly, atmosphere in the spectacular setting of the Dee Valley. Headliners, British indie three-piece, Amber Run, will deliver lush, cinematic alt-pop with a moody and introspective tone.  Amber Run are supported by Welsh/Bajan singer Kizzy Crawford, described by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens as ‘real talent' and ‘wonderful' by Radio 4's Richard Coles and Elles Bailey, a smoky-voiced human dynamo, who straddles the worlds of Americana and the blues.

* For more information and to buy tickets please visit www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/whats-on/

Llangollen firm scores UK sales first

* The new eco tent now available at Pro-Adventure.

A family-run Llangollen business says it has scored a UK first with a new "green" product.

Pro-Advenure in Castle Street believes it is so far the only retailer to offer the Safir Eco Tent for sale. 

Claimed to be "so durable it can last for generations," the Safir Tentipi Safir 7 eco is made from hemp, organic cotton and recycled polyester and is new to the UK, Wales and the world, say it makers.

Peter Carol, founder and managing director of ProAdventure, said: "We are excited to get hold of the first Tentipi Eco Tents in the UK. 

"I approached Tentipi when I found out that Tencate were making the Eco-Hemp fabric and was glad to find that Tentipi had been testing the new fabric and were hoping to put it in to production to add to the Range of Tentipi Adventure Tents that we have been stock for over a decade.

"Now the first Eco Hemp Tipi Tents have arrived we are looking forward to showing them off at our Annual Tentipi Camp here in Llangollen. 

"We haven’t been able to run a camp for three years and are so excited to get together again with Tentipi Campers, friends old and new.”

He added: "ProAdventure strive to look after our environment by offering Eco friendlier options to mainstream camping, walking and bushcraft products."

Protect candidates from 'horrid' personal abuse, says MS

Sam Rowlands, Senedd Member for North Wales, has urged the Welsh Government to do more to protect those wanting to represent their communities. 

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, was commenting after Rebecca Evans, Finance and Local Government Minister, revealed the Electoral Reform Society has said there are 74 uncontested seats across Wales for the May 5 elections.

Only six of the 11 seats on Llangollen Town Council are being contested, which means the five people who have put forward their names will automatically become councillors without an election on May 5 and the remaining places will be filled by co-option.

 

Mr Rowlands said: “I am really concerned at seeing that number of uncontested seats, with 28 of those being in Gwynedd and 19 in Pembrokeshire. It is really disappointing.

 

“I am sure you saw the BBC news article earlier this month that did highlight, regretfully, that online abuse has forced many councillors to quit or no longer want to stand, along with potential candidates who simply don't want to be on the receiving end of that bullying. Our councillors and candidates should not be receiving this horrid personal abuse.”

 

Mr Rowlands called for more to be done to protect those wanting to represent their communities and thanked all the people standing in the elections next week, wishing them all the best. 

The Minister agreed and said it was important people had the opportunity to make that contribution to their communities and were able to do so in a way that did not subject them or find them subjected to abuse. 

Mr Rowlands added: “It was good to receive support from the Minister on this. Some of the abuse people in public life receive is absolutely appalling and we really need to do everything we can to protect those who put themselves forward. 

“I think it is so important to encourage more people to stand in local elections and that is why we need to address the issue.”

Inner Wheel to celebrate Queen's Jubilee in style

The Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen will be holding a special event to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 

The event will include stalls, a child’s parade and various festivities to mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne. 

The celebrations will be taking place at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday, June 4, from 10.30 am to 3 pm.  

The event will feature a variety of stalls selling crafts and cakes as well as a tombola and raffle. Members of the town’s Inner Wheel club will be on hand to serve light refreshments. 

Charity organisations in the town are now being invited to apply for stalls at the event with no charge for taking part. 

Members of the Inner Wheel Club are hoping to see as many local groups as possible joining the celebrations. 

At 12noon there will be a parade of Kings, Queens, Prince and Princesses for children up to the age of 11 years old. There will be a small souvenir prize for each of the entrants.  

An Inner Wheel spokesperson said: "We are hoping for a fun event and a fitting way to mark such a historic occasion with plenty of flag-waving and patriotic singalongs."

* For more details of the stalls and entries into the parade please contact: enid.law@froncastell.co.uk 

Talented group voices passion in superb La Traviata

I'm

* Scenes from La Traviata at the Stiwt.

A group of talented people passionate about classical singing are set to bring one of the world’s greatest operas stunningly to life at the Stiwt in Wrexham later this week.

Under the expert direction of international opera professionals Anne Williams King and David Bartlett, the group from the acclaimed North Wales Opera Studio (NWOS) will present Verdi's tragic love story La Traviata in the fittingly ornate setting of the  Rhos theatre tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday evenings (April 28 and 29) then at St George’s Hall, Liverpool in the afternoon and evening of Saturday, April 30.  

I was able to catch a preview performance at the Stiwt and was highly impressed with the sheer professionalism of the presentation, which enjoys the deft touch of Janet Haney as music director and accompanist, joined by a small instrumental ensemble. Choreography is in the experienced hands of Lyn Aston.

The unfunded NWOS is an educational group for young aspiring opera singers to train and get excellent performing experience. It also encourages local people to be involved who want to be part of a top-class venture.

The group returns to the Stiwt after its successful Night at the Opera concert there last month and la Boheme last September.

Anne Williams King said: “We are providing an opportunity for those who appreciate opera, to see impressive, traditional productions with young exciting singers, without having to travel miles and pay huge prices for tickets.

“I'm trying to build a following in the area and encourage people to come and support us and the Stiwt Theatre.”

Judging by the sheer power and majesty of their La Traviata, which is played out in its original language, the success story of NWOS looks set to continue. 

Featuring one of the most iconic, romantic and tragic scores of all time, Verdi’s masterpiece contrasts spectacular party scenes with tender, intimate moments.

It tells the story of the tragic love between the courtesan Violetta and the romantic Alfredo Germont.

Played out against the hypocrisy of upper-class fashionable, Alfredo and Violetta’s love threatens to shame his family.

When his father directly appeals to Violetta to give up her one chance of happiness Violetta submits but her act of self-sacrifice leads to her paying the ultimate price.

NWOS has two alternating casts for the lavish production. 

In the version I saw Violetta was played with power yet tenderness by Australian soprano Joelene Griffiths who stepped into the challenging role at virtually the last minute after the person originally due to appear in it was forced to withdraw due to an injury.

Luckily, Joelene had become familiar with the part while studying at the Welsh Academy of the Voice in Cardiff and was able to seamlessly take it on.

Playing opposite her as Alfredo, with great aplomb, was tenor Lewis Quinn. He presented a marvellous portrayal, his strong, clear voice dominating the auditorium.  

Appearing as Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father, was Ambrose Connelly. He brought true gravitas and authority to the demanding role.

The chorus was simply superb and memorable for its sheer supportive power.

Music accompaniment was more than capably provided, costumes were dazzling and settings arranged to perfection.

This not-to-be-missed production is a true extravaganza of musical exuberance and acting skill.    

* Tickets for NWOS’s La Traviata are available at: https://www.northwalesopera.co.uk/upcoming