Low-income households now eligible for £200 heating payment

* Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt. 

More than 400,000 low-income households in Wales will be eligible to benefit from a £200 payment to help keep their homes warm this autumn and winter.

The Welsh Government is investing £90m in the Welsh Government’s Fuel Support Scheme in recognition of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on those struggling to pay their energy bills.

Previously, around 166,000 households on universal credit, legacy means-tested benefit and working tax credits benefitted from the £200 2021/22 Winter Fuel Payment.

The extension of the fuel support scheme will mean nearly 200,000 more households on child tax credits, pension credits, disability benefits, carers allowance, contributory benefits and those receiving help from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme to pay their council tax bill will now be eligible.

The scheme is being extended as the impact of the current cost-of-living crisis is greatest on low-income households and to allow more households on benefits to be eligible.

Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt said the scheme was being extended so the most vulnerable struggling to make ends meet could afford to keep their homes warm during the cold winter months.

It comes after the Minister announced earlier this year that the 2021/22 Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment would be doubled to £200 as the cost-of-living crisis intensified and to support eligible households with rising energy bills and costs.

The extended Fuel Support Scheme includes the £4m announced last month for the fuel voucher scheme to support those on prepayment meters and households not connected to mains gas.

The extra funding and target support comes as households across Wales are struggling to pay higher energy bills, exacerbated by the increase in the domestic energy cap rise in April. There is expected to be a further rise in the cost of energy and standing charges in the autumn. People with prepayment meters are the most susceptible to rising costs and increased standing charges.

Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt said: “We know people across Wales are struggling to make ends meet during the cost-of-living crisis, as they see inflation, petrol, essential household items and energy bills all rising.

“We are targeting the Fuel Support Scheme at low-income households and extending the number of those eligible, as we understand how the winter months can be the hardest of the year and families face the difficult choice of heating or eating.

“We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable and doing everything we can to ensure they can get through this difficult moment.”

Dinas Bran students scoop prize for film-making skills

* The students pick up their prize cheque.

Students at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen have won £100 as part of a film making competition.

As part of the Creative Pathways event run by Careers Wales, year nine pupils across Denbighshire were invited to attend a one-day workshop with Screen Alliance Wales to create and edit a film.

For the first half of the workshop, students learned how to plan, film and edit a video.

For the second half, they created and edited their own 60 seconds film, following the theme of ‘the path’. 

Entries were judged by Stifyn Parri from BAFTA Cymru during the Creative Pathway event.

Lucy Giles, Natalie Hughes, Katie Jones, Kara Roberts and Maddy Wilson from Dinas Bran scooped the £100 prize, which was provided by Gogledd Creadigol.

Simon Sinclair, the head of media at Ysgol Dinas Bran, said: "The film workshop and competition were brilliant experiences for the students.

"It was great for them to have an insight into how films are made, the industry, and working as part of a team.

“We all thoroughly enjoyed the process - especially winning the £100 at the end. Hollywood watch out!"

The prize money will go towards media equipment for the school, and the winners will also have a say on what it is spent on.

Gwenda Roberts, a team manager from Careers Wales, said: “Before the workshop, many of the students wouldn’t have been aware of the different roles and responsibilities that goes into making a film.

“It’s sessions like this that really help to broaden young peoples’ understanding of what potential career paths are out there for them, in a way that’s a bit different and more engaging.

“Thank you to Screen Alliance Wales for its support and of course to Gogledd Creadigol for contributing the prize.”

Senedd Member tries out new-style PE lessons

* Ken Skates MS shapes up during the school PE session.

A Member of the Senedd took part in a programme which transforms the way PE is taught in primary schools. 

Ken Skates, MS for Clwyd South, visited Ysgol Y Waun in Chirk on Thursday (July 14) to see how staff are supporting the health and well-being of pupils through an initiative called real PE. 

He first observed a Key Stage 2 PE lesson with Year 6 during which the children were supported by real PE videos to improve their physical skills and develop their coordination. Mr Skates then participated in a Key Stage 1 lesson when children practiced their balancing skills. 

He said: “The children were great at helping to coach me when I took part, and they were so welcoming. I really enjoyed the session. It’s great fun and really and strips PE back to basics.”  

Year 2 teacher Beth Cornford said she has seen an improvement in the children’s cores since the introduction of real PE at Ysgol y Waun. 

She added: “Children can now sit without fidgeting as much! I have also seen an improvement in their skills such as handwriting, which all comes from having a better posture.” 

The programme, created by Create Development, has a ‘child-centred approach’ and aims to support pupils to become physically literate by developing their Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) – agility, balance and coordination.  

Mr Skates added: “PE is a fantastic vehicle not only to improve the children’s health, fitness and well-being, but also to develop a range of personal, social, physical and creative abilities that transfer outside the PE and sporting environment. I was hugely impressive with the real PE lessons and it’s clear that the children have really taken to them.” 

Mr Skates and the Create Development team thanked teacher Amy Roberts, the school’s health and wellbeing lead, for organising the event.

Summer events lined up at Valle Crucis Abbey

Valle Crucis Abbey is playing host to a number of activities over the next few weeks.

A Medieval Fun day is lined up for this weekend, July 23 and 24. 

The Prince’s Retinue will be doing some archery demonstrations and a faux melee. Medieval Fun Day | Cadw (gov.wales)

The Abbey also has some guided tours on the same weekend. Valle Crucis Guided Tours | Cadw (gov.wales) 

There are also two more Guided Tour events planned.

Neither of these events are ticketed, you just pay the usual addition fee of £4.80 for an adult.

Free – Members of Cadw, Historic Scotland, English Heritage or Manx Heritage

Free – Under 5

£3.40 – Under 18, students and Armed Forces

£4.60 – Over 65

£15.80 – Family

Also planned is an outside theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Duke’s Theatre Company on Tuesday August 2 at 7pm. VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY, LLANGOLLEN, LL20 8DD @ 19:00 | TheDukesTheatreCo (thedukestheatrecompany.co.uk)

Details of prices are on the website. However, please note that the information on parking on the website is wrong. There will be parking provided by the campsite.  

Abbey Opening times –

Thursday – Monday – 10:00-17:00

Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.

Local MP appointed government minister

* Simon Baynes MP in his Ministerial office at the Home Office.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has been appointed to a Ministerial role as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

He said: “I am very honoured and delighted to have been appointed by the Prime Minister as Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration. 

"I am very much looking forward to delivering on the Government’s commitments in the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office as well as continuing to work hard for the people of Clwyd South as their local Member of Parliament.”

Packed programme on offer in 25th anniversary Fringe Festival

Organisers say the 25th anniversary Llangollen Fringe Festival which kicks off next Friday, July 22, offers a great line-up of performers, workshops and activities.

Here are details they have supplied of the programme:  

"Friday 22nd – Comedy featuring some top-quality jokers headed by Paul Sinha who not only knows everything there is to know, but tells great jokes as well.  Saint or Sinha – you decide? Note to Festival Ticket holders - please email Paul with your preferred seating position for the Comedy - Front, Middle, Back or Balcony.  Thanks Saturday 23rd – World Music from The Turbans.  They may be London-based, but their canvas is drawn from traditional near-eastern and eastern-European styles.  This is music for all ages, so bring gran and the kids and treat yourself to the celestial glow of some truly vibrant music.  I saw them a couple of years ago and they were great! Perfect for a Saturday night and guaranteed to get you dancing! Monday 25th – And now for something completely different and also something of a coup for the Fringe, because Roger Eno hasn’t been a prolific live performer of his Ambient music over the years.  But he’s going to perform some for you.  I would call his music mesmeric if I knew what that meant, but I think you’ll find yourself transported to another and better place while you’re listening to it.  Don’t let this one pass you buy, let it pass through you instead. Tuesday 26th – The evening for all you aspiring hipsters and cool cats out there, but anyone who loves great music is welcome as well.  If it’s a Tuesday then it must be Jazz, because Tuesday is Jazz Night at the Fringe.  The Zoe Gilby Quartet are cool and sophisticated players of both original material and some well-known jazz standards as well.  A great live band, satisfaction guaranteed and with special guests So What Now what could possibly go wrong? Wednesday 27th – Right it’s midweek and time to “get down” to “fractured rock and roll at its best”. Warmduscher first got together at the end of 2014 and have been on an upward trajectory ever since.  Iggy Pop no less, the Godfather of Punk graced their 3rd album with his presence.  If you’re looking for some Ramalama and a Shindig this is the band for you, or maybe you’re looking for a “mix of in-your-face-punk and sinister electronica” again Warmduscher will deliver.  Hot stuff indeed.  Supported by Red Telephone, a band from Cardiff who make layered neo-psych at-rock combining angular guitars, Kraftwerkian-inspired rhythms and New Wave-tinged synths all mixed with masses of melodic melancholy..   Thursday 28th – And tonight we have for you one of the most important figures in the history of Folk Music, a man who has inspired Paul Simon and Bob Dylan no less, and countless others as well.  Martin Carthy, for it is he, has been interpreting traditional songs in an innovative way since he first heard Lonnie Donegan playing “Rock Island Line”.  The music of the common people kept relevant and fresh for modern times.  And, as if that wasn’t enough, he will be accompanied by his daughter Eliza Carthy who is of course a star in her own right.  Mark Radcliffe described her in my presence as “a force of nature” and he was spot on. Friday 29th – If the Carthy’s have retained a youthful outlook, Talisk actually are youthful and this shows in their energetic and powerful live performances.  Hailing from Scotland they draw on influences from all over for their folk-based music and their fusion of concertina, fiddle and guitar is enthralling.  Winner of countless awards – you’ll be kicking yourselves if you don’t come along and see why!  Saturday 30th – Is it Saturday again already? But what a finish this promises to be to the 2022 Fringe Town Hall and as always with the Fringe something a little different.  Ebony were one of the first Steel Bands to be formed in the UK, their latest project has been to take the classic electronica of Kraftwerk and turn it into, well…something else.  Anyway, check in with your doctor if they don’t get you smiling and leaping about with gay abandon in what promises to be a fabulous finale show. Okay that’s a lot about the main performances, but don’t forget that the Fringe is about so much more than them.  There’s a jam-packed programme of fun and exciting activities and workshops that will cater for all ages from 1 to a 101 so even I can join in. Wow, I wish I lived in a place that put stuff like that on…hang on I do, it’s called Llangollen and it’s part of the Fringe. Please follow the link below and find out what’s on offer, you’re bound to find something whether for yourself, the kids or your mum. There’s art, poetry, music, archaeology, walking, singing, dancing, story-telling, circus, jewellery making and much, much more. Llangollen Fringe Workshops - Llangollen Fringe Festival We are so looking forward to seeing you all at Llangollen Fringe 2022, 22-31 July. P.S. Don’t forget to check out the entertainment being provided by our friends at Gale’s Wine Bar throughout the Fringe."

What's On at the Pengwern Community Hub

 What's on at the Pengwern Community Hub this month: