Join a life-saving awareness course at Plas Madoc

Members of the public are being invited take part in a defibrillator awareness event which could help them save a life. 

The session at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre has been organised by Member of the Senedd Ken Skates and St John Ambulance. 

It will take place from 1-3pm on August 16, and Mr Skates is asking his constituents to book their place early. 

The Clwyd South MS said: “St John Ambulance offers free first aid-related courses to community groups, youth groups and schools as part of its goal to put a first aider on every street in Wales. This is a great opportunity for me to work with them to offer my constituents the lifesaving skills of using a defibrillator and performing CPR. 

“We will be limited on numbers, so I’d urge any of my constituents who are interested to book their place as soon as possible.” 

A spokesperson for St John Ambulance said: “These skills really make a difference in saving lives and the support of our politicians is vital to this important work.” 

* Spaces are limited, so to book your place email ken.skates@senedd.wales or call 01978 869058. 

Search is on for volunteer crime busters

* From Left; PACT Manager David Evans, volunteers Sonia Jones and Mark Owen, PACT chairman Ashley Rogers  and volunteer Gary Leighton-Jones.     

A search has been launched for a trio of volunteer crime busters.

The call has come from the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) which is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.

The charity is looking to recruit the volunteers, one to work in each of the three policing divisions, Flintshire and Wrexham, Conwy and Denbighshire and Gwynedd and Anglesey.

PACT recently revealed that it has handed out more than £2 million in grants and funded over 2,500 community projects since it was founded in 1998.

To celebrate reaching the milestone it set up a £25,000 anniversary fund and is inviting bids for grants of up to £2,500  for local initiatives across the region – the deadline for submissions is June 30.

Fittingly, much of PACT’s funding comes from cash seized from criminals and recycled for the public good.

The organisation works closely with North Wales Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams, particularly the network of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

According to PACT, its main purpose  is to provide funding to community and voluntary groups for schemes that improve people’s quality of life by reducing crime and the fear of crime.

Chair Ashley Rogers said: “We’re celebrating a quarter of a century of PACT but we are certainly not resting on our laurels. We want to build on what we have achieved so far for the next 25 years.

“Our success has been based largely on the help we have received from volunteers and we are looking to recruit more so we can ramp up our activity.

“If you’re passionate about our communities and you want to get involved, this is a great opportunity to interact and get to visit some amazing projects that are doing exceptional work in the community.

“Much of our funding is sourced from the ill-gotten gains of criminals. This is about restorative justice and it’s very appropriate that the money is used to help support the communities that have been damaged by crime, converting bad money into something good. It’s poetic justice.”

Mark Owen, head of Citizens in Policing and the Special Constabulary Chief Officer at North Wales Police, was involved in the setting up of PACT when he was an Inspector looking after community safety for the force.

He said: “What PACT has achieved is absolutely superb, all the grants that have been awarded and the good work that has taken place since it was founded. It’s just fabulous.

“The direct link into my current role as the person in charge of police volunteering for North Wales, with Special Constables, Police Support Volunteers and Cadets, is that they benefit directly from PACT.

“We’re now working on a programme for our Special Constables to become ambassadors for PACT at the local level, creating a beautiful loop from police volunteering and back again.

“If anything, PACT is more relevant now that it ever was and it helps make communities safer.

“There’s a lot of academic research that shows that volunteers get a feelgood factor and a sense of value. It’s good for you.

“For people who are on the verge of retiring or have recently retired, they have invaluable skills and knowledge that might otherwise go to waste.

“By volunteering, you’re not only giving something back you’re getting that positivity and a buzz from helping others.”

Mum-of-two Sonia Jones works full time as the admin manager of the pharmacy at Ysbyty Gwynedd, in Bangor, and has been a special constable for seven years.

She volunteers for around 30 hours a month on the beat in Anglesey and has same powers as all other police officers – the only difference is that she is not paid.

Sonia said she’s delighted to become an ambassador for PACT, having witnessed the good work that they do.

She said: “Policing is always something that I have aspired to do. However, life just got in the way and now I am getting the best of both worlds.

“I enjoy giving something back and putting the uniform on gives me a big sense of pride. It makes you feel special. I just love it.”

Gary Leighton-Jones worked as a member of staff in the Operational Planning Department at North Wales Police for 21 years.

He now does a range of voluntary work for North Wales Police, doing debriefs of critical incidents, role playing for training exercises and I also run the force lottery.

Gary said: “I enjoyed my time at North Wales Police  greatly and I wanted to keep active after I retired because I thought I still had things to offer.

“I thoroughly recommend the notion of volunteering because I believe in giving something back to society. I get the satisfaction of helping.”

PACT Project Manager Dave Evans said: “We’re looking for a small cohort of volunteers who are committed to helping us engage with community groups across the six counties and almost act an advocate for PACT, encouraging groups to apply for funding and also importantly carrying out some project feedback and find out how effective, or otherwise it’s been.

“We work closely with the network of PCSOs and are excited to be developing this work with the army of Special Constables, volunteer police officers, who work across North Wales.

“We are looking for people who are interested in community affairs and want to make a real difference and make North Wales a safer place to live, work and visit.”

* Anybody interested in becoming a volunteer or making a bid for a grant should go to the PACT website  www.pactnorthwales.co.uk or email  enquiries@pactnorthwales.co.uk or contact Dave Evans on 01745 588516

Clean-up team remove tonne of waste from Dee Valley

* Trolley good job!

* Wheely good.

* One the biking team goes around the valley looking for junk.

* Cheers: One of the empty bottles retrieved from the river.

* The river-borne clean-up squad at work.

Volunteers taking part in last Saturday's big Dee Valley Clean-Up scooped up a staggering 1.2 tonnes of man-made waste from the area.

One of the organisers, Aaron Kendell, said: "We had over 100 participants with 60% male and 40% female. Their ages ranged from under two to over 70 years of age.

"We collected over 1.2 tonnes of man-made waste off the valley floor. That’s the same weight as a new Mini!

"We had people mountain biking, walking, canoeing, SUPing, tubing, rafting and kayaking around the valley picking up waste.

"Thanks to your donations, for the first time ever we’re on track to break even. This is huge for us as it fills us with confidence that the clean-up is substantial and established enough to grow into the future.

"Over 60 burgers and 20 litres of chilli were consumed later by the volunteers."

* For more information on the Dee Valley Clean-Up, go to: Dee Valley Clean Up

Have your say about new 20mph speed limit on the A5

 

From September 17 most 30mph speed limits in Wales are changing to 20mph. And Llangollen people can have they say about the move at two special information days next month. The Welsh Government is changing the default speed limit on restricted roads, where streetlights are placed no more than 200 yards apart, usually located in residential and built-up areas which people use frequently.  Not all restricted roads will change to 20mph. Local authorities and the two trunk road agents in Wales, have used Welsh Government guidance and worked with communities to decide which roads should remain at 30mph  - these are known as exceptions. Transport for Wales - together with Welsh Government - will be hosting public information events about the new 20mph speed limits & the exceptions on the A5 in Clwyd South, inviting the communities of Llangollen, Froncysyllte, Glyndyfrdwy, and Corwen to take part. A county council spokesperson said: "These events will give members of the public an opportunity to find out more about the changes relating to the A5, view maps, speak to representatives from the Trunk Road Agent, Welsh Government and ask any questions they might have." The meetings takes place at Llangollen Town Hall Chambers in Parade Street, LL20 8PW, on Wednesday July 12, between 2pm and 7pm, and Thursday July 13, between 9am and 1pm. The spokesperson added: "We are also arranging an online event for those who cannot attend the public information events. More information will be available on this shortly. "We are hoping to inform as many members of the public as we can about the 20mph information days, and with this in mind we kindly ask that you share the attached advert with your networks."

Take a journey through time at Castell Dinas Brân

* Go back in time at Castell Dinas Brân. 

Families will have the chance to experience a rich slice of Llangollen history this July.

They can join the Our Picturesque Landscape team for a day of fun at which they can go back in time to discover the history of Castell Dinas Brân through the ages.

The event will be a celebration of how the historic landscape has attracted visitors to be inspired by the beautiful Dee Valley in art and poetry for centuries and will showcase the project’s important restoration work that has taken place over the last few years.

Alongside the historic ruins at the summit of the hill, two of the main tourist attractions from centuries past were a Victorian tearoom and a Camera Obscura, allowing visitors to view the outstanding landscape from this ingenious structure. 

The Our Picturesque Landscape project will be showcasing its very own portable camera obscura on the day, alongside a Victorian sweetshop.

Visitors will also find plenty of family friendly activities including portraits with a vintage camera, friendly donkeys, drop-in and bookable art workshops, immersive actors and traditional games.

The event is on Saturday July 1, from 12-4pm at the Castell Dinas Brân ‘Pancake’. 

* what3words location: milder.lake.pranced

The event and activities are free of charge to attend. 

North Wales Opera Studio presents tale of love, obsession and jealousy

 

* The cast of Carmen take to the Town Hall stage during rehearsals.

A host of talented performers take to the stage at Llangollen Town Hall next Saturday evening to present the opera Carmen.

The performance, on June 24 at 7pm, comes under the banner of North Wales Opera Studio (NWOS) which was founded by professional opera soprano and teacher Anne Williams-King and David Bartleet, an opera singer, teacher and agent, to give the stars of tomorrow the opportunity to receive top-class training and performance experience.

* Another dramatic moment from Carmen.

Anne said: "Our professional team has years of experience in the world of opera and train people from when they’re just starting out until they’re ready to go into the big wide world of opera."

Carmen, a searing depiction of a woman who craves love but creates obsession and jealousy, is one of the most popular operas ever written.

Bizet‘s Spanish-inflected score is bursting with passionate melodies and famous numbers such as Carmen’s seductive ‘Habanera’ and Escamillo’s ‘Toreador Song.’

Members of the cast are Carmen (Anna Luigi), Don Jose (Mark Jenkins), Escamillo (Kiefer Jones), Micaela (Hazel Neighbour), Frasquita (Katherine Nilsbird), Mercedes (Charlotte Killingly), Remendado (Julio Cancio), Dancairo (Gareth Blake), Zuniga (Simon Edward Willshire), Morales (Gareth Blake) and Lilas Pastia (Leigh Mason).

Chorus members are Lizzie Clifford, Eve Marie, Grace Worrall, Leigh Mason, Emma Williams, Selana Kong, Simon Willshire, Gareth Blake and Julio Cancio.

Carmen is directed by Anne Williams-King with David Bartleet as assistant director. Music director and accompanist is Andrew Charity and costumes, hair and makeup are by Katherine Nilsbird and Lizzie Clifford.

Stage management is by Josh Hubbard and lighting by Jack Shimmin with special thanks from the directing team to John Clifford for arranging transport.

* Tickets are available at the door or online: http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/north-wales-opera-studio

Dinas Bran pupil joins campaign to 'save nature'

* The Senedd building in Cardiff where the petition was being handed in today.

A Year 7 student from Ysgol Dinas Bran has joined 2,000 members of the public and 350 organisations in calling on the Welsh Government for urgent measures to protect nature.

The pupil, named only as Grace, is amongst those handing in a petition at the Senedd today (Tuesday) demanding action after a United Nations report revealed one million species are at risk.

The event was led by a group of young people, including Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales and was the culmination of months of campaigning by over 350 organisations across Wales, who say urgent action is needed to establish an independent watchdog, to speed up nature’s recovery.

During Great Big Green Week, 10-18th June, Climate Cymru toured around Wales in an electric vehicle, collecting hundreds of letters and messages from communities, children and young people, which left at the seat of the Welsh Government in Cardiff. 

In her message, Grace says: “Nature means everything to me. It means life, being able to live happily, being able to not stress about our future, being safe on our own planet, being…us, and who we’re meant to be.”

BBC presenter, Iolo Williams, said: “It’s fantastic to see this upswell of support across Wales for the protection of nature. We all know how critical it is for our health and wellbeing, for the future of our children and grandchildren, and for the sheer wonder of it. 

"Now, we need the Welsh Government to take the real action that this campaign is calling for. We need deeds, not just words. It’s important that politicians hear that we care about nature and how much of society wants to see nature thrive. I support Climate Cymru’s campaign to make that happen and I hope you, your business, or group can get behind it too.”

The letters and messages demand: “urgent action for nature including legally binding targets for nature's recovery and restoration, and an independent environmental watchdog” were presented on a giant scroll and hundreds of leaves. 

The Nature Positive campaigners believe this letter from organisations such RSPB Cymru, WWF Cymru, the Wildlife Trust Wales, community, faith groups, schools and individuals, to be the largest ever sent to the Welsh Government.