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Friday, September 15, 2023

Working Denbighshire offering help to school leavers

Following on from results month, Denbighshire County Council’s Working Denbighshire team are reminding recent high school and sixth form leavers that free support and help is available.

Working Denbighshire is an employability service which aims at supporting Denbighshire residents, aged 16 and above through coaching, training, and mentoring. 

Part of this service offers Wellbeing support. This has been put in place to help participants who don’t feel ready to go straight into employment or a placement. The dedicated wellbeing team have organised free weekly activities to raise aspiration, increase motivation and engagement. Activities planned include Beach Yoga, Lama Walking and Coffee Mornings, all aimed to improve participants confidence and skills for the future. 

Working Denbighshire also have dedicated teams in place for students that feel ready to go straight into employment but would benefit from 1-2-1 support and guidance with career development. Experienced mentors are on hand to help with job searching, CV writing and to support individuals through application processes for training, volunteering and placement opportunities, all focused around their choice of career. 

Support doesn’t stop there, as the team is trained to work to the needs of the individual and will even offer financial support for students experiencing financial barriers when trying to access training, placement or employment. 

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said: “Working Denbighshire are there to help school leavers with any employment advice they may need. 

"The team can also help with finding training and further qualifications and finding a work or volunteering placement.” 

David Morgan, Working Denbighshire Manager at Working Denbighshire said: “It is important that we offer a 1-2-1 personalised service to each of our participants as everyone needs a different level of support, especially young people who have recently left education.” 

Geraint Davies, Head of Service for Education at Denbighshire County Council said: “Leaving school or sixth form can be a confusing time, with many roads to choose from. Working Denbighshire are there for school leavers, if they decide to go straight into work after finishing their education.”

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment. 

Working Denbighshire has received £3,529,632 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

* To sign up to receive support from Working Denbighshire visit - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/jobs-and-employees/working-denbighshire/forms/contact-us-working-denbighshire.aspx or to find out more about the service - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/jobs-and-employees/working-denbighshire/working-denbighshire.aspx

Railway stages diesel gala this weekend

Llangollen Railway is planning a Diesel Gala this weekend, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September.   

Visitors will be able to board a variety of trains which will run an intensive timetable between Llangollen and the newly-opened station at Corwen.

The station at Corwen re-opened in June of this year, the latest westward extension of the railway which runs on the former Ruabon to Barmouth route. The line is now ten miles in length.

On both days, trains will depart Llangollen on the hour, between 10.00 and 15.00, according to the timetable published under the auspices of ‘British Rail's Llangollen and Corwen Railway', part of the ‘Dee Valley Region'.  

The journey to Corwen takes 40 minutes, calling at Berwyn, Glyndyfrydwy and Carrog. Return trips from Corwen will leave hourly between 11.15 and 16.15, calling at the same stations on the way back.

Three additional trains will run on Saturday only, departing Llangollen at 16.00, 18.45 and 20.35.  These return from Corwen at 17.05 and 19.45, though the 20.35 only travels as far as Glyndyfrdwy.  

Both the 18.45 and 20.35 are named trains – the Sulzer Symphony Scenic Landcruise – and do not call at intermediate stations.  These trains, which have bar facilities, will be topped and tailed by Classes 25 and 47.

Some trains will be hauled by Class 25 D7659, the last locomotive to be built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton, in 1966. It is visiting the North Wales line courtesy of the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust. Class 31 31271, also doing its part to haul trains, was built by Brush Traction in 1961 and is visiting courtesy of A1 Locomotive Group.  

The final locomotive in the trio will be Class 47 1566, built by BR at Crewe Works in 1964. They will be hauling a mixture of suburban and Mark 1 coaches.

Two freight services will also run. Passenger capacity for these services is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a warning on the timetable, however.  Passengers are asked to ‘bash sensibly', with a further warning that “anyone who appears intoxicated or behaves in ‘bellowing or flailing' will be asked to leave the train”.

Your chance to have a say in stage group's future

* A scene from the Twenty Club's production of the Vicar of Dibley in 2022.

The long-established Twenty Club of Llangollen are holding their annual general meeting at the RAFA Club in Llangollen on Wednesday September 20 at 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for the stage group said: "Everyone is very welcome. We are always keen to have new members to take part in this lively society whether it us treading the boards or backstage or front of house performance week.

"This is your chance to have a say in the future of the club, and there us even a fun quiz immediately after the meeting."

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Welsh hero's sword, crown and dagger to travel on Llangollen Railway

* Owain Glyndŵr's statue in the centre of Corwen.

A very special cargo will be conveyed on the Llangollen & Corwen Railway this Saturday.

To mark Owain Glyndŵr Day the legendary Welsh hero's replica sword, crown and dagger will be conveyed on the 12.21 train, hauled by a Class 47 engine, from his family land at Glyndyfrdwy, arriving at Corwen station at 12.40. 

It will then process with a carrying party from Embassy Glyndŵr to Corwen Square and the Owain Glyndŵr statue. 

At 13.00, representatives of the Corwen Owain Glyndŵr Day Festival will lay a wreath on the monument before a trustee of the Amgueddfa Corwen Museum officially receives the sword and crown from one of the Glyndŵr Embassy representatives. 

The dagger will be presented by Cllr Gordon Hughes, on behalf of Corwen Town Council.

The 44-inch long sword, known as the Sword of the Nation, weighs more than eight pounds and was originally unveiled at Cardiff Castle, having been paid for by an anonymous donor and commissioned by Embassy Glyndŵr, who said back in 2004 that the sword would act in place of Welsh “national treasures and symbols of statehood” lost after the conquest of Wales by Edward I in 1282-83.

A spokesperson for Llangollen & Corwen Railway said: "We are honoured to work with Amgueddfa Corwen Museum and convey these historic artefacts on their journey for display in the very heart of Owain Glyndŵr's homeland and on his national day of celebration from Glyndyfrdwy." 

Llangollen man joins gruelling 800-mile charity challenge


* Gary Perriton features in a story in the Leader.

A Llangollen man will join a group of intrepid cyclists on a gruelling 800-mile Rock2Rock challenge from Rock in Cornwall to the rock of Gibraltar to raise awareness and funds for veterans' charity, Launchpad, according to a story in the Leader.

* For the full story, see: Rock2Rock challenge in aid of Launchpad veterans' charity | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk) 

Notice of phone survey in the county

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards has let people know that NEMS Marketing Research is going to carry out household surveys by telephone regarding local shopping patterns and town centre uses in the county over the next two months. 

The results will inform the preparation of the Town Centre Assessment in support of Denbighshire's  replacement Local Development Plan.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Have your say on proposed new National Park

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has announced the dates of a series of online and in-person engagement events where they can have their say on an initial Area of Search map for a proposed new National Park in North East Wales. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

Two events will be held in Llangollen during November.

Designated Landscapes, consisting of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), cover approximately 25% of Wales. 

They are areas legally recognised for their natural beauty, and for National Parks, the opportunities they provide for open-air recreation. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

In its Programme for Government (2021-2026), Welsh Government set out its intention to designate a new National Park in North East Wales based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

This would be a fourth National Park for Wales, and the first new such park to be established in Wales since 1957. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

Welsh Government has commissioned NRW, as the Designating Authority in Wales, to evaluate the case for a new National Park based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The case for a new National Park will be considered within the existing Senedd term (2021-2026). ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

The engagement events will take place in October and November 2023 and will be an opportunity to learn more about the project, ask questions of the team and share feedback on an early map of the area being assessed. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

Ash Pearce, Project Manager, said: “There will be a full consultation on a proposed boundary map in 2024 when we have completed our assessments and refined the map. At this stage the map simply defines the area to focus our assessment work, we are interested in listening to and understanding all stakeholders’ points of view. I would urge anyone interested in the project to visit one of our online or in-person drop-in events to find out more about the work we are doing and share your feedback with us by completing a questionnaire.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

The engagement period will run from Monday 9 October until 23:59 on Monday 27 November 2023. People will only need to attend one event, be that online or in-person as the information shared will be the same for each event. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

People are encouraged to drop by at the in-person events, there is no need to book a place. If interested in taking part in one of the online events, email the project team at designated.landscapes.programme@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk with your name, state your interest (e.g. resident, community leader, landowner, farmer, business owner, organisation representative, etc) and which event you are interested in (the date). These will be bilingual events with simultaneous translation provided.

NRW have prepared procedural guidance setting out the statutory process that must be followed. It is evidence based and allows for engagement and consultation with statutory consultees, the public and other stakeholders. For more information on the project and evaluation process, visit the website at: https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/north-east-gogledd-ddwyrain/north-east-wales-national-park-designation-project

Local events are: 

Tuesday 14 November6pm – 7.30pmOnlinevia Microsoft Teams
Saturday 18 November*10am – 4pmIn-person (drop-in)Llangollen Town Hall ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

Castle St, Llangollen LL20 8NU