Recently I embarked on one of my favourite jobs as your local representative – judging my Christmas card competition with local schools, giving students from primary schools across Flintshire the chance to show off their artistic talents. This year, I asked the students to design a Christmas card on the theme of ‘celebrating peace and tolerance’ and the overall winner is Hallie Roberts, aged seven, from Ysgol Croes Atti – llongyfarchiadau Hallie!
I love to see the different designs the students come up with and Hallie’s wonderful design incorporated not only the ‘heddwch ar y ddaear’ message but a dove as well – but all the designs this year were excellent so it was difficult to choose! Hallie’s design will now feature on my cards this year and there were also some amazing entries from students at Ysgol Pen Coch, Ysgol Maes y Felin, Ysgol Bryn Gwalia, Ysgol Merllyn, Ysgol Rhos Helyg, Ysgol Y Waun and Gwernymynydd CP School. You can see the winning artwork and the runners-up on my website at www.hannahblythyn.cymru/meet-the-winner-of-my-christmas-card-competition-2024.
For four years running now, I’ve been giving out Christmas Cheer boxes to families across the constituency to help brighten up the festive season. This year saw us give out 200 boxes, with help from the Roberts Group in Flint, Smurfit Westrock in Mold and a number of schools across Flintshire – I’d like you thank you all for your invaluable help. The boxes include mince pies, biscuits, a Christmas pudding, cheese and crackers and I hope it went some way to making Christmas more festive for local families who are facing challenges. The festive season can be a really stressful time for many people and I hope the boxes will go a little way towards spreading some Christmas cheer for everyone.
In the Senedd last week, I raised the issue of flooding and the impact that the extreme weather of Storm Darragh had here at home in Flintshire, in common with communities across the country.
Families in areas like Northop Hall have faced prolonged power outages and homes in Mold have experienced repeated flooding – some for the second time in just over a year. I’ve called on the Welsh Government to work with local authorities and to take urgent steps to prevent and mitigate future flooding and weather-related issues – and I asked the Cabinet Secretary to meet with me to discuss how we tackle issues like this in the future. If you’ve been affected by Storm Darragh, the Welsh Government has provided funding to Local Authorities to provide grants of £500 and £1,000 to those affected – you can find out more information about financial support as well as any flood-related information and flood warnings at https://naturalresources.wales/flooding.
Over the past few months, I’ve been regularly raising women’s health in the Senedd and the need for women to be better supported and heard, leaning on my own family experience to shine a light on this, so I very much welcome the publication of the NHS Wales Women’s Health Plan last week. The plan is designed to be a catalyst for real change in the NHS to ensure women’s voices and experiences are heard and understood across all conditions, however there is a focus to improve the quality of services related to gynaecological conditions and issues such as contraception. While the plan itself is a positive step forward, the important part will be making a difference in practice and improving experiences and outcomes for all women in Wales. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have often felt I have had to explain myself over and over again when in a healthcare setting and some simple changes to approach could make all the difference.
Finally, Christmas is now almost upon us and I’d like to wish all my constituents a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda from me and my team, Florence, Kay, Sandra, Jack and Jonah. My office will close on Friday and reopen on January 2nd, but you can still reach me by email at hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales or by post at 52 High Street, Mold CH7 1HB. For anyone facing challenges this winter, whether you need urgent help, someone to talk to or council support, please don’t hesitate to reach out – let’s look out for one another this Christmas.
As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales. You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythynForDelyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait for an advice surgery.