The Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee scheme is one of our success stories here in Wales. More than 48,500 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 across the country have been helped to access employability and skills programmes. The Young Person’s Guarantee provides young people in Wales with an ongoing offer of support to gain a place in education or training, find a job or become self-employed. In Flintshire, the scheme has helped around 2,125 young people – as I’ve said before, it’s so important that we as a nation invest in our young people so they are not left behind.
In the Senedd last week, I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning for an update on Welsh Government support to enable organisations in Flintshire to become more energy efficient, something I found out about first-hand when I visited Holywell Town FC recently. Ynni Cymru funding for Holywell Town will mean that the club can not only become self-sufficient in energy terms but will bring broader benefits for the club – from being able to sell energy back to the grid to creating more comfortable facilities for the whole community to use, including a Jobs Growth Wales Plus scheme located on the site that offers local placements in woodwork skills.
The scheme in Holywell is just one part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to provide support to organisations like Holywell Town to benefit the environment, the economy and, of course, the community. It’s so important that we work hard to invest in our communities and there are so many more organisations in Delyn that could benefit from similar investment – if you’re involved in an organisation looking for similar funding, get in touch with my office on the details below for advice and help on the best way forward.
The Welsh Government recently announced that it has invested an extra £3m in bereavement care and support services across Wales. This money will support people experiencing a loss and goes to organisations across Wales, including Hope House & Tŷ Gobaith here in North Wales. Specialist support will be available for people experiencing the most complex forms of grief and for those living and working in agriculture. We want Wales to be a compassionate nation, so this extra money will go some way towards supporting people in a time of need.
I was really pleased last week to see the news that Holywell Brass Band secured victory at the Welsh Regional Championships in Swansea – this is their second win at this prestigious event! A huge well done to all the players and to Simon Owens for being named Best Soloist. I want to wish them the best as they now prepare to represent North Wales on the national stage.
This week also saw the start of the Mold Spring Clean, which runs until April 6, and this Saturday sees the ‘Super Saturday litter pick’, encouraging everyone to get involved in the big tidy-up. Now in its 16th year, the aim of the Spring Clean is not just to collect litter and other waste from our town’s streets, parks and open spaces, but to help make the town a cleaner place to live, work and visit. The event is once again being organised by Mold Town Council in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Mold Plastic Reduction and Flintshire County Council Streetscene – so if you’re out and about in Mold on Saturday, it’s well worth lending a hand to help improve our community.
Finally, there’s still time to have your say on the regional transport plan for North Wales – this is a chance for all Flintshire residents and organisations to get involved. The consultation is being carried out by Ambition North Wales, the organisation that’s coordinating the North Wales Growth Deal, which has set out plans to enhance our transport network and support the region’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing and it wants to hear what residents think about the future of transport in North Wales. You can see the proposal and submit your feedback in the virtual consultation room at https://northwalesregionaltransportplan.virtual-engage.com – the consultation closes on April 14.
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.