Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week, a week where we can highlight the importance of building communities that care and truly support individuals living with mental health conditions. While progress has been made, many still face stigma, discrimination and lack of access to essential services and this year’s theme emphasises the power of community in fostering mental wellbeing – by coming together, we can challenge inequalities and ensure that no one is left behind. Communities of support are made up by people like us getting involved – together, let’s turn awareness into action and build a community where everyone feels supported. You can find out more about community action on mental health at www.mentalhealth.org.uk.
On Friday evening, it was a pleasure to join councillors and community representatives at Flint Town Hall for Councillor Russ Davies’ Mayor making ceremony as he takes over the mantle for the coming year from Councillor Mel Buckley. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to everything Mel did in her term as Mayor, including being the force behind the first ever Flint Pride event and, of course, to wish Russ and his Mayoress, Councillor Norma Davies, all the best for the coming year. I am sure Russ and his Deputy Mayor Elaine Jones will serve their community with absolute dedication and I look forward to working with them.
Then, on Sunday, I enjoyed popping along to see Mold Rugby Club’s Mini’s Rugby Festival in action. It was great to see so many clubs making the journey to take part, from Bethesda to Rhyl, Ruthin to Wrexham and more. There was plenty of emerging talent on display, the future of rugby in North Wales looks bright and it was lovely to be asked to take part in the medal presentation in the end. A special shout out too to all the amazing volunteers and parents/grandparents, without whom we would not have grassroots rugby in a communities.
In the Senedd earlier this month, I called for careful, compassionate consideration of the real-life impact of recent legal developments, following the Supreme Court gender ruling earlier this month. We need to think through the impact on people’s lives carefully and considerately and separate some of the rhetoric from the reality. The reality is that the trans community is significantly more likely to be on the receiving end of aggression than to be the aggressor and that fear has been exacerbated recently.
There are still questions from the Supreme Court ruling that need addressing – what about cis women who don’t conform to narrow gender norms? Women with PCOS? Intersex people? Mothers taking their sons to the bathroom? These are serious concerns that I’ve heard directly from constituents and I’ll be following up in writing with the Cabinet Secretary. However, I do welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment not to provide a knee-jerk reaction but to approach this carefully, with compassion and in full engagement with the LGBTQ+ community in Wales.
May has brought lots of sunshine and warm weather. With temperatures being high, the RSPCA (England & Wales) is advising dog owners to take extra care to protect the welfare of their pets – never leave a dog in a car on a hot day and always be careful walking them during spells of hot weather. As a dog owner myself, I’m always careful during hot weather and I always make sure my dogs, Scout and Dusty, have plenty of fresh water to drink as well. You can find more RSPCA advice at www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars.
Finally, on the last Sunday of every month, Daniel Owen Square in Mold hosts Mold’s Sunday Gathering Artisan Market – the next one is this Sunday, from 10am. Each month from April to October there will be up to 40 outdoor stalls and 12 indoor stalls featuring a diverse range of artisan goods. Each market day offers shopping, classic car displays, live music and historic guided walking tours and you can also enjoy a meal or drink at one of Mold’s fantastic eateries, visit the town’s unique shops or take a leisurely stroll up to the historic Bailey Hill park, so I recommend stopping by if you can and make a day of it – and hopefully the sun will be shining too!
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/HannahBlythyn. 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.