Member of the Senedd for Delyn, Hannah Blythyn, has teamed up with local businesses to help families out by delivering boxes of ‘Christmas cheer’ this week.

Hannah Blythyn, the MS for Delyn, said: “My idea was to try to spread a little cheer by giving out boxes of Christmas treats to families who have been hard-hit by rising living costs.”

The treats included chocolates, selection boxes, mince pies, biscuits, Christmas pudding, cheese and crackers and more.

“The boxes have now been delivered and we couldn’t have done it without the help of local businesses and organisations.

“Polyroof, based in Flint, were amazing. Not only did they donate £2,000 to help buy the treats, they also provided a driver, Marc, with a van to help with deliveries. He really went the extra mile and dressed as an elf for the day!”

“We also had support from Smurfitt Kappa in Mold, which donated the boxes themselves and had donations of items for the boxes from the Port of Mostyn and Kingspan. The River Dee Centre in Flint and Parkfields Community Fridge in Mold came on board and each had 10 boxes which they distributed to local families too.

“The idea really seems to have caught on and I hope to get even more local firms on board to expand the initiative even further next year,” she said.

Ms Blythyn added:

“This is the second year I’ve organised a local Christmas delivery scheme – last year it was ‘Christmas Dinner in a Box’, this year it was ‘Christmas cheer boxes’.

“The festive season can be a really stressful time for families with all the extra costs – and this is especially true this year after the £20 cut in Universal Credit, the increase in national insurance payments and rapidly rising energy and food prices.

“I hope the boxes will go a little way towards making things a little bit better for everyone who gets one.”