Many Leader readers will know that since being elected as Member of the Senedd for Delyn, I have always championed what our area has to offer, including our town centres and high streets, recognising and celebrating their importance in our communities.

With restrictions easing it has been good to get out and about in Holywell, Flint and Mold high streets more, meeting constituents and chatting to business owners and offering my continued support to them.

Last week I held my first street stall at Holywell market since the restrictions have eased and it was a pleasure to spend time there, chatting to constituents and offering my support with concerns they have raised with me. I am keen to back our markets, both personally and politically, and am committed to having a presence at each of them in the future.

I recently welcomed the Chair of the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Darren Jones MP to Mold. Whilst in the town centre, Darren and I spoke about the over £45 million of financial support which has been distributed across Flintshire from the Welsh Government in recent months.

Over the weekend I was pleased to welcome Keir Starmer to Flintshire to show him first-hand the difference that this Welsh Government support has made to many small businesses as well as how the community has gone above and beyond to adapt in recent times. I also took the opportunity to show Keir around Mold market and introduce him to Cllr Teresa Carberry and Cllr Lynda Carter, so they could describe the work they have been doing on recycled uniforms.

Cllr Carberry, the Town Mayor for Mold, has been working closely with Cllr Carter who is the Town Mayor for Holywell, distributing recycled uniforms at their respective markets. The aim of their work is to ensure that families on lower income are able to access school uniforms, whilst also reducing unnecessary waste. What Cllrs Carberry and Carter have done so far is incredible and I will wholeheartedly support their plans to expand in the future.

For children starting school for the first time, or a new key stage, there is support for families on low income, to help them purchase uniform and other school equipment through the Welsh Government’s Pupil Development Grant. If you require additional support then please get in touch and I will do my best to signpost you to any support which you may be eligible for.

Continuing with the theme of businesses and communities going over and above, I am still out visiting constituents and businesses who were nominated as Community Champions, for their efforts to support others in recent months. Most recently I met with constituents nominated in Fynnongroyw and Trelogan and heard about what they had done to support the community in recent months.

In Fynnongroyw Louise has set up a “pop up shop” in the Canolfan to receive donations of clothing for those fleeing domestic abuse, and donating any proceeds to a domestic abuse charity. By asking colleagues and the wider community for donations, Louise has managed to collect a year’s supply of clothing and also has enough to provide emergency clothing herself.

Lisa is one of the volunteers in Trelogan who continues to support the community by carrying out weekly shops for those who are vulnerable and delivering them to their homes. In addition to this Lisa has been active in the wider community for a while, playing a key role in the renovation of the duck pond. The work volunteers – co-ordinated by Lisa – have done on the duck pond and surrounding area is amazing and a huge asset to the village.

Readers can find out more about my Community Champions scheme, and still nominate individuals, organisations and businesses, by visiting my website – www.HannahBlythyn.cymru or my Facebook page – HannahBlythynMS.

I am still getting out and about with my team to deliver the update to homes across the entire constituency and many Leader readers may have already received their copy. If you have any questions about my work, or if there is anything which I can be of assistance with, then please do get in touch by emailing Hannah.Blythyn@senedd.wales or calling my office on 01352 762102.