Tributes to Councillor Win Mullen-James

Changes to Denbighshire Libraries Opening Hours

From 1 June the opening hours of Denbighshire Libraries and One Stop Shops will be changing.

The new hours have been informed and tweaked by Library staff, Library users and the numerous responses to the public consultation to fit each individual Library’s needs on a case by case basis.

The full array of library services are being maintained, and a full programme of activities will be available to users throughout Denbighshire. For example, the extremely popular Bookstart rhymetime sessions are continuing, and people will still be able to drop into their local Talking Point to find out what help and support is available in their local area, but there may be some changes to specific times.

The Digital Library offering will continue to be available 24/7, giving library members free access to eBooks, audiobooks and ePress via the Borrowbox app, and digital magazines via the Libby app.

The new opening hours are as below and will be implemented from 1 June:

CORWEN LIBRARY			LLANGOLLEN LIBRARY
Monday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm		Wednesday	2pm - 5pm
Tuesday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm		Thursday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
Wednesday	10am - 1pm		Friday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
			Saturday	9.30am - 12.30pm
Denbigh Library			Ruthin Library
Monday	10am - 5pm		Monday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm		Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Friday	12pm - 5pm		Thursday	12pm - 5pm
Saturday	9.30am - 12.30pm		Saturday	9.30am - 12.30pm
St Asaph Library			Rhuddlan Library
Monday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm		Monday	9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5pm
Wednesday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm		Wednesday	9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5pm
Saturday	9.30am - 12.30pm		Thursday	1.30pm - 5pm
			Friday	9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5pm
Prestatyn Library			Rhyl Library
Monday	10am - 5pm		Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm		Wednesday	12pm - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm		Thursday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	9.30am - 12.30pm		Friday	10am - 2pm
			Saturday	9.30am - 12.30pm

Liz Grieve, Head of Housing & Communities Service said:

“We have tried to choose hours that benefit each Library’s specific needs and create a balance between location and opening times.

No Library within Denbighshire is closing its doors permanently through these changes, and the core Library services that our residents have come to know and love have been protected and are fully accessible during these new hours.

We are looking forward to working with partners and community groups so that we can continue to keep libraries at the heart of our local communities.”

Childcare offer to expand in Denbighshire

The Flying Start childcare offer is set to expand further into Denbighshire, with more areas soon to be covered in Dyserth, Rhuddlan and Denbigh. The offer is set to be available towards the second half of this year.

To fully introduce the offer to these new areas and help participants with registration, a series of introductory celebratory sessions will be held over the May half term period. Invites to these sessions will be sent via post to eligible households within the newer areas.

These sessions will include valuable information for parents, as well as fun activities for kids including Messy play, Soft play, Face painting and special guests.

The offer has already been expanded to more areas in Prestatyn, Meliden and Rhyl over the last few months, enabling more families with Children aged 2-3 to access the 12 ½ hours of funded childcare.

Children living in eligible Flying Start postcode areas can access this funded childcare provision from the beginning of the term following their second birthday, up to the end of the term in which they celebrate their third birthday.

Rhiain Morrlle, Head of Children's Services said:

"The Flying Start Childcare offer has been expanded to more areas in Prestatyn, Meliden and Rhyl over the last few months, meaning that many more Denbighshire families with Children aged 2-3 now have access the 12 ½ hours of funded childcare.

Over the recent Easter holidays a number of sessions were held for local families which featured Easter Bunny, Alice in Wonderland, Soft play, Messy play and face paints. They also provided registration information for parents.

The offer will soon be expanding to areas in Dyserth, Rhuddlan and Denbigh, and introductory sessions for eligible families will be held over the May half term, with the invites being sent out soon.”

To find out more and to check your postcode, please visit: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/flying-start

Public Consultation and Information Sessions: Projects in Ruthin

The next public consultation session is at the Ruthin Rugby Club on Friday, 10 May (2pm - 7pm)

New Denbighshire People and Skills Key Fund Grant

Is your organisation active in Denbighshire and committed to providing quality employability support including, learning and training?

If so, take a look at the Denbighshire People and Skills Key Fund Grant which enables organisations to deliver training, mentoring and support to help people of all ages to fulfil their employment potential, both personally and professionally.

The fund is open for applications. Go to http://bit.ly/4b16mXI for further information on how to apply.

The closing date for applications is 17 May 2024!

Funding secured for North East Wales Archives

Denbighshire and Flintshire County Councils are excited to have been recently informed that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a grant of £7.3 million to help fund the delivery of a new building for the North East Wales Archives (NEWA).

With match contributions of £2m from Denbighshire County Council and £3m from Flintshire County Council, this will allow NEWA to move from its current branches in Ruthin and Hawarden to future proof the region’s historic records in a purpose-built net carbon zero building in Mold.

Liz Grieve, Head of Housing and Communities Service at Denbighshire County Council said, “Local Authorities have a statutory duty to maintain an archive, and the current facilities are not fit for purpose. The decision to approve the project was made in principle in October 2023 and took into consideration the financial challenges facing the Council.  That decision considered a range of options and concluded there was not a ‘no cost’ or a ‘low cost’ option.

“This collaborative approach with Flintshire County Council offers the best value for money and ensures that we can take advantage of the funding from the Heritage Fund that might not otherwise be available to secure this long-term solution. It will also mean that our staff can deliver an improved service and will be able to better engage with the community in north Wales.”

Claire Homard, Chief Officer for Education & Youth in Flintshire said “The successful project, called ‘Creative Archives’, will transform the way NEWA works giving local communities greater access to collections and providing opportunities for staff to interact with the public to celebrate their personal and communities’ histories. The project also includes an improved outreach and digital programme to extend access to the archives across the region and further afield as well as creating more spaces for research, performances, and exhibitions.”

Andrew White, Director for The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said, “Projects such as this highlight how funding from the Heritage Fund can be used not only to preserve our heritage and history but turn it into an exciting vision that will impact the lives of future generations.

“It’s thanks in no small part to players of The National Lottery that we’re able to enjoy seeing projects like the Creative Archives flourish and provide communities with a hub for creative and educational spaces.”

Ruthin Gaol and The Old Rectory in Hawarden have hosted the archive services for many years but can no longer meet the expectations and requirements of stakeholders or provide sufficient or suitable spaces to house the growing collections. The new site will help to revolutionise access to a wider and more diverse audience and protect the collections for future generations.

There will continue to be a smaller Archive presence in Ruthin, and the relocation of NEWA releases space at Ruthin Gaol to allow for the development of an enhanced visitor experience which will increase footfall and income. The new archive centre is expected to open in late 2027.

Denbigh Youth host consultation event for safer bike routes

A group of young people from Denbigh held an event to consult the public on the need for safer biking routes in the town for young people to be able to get out and about and keep active.

The idea came when Osian Gregson, 13, who attends Denbigh Youth Club decided to take action after becoming frustrated that there wasn’t anywhere suitable in the town for him and other young people in the area to be able to play out on their bikes safely. He shared his concerns with a Youth Worker who advised him on what he would need to do to get his voice heard.

Osian went on to write to his local MP to share his views about the need for safer routes and areas for young people to be able to ride their bikes in Denbigh before banding together with other young people from the Youth Club to launch the ‘Bumps and Jumps’ campaign.

The aim of their campaign is to gather views and generate support for safer bike routes and areas where young people in Denbigh can go to ride their bikes safely.

The group launched the campaign on the 26 March, 2024 with a consultation event at Cae Hywel in Denbigh. The event was organised by the young people, with the support of their Youth Worker from Denbighshire Youth Service.

The aim of the event was to provide the local community with an opportunity to share their views on whether they believe that more biking routes and areas to be able to ride your bike, such as pump tracks, are needed in Denbigh in order for people to be able to ride more safely in the area.

The group also set up a portable pump track at the event to show off some of their biking skills and to exhibit the benefits of a potential pump track in Denbigh.

Other activities were also provided by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. and Denbighshire Housing such as zorbs and painting activities, while Denbigh Hwb and Denbigh Youth Project arranged packed lunches for attendees. Drosi Bikes also attended with their Doctor Bike service to provide bike safety checks and advice.

This consultation event was the first phase of the young people’s ‘Bumps and Jumps’ project with the group already planning future activities with the support of their Youth Club to take the campaign further.

Osian said: “The idea for this campaign came partly from the fact that I love being outside; I would rather be outside than on my PlayStation! But also, not everyone is able to easily get about. Some parents don’t drive and so young people rely on our bikes a lot to get around and I want to be able to feel safe riding from one place to the other in Denbigh.

“The campaign isn’t just about having safer bike routes, but we don’t really have anywhere in Denbigh where we can go out and ride our bikes with our friends. That’s why something like a pump track in the area would be great because it would offer a space for us to go where we can socialise and keep active and not just sit at home.”

Liz Grieve, the Council’s Head of Housing and Community Services, said: “It’s refreshing to see such an enthusiastic group of young people pouring their efforts into something with the aim of benefitting their local community and encouraging other young people to get out and keep active.

“I would like to thank Denbighshire Youth service for supporting these young people on their journey to achieve their goals and I look forward to seeing the progress of the ‘Bumps and Jumps’ campaign. I wish the group all the best with any future activities or events that they arrange to help drive the campaign forward.”

New Food Network Event Held in Ruthin

An inaugural food network event was recently held in the Naylor Leyland Centre, Ruthin, to discuss a new partnership aiming to deliver food related projects around Denbighshire. 

COGOG is a multi-agency partnership, working collaboratively to reduce food waste and food poverty in the County through developing sustainable food initiatives. 

Over 40 members from various community groups across the County gathered to consider how as a County, Denbighshire can maximise access to healthy and affordable food and reduce food waste. 

Members from the NHS dietetics team and FareShare were present to provide advice, whilst Use Your Loaf, a community bakery based in Rhyl provided freshly baked crusty rolls and focaccia bread for attendees.

Tom Barham, Chair of the Food Partnership said:

“We’re very lucky to have so many volunteer groups dedicating their time to address food poverty and promote healthy eating in their local communities, through initiatives such as family cooking sessions, and we look forward to the Partnership being able to support ongoing collaborations through shared learning and cooperative development.”

For more information about Denbighshire’s COGOG partnership, please contact Nikki Jones at nikki.Jones@denbighshire.gov.uk.