Local citizens who access Mental Health Support via the Council and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board have recently taken part in a project to transform their local Community Mental Health building in Denbigh, Tim Dyffryn Clwyd.

The idea stemmed from citizens sharing feedback with staff, with the takeaway being that the building was too formal and clinical, which hindered the way that they engaged with the service.

Both services wanted to ensure that citizens felt that their opinions were heard and valued, and felt that it would be beneficial for citizens to take on some ownership of the space they use.

During ‘Well-being through Art’ sessions, funded by the Welsh Government’s Connected Communities Loneliness and Social Isolation grant, citizens developed pieces of art to decorate the rooms, using a variety of art mediums including inks, cyanotypes and even making weaved plant pots.

Two rooms have had feature walls painted in warmer, calming colours and the citizens were also given the opportunity to rename some of the consultation rooms in the building to ensure they fit with the nature theme of the project. The rooms are now named after three local mountains, Moel Famau, Moel Arthur and Foel Fenlli.

Funding has also been secured to purchase new furniture for the rooms, which will help modernise these spaces.

The process of taking part in this project has enabled citizens to implement the 5 ways of Well-being, which helps them to maintain mental wellness by Connecting with others, To Give, To Take notice, Be active and to Learn something new. It is hoped that it will help to change citizen’s perception of the building and reconnect them with the service in a more positive way.

Ann Lloyd, Head of Adult Social Care & Homelessness Service said: “The citizen-led transformation of Tim Dyffryn Clwyd is truly inspiring, showcasing the remarkable impact of empowering individuals to help shape the local services they use. This project is yet another wonderful example of engagement and collaboration bringing about positive change in the community.”

Cymdeithas Canolfan Ial Association (CCIA) have appointed a contractor to undertake improvement works on a former school building, to become a community hub in Bryneglwys.

On the 19 January 2023, the Council received confirmation that they had secured £10.95m from the UK Government for the former Clwyd West constituency to support the development of 10 projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing and rural communities.

This project was one of the 10 included within the Council’s application to UK Government, and as a result Cymdeithas Canolfan Ial Association (CCIA) received £327,000 of this UK Government funding to renovate the former village school and secured a further £65,000 from the Clocaenog Windfarm Fund towards the project.

After the closure of Ysgol Bryneglwys in 2014, a group of volunteers came together to ensure that a once valuable community asset could become integral to the community again.

The group of residents formed Cymdeithas Canolfan Ial Association (CCIA) and obtained a charity status in April 2020, with the aim to convert the old school to a much-needed community hub.

Adever Construction was successful in their tender for the project, and preliminary works have begun to remove existing asbestos within the building, conduct clean air tests and render the exterior of the community hub.

Further improvements to the interior of the building will enable future community events to be held within the community hub and provide a warm hub facility for residents.

Pat Downes, Chair of Cymdeithas Canolfan Ial Association (CCIA) said:

“Cymdeithas Canolfan Ial Association (CCIA) was formed as a one issue charity to turn the old school into a much-needed community hub. It has been a lot of hard work and so many people have helped us over the years. There has been a real team effort around this project.

“It’s an exciting time, not just for CCIA, but hopefully the whole village will be looking forward to having this amenity. It will offer an opportunity for residents to get together on a regular basis in the new café and will provide a space to host events such as concerts. It will also be available to hire once the work has been completed”.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation said:

“We are pleased to hear that a contractor has been appointed to complete these much-needed improvements to create a community hub in Bryneglwys.

“It is exciting that Denbighshire County Council has been able to support this community to achieve their aspirations. Hubs such as these play a vital role in bringing the residents together and we are sure that when the renovation is completed, it will become a valuable asset to the people of Bryneglwys”.

Held over two sessions, local aspiring filmmakers have been given the opportunity to take part in free taster sessions by industry experts.

Teaming up with TAPE Community Music and Film based in Old Colwyn, Working Denbighshire set up two free workshop events in Rhyl Library, giving local aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to use professional grade filming and editing equipment.

Working Denbighshire participants, local businesses and services volunteered to be on camera to share their positive and personal experience of using the employability and skills service provided by Working Denbighshire, whilst new participants worked together to capture their story.

Led by Niall Jones from TAPE, both sessions went into detail about the basics of filmmaking, sharing key techniques and skills over a one-and-a-half-hour session.

Niall Jones, filmmaker at TAPE Community Music and Film, said:

"Sharing creative skills and passions in a way that involves everyone is at the heart of TAPE's ethos. Our thanks to Working Denbighshire for allowing us to connect further with Denbighshire residents, and our thanks to those who came along to the sessions to make it such an enjoyable experience!"

Melanie Evans, Principal Manager and Strategic Lead for Working Denbighshire said:

“Events like these really highlight the importance of this service and the wide array of employment and skills support that is available to our young people in the county.

We are grateful to have been able to collaborate with TAPE to provide these free sessions. This kind of professional development provides residents with experience using high quality equipment, which will add value to their CV.”

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“The knowledge gained from these sessions will give local aspiring filmmakers a greater understanding of the field they aspire to work in.

Working with professionals allows for great growth and understanding, and is a great way to build up a CV.”

After the recent A Level and GCSE results, Working Denbighshire is shining a light on a recent young person they supported into work after leaving education.

Alex, who has a passion for Engineering, expanded on it further through a Work Start scheme.

The Work Start Scheme is designed to provide people with invaluable work placement opportunities in a sector they are passionate in, and proved to be a turning point for Alex.

After gaining his Level 2 qualification in Engineering, he sought after expert guidance from a Placement Officer, who helped Alex secure a 12-week placement in mechanics after demonstrating exceptional skills and dedication throughout his interview process. This has the possibility to be a permanent role once he completes the placement.

Previous Working Denbighshire participant, Alex said:

“I was unsure where to turn for career support after leaving education, but as soon as I heard about Working Denbighshire, I contacted them.

The Work Start Scheme gave me the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills to get into the job I wanted, and this experience will continue with me whilst I further progress in my career.

I would recommend Working Denbighshire to anyone who like me, left school or education without the relevant experience and skills for your chosen career. They helped me a lot.”

Ross from Redstone Services, Ruthin said:

“Alex has been with us for a few weeks now and has been helping around the workshop, learning the procedures and high level of detail we implement into our work. This is so we can get the vehicle fixed or serviced to the highest of standards.

The Work Start Scheme has helped us with finding the right person for our business. I would recommend Working Denbighshire to any employers that need assistance with finding suitable employees.”

Racheal Sumner-Lewis, Employer & Training Relationships Manager, Working Denbighshire said:

‘’Alex came to us looking for a secure career in mechanics and we are delighted to have been able to support him with that.

By offering customised support and ensuring they are matched to available placement opportunities, we are able to watch participants excel in their chosen career path.

If you are in need of employment type support, please contact Working Denbighshire to see how we can help you.’’

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“Figuring out the next step after finishing schooling can be confusing for some.

Working Denbighshire are there to ensure that school leavers get the help they need when they are taking the next step in their journey.”

The Work Start scheme provides work placement opportunities for Denbighshire residents aged 16 and over, to gain experience in a chosen job.

If you are interested in applying to one of our Work Start placements, please email workstart@denbighshire.gov.uk

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment.

Working Denbighshire is part funded by UK Government.

An EV charging public network has reached its first anniversary by providing thousands of green miles for motorists to travel around Denbighshire.

Since launching officially last summer, the Council’s network of public EV chargers located at all towns have provided 239,146kwh of charging for motorists using the facilities.

That’s the equivalent of 837,000 miles of greener lower carbon travelling delivered by the network, nearly 34 times travelling around the circumference of the earth.

Closer to home, the miles delivered tots up around 1,000 trips from Land’s End to John O’Groats and 9,300 journeys travelling from Holyhead to Wrexham.

And for those using EV greener miles to travel around Denbighshire, the annual amount is roughly equivalent to 19,420 car trips from the coast of Prestatyn down to the sights of the River Dee at Llangollen.

Entering the summer holidays the EV network can provide a great opportunity to travel around Denbighshire to enjoy the many attractions the county has to offer while charging your vehicle.

If you are also planning on visiting Llangollen Railway, Corwen’s Green Lane car park next to the station has five EV chargers operational as part of a project at the site funded by the UK Government. Down the line in Llangollen, charging points are also available at Market Street and the Pavilion car parks.

Cae Ddol car park in Ruthin offers EV facilities to use right next the Gaol and the park itself if visiting the town with the family and chargers are also available at Ruthin Craft Centre.

If you are visiting the coast this Summer there are also rapid chargers available at West Kinmel car park charging hub, Rhyl and Kings Avenue car park Prestatyn.

Other EV public network locations are at Denbigh’s Post Office Lane car park, St Asaph’s Bowling Green car park, Morley Road car park Rhyl and Fern Avenue car park Prestatyn.

Work on the additional charging network for a few sites was supported by grant funding via the UK Government’s Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

This project has been carried out to also support people with transitioning to an electric vehicle where they might not have previously had access to a charging facility.

The EV public network is a part the Council’s overall action to tackle climate change following the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 by reducing the county’s carbon footprint.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Its great to see the EV public network helping support many greener miles driven during its first official year. We want to reduce carbon emissions around the county and the network is helping drive towards this by supporting this greener way of travelling.

“The EV public network is also ideal for anyone local to the county or visiting from a far this summer who has ownership of an electric vehicle as it provides an ideal support for coming to our towns to visit attractions and charge up whilst doing so.

“EV drivers can plan routes all around the county using the network to enjoy what Denbighshire has to offer, also supporting our local businesses as well when they stop off to plug in and find out what the towns have to offer them while they wait.

“These facilities are also important to help those wanting to move over to electric vehicles but don’t have the facility or off-road parking to do so.”

A rare tree which inspired the naming of many UK pubs is pouring a new future for itself in Denbighshire.

Wild Service Trees are thriving this summer season at the Council’s Tree Nursery, at St Asaph.

The local tree nursery at Green Gates Farm, St Asaph, aims to produce 5,000 native wildflower plants a year alongside 5,000 native trees.

Trees and plants grown at the nursery eventually will head back out into the countryside to boost biodiversity.

The wild service tree is only located in a few isolated locations across Denbighshire. It also historically takes the name ‘chequers tree’ due to the tree’s fruits that are said to taste similar to dates and were given to youngsters in the past as sweets.

A fermented beer like alcoholic drink was also traditionally made from the fruits of the tree and it is believed this tipple inspired the naming of a number of ‘Chequers’ pubs across the country.

Following the successful germination of a number of Wild Service Tree seeds collected last Autumn, the local provenance tree nursery has brewed up a healthy batch of trees to support this historical piece of nature.

The tree nursery, funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project and Local Places for Nature grant, is now home to 240 healthy growing Wild Service Trees.

Liam Blazey, Senior Biodiversity Officer said: “We are really pleased that the facilities here at the tree nursery have been able to give such an historically recognised rare tree an important lifeline in our county.

“After germinating inside freezer bags full of compost in our site fridge, with the help of staff and our great group of volunteers who support the nursery, these seeds were moved into root trainers before being potted on into three litre pots.

“Thanks to all the attention poured into protecting the Wild Service Tree, we now have 240 trees all outside on the nursery grounds enjoying the warmer weather and growing well. Once they get to a certain stage we will look to get them out into the county to help boost numbers.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “Our Biodiversity team is working hard to reduce the impact of climate change on our county lands which have unfortunately seen so many species become rare.

“This great effort will not only help nature recover but it will also give our future communities a slice of nature’s history back that they can get out into the outdoors to visit and enjoy for their own physical and mental wellbeing.”

Low carbon work at a Council storage facility has reduced energy use on a monthly basis by nearly 75 percent

The Council’s Energy Team has completed a project to reduce energy usage and also lower long term energy costs at the Council’s Corporate Stores site at Lon Parcwr, Ruthin

The team has looked after several projects across Council buildings that aim to improve energy efficiency and also support the reduction of carbon emissions and usage costs over the longer term.

This ongoing work is part of the Council’s drive to address the climate and nature emergency declared in 2019 and reduce its own building carbon footprint as part of the response.

Corporate Stores supports services across the Council by providing needed storage facilities.

The Energy Team installed a new LED lighting system which can help to reduce building lighting electricity consumption by at least 50 percent

Together with the LED system and 11kW of PV solar panels were also installed on the roof of the building to harness the sun’s energy to reduce usage from the National Grid. Energy efficiency improvements to the heating controls have also been completed.

This combined work has seen a monthly reduction of energy use by up to 75 percent in the summer months at the site, leading to a cost saving of £1109 per month. Annual savings of over £11,000 per annum are expected. The carbon emissions savings will be over 11 tonnes per year.

Martyn Smith, Property Energy and Carbon Manager, said: “Corporate stores is a unique building for us to tackle as there are very few windows on the building which means virtually no natural light and lighting is a priority as it is the primary energy consumer. Using an LED system to address the need for regular lighting in the building, supported by the PV panels has helped us achieve this large reduction in energy use and also lower energy costs over the long term.

Projects carried out on other Council owned buildings has also seen the Energy Team pass the important landmark of over a megawatt of installed renewable energy capacity (1099kWp). Most of this is generated from roof mounted solar PV panels. Each Kilowatt generated by PV can save around 30 pence.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We are committed to continuing to ensure that our carbon footprint is reduced across the county by looking at the buildings we own and initiating projects to help cut emissions and save energy costs in the long term.. As well as our estate, we are also working on projects to support the reduction of carbon output from our fleet, private vehicles and also boosting biodiversity resilience across the county.

Pupils at Ysgol Dinas Brân recently rolled up their sleeves to learn countryside management skills.

The youngsters were supported by Education Engagement Officers from the Council's Llwybrau service to take part in outdoor education sessions run by Countryside Rangers around the south of the county.

‘Denbighshire Education Project – Llwybrau team’, supports young people in Denbighshire to reduce their risk of disengagement from education and provides support to re-engage in education or to move into employment or training at the end of year 11. The service received funding from the UK Government.

The Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes rangers have helped the pupils learn countryside management and other skills through sessions including.

• • Bracken bashing on Dinas Brân
  • Balsams pulling at Ty Mawr Country Park
  • Gardening at Corwen Community Garden
  • Craft activities at Plas Newydd Historic House and Garden with the Our Picturesque Landscape team
  • Drystone walling on Caer Drewyn Iron Age Hillfort
  • Litter picking along the Panorama

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “I am delighted to see the great work that has been done with the Ysgol Dinas Brân pupils to not only support these youngsters to re-engage with their education, but also sparking a new-found interest for skills that they might not have developed through mainstream teaching.

“This is a fantastic example of partnership working from the Council’s Llwybrau service, whose experienced Education Engagement Officers have done a great job in utilising skills and resources from a variety of different organisations to support these pupils in re-engaging with their education and discovering new skills and hobbies that they might not have been aware of before.”

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning added: “These sessions guided by our Countryside Rangers have really helped the pupils with building their confidence and learning new skills, and they have been rewarded with certificates to show their dedication towards volunteering on this project.”

A Prestatyn based allotments is providing strong support for both budding gardeners and pollinators.

National Allotments Week held in August, celebrated biodiversity on all UK allotments, looking at how sites can both help gardening skills and give back to local nature as well.

Managed by Denbighshire Countryside Services, the allotment site at Coed Y Morfa is a haven not only for budding gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts but also a host of important pollinators.

The site, previously a waste disposal area, has been transformed into an allotment site boasting 50 raised bed plots, a large polytunnel and numerous planted ornamental beds, pots and baskets.

Every Tuesday the gates to the allotment are open to the public from 3pm - 4.30pm. During this time, people are free to help out with gardening tasks, learn more about the growth and cultivation of plants they may be interested in and meet like minded green-fingered folk.

Countryside Ranger, Sasha Taylor said:

“We also host a range of volunteering activities at the allotment and in the surrounding area. We have sowed peas with local primary school Ysgol Y Llys, made nettle cordage, made Christmas wreaths and undertaken numerous invertebrate surveys including those for bees, butterflies and moths.

Our moth surveys have yielded fantastic results over the years. With Scarlet Tiger, Garden Tiger, Oak Eggar, Mint moth and Poplar Hawk Moth recorded on site. Moths are an often overlooked group of insects, but recording them can tell us a great deal about our local habitats.

They are just as important as bees and butterflies in terms of plant pollination and account for around a third of all pollinator visits to flowers, trees and crop plants. Some research even suggests that day flying moths are more efficient pollinators than bees!”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said:

“It’s fantastic to hear how the work of the Coed y Morfa allotments community is boosting support for our important pollinators. These sites are a great mix for nature and community physical and mental wellbeing.”

If you would like to find out more about the allotment or volunteering sessions with the Council's Countryside Service please email: sasha.taylor@denbighshire.gov.uk

We are reminding residents to take advantage of the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) in the County, before the start of a new academic year.

In December 2021, the Welsh Government announced plans to offer free meals to all primary school pupils in response to the rising cost-of-living pressures on families, with the aim that by September 2024 all children in primary schools across Wales will receive free school meals.

Earlier this year, the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) offer in Denbighshire had been successfully rolled out from reception to year 6, meaning every primary school pupil in Denbighshire had access to free school meals ahead of the Welsh Government’s target date.

If parents or carers are in receipt of certain benefits and have a household income which does not exceed the current Government threshold, they could be entitled to free school meals for their child.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“It is fantastic that pupils in primary school across Denbighshire have access to a free warm meal, and I’d like to acknowledge the dedicated work of our staff to achieve such a milestone ahead of schedule.

“The provision of school meals are essential in a child’s learning and development, and the catering team continue to work with local suppliers to provide a hot nutritionally balanced meal at lunchtime.

“Denbighshire County Council are committed to healthy eating and are working hard with schools to promote the health and welfare of pupils”.

To view the menu, or for more information visit the Denbighshire school meals website.