'Ever-excellent Mold Food & Drink Festival'

MS for Delyn

Following on from a busy first week back in the Senedd last week, it was a busy weekend back home in the constituency, where on Saturday I once again went along to support the ever-excellent Mold Food & Drink Festival. It was good to see so many local exhibitors and organisations in attendance and my thanks go to all involved for their hard work in making it happen. Then, on Sunday, it was a pleasure to do a reading at the Chair of Leeswood Community Council Lesley Richardson’s Civic Service at the Methodist Church.

Last week I joined the First Minister and local councillors at the official opening of the Plas yr Ywen Extra Care development in Holywell, a 55-apartment complex designed to provide independent living for people aged 50+ with access to a range of facilities and 24-hour on-site support. The complex, built by Wales & West Housing and Flintshire County Council with the support of Welsh Government, is built on the site of the former Ysgol Perth y Terfyn primary school and there’s an area of ancient woodland which has been preserved for residents – and priority for apartments will be given to existing Flintshire residents.

While in the area, the First Minister also joined me and the Labour candidate for Clwyd East at the General Election Becky Gittins as we took a look at how the redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd is coming along. It is a huge investment in our neck of the woods and it really will be a fantastic building and facility for our community when completed. Like many of us, I’ve grown up with Theatr Clwyd and this project will contribute to our local economy, nurture artists and creatives, inspire imaginations, support vulnerable people and make amazing theatre happen. See how you can play your part at www.theatrclwyd.com/play-your-part.

On Thursday last week, I spoke at the Welsh Local Government Association’s annual conference at Venue Cymru in Llandudno during a session entitled Social Partnership: Delivering for Communities. As Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, I’ve been instrumental in bringing forward legislation in Wales to provide local authorities and other organisations with a different and more inclusive way of working – by working in partnership with unions and employees, local businesses and other stakeholders, local authorities are able to provide real benefits in the communities they serve. We achieve so much more by working together like this and it can lead to real benefits and real changes to workers and communities in Wales.

This week is Adult Learners’ Week, an opportunity to discover your passion for learning, brush up on your skills, improve your health and wellbeing, progress your career or seek tailored advice and information on funding or specialised career pathways. Adult Learners’ Week is celebrated in more than 55 countries worldwide and each year we see over 10,000 adults in Wales participating in a wide range of learning activities.

The aim of this campaign is to highlight the value of lifelong learning, make learning and skills opportunities more accessible to everyone, celebrate the achievements of amazing people, projects and organisations and inspire people to discover how learning can change lives. Find out more at https://adultlearnersweek.wales.

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/HannahBlythynForDelyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait until an advice surgery.