Category: Council Services

You may have read reports recently about anti social behaviour in and around Gwersyllt Resource Centre. It wasn’t good reading and rightly the community were concerned.

But just what does happen when youth workers see these reports either from the media or direct from those involved? Well here’s what happened on this particular occasion.

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“Overcoming challenges”

On this occasion officers from our Youth Justice Service took the lead in overcoming the challenges faced.

They arranged meetings between key organisations – Police, community, local councillors, school, housing, parents and most importantly – the young people themselves.

Over the next three or four weeks they arranged a series of meetings to repair the harm done by the young people’s behaviour, restore relationships and come up with a resolution.

They were more than just talking shops – during the meetings the young people were challenged as to why they were behaving like this and their responses were taken seriously the outcome was positive and the situation has now improved dramatically.

As an added bonus to listening to young people the Community Council in Gwersyllt took on board what they would like to do and have kindly agreed to provide an art project for them as a token of their restored faith in the young people of the village.

One young person stated “I understand more about how my behaviour affects other people.”

And a member of staff from the local Estate Office commented that they saw the young people in a “different light now”

North Wales Police summed it all up by saying “It’s great to see everyone working together to solve the problem.”

Cllr Andy Atkinson, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti Poverty, said: “Working with young can people can be an absolute privilege and on this occasion everyone has responded in a positive way for the benefit of the wider community. Our Youth Justice Service team members are to be commended for their role in bringing everyone together in order to address an issue that was of great concern to all those affected.”

Wrexham Youth Justice Service would like to thank everyone who took part in getting around the table and engaging with this innovative project. We want to support communities to feel empowered so they can resolve their own issues.

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We know our country parks and green spaces are prized by residents.

We recently heard the very good news that our parks had retained their Green Flag awards from 2018, with honours going to Acton Park, Alyn Waters, Bellevue Park, Ponciau Banks, Tŷ Mawr and Wrexham Cemetery.

Green Flag Community Awards also went to Maes Y Pant, Plas Pentwyn and St Mary’s Churchyard, Chirk.

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To mark the occasion, we held a celebration event and invited volunteers to fly the Green Flag with us at one of our country parks.

Flying the flag at Alyn Waters

We raised the Green Flag at Alyn Waters country park in an event attended by Cllr Rob Walsh, the Mayor of Wrexham; council Leader Cllr Mark Pritchard, and our Chief Executive Ian Bancroft.

The event was joined by members of our parks team, and volunteers from the various Friends groups who continue to support our parks with their efforts and dedication.

Don’t forget events at the parks this summer!

As the summer holidays continue, don’t miss out on some of the fantastic events we have at our award-winning country parks and green spaces.

There’s plenty on offer throughout the summer, including:

• A community clean-up day at Acton Park, from 10am until noon on Tuesday, August 13.
• A tractor ride and farm animal quiz at Tŷ Mawr Country Park from 1.30pm until 3.30pm on Thursday, August 15.
• A family treasure hunt at Acton Park, from 1.30pm until 3.30pm on Monday, August 20.
• Family orienteering from 1.30pm until 3.30pm at Alyn Waters Country Park on Wednesday, August 21.
• A drums and shakers-making day at Tŷ Mawr from 1.30pm until 3.30pm on Thursday, August 22…

…and plenty more!

Want more info on some of the other upcoming events we’ve got throughout Wrexham?

Just take a look at the events guide from our Family Information Services team.

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The Public Services Board (PSB) has published its first annual report which takes a look at what they’ve been doing over the past year to improve the health and well-being opportunities across Wrexham.

The report highlights that during their first year they have set up three new programme boards that are concentrating on children and young people getting a healthy start in life, all people having the opportunity to learn and develop throughout their lives who can then contribute to a healthier Wales across North East Wales.

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It also acknowledges the challenges of funneling the work of such a large and diverse partnership into one goal – the “Wrexham We Want”.

These boards have the people with the skills and enthusiasm to get involved and they are trying out different ways to deliver the other priorities that, following consultation, you said were important.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be writing articles for you to show what the programme boards have done to move their work forward.

Ian Bancroft, Chief Executive, said: “The report gives an overview of the work of the PSB over the last 12 months and how it’s working to make things better for everyone in Wrexham and across North East Wales.

“It’s been a challenging process but very worthwhile and the partners will all continue to work together and overcome any organisational difficulties to bring you the Wrexham You Want. I look forward to sharing with you more articles in the coming weeks which will concentrate the specific work we have undertaken.”

Deputy Chair of the Board, Cllr Hugh Jones, said: “Following a large scale consultation in 2017  we produced our five year plan which aims to improve the well-being of everyone here in Wrexham.  The PSB brings together organisations that can make a difference and over the next few years we will do everything we can to do just that.”

The PSB is a partnership of organisations within Wrexham who work together to improve the economic, environmental and cultural well-being of the county borough.

To do this the PSB contributes to seven national well-being goals, as per the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act:

• A prosperous Wales
• A resilient Wales
• A healthier Wales
• A more equal Wales
• A Wales of cohesive communities
• A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language
• A globally responsible Wales

It’s written with communities at heart and they use five key things factors in their work:

“involvement, collaboration, long term, integration and prevention” – they’re at the heart of everything they do.

You can read more about the PSB here.

Or you can take a look at the report here.

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