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Category: Featured

Featured posts

Fantastic events to help businesses through the tendering process….
Are you part of a business that would like to tender for jobs with local councils?
Business Wales wants to help.
Two workshops are being held in Wrexham to help businesses that are new to the tendering process, or would like to improve their bid writing skills.
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economy – Economic Development and Regeneration said: “These events are a fantastic opportunity for businesses in Wrexham to find out more about the tendering process and improve their tender writing skills.
“It will help businesses understand what buyers are looking for and identify sources of support. I would encourage all businesses who are looking for some information and support around the tendering process to register to attend these great events run by Business Wales.”
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Two workshops are due to be held in Redwither Tower on Wrexham Industrial Estate…
An introduction to tendering workshop
An interactive workshop designed to provide information for businesses new to tendering. The workshop aims to:
- Demystify public sector tendering
- Help suppliers find and respond to opportunities
- Maximise use of sell2wales, promoting their business to Public Sector and Tier 1 buyers
- Identify tender requirements and the procedures they may need to put in place to be able to effectively respond to a tender
- Understand what buyers are looking for
- Identify sources of support
Attendees are advised to bring a tablet or laptop to the workshop, which takes place on Wednesday, September 19, from 9.30am until 4.30pm at Redwither Tower, Wrexham
To register visit the Business Wales website, or please contact 01745 585025/ email northwales@businesswales.org.uk for further information.

Advanced bid writing – a winner’s guide to producing top tenders
Join bid-writing specialist Jamie Edwards from Tender Write for a fact filled training session on how to take your bid writing skills to the next level. Are you tendering to the public or private sector? This course is for you!
Funded by Business Wales, this new course will give you a fresh insight and clear practical guidance on how to:
- Make sure your company is ‘bid ready’ when opportunities are there
- How to be a better ‘Bid Manager’ within your business
- Understanding how to create winning bid content in your responses
- Managing the feedback process to build better bids
- Practical workshop-style exercises on evaluating and developing winning bids
The sessions takes place from 9am until 4pm on Thursday, October 4 at Redwither Tower, Wrexham
To register visit the Business Wales website, or please contact 01745 585025/ email northwales@businesswales.org.uk for further information.
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
September 6, 2018
“Every child deserves to own a book”
It’s never too early to start sharing books, stories and rhymes.
Through Bookstart, BookTrust Cymru makes sure that every child in Wales has their own books at home and supports families to read together regularly.
Every child in Wales receives two special Bookstart packs, which are given to families by Health Visitors. Libraries in Wrexham coordinate with Bookstart and run Rhymetime and Storytime sessions to help you and your child enjoy books and rhymes and to keep on reading.
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“Every child deserves to own a book”
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety said: “Bookstart is a great initiative which encourages a love of books, stories and rhymes from an early age. It’s great that our libraries work closely with Bookstart Cymru to deliver this initiative to the children of Wrexham. Our libraries also hold a great selection of events for young children throughout the year and I would like to encourage everyone to discover what their local library can offer them”
2,613 packs have been distributed in the last 12 months…
Bookstart has potentially reached over 8 out of 10 eligible children in Wrexham. More than 2,613 packs have been distributed via the Wrexham library service in the last 12 months. BookTrust believe that children who have an early introduction to books and are read to every day, benefit educationally, culturally, socially and emotionally.
Every child in England and Wales is entitled to a free Bookstart pack at two key stages before school. They are…
Bookstart Baby
The Bookstart Baby pack is usually gifted at your child’s 6-month health check. It contains an English and Welsh language book, carefully chosen to appeal to very young children, and a special booklet with ideas for sharing books, stories and rhymes.
Bookstart Early Years
The Bookstart Early Years pack is usually gifted at your child’s 27-month check. It contains an English and Welsh language picture book, and a booklet full of ideas for sharing books, stories and rhymes. The green Bookstart Early Years bag is designed for your toddler to hold – perfect for taking to the library.
Bookstart also offers free packs for children with additional needs, tips and guidance on reading together, resources and activities, and much more. They encourage families to share books, stories and rhymes from the first few months of life, to enjoy books and develop a love of reading for pleasure.
Reading and sharing books, stories and rhymes from an early age supports a range of outcomes, including positive early language, oracy and communication skills development, relationship building/ parent-child bonding and early literacy and staff in library services understand the importance of reading from a very young age.
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
September 6, 2018
11-25 year olds – let’s talk about bullying
Senedd yr Ifanc (Wrexham Youth Parliament) continues to work hard to tackle the key issues that are important to young people.
It’s the things that are important to you, your groups and schools that they’re looking to address.
The issue that came top in their December 2017 ballot was ‘Prevent and Stop Bullying’. The aim is to reduce the stigma associated with bullying and to raise awareness of it.
258 people voted this their top issue and I think we can agree that it’s massively important.
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Here’s where you can help…
The Senedd is now looking to get more detailed information, and to help them do this they’ve developed an online questionnaire for 11-25 year olds.
The survey aims to discover the effects that bullying has on young people and look at ways to prevent bullying from taking place.
They will particularly look at bullying taking place in schools. Key to this will be reducing the stigma attached to bullying and raising awareness.
The questionnaire will be live until November 16 and you’re encouraged to have your say about this very important subject.
Caroline Bennett, Participation Co-Coordinator explains why you should take part:
“The Senedd Yr Ifanc is a great opportunity for young people to get involved in issues brought to us by young people.
“The issue of bullying affects a great number of young people and a way to tackle this is through greater understanding. It’s our young people who can help us understand more about bullying by completing the questionnaire.”
And don’t worry if you’re not tech savvy…paper copies of the questionnaire are available on request.
There’s also a chance to win a £30 voucher of your choice…just leave your email address at the end of the survey to enter!
To complete the survey, please click on the link below…
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=”http://www.yourvoicewrexham.net/KMS/elab.aspx?noip=1&CampaignId=698&SessionId”] YES…TAKE ME TO THE SURVEY[/button] [button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” link=”https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/”] NO THANKS…I’M GOOD[/button]
September 6, 2018
Good news for Route 64 Bus Users
Travellers who use the number 64 bus Llangollen – Glyn Ceiriog – Llanarmon DC will be pleased to know that Tannat Valley bus operator will be taking over the service from September 10.
There will be some slight time changes to the journeys leaving Llanarmon DC, leaving up to 5mins earlier, but overall the times within the timetable and frequencies remain unchanged.
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To make sure you don’t miss your bus check out the revised timetable here.
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said, “Tannat Valley has operated this service before and I am certain they will bring their experience to this service for the benefit of users and the communities it serves.”
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
September 5, 2018
It just takes 5 minutes
Now the children are back at school and life returns to normal we’d like you to take 5 minutes to fill in your electoral voting form that was sent to you earlier last month.
It’s to make sure the details for each address are correct and that you will be registered to vote when the next election takes place.
It’s important that you are registered to vote – it means you will have a voice if an election is called.
If you’re not registered your name will not be on the form – if you want to register the easiest way is online here and use the passwords issued with your form.
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If you’ve moved homes recently you are asked to keep a special eye out for the form and check the details. Recent research shows that home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time.
Across Great Britain, 94% of people who have been at their property for more than 16 years will be registered compared to 40% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
Rhydian Thomas, Head of the Electoral Commission in Wales, said: “it’s really important that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so. Checking the form that will arrive through the post is one of the easiest ways to find out if you are already registered. there’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on our website that you can check out here.
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
September 5, 2018
Periods – how are you affected in school?
The subject of free sanitary products in schools for young females is something a lot of people are talking about at the moment and here in Wrexham we’re looking into the effect that the lack of free sanitary wear can have on our young female school pupils.
We’re trying to find the extent of the issue in order to make things better in the future and we’re now undertaking two surveys……………………… please carry on reading as this is important!
We’re hoping that secondary school pupils will take part and also teachers and school staff so please pass this on to anyone who may be able to take part.
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It’s believed that not having access to free sanitary products whilst in school is not only causing embarrassment to pupils but it may affect them to the point that they actually miss school.
Were you aware of this? Are you affected or know someone who is affected by this.
Please take the time to fill this survey in so we can have a good idea of the problem and be able to respond to the need effectively. They’re available here:
Pupil survey here.
The findings will go before a Task and Finish Group which will then report to the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee in autumn 2018. This report will be a public report.
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
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September 4, 2018
Famous golfer or local historian? Ever seen this and wondered who he is?
If you’ve lived around these parts for a while, you may remember the bronze plaque that was displayed in the foyer in Wrexham Library for many years.
Originally, it was erected in 1922 in the old library before moving across to our current library.
Now you will find it in the Wrexham Museum archives search room, where it has pride of place on the back wall…
Well, it’s to celebrate the life and works of a certain A.N. Palmer, not to be confused with a Mr Arnold Palmer.
As Jonathon Gammond, Interpretation and Access Officer at Wrexham Museum explains, this has happened a few times:
“He has been confused with the famous golfer, Arnold Palmer, on the more than one occasion with people asking what the connection is between the aforementioned and Wrexham.”
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So if he’s not a famous golfer, who was A.N. Palmer and what exactly did he do to get recognised with this plaque?
Here’s a bit of background to A.N., Alfred or Alf to his mates…
Alfred Neobard Palmer was born in Norfolk on July 10, 1847. Apprenticed to a pharmacist in Bury St. Edmunds, he won the Bell Scholarship of the Pharmaceutical Society.
He was then employed as a chemist and moved around to London, then Manchester, before being appointed chemist at a mineral water works in Pentre Felin, Wrexham in 1880.
He went on to set up his own practice at his home before opening an office at 34a Chester Street. This didn’t prove as successful as he had hoped it to be.
Plus…he was said to have “less time for people than he would admit to their face”. His introverted nature and some financial constraints meant he no-longer wanted to have his own practice.
This led to him finding employment as an industrial chemist at Brymbo Steel Works and then he later spent 13 years as an analytical chemist at the Cambrian Leather Works.
But why he has been honoured in bronze isn’t down to his chemistry work…it’s his historical knowledge and love of Wrexham that has left a lasting legacy.
So why go to history from chemistry?
Palmer was said to be “a strange man, whose mind was constantly searching and thinking things over.” This restlessness and a natural instinct to explore meant his desire to find out more about the place he was living in wasn’t so unusual.
His need to find the truth lead him to write several books about the local area…with a thoroughness, like never seen before!
How many books did he write?
He scribed 10 books in total, the first of which was ‘The town, fields and folk of Wrexham in the time of James the First.’
The book wasn’t successful and in truth left him out of pocket, as did many of his books. It was his love of what he was doing which led him to pen the others, including ‘History of the Parish Church of Wrexham.’
To hone his craft, he walked endless miles and worked incredibly long hours. He studied ancient deeds, wills, parish registers and manuscripts to ensure his works were always remarkably thorough.
It took its toll…
It’s fair to say that every book he wrote impacted on his health. He was left drained by the hours he was dedicating and he was also struggling financially.
At one stage he even wrote a novel – ‘Owen Tanat’- as he hoped that this more lucrative market would help cover the costs of his other works. Sadly, the novel flopped.
Palmer’s loyal friend, Edward Owen decided to take matters into his own hands and secured him a pension on the Civil Lists for his efforts.
Wanting the best for Wrexham
In 1892 Alfred Palmer started his campaign for Wrexham to have its own museum. He didn’t ask for too much… he wrote to the Free Library Committee to ask them to place a display case in the library as the first step to establishing a museum.
Eight years later he was still lobbying the librarians and an article appeared in the Wrexham Advertiser describing Mr Palmer as “the driving force behind the idea of setting up a museum.”
It took another 80 years for Wrexham to consider having a museum …more than another decade to find a building…then finally in 1996, 104 years after Alfred launched his campaign, Wrexham Museum opened on Regent Street.
A lasting legacy
Until Palmer there was very little written down about our local history. Palmer worked frantically to find his information…at a time when there was no Welsh University, no National Library and no County Record Offices.
In todays age, we can really appreciate the great efforts he went to produce his books.
It seems a real shame that Palmer really wasn’t appreciated in his lifetime. As his friend Edward Owen put it “the man who was unquestionably the foremost historical scholar in Wales of his day went down to his grave disregarded.”
In 1915, the University of Liverpool awarded him an honorary degree, but he died on March 6, before he could receive it.
It’s rather fitting that he’s now celebrated in the museum he so long campaigned for. Today, amazing artefacts such as Bronington Hoard and the Bronze Age Rossett lock rings are no longer lost, but are displayed locally for everyone to enjoy…just as Alfred would have wished.

So the next time you’re listing famous Wrexhamites, don’t forget to include a certain Alfred Neobard Palmer!
All this information was taken from books and articles in the Wrexham Museum archives search room. It’s a great place to visit if you want to explore our local history.
Go over and take a gander, there’s always someone on hand to point you in the right direction.
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
September 4, 2018
Good with numbers? Take a look at this job…
If you’re good with numbers, enthusiastic and self-motivated, this could be just the job for you…
We’re advertising for a Finance Officer to give financial advice and support to our Education Department.
KIDS IN SCHOOL? FIND OUT IF YOU CAN APPLY FOR HELP TOWARDS SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS AND MORE…
You’ll need excellent communication, strong analytical and numeracy skills and experience of working in a finance environment. It’s a great opportunity for a talented number-cruncher!
And what’s more, working for a council can be a good career option – it usually comes with a pension, good leave allowance, relative stability and flexibility.
The closing date is September 28…to apply, click on the link below.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=”https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/vacancies_en/vacancy.cfm?v_id=B26E35EA-E57E-0573-20B0423A62BF0163″] YES…SHOW ME THE JOB[/button] [button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” link=”https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/”] NO THANKS…I’M GOOD[/button]
September 4, 2018
War veteran turns around “eyesore” property
The site of an empty property on a residential road has been successfully redeveloped thanks to a Welsh Government loan.
The property, on Manley Road, Wrexham, had been empty for many years and attracted concerns from neighbours and the wider community due to being an eyesore and attracting antisocial behaviour.
Following the purchase of the property by a local property developer, and thanks to help from the Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) Empty Property Loan, the old building was demolished and a new one has been built in its place.
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The new site contains eight high quality self-contained flats.
The building was redeveloped by Shaun Stocker, a 27 year-old property developer from Wrexham.
Shaun suffered serious injuries while serving with the Army in Afghanistan, and has subsequently developed a career as a property developer.
He’s also a keen fundraiser for Blind Veterans UK and has raised thousands for the charity.
“Very proud of this achievement”
Shaun said: “I’m very proud of this achievement and very grateful to Wrexham council for the loan – without this help, it would have been very hard to complete.
“I’m also grateful to my friend Tony Thackeray, who managed the build.
“It’s amazing to see such a beautiful building that was once an idea come to life, and it’s an added bonus to have made such a difference in the local area.”
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economic Performance and Regeneration, said: “I’m very pleased to see this work complete, and I’m very grateful to Mr Stocker for all the work he has put into the regeneration of this site.
“VVP funding has played a key part in the regeneration of parts of Wrexham and I know residents will be very pleased to see the site of what was once an eyesore building put to good use.”
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
August 31, 2018
We’re charging ahead
We’ve got some electric plans on the way for some of our car parks.
The number of people switching from fossil fuels to electric cars is growing – but there’s still a long way to go before plans to rid Britain’s highways of fossil fuelled cars by 2050 are realised.
Part of that is making journeys more convenient for electric car owners by providing more and more charging points – and we have a part to play in that.
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Back in March, our Executive Board approved plans for a series of car charging points across some of our town centre car parks.
Since then, plans have moved ahead – and we should have the new charging points in place before the end of September.
We’ll install charging points at car parks at Waterworld, Tŷ Pawb, Alyn Waters Country Park, Tŷ Mawr Country Park and the Trevor Basin.
Each of the car parks will have two charging points each, so there’ll be ten overall.
Will you have to pay to charge?
There will be fees for charging at each of these stations.
As well as paying the standard parking fee for the car park at which they’re charging, users will also be charged a small fee for the energy used.
“More and more viable alternative”
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We know electric cars have become increasingly popular in the last few years, and we even have some within our own fleet of staff vehicles – and we’re looking to increase the number of electric vehicles we have in the future.
“So far, due to the amount of energy they can store, electric cars have only really been feasible for shorter trips – but as energy storage technology improves and the amount of available charging points increases, they’ll become a more and more viable alternative to petrol or diesel-fuelled vehicles.
“As a local authority, we have our part to play in increasing that provision.
“Funds from the installation of our ten new points come from the carbon budget, which is set aside to help us lower our carbon footprint, and a proportion of the income from the charging points will go back into the carbon budget for future projects.”
Need help with school uniform costs? Find out if you’re eligible.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/school_uniform_grant.htm “] APPLY FOR A PUPIL DEVELOPMENT GRANT [/button]
August 31, 2018