Category: Featured

If you or someone you know is being bullied, there is help, advice and support available. You might be afraid to speak out, but with the right guidance from qualified counsellors you may eventually feel confident enough to talk about the situation and take steps to report and name the bullies.

Help available

Did you know that there is a counsellor based in every secondary school (as well as eight primary schools) in Wrexham for one or two days per week? They are there for anyone who feels they’re ready to talk about a bullying issue or want support, and will be able to listen and help with any advice for steps going forward.

Most schools also have bullying boxes. These boxes will enable people to anonymously raise concerns about bullying and report instances of bullying.

A teenager from Wrexham (who wants to remain anonymous), said: “I was being bullied for being different. I liked different music, I dressed differently and I wore glasses and braces. I was called names, some were even personal about my family and things I had confided in friends about my life. I was having arguments at home because all I ever wanted to do was stay in my room; I became withdrawn, didn’t go out and stayed away from my friends.
My attendance in school dropped and I was referred to the school counsellor. I was nervous, but she made me feel welcome. We just talked and the more comfortable I felt I began to open up and tell her what was going on. Everything was in confidence so I felt safe. Eventually after time, I decided to report the bullying to the school. I had support from my counsellor and form teacher and other members of staff. I was given options as to what could be done and how things would be addressed. Things are better than they were and I am looking forward to what the future holds”

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Advice for Parents

If your child is being bullied it is important that they keep a diary or you keep one on their behalf and that if an initial phone call or visit to the school doesn’t resolve the problem, you put the concerns in writing. Sample letters can be found in the anti-bullying guidance for parents document
Parents/guardians can help schools to tackle bullying by talking to their child about bullying and the impact that it can have on victims.

Cllr Andrew Atkinson, Lead Member for People – Youth Services and Anti-poverty, said: “Bullying is a serious issue and we want people to know that there is help available if they need it. When victims feel they are ready to talk, there is help for them in schools and in the INFO shop in Wrexham. We want to ensure that all victims of bullying are kept safe and that the appropriate support is given to them as well as dealing with the bullies themselves.”

What is bullying?

Bullying is making someone else feel scared, worthless, lonely, guilty or upset – regardless of whether they’ve done anything to provoke it. It usually takes place over and over again.
It can happen at home, on the computer (cyberbullying), on mobile phones, in school, at uni and even in the workplace.

Know your rights

By law, all schools must have a behaviour policy and procedure that covers bullying. Section 89 of the Education and Inspections Act (2006) documents that every school must have measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.

Local Support

If you don’t feel you are being listened to or taken seriously, you can always ask for an advocate who will help you express your wishes and feelings. Second Voice Advocacy service is independent to the school and can help you express your wishes and feelings in meetings. You can contact Second Voice by yourself, through a parent or a teacher in school.

For more information about bullying and Young Wrexham visit the website

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Wrexham’s Carnival of Words is back and it’s bigger and better than ever before! Returning for its 4^th year, the carnival will take place in venues across Wrexham between Saturday, April 21 and Saturday, April 28.

Tickets are still available but you will need to be quick! The ever-popular Murder Mystery event has already sold out, but there are still tickets left for some of the other great events taking place during the week…

Yaseem Khan

Tuesday April 24, 6.30pm

Wrexham Library

Yaseem Khan is the author of the Times bestselling Baby Ganesh Detective Agency crime series featuring Indian detective Ashwin Chopra and his baby elephant sidekick. In this session, Vaseem will take the audience on a journey to India, from the days of the Raj to the heart of modern Mumbai, a colourful and dynamically changing environment of vast new wealth and historical problems of inequality. In the process he will share some of his secrets for writing successful crime fiction in today’s volatile publishing industry, including the answer to the essential question how does one insert an elephant into a crime story?

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Emma Carroll

Thursday April 26, 1pm

Wrexham Library

Gripping young adults author, Emma Carroll, sweeps you back in time with her evocative Second World War novel, Letters from the Lighthouse.

Emma will tell the audience about the research that helped her write her gripping young adults tale of evacuees, child refugees and parsnip sandwiches, and gives you the chance to see some weird props from the past.

Green Fingers and Great Reads

Monday April 23, 4.30pm

Bellis Brothers Restaurant, Holt

A panel of celebrated local gardeners talk about their favourite garden related books, and about Wrexham’s great gardening and heritage and projects, as well as answering some or all of your gardening questions – with a mulch of fine poetry applied for good measure by panel chairperson, Peter Read!

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “This is a fantastic series of events which has already seen some being sold out. The carnival also highlights some of the fantastic venues we have in Wrexham with events taking place at Ty Pawb, Glyndwr University, Saith Seren, St Giles Church and Wrexham Library.  I would like to encourage anyone who loves books and writing to come and join us during the week.”

Wrexham Carnival of Words has been a resounding success since it was first held in 2015, with an increasing range of events, which have proved popular with local people.

Ticket prices vary but many events are free. You can buy them from Wrexham Library or online via the Wrexham Council website. More details and the full programme can be found on www.carnivalofwords.com or follow the Festival Facebook and twitter, #WrexhamCarnivalofWords.

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Monday night is ladies night at your local leisure and activity centres starting from April 16.

For 8 weeks you’ll be able to take part in free sessions at Queensway Stadium, Gwyn Evans, Chirk and Waterwrold.

At Queensway there’s a 0.5k Walk to Run session at 8pm-8.45pm or an earlier Gym Session which runs at 6.30pm – 8.30pm. To book your place for the Walk to Run activity contact the number below.

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At Gwyn Evans you can take part in ladies only swimming sessions to be run between 8.45pm and 9.30pm or Gym Sessions 6.30pm-7.15pm or 7-8pm. These sessions will need to be booked in advance on the number below.

At Chirk there’s Aquafit between 7.15pm and 8pm or Body Pump between 7.30pm and 8.30pm and finally at Waterworld there’s Spin Sessions between 7pm-7.45pm or a ladies only general swim between 8.00pm and 9.30pm

For further enquiries or to make a booking please contact Terri Ritchie, 01978 297362.

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Are you looking to take up some type of physical activity but afraid you won’t be able to keep up? Or maybe you just want to get out and make new friends whilst getting some exercise at the same time.

If so, then Walking Netball may be the place to start.

Walking Netball is a the same game but at a slower pace. The game has been designed so that anyone can play it regardless of age or fitness level.

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Sessions are starting in Hightown Resource Centre on 11 February between 1 and 2pm.

The sessions are free and there’s no booking required. Just turn up and enjoy yourself.

For further information contact the Caia Park Health Team on 03000 859 625 or Terri with the Active Wrexham Team, 01978 297362.

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The Regional Partnership Board has published a new plan for how health and social care services will work together to meet the care and support needs of people in North Wales.

The plan sets out priorities for integrating services between health and social care across North Wales, including for older people with complex needs, children and young people, people with learning disabilities, carers, and mental health. It’s been written in response to the population assessment which highlighted an increase in the need for care and support. People across North Wales have taken part to have their say about the shape of future services.

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Cllr Gareth Roberts is the Chair of the Regional Partnership Board. He said, “Councils across North Wales have worked together with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other partners to write this plan and consulted widely with people who use services, third sector organisations and other partners. The plan will help us design services to meet the needs of everyone needing care and support, and their carers”.

The plan is available at: https://www.northwalescollaborative.wales/north-wales-population-assessment/regional-plan/

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We’ve seen a number of complaints on social media and in letters to the press recently on the amount of litter along the side of the A483.

We appreciate it’s not a pleasant sight – either for residents or for visitors – and from today (Monday, April 9), a series of planned  lane closures will take place along sections of the roadway to allow staff to clear the roadside.

The work will take place between today and Tuesday, April 24.

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A full list of the closures is available by calling Amberon’s 24-hour number on 0845 371 5050.

We’ll also hold further litter clearing in future alongside maintenance work planned by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency (NMWTRA).

While the work is taking place, we would also like to remind residents and visitors alike to not throw litter from their cars.

“Please dispose of litter properly”

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “From, April 9 litter collection will take place along the A483 from Halton Roundabout to the Cheshire boundary.  We will also carry out litter collection alongside planned cyclic maintenance.

He added: “I hope residents and visitors appreciate the costs incurred by local councils when collecting litter, at a time of great financial pressures, and we ask members of the public to please dispose of their litter properly.”

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The Mayor of Wrexham is looking for a team of passionate pedallers to join him in a fundraising push.

On Friday, April 20, Cllr John Pritchard, the Mayor of Wrexham, will lead a team of “spinners” in a four-hour charity challenge at the Waterworld Leisure and Activity Centre, Wrexham, to raise as much money as possible for charity.

The challenge will take place between 1pm and 5pm

The event will be joined by Trevor Coxon, now-retired Head of Corporate and Customer Services at the Council, who is a keen cyclist and fervent fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK.

Amanda Roberts from Freedom Leisure has also kindly agreed to spin the afternoon away, and Trevor and Amanda will form the core of the challenge team.

Funds raised by spinners will be split evenly between the Mayor’s chosen charities and Prostate Cancer UK.

“We want as many people as possible to get involved”

Cllr Pritchard said: “This promises to be a very fun event, and we want as many people as possible to get involved – both taking part in as much or as little of the spinning challenge themselves, and to get sponsored for doing so – or to sponsor those who do.  They don’t have to be expert cyclists, and they can do as much or as little as they choose.

“The important thing is that a range of good causes will benefit from this event, so we want to raise as much money as possible.

“I’d like to thank Freedom Leisure for offering us the use of their fantastic spinning suite at the Waterworld myride studio – the virtual route will certainly help fundraisers stay motivated and keep pedaling!”

For more information, visit Waterworld’s Facebook events page.