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Featured posts

We have several exciting job opportunities working in Children’s Social Care
In Wrexham County Borough Council we have a focus on ensuring excellent relationships!
Doing what we do best, building relationships within the organisation with partners and between our practitioners, our children, our young people and their families is central to our work. Our children’s social care practice has undergone fundamental transformation over recent years and we are continuing to improve all aspects of service delivery.
We’ve dedicated time and resources to creating the right conditions for social workers and social care practitioners to work flexibly. We’re proud to provide social workers and social care practitioners with the capacity they need to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and their carers, as well as ensuring they themselves enjoy a positive work-life balance.
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Over the last 18 months Wrexham County Borough Council has seen the introduction of a new social work career path, excellent training opportunities, advanced technological approaches and a solid set of council values, all of which is transforming children’s social care.
We’re looking forward to welcoming social workers and social care practitioners to join us, by working with us you will receive excellent training and support and career progression opportunities. Due to considerable investment we currently have the following vacancies in the Corporate Parenting Service:
Social Worker – Supported Lodgings
Family Support – Kickstart
Personal Advisor – Leaving Care
Social Workers – Looked After Children Team
Social Worker – Fostering Team
Assistant Team Manager – Looked After Children Team
Assistant Team Manager – Fostering Team
Family Support Workers – Fostering
Closing date: 17/04/2022
Opportunity to meet and greet the team and have a tour of the department at Crown Buildings, 31 Chester Street, Wrexham LL13 8BG from 4pm – 7pm on Thursday 7th April, please see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/308685706257
Register for our event on Thursday, April 7th (4pm-7pm) in the newly refurbished Crown Buildings. See flyer for more event details. If you want to attend, register FREE here: https://t.co/VGnKHkOsDK pic.twitter.com/KASFZDk6W9
— Wrexham Council (@wrexhamcbc) March 31, 2022
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March 31, 2022
Two weeks left to register to vote in upcoming elections
With only two weeks until the voter registration deadline for local elections in May, Wrexham Council urges residents to make sure they are registered in time.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on April 14. You can apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes.
On Thursday 5 May voters will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at a local level. This year residents in Wrexham will be voting to select councillors, who represent their local area and residents, and contribute to the development of policies in areas such as transport, social care and housing.
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Ian Bancroft, Returning Officer for Wrexham County Borough Council, said: “With only two weeks to go, time is running out to make sure you can take part in the local elections. These elections are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Wrexham. In order to vote in the elections, residents must be on the electoral register. So if you’re not registered by 14 April, you won’t be able to take part.”
Rhydian Thomas, Head of the Electoral Commission Wales, said: “You can only take part in these elections if you are registered to vote, and the deadline is fast approaching. It’s quick and easy – it takes just five minutes online at www.gov.uk/registertovote.
“If you have recently turned 16 or moved home, it is particularly important that you make sure you are correctly registered to vote.
“If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to take any action.”
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March 31, 2022
Local businesses become Autism Aware
Small changes can make a huge difference and can help to reduce the anxiety for individuals with autism and help them to have a positive experience when visiting businesses and services.
The Autism Aware Certification scheme is aimed at everyone who wishes to gain a greater awareness and understanding of autism. After completing the training, you will receive a personalised certificate to download.
You can access the free, online autism awareness training here
The training demonstrates how making small changes can reduce the anxiety for individuals who live with autism and help them feel more included in their community. The autism training, which has been developed by the Integrated Autism Service, supports the new Autism Code of Practice.
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Lots of businesses and organisations across Wrexham have already undertaken the training. All of Wrexham’s libraries are Autism Aware and staff have completed the training. Here are some thoughts and examples of other Wrexham businesses who have completed the training:
“We did the autism awareness training in our barbershop. Having a granddaughter who is autistic I wanted to help make haircuts a little easier for autistic children and their parents, even if it is just having a little more understanding and patience.” Blades Gents Barbers
“Here at BNI North Wales, we support the inclusion of neurodiversity. We have completed the Autism Awareness Training and feel more equipped to support individuals in business who identify as being autistic. We now have a wider understanding of the unique needs of those on the spectrum and are prepared to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for all. BNI is a global, professional business network offering a variety of services to scale local businesses. We understand that everyone is different and therefore has different support needs. We have a multitude of training, mentoring, and support for small businesses within the North Wales area which include how to generate business by word of mouth. We believe that we are a safe and supportive environment for those within a business who need the support, development, and connected environment needed to thrive, not just survive.” BNI – Executive Director – Jennifer Hardman
All staff at Yellow & Blue are currently completing the Autism Awareness Training and will soon become an Autism Aware organisation. Y&B are also loaning the Autism Awareness VR Headsets from WCBC and these will be readily available along with sensory items in a specially created sensory area within the Hub (once completed).
These are just a few reflections and examples of how local businesses are making changes to help people who live with autism feel more comfortable in their local community.
If this has inspired you to make a change, you can access the free training.
Insert links to Autism Wales and the NAS
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March 31, 2022
What is Your Space?
As part of World Autism Acceptance Week we will be posting a series of blog posts about the work in our communities to make Wrexham Autism Aware, as well as highlighting the information and support that is available to people and families living with autism.
Your Space is a registered charity that works closely with Wrexham Council to provide support for young adults and children on the autism spectrum along with their families.
With events and activities including a teens club, expressive arts, family days out and holiday clubs there is lots to get involved with. You can find out more about the range of activities and support that Your Space offers by visiting their website: Your Space – Supporting Children and Young People with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (yourspacemarches.co.uk)
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Your Space has also created some great apprenticeship opportunities for people on the autism spectrum
“I started working at Your Space in September 2021, as an Admin Apprentice doing a years Apprenticeship.
I am on the spectrum myself, so I like the fact that I am helping children and young people that are on the spectrum or have similar issues through my role at Your Space. I have found Your Space an understanding, accepting place to work.
Overall I very much enjoy my role at Your Space, and the people I work with are understanding, helpful and nice people. It’s a nice environment to work in and I feel I have done well in my role, and have gained confidence since starting my role at Your Space.”
Jasmine, Apprentice at Your Space.
Your Space Arts Festival
Join us this Saturday, 2^nd April, from 12pm – 4 pm for a fun event to celebrate the Your Space community on World Autism Day. The event, held at Yellow and Blue, will be hosted by Your Space.
The event will open with the launch of Your Space’s new album ‘Songs out of the ordinary’ and will also include music, art and photography displays and interactive workshops.
This is an inclusive event for all of the family. Ear protectors will be available to loan.
If you would like more information about the services and advice that is available across Wales please visit
Autism Wales: https://autismwales.org/en/
National Autistic Society website. Wales (autism.org.uk)
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March 30, 2022
World Autism Acceptance Week 2022
From the 28^th March – 2^nd April is Autism Acceptance Week, and this year marks the 60^th anniversary.
During the week, we will be highlighting some of the fantastic projects that Wrexham Council supports as well as the training that is available in Wrexham to help create a society that works for autistic people.
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Wrexham Council works closely with partners and organisations across the county borough to raise awareness of the challenges that people with autism face on a daily basis as well as continually looking at ways to improve services for people with autism and their families.
There is also a free, online autism awareness training course, which is available to local businesses, and individuals. It’s hoped that more people will complete the training and create more facilities that are accessible to people living with autism and their families in Wrexham.
Alwyn Jones, Chief Officer for Social Care at Wrexham County Borough Council said, “We’ve been working alongside members of the local business community, parents, carers and people on the autistic spectrum to develop autism awareness communities all over the county, allowing people living with autism and their families to access and enjoy services and facilities that we all take for granted.
“It’s great that I can say all of our libraries have completed training and are Autism Aware and we have recently made the training mandatory for all council staff. It makes a huge difference to people living with autism and their families, and we are looking forward to more local businesses and organisations coming forward to complete the training and become Autism Aware.”
Autism awareness training
The Autism Aware Certification scheme is aimed at everyone who wishes to gain a greater awareness and understanding of autism. After completing the training, you will receive a personalised certificate to download.
You can access the free, online autism awareness training here
Your Space
Your Space is a registered charity that works closely with Wrexham Council to provide support for young adults and children on the autism spectrum along with their families. You can find out more about YourSpace via their website (add link)
Your Space Arts Festival
Join us this Saturday, 2^nd April, from 12pm – 4 pm for a fun event to celebrate the Your Space community on World Autism Day. The event, held at Yellow and Blue, will be hosted by Your Space.
The event will open with the launch of Your Space’s new album ‘Songs out of the ordinary’ and will also include music, art and photography displays and interactive workshops.
This is an inclusive event for all of the family. Ear protectors will be available to loan.
If you would like more information about the services and advice that is available across Wales please visit:
Autism Wales
National Autistic Society website
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March 28, 2022
Litter-Free Zones – Ysgol Bryn Alyn leads the way 🙂
Ysgol Bryn Alyn has become the first school in Wrexham to receive its FREE litter-picking kit for adopting a Litter Free Zone.
Last week Wrexham Council’s Caru Cymru Project Lead Emma Watson visited the school – along with Wrexham’s Keep Wales Tidy Officer Shane Hughes – to deliver the kit, which includes 10 litter pickers, high-vis vests, a bag hoop and highly recognisable green litter sacks.
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Emma and Shane met with staff and pupils after they signed up to record the amount of litter they pick through an app specially designed to track litter-picks.
Emma says:
“As part of the new Caru Cymru initiative, Keep Wales Tidy launched the Litter Free Zone campaign to encourage schools and pupils to keep their communities litter-free and to help raise public awareness.
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“Through the campaign, Keep Wales Tidy has offered free litter picking kits to the first 100 schools to sign up in Wales, but in Wrexham we’ve made free litter-picking kits available to all schools that adopt a Litter Free Zone.”
“Getting involved couldn’t be simpler and we’re asking schools across the county to adopt their own Litter Free Zones by registering their interest.”
Schools can register their interest by visiting the Keep Wales Tidy website.
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March 25, 2022
We’re on the shortlist #Wrecsam2025
We’re delighted to have made it onto the shortlist to become UK City of Culture in 2025!
DCMS (the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) who run the competition have announced that Wrexham have made it onto the shortlist alongside Bradford, County Durham and Southampton.
Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Wrexham on the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2025. The bid has done a brilliant job flying the flag for Wales and reaching the final four against such high-standard competition.
“Wrexham already has much to be proud of – one of the oldest football clubs in the world in Wrexham FC, the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and an award-winning culture and arts hub in Tŷ Pawb. If the county is successful the UK City of Culture title will bring huge opportunities and I wish them every success.”
Arts Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “I’m delighted that Wrexham County Borough is on the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2025. This has been a tough competition with a record 20 initial applications and eight outstanding longlist candidates, so this accolade is a real tribute to the quality of creativity on display in the region. I look forward to seeing what Wrexham County Borough’s bid has in store next!”
Joanna Swash, CEO of Moneypenny and chair of the City of Culture steering Group said: “This is fantastic news for Wrexham. “We’ve seen so many business and community organisations both locally and nationally show their support for our bid. “At Moneypenny we are extremely proud of our strong roots and there really is so much potential and a huge appetite to see Wrexham become UK City of Culture in 2025.”
Amanda Davies, lead for the Wrecsam City of Culture bid team said: “Our City of Culture team have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get us to this position, but it’s the Wrexham community involvement and engagement that’s going to get us over the line and win this competition. “Over the next few months we’ve got lots of community run events promoting the bid so keep an eye out on your socials for details, and get in touch if you would like more information on supporting the bid”
Ian Bancroft, Chief Executive of Wrexham Council, said: “It’s heart-warming to see how our community has really come together in support of this bid. Becoming UK City of Culture in 2025 will give us so much scope to develop and enhance Wrexham in what we have to offer to our residents and visitors.

What happens next?
As part of the bid process we have funded over 50 events and activities. Some of these events have already taken place and others are running up to the end of May. So make sure you keep an eye on socials and the #Wrecsam2025 #tag for more details.
At some point in early May we will be visited by a panel of City of Culture judges who will be comparing us to the other regions shortlisted prior to making a decision on who will host in 2025.
We are continuing to bang the drum for Wrexham and continue with the momentum. Keep talking to your friends, colleagues and family about the bid!
The overall winner will be announced towards the end of May.
March 19, 2022
Crime Prevention Stickers delivered in Erddig
Trading Standards Officers from our Public Protection department, accompanied by North Wales Police Community Safety Officers delivered crime prevention stickers to householders in the Erddig area.
They were delivered as part of Criminal/Rogue Trader prevention work that we’re currently undertaking. Officers also spoke to many occupiers offering safeguarding advice and spoke to trades people working in the area to inform them of their legal obligations under consumer protection law.
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In recent months, Police and Trading Standards have been aware of an increase in activity on the Coed Y Glyn and Ithens estates. Homes have been cold called by suspected unscrupulous trades people looking to carry out work to driveways, roofs, and gardens.
Local residents have been sent to the bank to withdraw large sums of money as these traders tend to ask for cash payments and never have full business details available. Households then have no redress should anything go wrong, which invariably it does.
Each home has been provided with a NO COLD CALLERS door sticker, which we would encourage all homes to display. It is a criminal offence to ignore this request to leave.
In the fight against Criminal/Rogue traders, the best protection for anyone, is to not engage at the door, not accept work from businesses door knocking or driving by, and to throw all business leaflets received in the bin.
Wrexham has a wealth of reputable and sought after local businesses. Use local, go for recommendations, and always ensure you have full details of the person you are dealing with. Never pay cash up front. Never be persuaded to go to the bank, or be taken to a cash point. Traders with any reputation will not ask you to do this.
Our joint visit to the area received many compliments from its residents. Those spoken with were grateful trading standard officers and the Police were out supporting this initiative to protect people in their homes.
If you are worried that you have been the target of a Criminal/Rogue Trader please contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 for advice or to report an incident.
Roger Mapleson, Trading Standards and Licensing Lead, said, “Once again we are responding to the actions of unscrupulous cold callers and we encourage anyone who is contacted in this way to just say no. Please also take little or no notice of leaflets, if you do need work doing do your own research, ask family and friends for recommendations and always obtain several quotes.”
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March 18, 2022
Wrexham Carnival of Words 2022 – Wrexham’s Own Literary Festival
A highly entertaining programme has been put together for one of Wales’ premier literary festivals. The Wrexham Carnival of Words is now in its 8th year and has become a fixture in the literary calendar in Wales and the borderlands attracting a diverse range of well-known authors. The organisers are very pleased that live audiences will be back for this year’s festival being held between 22-30 April.
Among the many authors highlighting the 2022 Carnival will be Sunday Times bestseller Milly Johnson, one of the Top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK and the ever-popular Gervase Phinn, best known for his warm-hearted reminiscences as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales.
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Also appearing this year will be enthralling crime writer Mark Billingham, Simon McGleeve whose book The Snowdonia Killings attracted huge popularity and Kate Ellis who will put in a special appearance at the ever-popular Murder Mystery event.
History fans will not want to miss Barbara Erskine, the queen of the time-shift genre and historical fiction giant Patricia Bracewell who is flying in from the USA especially for the Carnival. Local author Peter Evans will share his journey up the river Dee whilst Chris Clode will share his passion for the north Wales slate quarries, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Matthew Hall, who created and wrote the popular television series Keeping Faith and Kavanagh QC, will talk about his life in crime and former government minister Alan Johnson returns to this year’s Carnival to discuss his new book The late Train to Gipsy Hill which is his first thriller. Also appearing at the Carnival will be Sarah Hilary, whose debut novel won the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year prize, and award winning short-story writer Carys Davies.
There will be Welsh-language events with up-and-coming your poets Iestyn Tyne and Elan Grug Muse and Bethan Gwanas, the author of over 40 books in Welsh, who will talk about her latest book, co-written with her dog!
Deliverance describes the everyday investigations into poltergeists, ghosts and supernatural phenomena undertaken by the Revd. Dr Jason Bray, Vicar of St Giles Parish Church, the first Anglican deliverance minister to write about his experiences.
Local writers and budding authors will be able to attend a free event to meet other local authors, poets, bloggers, journalists and songwriters and participate in the active panel sessions. Viva Voce is an open mic for local poets to share their work and be entertained by their peers. There will even be a readathon by local book-lovers of George Eliot’s classic novel Middlemarch.
Families are warmly invited to a free event at Yellow & Blue in Henblas Square where children’s storytellers, Jacqui Bloor, Fiona Collins, Jude Lennon, Krishnapyia Ramamoorthy and Sarah Parkinson will be holding “Storytelling for All the Family” on Saturday 24^th April.
Festival Director Dylan Hughes has said: “this year’s Carnival is back with a bang with an exciting and varied programme of events, and we’re so pleased to be able to invite live audiences back to see authors and poets in person”.
The programme of events is at www.wrexhamcarnivalofwords.com.
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March 18, 2022
Local Elections – Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote
On Thursday 5 May residents across Wrexham will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them in the Guildhall.
In order to vote in these important local elections, residents must be on the electoral register and we’re now urging residents who have not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time.
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You have until 14 April to register and it’s really easy to do.
It takes just five minutes to apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Ian Bancroft, Returning Officer for Wrexham, said: “Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these important elections.
“Local elections are an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Wrexham. If you’re not registered by 14 April, you won’t be able to vote.”
This year residents will be asked to elect 56 councillors to 49 wards. This is a change to the last local elections following changes made by Welsh Government following the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission Review.
You can find out if you are in one of the ward changes here: https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/current-elections-and-vacancies/electoral-arrangements-wrexham
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March 17, 2022