Thursday 29 March 2012

You’ve still got time to nominate your Wales Volunteer of the Year.

So don’t let that outstanding volunteer or group you know go unrewarded.

There are five categories – adult (25 and over), young person (under 25), green volunteer, trustee and group – and the winners will each receive their awards at a very special ceremony in Cardiff in June.

So nominate someone now. Nominations must be received by 13 April 2012.

For more information, email help@wcva.org.uk or call 0800 2888 329.

Don’t let someone who truly deserves it miss out.

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Where does your Poppy Money go?

WELFARE ORGANISATIONS – We can help your clients!

Have you ever wondered how your fantastic donations are used to help local veterans and their families in your area? Now is the chance to find out.

Please join us for an Awareness Morning, including refreshments and lunch, at the Deganwy Quay, Deganwy on Monday 23rd April 2012 from 10.30am through to lunch where we can tell you more.

Come and hear from those deserving veterans who have been helped, along with stories from our wonderful volunteers and other Royal British Legion colleagues and partnerships.

Come and talk to Legion members, volunteers, fund raisers, staff and beneficiaries, Combat Stress, Poppy Calls, care and repair, amongst others.

Please contact our Wrexham office if you would like to join us at the Deganwy Quay on Monday 23rd April or if you would like to tell your story please contact 01978 312823 or e mail mevans@britishlegion.org.uk or northwales@britishlegion.org.uk

Providing Support for Council Tax in Wales

This consultation seeks views on proposals for introducing new schemes in Wales to provide support for council tax once the current Council Tax Benefit system is abolished by the UK Government on 31 March 2013.

Start of consultation: 06/02/2012
End of consultation: 05/04/2012

In the Spending Review 2010, the UK Government announced that it would localise support for council tax from 2013-14 and reduce expenditure by 10 per cent.
From 31 March 2013 council tax benefit in its current form will come to an end and the provision of support for council tax and the funding associated with it, will be devolved to local authorities in England, to the Scottish Government and to the Welsh Government.
Therefore the Welsh Government must work in conjunction with local government to design and implement a new scheme in sufficient time to provide council tax support for those on low incomes or in vulnerable groups by 1st April 2013.

This consultation sets out the policy, financial and operational considerations related to providing support for council tax in Wales and expectations about how any new scheme could operate.
The document asks for the views of local authorities, advisory groups, representative bodies, the third sector and others who may be affected by these changes, to help the Welsh Government decide on the policy and delivery options for introducing a new scheme to provide council tax support in Wales.
Your views are welcomed on all aspects of the proposed approach set out in the document, in addition to the specific questions asked.

If you are not currently entitled to council tax benefit, then nothing will change for you. If you do receive council tax benefit, there may be changes which will affect you from April 2013:
  • Some changes could affect how you claim support with your council tax bill;
  • Some changes could affect how much support you can claim, or whether you receive any support at all, and therefore how much council tax you are expected to pay.
This document is not about how much council tax you should pay.  It is about how a new system should be designed and operated to help those who need support to meet their council tax bill.

How to respond
Please submit your comments by 05 April 2012 in any of the following ways:
Email:
Post:
Joanna Valentine
Local Government Finance and Public Services Performance Division
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Any response you send us will be seen in full by Welsh Government staff dealing with the issues which this consultation is about. It may also be seen by other Welsh Government staff to help them plan future consultations.

The Welsh Government intends to publish a summary of the responses to this document. We may also publish responses in full. Normally, the name and address (or part of the address) of the person or organisation who sent the response are published with the response. This helps to show that the consultation was carried out properly. If you do not want your name or address published, please tell us this in writing when you send your response.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

The People's Budget Workshop - Rhyl

This is a FREE workshop for Voluntary, Community, Resident and Tenant Groups in the Rhyl area on Wednesday 14th March, 12.15pm - 4.00pm (lunch is included at 12.15pm) at The Good News Mission, 75 Marsh Road, Rhyl, LL18 2AB.

Make sure you are part of this energising workshop on getting a much greater say in how public budgets are spent locally. This is the ONLY such workshop in Wales!

There are very few places left - you need to book online NOW to be sure of a place at the workshop.

Reserve your place straight away at www.rhyl.eventbrite.co.uk

The People's Budget is a project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Trust and managed by Church Action on Poverty.

Supported in Wales by the Wales PB Unit.

Monday 5 March 2012

Hospitality training course

The taster day is on 14th March and the course will start on the 19th March. The course will run for two weeks. Anyone who is interested needs to attend the taster day, which will start at 10.00am and take place in the Nova Centre in Prestatyn.

To be eligible for the course they need to be aged 16-25, currently un-employed and live in Denbighshire or Conwy.
They must also fall into one or more of the Prince’s Trust’s target groups:
  • Un-employed for six months or more.
  • Have a criminal record.
  • Be in or leaving care.
  • Have less than 5 GCSEs at A*-C grade.
This course will give you three qualifications and work experience. Food will be provided every day and transport costs will be refunded. There are also guaranteed jobs for those who do well (on the last course 8 people were hired!).
This is a fantastic opportunity. If you are at all interested and meet the criteria please contact Vicky Evans on 01745 366680 or by e-mail on vicky.evans@princes-trust.org.uk

Community Events and Marketing Company

Community Events and Market Company Ltd (CEMC) was established to enable local producers and stall holders to sell their produce direct to the public giving consumers the chance to buy fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables, locally reared meat and home made products alongside fair trade goods, fashion, gifts and household items.

Our wider objectives are job creation, training courses for  local unemployed people and some of our profits will be ring fenced and used to support local charities. We offer support for small business, value for money and increase visitors to your town centre.

For more information please visit their new website:
www.cemc.co.uk

South West Rhyl Communities First - New Partnership Board 2012

Front row (left to right): Moira Lockitt (G2G), Donna Murphy (Marsh Residents Association, Jenny Walker (Rhyl City Strategy).
Second row (left to right): Paula Stubbs (Little Brown Bag), Jim Kilpatrick (DCC Countryside Services), Jeannette Mays (Kids Fun Club), Ray Worsnop (Community Events & Markets Company).
Back row (left to right): Peter Smith (Good News Mission), Les Cooper (WWHA), Jane Allen (Vale Residents Association), Larry Marsden (CAIS), Rick Jones Abbas (DCC Welfare Rights), Paul Smith (Welsh Government).

Will Morecombe (RAPA) and Wynne Randles (RYAG) are also members of the new Partnership Board, but are not present in this photo.