Wales Volunteer of the Year Award

WANTED: LOCAL HEROS FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

The Wales Council for Voluntary Action is calling for nominations for the prestigious Wales Volunteer of the Year Award 2006. The award, supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, is presented in three categories: individuals, young people (under 25 years), and groups.
There are three winners in each category, resulting in nine national winners, and highly recommended nominees will be awarded with certificates at a local ceremony or by post.
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is encouraging local people to make nominations: ‘Perhaps you know someone special who is making a real difference to your life, or to that of your community, by giving unselfishly of their time or talents. Maybe you know someone who always goes the extra mile for others. Or perhaps you have been helped by a voluntary group and would like the chance to say “thank you”. The Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards are a wonderful opportunity to show these special individuals and groups how much they are appreciated. I would heartily encourage local people to fill out the simple nomination form – there are so many deserving volunteers in our area.’
Details of the Wales Volunteer of the Year Award scheme, including nomination forms, are available from the WCVA Helpdesk on 0870 607 1666. They can also be downloaded from the WCVA website at www.wcva.org.uk.
The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 17th 2006.

AM Welcomes Extra Funding in Wales

BOOST FOR STROKE PATIENTS IN ALYN AND DEESIDE
- Welsh Labour announces £2.5 million for stroke services
LOCAL Labour AM Carl Sargeant has welcomed extra money for stroke services in Alyn and Deeside.
Welsh Labour Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced an extra £2.5 million for stroke services in Wales. The extra money will ensure that extra hospital bed places are set aside for stroke patients.
Mr Sargeant said: ‘’Welsh Labour is making stroke services an absolute top priority and I am delighted with this extra funding for stroke services in Alyn and Deeside.
‘’While the number of people suffering from strokes has fallen in recent years those people who survive a stroke are often left with varying degrees of disability and rehabilitation needs – and thanks to this money stroke patients will receive the care and treatment they deserve.
“Flintshire Local Health Board will now benefit from part of this extra funding and will have to work to identify where extra beds and specialist care are needed for stroke services.’’

AM Highlight Competition

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS YOUNG BUSINESS WRITER COMPETITION

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is calling on young people in Alyn and Deeside to take part in a national writing competition organised by financial education charity, the ifs School of Finance.
The ifs Young Business Writer of the Year competition is open to anyone aged between 14 and 19 and enables them to test their writing skills by writing an article of no more than 1,000 words in a business magazine style.
The ifs Young Business Writer of the Year competition is judged by James Daley, Personal Finance Editor for The Independent who will be awarding marks for demonstrating research, evaluation, analysis and written argument skills and for good overall reporting style. As well as the title “ifs Young Business Writer of the Year 2008” the author of the winning article will receive a prize of £500. The title for the article is: “Saving for the future, one size fits all?” Mr Sargeant said: “I am happy to lend my support to this competition as participation can help to improve writing standards in general whilst ensuring students think about what is a very important issue.
“With the average adult in the UK owing over £28,000 in debt, it is important that young people to start thinking about money management issues and saving for the future. I sincerely hope that our 14-19 year olds participate in the competition and wish them every success in doing so.”
Budding young business writers should think about the various savings options available to the British public. Possible questions to consider when thinking about this issue include: Are the options available sufficient? Are some savings mechanisms better than others? Are some methods of saving more suited to particular types of individual? What should the role of the state be in providing for people's retirement? Anyone aged between 14 and 19 who wishes to enter the competition should e-mail their article (which must not exceed 1,000 words) to ybwy@ifslearning.ac.uk between now and February 29 2008. Further details can be found online at http://www.studentinvestor.org/.

AM Welcomes Commission

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the fact that the Climate Change Commission for Wales is today holding its first meeting. The Commission is one of the first of its kind in the world.Mr Sargeant said: “There is no escaping the fact that climate change is one of the most important challenges facing the world and tackling it must be a key priority of this Assembly Government. “The challenge is one where we need to build a broad consensus to mobilise action by the public sector, business and voluntary organisations – as well as by individuals and communities right across Wales. “The Commission is now beginning its working in engaging with diverse groups including the CBI, Welsh Local Government Association, the TUC, the Carbon Trust, Environment Agency for Wales, and the Countryside Council for Wales.“A key early task for the Commission will be to advise on the definition of our target that, by 2011, we should be achieving annual 3% reductions in emissions in areas of devolved competence. “I wish the Commission well, and look forward to its input in developing a meaningful way forward on the issue of climate change.”

AM Welcomes Grant News For Alyn & Deeside

CARL SARGEANT AM BACKS ACTION ON LOCAL REGENERATION

REGENERATING communities is at the heart of Welsh Labour’s plan to improve housing and supply more affordable housing in Alyn and Deeside.
Local Labour AM Carl Sargeant has welcomed the Assembly Government’s announcement of grants totalling £400,000 to improve the housing and environment in the proposed renewal area of Shotton and Deeside.The money has been set aside to fund street repairs and the uplifts to houses and shop fronts in these areas with the aim of kick starting local investment and regeneration. ‘’This regeneration money from the Labour-led Assembly Government is great news for Shotton and Deeside. The money can be used to repair and renovate housing, shop fronts, pavements and gutters or even fund traffic calming measures to make our roads safer.Mr Sargeant said: ‘’It will give the area a facelift, improve the quality of housing and give local people a sense of pride in their community.‘’Improving the quality of housing and increasing the supply of affordable housing are absolute priorities for Welsh Labour.‘’And I would like to see local builders, suppliers and contractors doing the work so that we can boost local jobs and business while we take action to smarten up our community.‘’The Labour led Assembly Government is also committed to making more land in Alyn and Deeside available for affordable housing development and to building 6,500 new affordable homes across Wales.’’

Action Needed on Affordable Houses

“MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDED,” SAYS CARL SARGEANT AM

- Welsh Labour outlines plans to ease local housing pressure
ACTION is underway to tackle the shortage of affordable housing available in Alyn and Deeside.
Local AM Carl Sargeant is backing plans for the Assembly Government to have its own powers over affordable housing and to strengthen local affordable housing targets.
The Labour-led Assembly Government’s plans to increase the supply of affordable housing in Alyn and Deeside include:
• Seeking the power to suspend the Right to Buy scheme • Building 6,500 new affordable homes across Wales• Empowering Flintshire to secure 100% affordable housing in new housing developments• Requiring new large housing developments to include social housing• Making more publicly owned land available for development• Enforcing affordable housing targets and delivery plans on Flintshire local authority
Mr Sargeant said: ‘’Affordable housing is one of Labour’s absolute top priorities.
‘’The Tories introduced the Right to Buy scheme and it is well past its sell by date. It is a problem in communities where few properties remain in the social housing stock, making it very difficult for people on modest incomes to find a home.
‘’Communities in Alyn and Deeside need action on local affordable housing. Labour’s plans to speed up and strengthen the way Flintshire council supplies affordable housing will make a real difference in the lives of local hard working families.
‘’These plans will keep local communities together and give young house buyers a helping hand onto the local housing ladder.
‘’The cost of land is the key driver of house prices which is why Welsh Labour will make sure more publicly owned land is available for housing.
‘’And empowering local authorities to secure affordable homes in new housing developments will give local communities a much better say over local housing needs.’’