AM Support For Training

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS CALL FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS TRAINING


Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is backing Wales’ leading mental health charity Mind Cymru’s call on schools in Wales to train at least one teacher or school nurse in suicide awareness.

Mind Cymru is addressing suicide by providing the ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) programme throughout Wales with support from the Welsh Assembly Government. The ASIST project has trained over 400 people from more than 60 different organisations in Wales during the last year. The training is open to anyone and has attracted participants from Community Mental Health Teams, Crisis Resolution Teams, Social Services, Youth Offending Teams, Fire and Ambulance Services, Police, A&E Nurses, Midwives, Coastguards and other groups.

Mr Sargeant said: “I am pleased to support Mind Cymru’s call for all schools in Wales to have a member of staff trained to spot the signs that a youngster is having suicidal thoughts. I think it is an excellent idea.

“More needs to be done to help professionals working with youngsters to recognise the signs of suicidal thoughts and have the confidence to intervene.

“Suicide is the highest cause of death among young Welsh men, and twice as many people die of suicide as die in road traffic accidents, yet professional help can be hard to access when most urgently needed.

“I have written to the Health Minister highlighting my support for this proposal, and asking what help the Assembly Government can offer.”

Tackling Child Poverty

TACKLING CHILD POVERTY THROUGH CHILDCARE

Local AM praises local and national efforts to halve child poverty by 2010

GETTING parents back into work, increasing the number of childcare places and support for local voluntary groups will help Wales halve child poverty by 2010 says Welsh Labour.

Local AM Carl Sargeant has welcomed the Education Minister Jane Hutt’s announcement of £10.4 million in grants for voluntary groups who seek to tackle child poverty and promote family support services.

The Minister also guaranteed further funding for childcare projects in order to help parents get back into work.

Mr Sargeant said: ‘’We are committed to halving child poverty in Wales by 2010 – and have made this an absolute top priority.

‘’This extra money for worthy organisations like playgroups, kids’ clubs and nurseries will help children in Al get the flying start in life they deserve.

‘’I am delighted that the Assembly Government will support a successor to the Genesis Wales project. At the end of last year, the project had provided over 10,000 childcare places and was able to give young mums the support they needed to get back into work.

‘’I am pleased the Minister will continue funding a similar project this year. This kind of grass roots support to end child poverty will ensure we can eradicate child poverty in Wales by 2020.’’

Increase Investment For Flintshire

CARL SARGEANT AM BATTLES FOR FAIR DEAL OVER LOCAL SERVICES


LOCAL AM Carl Sargeant has praised the Welsh Assembly Government for ensuring a fair deal for local services and council tax payers in Flintshire.

Announcing details of the Assembly Government’s support for local authorities for 2008-09, Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons has ensured that no local authority will receive less than a 2% increase in financial support.

Flintshire will see a 2.7% increase in investment in local services, taking total support from the Assembly Government to £176,723,000.


Mr Sargeant said: “I would like to praise the Local Government Minister for listening to my concerns and those of my constituents over the support being offered for local services over the next year.

“Thanks to this pressure we have ensured a good and fair deal for Flintshire and council tax payers.

“This support for local services comes on top of yesterday’s announcement of a record increase in investment in public services.

“The Assembly Government’s budget has placed schools and hospitals at the top of the agenda. £3.64 billion extra has been promised for public services over the next three years.

“And along with a 2.7% rise in funding for Flintshire, this will ensure people in Alyn and Deeside get the high quality local services they deserve.

“In total the Welsh Assembly Government’s budget will top £16 billion by 2010-11. This is £2 billion more than this year, and more than double the £7 billion budget when the Assembly was created in 1999.”

BUDGET FOR WALES

CARL SARGEANT AM BACKS AMBITIOUS BUDGET FOR WALES

SCHOOLS and hospitals in Alyn and Deeside will be the first the benefit from the Welsh Assembly Government’s spending plans for the next three years.

Local AM Carl Sargeant has welcomed the Assembly Government’s budget – announced by Welsh Labour Finance Minister Andrew Davies – which will see investment in Welsh public services increase by an extra £3.64 billion by 2011.

The final budget will also ensure that Flintshire will receive at least an extra 2% rise in funding for local services while local schools are also set to benefit from their share of an extra £32 million to deliver better early years education and to cut class sizes.

Welsh Labour’s key budget commitments also include:

· Over £1.2bn extra for health services
· An extra £77m for early years education
· £25m for more and better modern apprenticeships
· Extra help for pensioners with paying council tax
· £120m for childcare
· £93m for improved recycling services
· £30m extra investment for affordable housing
· £278m to help small businesses grow


Mr Sargeant said: ‘’This budget delivers real value for the Welsh pound. Money is going where it is needed most – to deliver world class schools and hospitals for people in Alyn and Deeside.”

‘’I am also happy to see that priority is being given to increasing the availability of affordable housing, help for small businesses, help for pensioners, better recycling services, more childcare places and modern apprenticeships.

‘’The extra £32m for early years education – on top of the £45m announced in November – proves Welsh Labour’s commitment to cutting class sizes for our youngest children. Welsh Labour believes that investing in our children at the earliest opportunity delivers the best education results for our schools and ensures a strong future for our communities.’’

AM Welcomes Funding For Alyn & Deeside

“KEEP ALYN AND DEESIDE TIDY,” SAYS CARL SARGEANT AM

Welsh Labour announces local clean up fund
Community projects are celebrating winning extra funds to give Flintshire an early spring clean thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government.
Flintshire Community Safety has been awarded £43,750. This funding will part fund a Y factor mobile unit (a people carrier type vehicle with clean-up equipment and education material on board) and employment of a dedicated Eco-development worker. The project aims to tackle litter, fly tipping and graffiti across the county through liaison with schools, neighbourhoods and businesses and co-ordination of clean ups.
The Communities First area of Higher Shotton has been awarded £48,940 to support a range of environmental improvements including the improvement of pathways blighted by litter and other Anti-social Behaviour.
The Communities First Partnership board will receive £38,716 to support the ‘REFRESH’ project which will create a team of ‘environmental rangers’; develop a community action team to take responsibility for local environment issues and to deliver a community training programme.
Mr Sargeant said: ‘’Welsh Labour promised action for a cleaner and greener Alyn and Deeside and now we’re acting on that promise.
‘‘Local people care about the litter and graffiti on their streets and in our community and they want to play their part in improving their environment. I am delighted with this boost from the Assembly Government for these local community projects.
‘’Welsh Labour is also planning tough action on recycling, litter, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-tipping by seeking new powers for the Assembly Government over environmental protection.
‘’And thanks to record investment in recycling Wales smashed last year’s target to recycle more than 25% of our waste and is on course to make sure 40% of waste is recycled by 2010.
‘’Cleaning up our environment will go a long way to improve people’s quality of life and make our community a safer, cleaner and a greener place to live.”
Flintshire County Council Leader Aaron Shotton added: “I am delighted that the Assembly Government has funded these projects here in Flintshire. This funding is particularly innovative because it empowers local people to take action where they see fit. Our local environment is key to our quality of life and a clean environment can significantly improve people’s health and well-being.”

Get Your day Off To A Healthy Start

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS FARMHOUSE BREAKFAST WEEK

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is joining groups including the National Farmers Union and Women’s Food and Farmers Union in inviting local people to get involved with Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2008. Now entering its ninth year, the campaign, which runs from 20th – 26th January, aims to highlight the importance of breakfast and draw attention to the range and quality of regional breakfast produce available in the UK.

This year’s theme is A Great Start. The week offers producers, companies, individuals, families and schools an excellent opportunity to get involved and make time for the most important meal of the day.

Mr Sargeant said: “Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast provides an important boost to our intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and studies show it can be difficult to make up on these nutrients if you miss the opportunity at breakfast.

“Research also suggests that a healthy balanced breakfast can aid concentration and mental performance and reduce stress levels. This is important for both adults and children. Teachers and parents can testify that children are more able to concentrate and are better behaved in class if they have had a healthy breakfast. This is one of the reasons that in the Assembly we have made it possible for all primary schools to start a free school Breakfast Club, should they wish to.

“It is also why I’m encouraging people to support our local farming industries and experiment with the wonderful array of locally produced foods that are available to us here.”
For further information on Farmhouse Breakfast Week, see http://www.hgca.com/.

AM Warns Constituents

CARL SARGEANT AM WARNS OF BOGUS PHONE SURVEY

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is warning constituents to beware of telephone callers who are conducting a bogus telephone survey.
The Food Standards Agency has been alerted by Citizens Advice to a telephone survey of the general public that is claiming to ask certain questions on behalf of the Agency.
Mr Sargeant said: “The questions in the survey seem genuine enough at first – centered around issues of 'water purity and diet.’ However, during the survey the caller is also asked for certain personal details. I am warning constituents that the Food Standards Agency has made it clear that it is not involved in any such survey and advises members of the public not to respond.”

AM Support For New Website

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS NEW WWF WEBSITE

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed the launch of a new website from the World Wide Fund for Nature, aimed at helping consumers make sustainable choices when it comes to fish.
The website is called Stinky Fish, and can be found at www.panda.org.stinky
Mr Sargeant said: “Finding sustainably sourced fish may sound like yet another challenge when doing the weekly shop. But it's vital that we pay attention to the kind of fish that ends up on our plate. According to recent reports, three quarters of the world's fish stocks are either fished to their limit or overfished. Overfishing has become the single biggest threat to our oceans.

“The new Stinky Fish website gives consumers the information they need to make the right choices. Consumer demand has the power to transform damaging fisheries into sustainable ones.

“A simple first step is for people to choose fish other than cod. There are plenty of fish varieties which are just as tasty, but are more sustainably sourced.”
Buying seafood with the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) blue eco-label is the simplest and most reliable way consumers can take action to be ocean friendly. Fisheries that want to be certified to the MSC standard must be managed in an environmentally responsible manner.

AM Support for Big Young People's Fund

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES LOTTERY BOOST

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside is welcoming the news that youngsters across the Wales are celebrating following the news that they are set to benefit from a grand total of £1,332,797, awarded to a range of projects through BIG’s Young People’s Fund.
Eight projects will benefit from money awarded under the £6.2 million ‘Reaching Out’ programme, which aims to support disengaged young people in Wales, particularly those in disadvantaged communities.
Mr Sargeant said: “Two awards amounting to over £340,000 will specifically benefit youngsters in North Wales. With their award of £169,691, the Welsh Housing Aid Ltd will recruit disadvantaged young people who have experienced homelessness in Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire, and support and train them to gain OCNs in peer education, groupwork and communication skills.
“In another project focusing on Flintshire, Barnardo's will spend their award of £171,894 on supporting children and young people aged 10-19 by providing a number of interventions to prevent and reduce the negative outcomes they are at risk of experiencing as a result of parental substance misuse.
“I am thrilled that these projects have been awarded this funding. This money will have a huge impact on the lives of the affected vulnerable young people, focusing as it does on supporting young people from very disadvantaged circumstances. I hope that it will bring wide-reaching benefits and opportunities to the young people who are involved.”

AM Support For Awards

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS NETWORK WALES AWARDS

The Network Wales Awards have been established to promote and recognise the work of voluntary organisations across Wales.
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is encouraging local people who have been helped or inspired by the work of voluntary organisations in Alyn and Deeside to consider making nominations.
Mr Sargeant said: “Perhaps you are being helped by a voluntary organisation which is making a real difference to your life, or to that of your community by the members giving unselfishly of their time or talents. Maybe you know a group which always goes the extra mile for others. If so, this is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you and show these groups how very much they are appreciated by nominating them for the most admired organisation award. I would heartily encourage local people to fill out the simple nomination form – there are so many deserving voluntary groups working in our area.”
Awards will be made in three categories: best communications, green award, and most admired organisation. Each nominated organisation will receive a certificate of commendation and the winners will be presented with a Network Wales Award at the WCVA’s annual conference dinner on Thursday 27th November 2008.
Details of the Award scheme, including nomination forms, are available from the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329. They can also be requested by emailing help@wcva.org.uk, or downloaded from www.wcva.org.uk.