A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

In this month’s column Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd, Ken Skates writes:

Applications are open for the Welsh Government’s School Essentials Grant – which can provide up to £200 to help parents.

The grant is available to families on lower incomes and those who qualify for certain benefits. All looked-after children also qualify and the money can be used to buy school essentials such as uniform and stationery. All children in compulsory school years are eligible and families can claim the grant once per school year per child.

The School Essentials Grant provides £125 per child and £200 for children entering Year 7.

Times are still extremely tough for many families and the cost of living remains a big worry. This grant aims to help take away some of that financial pressure and I would urge everyone who is eligible to apply. If you need any help applying, your local council or child’s school can offer support.

If you are entitled to the School Essentials Grant, please make sure you claim it.

The 2024-2025 scheme is currently open and will close on May 31, 2025. Even if your child already receives free school meals, it is still important to check their eligibility. You can do so here.

I would like to congratulate the new MPs elected to represent our local communities.

Following changes to the UK’s parliamentary constituencies, the existing Senedd constituency of Clwyd South has been split up and shared between a number of new seats at Westminster.

After the recent General Election Becky Gittins, pictured above, is the Labour MP for the new constituency of Clwyd East, which includes Llangollen and the Llangollen Rural ward.

The northern part of Clwyd South – places like Brymbo, Coedpoeth, Minera and surrounding villages – are now part of Wrexham. The new MP for Wrexham is Labour’s Andrew Ranger, whose expanded constituency also includes the eastern part of Clwyd South including Bangor-on-Dee and Overton.

Steve Witherden was elected as the Labour MP for another new constituency, Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, which includes the central spine of Clwyd South from Rhostyllen down to Chirk – including Cefn Mawr, Rhos and Ruabon – as well as the Ceiriog Valley.

The communities west of Llangollen such as Corwen, Carrog and Glyndyfrdwy are now part of Dwyfor Meirionnydd. You can check who your MP is and write to them here.

I will remain Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South until the next Senedd election in 2026, when Senedd constituencies will also change to match the UK Parliament and Clwyd South will disappear.

The changes were initiated by the Conservative UK Government in an attempt to secure more seats at Westminster. The final map was confirmed by the Boundary Commission last year.

I am holding an advice surgery with Becky Gittins MP in Llangollen on Friday, August 16. To book an appointment, email [email protected] / [email protected]

An iconic local company which captured the imagination of Wrexham AFC owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds now supports 10,000 jobs across the world.

Based in Corwen, Ifor Williams Trailers has six factories across north-east Wales. As well as employing 650 people directly, it supports an economic ecosystem of contractors, suppliers and distributors. It’s a massive anchor company for rural Wales, and it’s difficult to exaggerate how important the business is to the Welsh economy.

I visited the company’s headquarters last month to catch up with some of the management team.

en Skates visit to IWT; Pictured (Front L/R) Clwyd South MS Ken Skates who’s also the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport of Wales with IWT Managing Director John Williams , Dei Hughes, Iorwerth Roberts and Alan Jones. (Picture Mandy Jones)

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates at IWT’s Corwen headquarters with Managing Director John Williams; Dei Hughes; Iowerth Roberts and Alun Jones. Pic courtesy of Mandy Roberts/Ceidiog Communication.

IWT has sponsored Wrexham AFC since 2016, but its global reputation hit new heights when Rob and Ryan announced their takeover in a viral video featuring a spoof sales pitch for the company’s famous horseboxes which has racked up millions of views online.

If you need help or advice, email [email protected] or call my office on 01978 869058. You can also follow me on Facebook and subscribe to my e-newsletters by contacting my office.