Tag Archives: community

News

Guests at luxury palace retreat can now stay in lodges designed by stars of hit TV show

VISITORS to a luxury holiday retreat in the grounds of a world heritage site can stay in exclusive accommodation remodelled by stars of a popular TV show.

The grand finale of BBC’s Interior Design Masters series – watched by up to 2.8m viewers – saw contestants Roisin Quinn and Matt Smith-Wood revamp two high-quality cabins at Darwin Escapes’ picturesque Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

The park has been a huge hit with families across the UK since opening last summer, and now looks set to attract even more customers, including fans of the hit programme fronted by comedian Alan Carr and judge Michelle Ogundehin.

Featuring a selection of one, two and three-bedroom self-catering lodges, the retreat is nestled within more than 2,000 acres of countryside and gardens, just a stone’s throw from the 320-year Palace, home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Resort Manager Simon Oliver says the impact of Interior Design Masters will reinforce a strong first year at the picturesque landmark.

“We have had a great start to life at Blenheim Palace, the feedback has been brilliant and visitor numbers look set to rise further, especially given the success of the TV series,” he said.

“That coupled with the increase in bookings we receive when events are held here, and the growing name of Darwin Escapes in this region, point to a successful summer and beyond.”

Simon added: “The two lodges redesigned by Matt and Roisin look incredible, they are very different and bespoke to varying tastes, from the furniture to the interior, decoration, and layout.

“Given their prominence in the final I’m sure fans of the series will be keen to book them, so that’s an added USP for this site.”

The final was won by Roisin, from Wirral, who was praised by judges – including renowned US potter Jonathan Adler – for creating a “joyous, memorable and delightful” lodge, a “fresh and very optimistic space”.

Her design included leafy wallpaper, glass pendants, mid-century dining furniture, sunshine yellow décor, bold soft furnishings, and an outdoor dining area to create what she herself described as “a colourful, cosy cabin in the woods”, a “magical space, a wonderland”.

Runner-up Matt, from Cheltenham, took a more contemporary approach with “nods to Blenheim Palace”, and his ideas featured traditional-style panelling, a gold leaf and mono kitchen, a plush rug, gold velvet sofa, modern chandeliers, and an external lounge area.

Both were tasked with “designing holiday lodges fit for royalty” and managed to achieve their goals in just two days with a budget of £6,000.

Following years of development and significant investment, Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat opened last August and now employs eight people from the local area.

The lodges were built with sustainability a priority, they are fitted with electric vehicle charging points and a quarter are pet friendly.

“There’s so much to do in this part of the world and of course the Palace is busy all year-round, so this is the perfect place to visit when exploring Oxfordshire,” said Simon.

“As viewers of the TV show witnessed, it’s a very special place, and I’m sure more and more people will come to see that for themselves in the months and years ahead.”

Heather Carter, Managing Director at Blenheim Palace, added: “It was a great pleasure and a lot of fun to have Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr film with us at Blenheim Palace in September last year. They were here for five days filming both at the Palace and the lodges, and we managed to keep it secret until the big reveal on BBC1.

“We have a lot of filming here at the Palace and it gives us great reach into new audiences, we know that being featured on such a popular programme as Interior Design Masters will entice more people to visit the Palace and book one of the lodges.”

For more information and to book, visit Luxury retreat holiday lodges Oxford | Blenheim Palace (darwinescapes.co.uk) and follow them on social media at @darwinescapes.

To win a free midweek break for up to four people at one of the lodges designed by Matt or Roisin, and tickets to Blenheim Palace, visit the website: Enter here | Interior Design Masters | Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat (darwinescapes.co.uk).  

News

Holiday park scales new heights following investment and creation of caravan ‘community’

A SEASIDE holiday retreat is going from strength to strength thanks to a unique ‘family feel’ which led to a wave of new customers post-Covid.

Darwin Escapes’ New Pines Holiday Home Park, on the outskirts of Dyserth and Rhyl, is unlike any other in the region.

Employing 40 staff and with more than 300 caravans and lodges on site – all of them owned, rather than rented – there is a sense of community which has led to the creation of sports clubs, a dining society, social organisations and more.

There is even a walking group with up to 180 members, two of whom recently completed a trek to the base camp at Mount Everest, where they proudly displayed a New Pines flag!

Following a revamp which included sports and leisure facilities, a heated swimming pool, bar and lounge, a dog walking area, and a bustling entertainment complex, the park is busier than ever before.

Sales Manager James Jones said there is a togetherness and warmth that appeals to prospective owners, a welcoming, safe environment which attracts families from Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire, the Midlands and beyond.

“There is a real community feel to New Pines, which stems from the ownership model we have here,” said James, from Mold, who celebrates a decade with Talacre-based Darwin Escapes in 2025.

“There are so many clubs and groups which make people feel special, there is an exclusivity because every caravan and lodge is owned – it’s their little piece of Wales, and they love that.”

He added: “We did see an upturn in sales following the pandemic – our try before you buy offer has been well-received – and upgrades in stock, and as we approach our busiest time of the year the future is looking bright.

“We make life as easy as possible, it’s very simple to buy, we are flexible and there is something for any budget, because inclusivity is paramount to us.”

With offers including free site fees, free energy bills and 50% off site fees next year, interest is building into the summer, with caravan prices beginning at £19,999.

But James says those are peripheral factors, a bonus for their demographic.

“While there has been investment in the buildings and facilities over the years, and in bringing the very best live acts to the park, the real draw has been the atmosphere and camaraderie,” he said.

“People use New Pines differently, there are couples who have been here for a long time, whose children have grown up together, and generations of families who return because of the memories they have.”

James added: “Because of our unique location, nestled between the beach and countryside, we have beautiful views while being a stone’s throw away from vibrant towns and cities.

“This has all played its part in the success of New Pines, and long may that continue.”

For more information on New Pines Holiday Home Park, visit the website Static caravans for sale in Rhyl | New Pines | Darwin Escapes and follow @darwinescapes on social media.

News

Top 5 high school continues conservation work by planting thousands of flowers in community

A SECONDARY school promoting conservation in its community planted thousands of flowers and plants as part of a sustainability project.

Following their incredible efforts in collecting more than 12,000 pieces of litter from beaches and parks during the summer, pupils from Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay seeded more than 6,000 bulbs and 20 trees on Craig Road, Old Colwyn.

In partnership with Conwy’s Community Development Officer, volunteers from Man Coed VM Ltd, Creating Enterprise, Cartefi Conwy and Ysgol Swn-y-Don, groups from Year 7 upwards completed the task in just a matter of hours and even collected several bags of rubbish on the walk back to school!

Wellbeing Officer Abbie Johnson has been leading on a series of programmes to support learners in and out of the classroom, focused on health, inclusivity, and the environment.

“My role is to work with the children so they can reach their potential and become the best they can be, both academically and socially,” said Abbie.

“We are outdoors helping to clean up and conserve the local area, but also holding interventions in numeracy and literacy to give extra support in those areas, and promoting exercise, healthy living, and mindfulness.

“The students have really taken ownership of these schemes, they are from different backgrounds, and different ages and genders, so everyone gets a voice.”

A new Uniform Recycling System will be introduced in the coming year, ensuring pupils can collect jumpers, skirts, trousers, and other items for free, and Abbie has started a new Thursday cookery class, fully funded so learners go home with a hot meal.

These developments follow the success of the school’s Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award provision, praise for its Diversity team – which meets regularly to champion equal rights, present assemblies, and conduct student surveys – and in becoming one of the few institutions in North Wales to receive the Investors in Families Bronze Award.

Ysgol Eirias was also named Secondary School of the Year at the recent North Wales Education Awards and in the top 5 secondary schools in Wales according to the Sunday Times Parent Power rankings.

“The learners have been absolutely fantastic, they are incredibly proactive and want to help those less fortunate than themselves, whether that be in the local area or here at the school,” said Abbie.

“The cookery classes are supported by a fantastic team of teaching assistants, helping the pupils to learn all about recipes, ingredients and skills that will help them to become more independent in future.

“We are constantly exploring new opportunities and adapting to the challenges of society and the cost-of-living crisis and want to be there for our students and their families.

“Ultimately, Ysgol Eirias is centred on equality and inclusivity – every child is important to us – and dedicated to its role in developing and supporting its community, now and for generations to come.”

For more news and information from Ysgol Eirias, visit www.eirias.co.uk and follow them on social media.

News

Grade 2-listed landmark takeover first step in making town more inclusive and accessible for all

A BELOVED Denbighshire landmark is beginning a new era.

Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC has taken on management of the town’s Grade 2-listed Market Hall.

And Operations Manager Bernadette O’Malley has already made her mark, organising a wide range of activities, and unveiling proposals for better access and toilet facilities on-site.

She is also working in partnership with businesses and organisations to improve services and ensure Ruthin does all it can to be even more inclusive and eco-friendly.

With more and more traders displaying their wares, and independent local producers supplying goods for the popular café, Bernadette is confident they are moving in the right direction.

The building had been redeveloped over recent years by DVSC (Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council), the charity that supports other third sector, community groups and social enterprises across the county, and she thanked them for their ongoing support.

“DVSC spotted the potential of this redundant building a few years ago, so we’ve worked together to create a vibrant place for people to make, sell, and show,” said Bernadette.

“None of the things we are proposing can happen without the buy-in and feedback of this community, and fortunately that has been the case.

“From the market perspective, we are working with the footfall we have and are seeing a rise in the number of people coming through the doors, not just to visit the stalls but for events as well.

“We’ve had live music, wedding fairs, dancing, pop-up restaurants, jazz and comedy nights, and there is a lot more in the pipeline, with the Market Hall at the centre of developments across the town.”

She added: “Importantly, in the coming months work will be taking place to improve the toilet facilities and access, to become more dementia and disability friendly and remove any barriers to visiting us.

“The community fridge is also here, and we hope more people will use it, not just due to the cost-of-living crisis but because a lot of the food and drink has been donated by local supermarkets that would have gone to waste.

“From sustainable projects to entertainment, the affordable artisan market and the many other things coming up, we are trying to generate interest among all ages and create a buzz that’s sustainable.

“We’ve had the backing of councillors and businesses but it’s not just us, it’s a partnership and we’ve had a lot of interest, there is an appetite for this.

“It’s all happening, it’s coming together, and I can’t thank the people of Ruthin enough for their support. We are moving forward and I’m excited to see what the future will bring.”

Tom Barham, Chief Officer at DVSC, said they were pleased to be able to “pass the torch” to Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC having revamped the structure by attracting investment from the Welsh Government’s Foundational Economy Challenge Fund via Denbighshire County Council, the UK Government Community Renewal Fund, Circular Economy Funding, and DVSC’s own funds.

“Bernadette’s vision for the Market Hall in our community is a breath of fresh air and we are happy to support her to manage this through her growing, new social enterprise,” he said.

“DVSC has worked hard over the past four years to bring the market from an empty, cold and redundant building to the brilliant facility we see today.

“It was always our plan to spin this out to a local social enterprise so we are thrilled it will be operating under the direct management of Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC and are sure both the site and the town itself will go from strength to strength.”

For the latest news and information from Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC, visit the website: www.artisanmarkets.wales or www.ruthinmarkethall.com.

Follow them on Facebook at @ruthinmarkethall, Instagram @ruthin_market_hall and Twitter @ruthinMH.

For more information on DVSC, visit www.dvsc.co.uk or email tom@dvsc.co.uk. Follow them on Facebook at @DVSCDenbighshire, Instagram @DVSC_Denbighshire and Twitter @DVSC_Wales.

News

Soap legend leads cast of dementia-friendly audio series on 60s seaside town

A SOAP opera legend heads the cast of a new audio series about Rhyl in the 1960s.

The three-part drama – specially commissioned by Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council’s Dementia Aware team – brings to life a chapter of The Reso, written by local author Ambrose Conway.

Evoking Bank Holiday memories of the seaside resort in the sixties, as seen through the eyes of David, a young boy growing up on ‘The Reso’ council estate, the programme was adapted by award winning playwright Toby Hulse and produced by Rhyl’s Steve Allan Jones, supported by North Wales charity Action for Arts.

Heading up the cast is Flint star Ian Puleston-Davies, best known for his role as Corrie builder Owen Armstrong, in the role of narrator and adult David.

The Reso cast is largely made up of local actors, with a special appearance by Matthew Campbell, the voice of Chase in the popular UK dubbed children’s TV series, Paw Patrol.

Musician Steve, a former member of The Alarm, who is currently touring with Spear of Destiny, is proud to have played a part in bringing the book to life via audio recording.

“This has been a real labour of love, but wonderful to be working with Ian and the supporting ensemble,” he said.

Executive producer Alison Carter added: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with DVSC, exploring dementia-friendly ways of creating new audio theatre.

“We have been very lucky to work with Ian and the North Wales cast – particularly the young actors who have been a pleasure to have on board.

“I’m sure this series will be very nostalgic for those who grew up in the 1960s era.”

The Reso is free to listen to and can be found on the Action for Arts website, with links to each episode and information about the production team and cast.

For more, visit www.actionforarts.org.uk/the-reso.

Appointments, News

Guild COO Gregor Young appointed as CEO of professional community and networking platform Guild

Guild, the ad-free platform for professional communities and networking, has promoted COO Gregor Young to CEO as it plans to accelerate growth in 2023.

Young takes over the role from founder Ashley Friedlein who stays on in a strategic sales role.

Young joined Guild in January 2022, and previously led the FT’s digitisation efforts and implemented the publisher’s martech strategy.

Since then, Guild has grown by more than 100%. It hosts more than 6,000 communities for organisations including the CIPD, PRCA, Deloitte, The Marketing Society, National Education Union, Cambridge Judge Business School and is now seeing organic growth in the US and internationally with clients like Renewd, SISO, INSEAD, Risk Leadership Network, and Palo Alto Networks. In late 2021, Guild raised a $2.7m in a seed round to accelerate product development.

Ashley Friedlein, founder at Guild, said:

“Our last funding round allowed us to hire senior talent, like Gregor, and our CMO Michelle Goodall, invest in our product and grow the user base towards 100,000. We believe 2023 is poised to be a breakout year for community, and community tech like Guild, as evidenced by recent community product launches from both WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams. Gregor’s experience in product, data and operations at scale comes at the right time!”

Gregor Young added:

“I’m passionate about righting some wrongs in social media and creating a better way to connect with peers, navigate your career, develop your expertise and yourself. There is still a lot to solve and I’m excited about building the team that will answer the remaining questions. Ashley’s well-known brilliance in community, marketing, content, communication and entrepreneurship will continue to help Guild thrive as we focus on growth for 2023.”

News

Jam sessions for parents and babies at popular not-for-profit music studio

PARENTS and their children can jam with Wrexham Sounds at a series of new family sessions.

The not-for-profit social enterprise has launched successful music and sensory activities for babies and toddlers.

Baby Jam and Toddler Jam bring them together in a warm, welcoming environment at the popular Rhosrobin site.

Vocal coach Clemmy Gong says the interactive, fun gatherings have been embraced by those in attendance.

“The children and their parents get involved and the focus is very much on enjoyment, social skills and overall development,” said Clemmy.

“We have been holding sessions for babies up to 12 months and toddlers aged one to three years old, where they learn and develop their fine and gross motor skills by playing with musical instruments and sensory equipment.”

She added: “We will be introducing different activities – including the use of sensory resources such as bubble blowers, lights, and items with different textures to heighten children’s senses and aid development.

“The feedback has been positive, and the sessions are starting to fill up fast so we encourage people to get in touch if they would like to take part or book online via our website.”

Wrexham Sounds General Manager Olivia Gallagher said they are extremely grateful for support from Co-op Food and a recent community donation has helped them to purchase equipment needed to deliver the sessions.

“You can already see how much the babies and toddlers enjoy being here but it’s also beneficial to the parents who are able to make new friends in a different setting, which has been welcomed in light of recent challenges due to the pandemic,” she said.

For more information on the services offered by Wrexham Sounds, visit the website www.wrexhamsounds.org or email contact@wrexhamsounds.org

Finance and Banking, News, Training & Apprenticeships, Transport

‘Big Sister’ mentoring role for Clarion Wealth Planning’s Ella Davies

A chartered financial planner at Clarion Wealth Planning has begun a mentoring role as a ‘Big Sister’ to a teenage girl in a programme run by the award-winning social enterprise Girls Out Loud.

After undergoing training earlier in the summer, Ella Davies has teamed up with a Year Eight pupil for the year-long programme to help boost the youngster’s self-confidence and aspirations in a series of one-to-one sessions.

The programme was launched at the Co-op Academy Manchester, where Ella was introduced to her ‘Little Sister’.

Ella said: “I’m proud, excited and thrilled to be involved in the programme and to act as a role model to my ‘Little Sister’. It’s a privilege, and I am looking forward very much to spending time with her.

“She wants to be part of the programme to have someone to talk to, to be there just for her and someone to trust.

“It’s a big responsibility, but it is a great way of giving back and hopefully making a positive difference.

“She is super active and very bright but feels frustrated in school. She hopes to be a forensic scientist, so we spoke about how she can harness her energy and learn to enjoy her lessons, which will help her to meet her career aspirations.”

Ella added: “At Clarion we are committed to changing lives for the better through supporting our local communities and good causes in a variety of different ways, and this is another illustration of that commitment.”

Girls Out Loud, founded by Jane Kenyon, is dedicated to helping teenage girls to achieve their goals by boosting their confidence, emotional resilience, self-assurance and self-esteem.

The Big Sister programme sees role models from diverse backgrounds mentoring girls to embed a more empowering mindset in them.

Jane said: “Our teen girls are navigating a challenging landscape today and having someone to listen and talk to and can help them with a myriad of decisions and options they face on a daily basis.

“Our Big Sisters are smart female role models committed to being that guide. They create a very special relationship with no judgement or agenda, and become a young girl’s champion, encouraging and guiding her to find her voice, her self-belief, her gumption and her aspiration.

“Interestingly, after over a decade of leading this programme, I also see many of our Big Sisters go on the same journey of discovery, as the process of mentoring a teen girl is a self-reflective one and creates learning and development opportunities for both mentor and mentee.”

Clarion, which is based in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, provides lifelong financial planning to business owners and families across the north west and beyond.

News

Get Found, a Leading Birmingham Black-Owned Digital Marketing Agency With Strong Community Roots.

Get Found is a Black-owned digital marketing agency that works closely with the community to create equal job opportunities through comprehensive, well-designed training programmes. Founded in 2019 by Alex Davis, a seasoned SEO and digital marketing expert, Get Found joins this year’s Black History Month celebrations as the company prepares for its official launch later this autumn.

“Get Found has always been about transparency, customer service and giving back to the community. Coming from a sales and digital marketing background, and having worked in several companies before starting my own venture, I believe that clear communication with the client, along with providing high-quality services, is one of the most important factors for the success of a digital marketing agency – and probably for any other agency too! At the same time, at Get Found we’ve made it our mission to make the digital marketing industry more accessible to those who want to change their career path. Through our dedicated training and apprenticeship programmes that focus on developing real-world skills, we have done that,” shares Alex Davis, Founder and Managing Director of Get Found.

From the start, the agency has always put a particular emphasis on employee wellbeing and personal development. During their first year of operations, which coincided with the start of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Get Found provided training to four apprentices, with one of them joining the team on a permanent basis. 

“Since Get Found was founded, we have aimed to not only provide excellent services to our clients, but also to give back to the community and provide fair employment opportunities,” adds Jason Jackson, Co-Founder & Director of Get Found. “When Alex and I started Get Found, we built our apprenticeship programme in the first year to give people who have never worked in digital marketing the opportunity to make a career change and join our growing team. As of today, our team consists of thirteen professionals, most of whom went through our training.”

Get Found also recently partnered with Digished, creating a digital marketing training programme designed specifically to upskill people looking to change career paths. The programme combines several months of intensive training with real case studies and practical advice to help students land a new job right after graduation.

For more information about Get Found visit: https://get-found.co.uk/

News

Health and wellbeing events to support North Wales community post-pandemic

EVENTS designed to promote health and wellbeing, charities and small businesses will take place in Ruthin over the coming months.

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) has lined up online and in-person activities – held at the town’s revamped Market Hall – to support the local community post-pandemic.

Supported by the UK Government’s Community Referral Fund, they include four virtual health, fitness and nutrition workshops beginning today (October 6) with Elen Lloyd, a certified exercise and holistic lifestyle coach with the CHEK Institute, an award-winning education provider.

“I’m a working mother and farmer’s wife so life is always busy, but I believe in a holistic approach to health by moving, eating well and finding time for yourself,” said Elen.

“Over the course of the four sessions I’ll give tips on how to live a healthy and fulfilled life – which is more important than ever given the challenges of the last few years – using the ‘Four Doctors Method’ which covers diet, quiet, happiness and movement.

“These will be simple and realistic changes which could make a big difference to people’s lives, so I hope they will join me to find out more.”

DVSC recently held business development workshops for the county’s market traders and food producers and in the run up to Christmas the Ruthin Market Hall is to host family barbecue and pizza nights, a Wear It Pink cancer awareness coffee morning and a free Halloween disco.

There will also be regular meetings with Ruthin Town Churches, who unite people concerned about their futures and end of life, as part of their Grave Matters series.

Following the unveiling of a new partnership with Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC, which will continue to develop events and exhibitions at the Market Street venue, DVSC Chief Officer Tom Barham said even more will be done to improve the local offering for residents and visitors.

“Ruthin is a vibrant town with a strong sense of community, so we are delighted to announce these upcoming activities,” he added.

“And with the market itself now open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays we look forward to welcoming even more people and giving independent producers a platform to showcase their products.

“The Market Hall is the beating heart of Ruthin and with the plans we have for the rest of 2022 and beyond that looks set to continue for many years to come.”

Visit www.dvsc.co.uk for more on the DVSC. Alternatively, follow them on Facebook at @DVSCDenbighshire, Instagram @DVSC_Denbighshire and Twitter @DVSC_Wales.

For tickets to the online workshops with Elen Lloyd, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom–denbighshire/elen-lloyd/