It was good to get back to Senedd business once again last week after the long summer recess – back to the important task of representing our communities in the Welsh Parliament.

During First Minister’s Questions, I raised the need to prioritise improvements and mitigating measures on the A55, particularly around junction 32 where, sadly, a number of serious accidents have taken place this summer. These incidents have a knock-on impact on our communities and for those visiting North Wales. A number of constituents have contacted me with their concerns, so its welcome news that the Welsh Government has, among other things, allocated £30m of additional funding to ease congestion in North Wales – however, I will keep advocating for our area and pressing for improvements.

Last week marked 110 years of the WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes), with the very first meeting taking place here in Wales in LlanfairPG back in 1915. Since then, the WI has gone from supporting food production during the First World War to campaigning on climate change, plastic pollution and violence against women – giving women a voice and being a force for good in our communities. There were birthday celebrations taking place across the country and in our community to mark this milestone – including an event organised by the Clwyd-Flint NFWI at the Beaufort Park Hotel near Mold.

I spoke about the celebrations in the Senedd last week – it’s important to pay tribute not only to the great work the WI has done over the last 110 years but also to remember the friendships that have been formed and all that has been achieved by the movement. Penblwydd hapus! It’s worth remembering that you can see many of my contributions in the Senedd on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.

Last week also saw a new consultation launched by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) into the proposed new national park here in North East Wales. The Glyndŵr National Park – plans for which have been revised by NRW based on responses to last year’s consultation as well as a detailed evaluation by the Welsh Government – stretches up to Talacre on the coast and down to the Dyfnant Forest near Welshpool in Powys, taking in the Clwydian Range AONB as well as Llangollen. The national park could attract visitors from all over the UK and it’s a real opportunity to protect nature, support communities and shape the future of this stunning part of Wales, but it’s vitally important that people in the area have a say in how the park is set up – with the right public engagement the park could bring real benefits to communities in Clwyd and the wider area. To take part in the consultation, click the link at https://naturalresources.wales.

This September, I’ve been supporting St John Ambulance Cymru’s Save a Life September, an opportunity for every person in Wales to learn vital first aid skills for free. Think how valuable it would be to have the confidence to help in an emergency – performing CPR, helping someone who’s choking, treating severe bleeding or putting someone into the recovery position. These are skills that could make the difference between life and death – so if you’re interested in learning new skills, check out www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/appeals/save-a-life.

Finally, I had the chance to meet Shereen Devine of Flintshire Befrienders recently at a drop-in day at Mostyn Community Centre. Flintshire Befrienders is a volunteer-led service that aims to reduce loneliness and isolation among older people living in the Holywell area, providing one-to-one befriending matching volunteers who can engage older people in community events as well as recruiting local volunteers to create new group activities.

The organisation is exploring funding opportunities to introduce their new project SAFE – Supporting Advocacy, Friendship and Empowerment – which aims to support people with learning disabilities to make informed decisions for themselves across a variety of personal safety topics, including internet safety, healthy relationships and sexual and reproductive health. If you feel you can help out, it’s worth getting in touch – details can be found at https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/project/flintshire-befrienders.

As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales. You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait for an advice surgery.