Last week saw schools and colleges return after the summer holidays and, as the new school term begins, I want to wish pupils, parents, carers, teachers and staff across our communities the very best for the year ahead. As I’ve mentioned in this column before, families who may need a little extra help might find the Welsh Government’s School Essentials Grant useful – the grant provides support with school costs like uniform, shoes, bags, sports kit and stationery. You can find out more and check eligibility at www.gov.wales/get-help-school-costs. Pob lwc to everyone starting or returning to school or college this September!

As many of us get back into the school run or return to work routines, safe roads make all the difference. That’s why I welcomed news that 1,400 potholes were repaired in just three days on the A494 Mold bypass earlier this year and more are being fixed each week. I had the chance to visit the team who are mending our roads and while there I even had the opportunity to have a go on the new pothole machine. The issue of the state of our roads in Flintshire has come up time and time again on the doorstep while I have been holding street surgeries this summer, so if you spot a pothole or road defect in our area, you can help by reporting it directly at www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Streetscene/Potholes-pavement-and-road-defects.aspx.

Parents of younger children might be interested to hear about the Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer and Flying Start programmes, which offer free childcare to parents at work or in training as well as those in disadvantaged communities. The Childcare Offer provides up to 30 hours per week of government-funded nursery education and childcare for most parents of three and four-year-olds who are working or studying, for up to 48 weeks of the year – unlike in England, it is available to parents in training and education as well as those in work. And in Wales the Flying Start programme has offered childcare places to more than 13,400 children across Wales in our most disadvantaged communities, ensuring support reaches families in greatest need first – the programme is now being progressively extended to reach all two-year-olds across Wales. Both these schemes make a substantial difference for children and families across Wales.

After a summer of fabulous cultural events in North Wales – including the community opening of our recently refurbished Theatr Clwyd in July and the National Eisteddfod held this year in Wrexham – today sees the North Wales International Music Festival kick off in St Asaph and Mold. This year’s festival theme is ‘Perceptions’ – the strong link between music and the human mind – which aims to explore the importance of music and the arts in supporting and promoting good mental health and wellbeing. The festival kicks off tonight and runs until September 20 and events will be held in both St Asaph and at Theatr Clwyd – you can find more information and see the festival programme at https://nwimf.com.

Earlier in the summer I had the chance to meet with representatives from the Hygiene Bank at the Celebrating Boots in the Community event in the Senedd, which I sponsored. The Hygiene Bank scheme is a network of projects which help to distribute unwanted hygiene products to people in local communities suffering from hygiene poverty – it’s not right that feeling clean should be a luxury or a privilege for anyone in our society, but the Hygiene Bank reports that 4.2m adults in the UK are living in hygiene poverty and cannot afford to stay clean. The scheme helps to deliver the everyday products any family would need, such as toothpaste, nappies, laundry detergent or shower gel, and relies on donations – you can find out more about the scheme at https://thehygienebank.com as well as find out where you can donate unwanted items.

Finally, Parkfields Community Centre in Mold is looking for a kids and youth support worker part-time who will work alongside the Youth Club leader working with families and individuals in the local area. The hours of work will be varied across two sessions – Wednesdays 2.30pm to 7.30pm and Saturdays 11am until 2.30pm – and duties include organising and participating in recreational activities as well as providing emotional support and practical assistance to young people. If you’re interested in the job or know someone who is, you can email your CV to hello@parkfieldscommunitycentre.co.uk.

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.