Over the summer it has been good to get out and about across the area – including more recently in both Holywell and Mold – chatting to residents on the doorstep. It’s a chance to raise any concerns, ideas or to simply say hello. Since I first stood for election, I’ve always tried to use the summer break in particular to reach out and this year is no exception – it’s so important for our local representatives to talk to people in the area and hear about the things they care about or the issues they are facing. If you need help and advice or if you have something you want to raise, please don’t hesitate to contact me by telephone 01352 753464 or email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales.

Last week the sun was shining on us at the Denbigh and Flint Show and it was fantastic to see so many people enjoying what is a staple here in the summer calendar here in North Wales. There’s something there for everyone, from showcasing the farming community to classic cars, live entertainment and much more. It was good to have the chance to catch up with a range of individuals and organisations whilst there too.

Many readers will have heard about the burst water main in Broughton last week which left many homes and businesses without water. Dŵr Cymru have confirmed compensation arrangements for those impacted during the water outage, so if you are a resident or business affected it’s worth claiming. Households are eligible for £30 for every 12 hours without supply and the payments are paid direct to bank accounts or Welsh Water accounts if in arrears, with payments made within 20 days. Businesses can claim £75 for every 12 hours without supply, plus the ability to apply for goodwill payments up to £2,500 for loss of profits/extra costs. Applications and more information are now available at dwrcymru.com. It’s also worthwhile people checking whether they should be on Dŵr Cymru’s ‘priority list’ which helps to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported when needed. You can find out more at https://contact.dwrcymru.com/en/priority-services-register.

Last week also saw GCSE results for many of our young people – I’d like to offer my congratulations to all learners on their achievements and a big thank you to teachers and staff for all their hard work. If you didn’t get the grades you had hoped for, don’t be too disappointed and don’t be too hard on yourself if things didn’t quite go to plan – there are still so many options open to you! If you need advice on what to do next, there’s plenty of information and support available to you through your school or college, but there’s always the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee, which offers a range of options for your future. You can always drop me a line as well and I can point you in the right direction – you can email me at hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales.

Recently I visited Viva LGBT in Rhyl along with my friend and colleague Cllr Mel Buckley. It was an opportunity to find out more about the invaluable work the organisation does and to find out what more I could do to champion them and the young people they support. We also wanted to take some time to give a donation to Viva LGBT – the money was what was remaining from the funds we raised together for last year’s Flint Pride event and we’re proud to hand it over to a good cause. To find out more about Viva LGBT and the work it does with youth groups and the wider support for young people, go to www.vivalgbt.co.uk/vivais.

Finally, don’t forget that MyTravelPass applications are now open – if you want to make the most of the £1 bus travel for young people that’s available from September you’ll need to apply for a MyTravelPass. This Welsh Government-funded scheme gives young people aged 16 to 21 roughly one third off bus travel across Wales. Whether you’re headed to college, work or meeting friends, it’s definitely worth applying – https://mytravelpass.tfw.wales.

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.