MORE than £90 million has been invested in Denbighshire’s schools, with 4,300 pupils benefitting from improved facilities.
This is part of a host of achievements through Denbighshire Council’s efforts to support young people which includes the development of a co-working space for entrepreneurs at the former Costigan’s building in Rhyl and the construction of a new Welsh Language Centre in St Asaph.
Four brand new school buildings have been created in Denbighshire over the past five years for Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras in Ruthin, Ysgol Carreg Emlyn in Clocaenog, Ysgol Llanfair in Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Christ the Word, Rhyl, while a significant extension was built at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph.
They were funded by the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme and Denbighshire Council.
The council’s work was carried out under the young people priority as part of its Corporate Plan 2017-2022, which set the direction and ambition for the authority for the past five years.
Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the council’s lead member for education, children's services and public engagement, said: “We have been working to make Denbighshire a place where young people can and want to flourish.
“We know that physical and emotional well-being from an early age is important, preventing problems occurring later in life.
"We have strived to give young people the best start in life, and worked with our partners, schools and businesses to make this happen.
“We have continued to deliver on modernising our school facilities to ensure that our children have a learning environment that supports their education.”
Other work carried out under the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, but completed before 2017, included a new building for Rhyl High School and extensions at Bodnant Community School and Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd.
Plans are already in place to deliver further investments in partnership with the Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, which has now replaced the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme.
Proposals are being developed for a new facility at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, in Denbigh, together with further investment at Ysgol Pendref and Denbigh High School, in Denbigh, and at Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gwernant, in Llangollen.
Costigan’s Coworking Space provides a workspace for entrepreneurs and was handed over to co-working and small business experts, Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq), in January 2021.
The council used funding through the European Regional Development Fund and the Welsh Government to create the office accommodation at the semi-derelict Costigan’s building on Bodfor Street, Rhyl.
It is currently home to founders, freelancers and entrepreneurs who are creating jobs and boosting the local economy and is also supporting local workers employed by other companies who are working closer to home.
Costigan’s also offers a number of programmes, including after-hours start-up clubs, fast-growth accelerators, workshops and one-to-one mentorship and offers funded business-development packages worth up to £5,000 as well as support accessing the Welsh Government’s Town Centre Entrepreneurship Fund grant of up to £10,000.
Other support provided in Denbighshire included ensuring young people had support, mentoring and work opportunities to help them develop their skills through the council’s Working Denbighshire scheme.
One Working Denbighshire project is the Work Start Scheme which creates paid and unpaid work placements within the council and local businesses, offering people from vulnerable backgrounds, returners to work, and those new to work, valuable insight into the world of employment and work experience.
Individuals are provided with one-to-one mentoring and have been supported with gaining qualifications during placements alongside progression onto career pathways and apprenticeships.
More than 100 placements have been offered since Work Start’s launch in in April 2019, with 60 so far completed and to date 26 residents have secured sustainable paid employment following their placement.
An employee training grant has also been made available to help Denbighshire residents who are employed to get funding for training so that they can get a better wage and further their careers in the county.
People can find out more about the Corporate Plan 2017-2022 at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/corporate-plan-ambition-achievements
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