Around nine million pensioners across Wales and England have started to receive their Winter Fuel Payment Payments, worth between £100 and £300 depending on household circumstances, will be made automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between now and the end of December. The amount each pensioner receives depends on whether they live alone or as a couple, if they receive other benefits, and whether they live in a care home. The DWP has warned of a 150 per cent surge in Winter Fuel Payment scams, with fraudsters posing as government officials or payment providers to trick people into revealing personal information.

Families are invited to climb aboard and enjoy a magical festive journey through Llangollen and Corwen this December. Llangollen Railway is once again running its popular Sion Corn - Tren Arbennig (Santa Special) services on 5, 12 and 19 December. Siôn Corn is a cherished part of Welsh Christmas folklore. Meaning 'Chimney John', Siôn Corn is the Welsh counterpart to Santa Claus - a friendly, story-telling figure who brings warmth and community spirit to the season.

There is less than one month left for members of the public to have their say on plans to create a new National Park in north east Wales. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) launched a 12-week statutory consultation in September on the proposed Glyndŵr National Park, which would include parts of the Clwydian Range, the Dee Valley and nearby coastal areas.

People can send cards that will make a difference this Christmas thanks to North Wales’ only children’s hospice - Tŷ Gobaith. The seasonal greetings cards will help raise funds to support the lives of local children and families living with a life-threatening condition. The £2.99 packs contain 10 beautiful cards featuring traditional Christmas scenes - along with the famous Great Orme Goats and Tramway. They are available in English and Welsh. Amongst the traditional imagery, there are some gorgeous local scenes including the famous Great Orme Goats and Tramway – but these tend to sell out very fast, so don’t delay and get some today.

Councillors vote for watered-down motion v.1

An incredible 1,600 runners lit up the night to raise more than £31,000 at Hope House Children’s Hospices’ Dark Runs. The runners, many of whom donned fancy dress, took on the nighttime routes at Chirk Castle, Telford Town Park, Conwy Quay, Penrhyn Castle and for the first time ever Bolesworth Castle. Helped by more than 200 dedicated volunteers who marshalled the routes, the events raise money to help local children with life-threatening conditions to live as full a life as possible. The events were started by families who have received care and support at Hope House.

Tourism bosses have warned businesses are being “bled dry” by red tape amid fears new licensing rules will drive small family-owned operators out of the market. In written evidence to the Senedd, North Wales Tourism urged ministers to “slow down”, warning of a growing regulatory burden and a 30% business downturn in some areas. Last week, the Welsh Government set out plans to license self-contained, self-catering accommodation on the back of reforms including a tourism tax and mandatory registration.

The Old Library building on Queen's Square has been formally opened following a multi million pound refurbishment aimed at creating a 'thriving creative hub'. Originally paid for by the Scottish American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on a plot of land provided by Wrexham Council, the library was first opened at a cost of £4,300 on Friday 15th 1907 by then Wrexham Mayoress Mrs Edward Hughes and Sir Foster H.E.

Llangollen is gearing up for its biggest festive celebration yet with thousands of expected to pack the town for its spectacular Christmas Festival. Now in its sixteenth year, the event on Saturday, 29 November, will see a colourful parade in the town - along with festive street stalls and live music. It will culminate with a fireworks display - sponsored by the Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa - which will light up the sky above Dinas Brân castle.

Veteran homelessness has been labelled a “national disgrace” as the Senedd debated Conservative calls for ex-service personnel to be given priority for social housing. James Evans warned it was unacceptable to have veterans sleeping on the streets, arguing that guaranteeing them a home should be a matter of "principle, not paperwork". The Tory Senedd member said: “It is a national disgrace that men and women who wore the country's uniform – who stood ready to risk everything for our freedoms and protections – are sleeping rough or are stuck in insecure accommodation.”

An afternoon celebrating local produce and community spirit has helped to raise £8,500 for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices. More than 70 attendees came out for the annual Bodnant Ladies Lunch - which featured welcome drinks courtesy of Cariad Gin, biscuits from Sweet Snowdonia and a complimentary goody bag from Clogau. There was a silent auction, raffle and table games and a two course-lunch to help raise funds for the region's children's hospice. Guests included mums Michelle Hughes and Nerys Davies whose children Matilda and Bedwyr attend Tŷ Gobaith, a stone’s throw away from the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre.

The Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser flatly denied reports a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction is off the agenda, telling the Senedd: “I said no such thing.” Julie James, who is counsel general, said a legal jurisdiction for Wales is inevitably developing and “at some point in the future somebody’s going to have to acknowledge that it exists – but it exists whether you acknowledge it or not”. Adam Price, Plaid Cymru’s shadow counsel general, had expressed concerns about any prospect of a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction being “kicked firmly into touch”.

Older patients are being “prematurely written off” and discharged into care homes simply to free up hospital beds, a Senedd committee has warned. Senedd members found a focus on “patient flow” rather than outcomes meant temporary moves often became permanent, stripping older people of their independence. John Griffiths, who chairs the Senedd’s local government committee which held an inquiry on hospital discharges, said improving step-down care needs urgent attention.

The festive season will kick off in Wrexham tomorrow (Saturday, 15 November) with the switching on of the city's Christmas lights. Nightingale House Hospice, Fair Event Management, Eagles Meadow and Wrexham Council have teamed up for a day of live entertainment and activities for all the family. The event will begin at midday on Queen's Square, where visitors will be able to get a head start on their Christmas shopping at an artisan market.

TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru / Together Creating Communities) is celebrating three decades of grassroots community organising across north east Wales. Since its founding in 1995, TCC has brought together faith groups, schools, and community organisations to empower local people to take action on the issues that matter most to them. Over the past 30 years, the organisation has campaigned to make Wrexham the first Living Wage City in Wales, led youth leadership training and worked to protect and improve green spaces across the region.

Wrexham Council has said it has "taken action far in excess of what is normally required" over Hafod Quarry issues, following a debate in the Senedd. The comments come after criticism from campaigner and local resident Steve Gittins during a recent meeting of the Senedd's Petitions Committee. Mr Gittins set out residents’ case for the closure of the site in Johnstown, detailing 20 years of odour complaints and challenging data supplied by site operators Enovert, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Wrexham County Borough Council.

A union has hit out at Wrexham Council's leadership over claims that schools in the county borough are not facing financial crisis. Council Leader Mark Pritchard and Deputy Council Leader David A Bithell made the comments during a media brief on 4 November, when asked about the number of local schools projected to have a licensed deficit. Twenty-nine schools are currently projected to have a licensed deficit at the end of March 2026, at a total cost of minus £2.8 million.

More than 100 crimes have been recorded in Wrexham city centre in the past seven days. In an update on social media, NWP Wrexham Town detailed several of the incidents that the force has responded to over the past week. They include 23 arrests made for various offences, including assaulting an emergency worker, sexual assault, taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, recall to prison, theft from a shop and criminal damage. In total 222 incidents have been reported to NWP Wrexham Town over the last seven days, with 104 recorded as crimes.

Wrexham and Flintshire have been chosen as one of only three non-violence reduction units (VRU) in the country to take part in a national pilot designed to support young people at risk of becoming involved in crime. The innovative initiative, which is also being piloted in Hertfordshire and Derbyshire, is part of a national pilot programme for Young Future Panels. It aims to proactively identify and support young people at risk of being drawn into crime and anti-social behaviour. A VRU brings together police, councils, health, education, youth services and community organisations to address the root causes of serious violence.

COLEG Cambria learners are preparing to face the nation’s best at the WorldSkills UK National Finals. This year’s line-up includes rising stars in Aircraft Maintenance, Beauty Therapy, CNC Milling, and Metal Fabrication, each determined to bring home medals for Team Wales. Among them are Robert Jones and Hannah Back, from Airbus UK, who return to the finals after strong performances in 2024.

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be abolished say UK Government - estimated to save the taxpayer at least £100 million that they say will be used to "help to fund frontline officers to cut crime". Justifying the move The Home Secretary said "Since 2012, PCCs have been elected to hold forces to account, but turnout at the polls and public knowledge of who their local PCC is has been incredibly low.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is urging members of the public to be vigilant and to take care this Friday and Saturday with Storm Claudia set to bring heavy rainfall and disruption in Wales. While most of Wales will see heavy rainfall and possible flood impacts, significant flooding is expected in areas of south east and mid Wales from Friday and into Saturday. A yellow weather warning is in place across north east Wales from 6am on Friday morning through until 6am on Saturday. The worst of the weather locally is expected at midday tomorrow.

AI Growth Zones will be central to regenerating local communities and delivering new opportunities across the country – under new plans set out by the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary today as they confirm a new site for North Wales. First announced by the Prime Minister in January, AI Growth Zones are designed to be hubs for AI development. The new AI Growth Zone site straddles the Menai Strait, with a base at Prosperity Parc on Anglesey and another at Trawsfynydd in the heart of Gwynedd.

Wrexham Council has confirmed it will deliver a cost of living support package to local organisations before Christmas - but concerns have been raised about the impact of council tax debt on families v.1

The Leadership of Wrexham Council have praised the majority of Wrexham schools, but have said "a small minority jump up and down and create a fuss" over school budgets. Councillors recently discussed the projected closing schools balances in Wrexham, a minus £2.8m figure currently. Darland makes up 39.6% of that figure with a projected deficit of -£1,183,812. Wrexham Council told us regarding Darland, "In light of the current financial challenges, the school has sought support from WCBC to manage a significant budget deficit while continuing to deliver high-quality provision for all learners.