A view from Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

In this month’s column Wrexham’s MS writes: ‌

Readers will be aware Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford announced his resignation last week.  He will continue in his role for a few more months and a new First Minister expected to be in place by Easter.

Mark is a truly exceptional First Minister and has led Wales during the most exceptional times.

He served the people of Wales with honour, dedication and compassion and his selfless leadership through the pandemic will never be forgotten.

Mark is an inspiration, a man full of integrity and it has been a privilege to serve in his Cabinet.

Attention is now turning towards who will be Mark’s successor and I am backing Jeremy Miles MS to be Welsh Labour’s next Leader and First Minister.

Having served with Jeremy in government, I know he has what it takes to win for Labour, for North Wales and for Wrexham.

The campaign is gathering pace and Jeremy now has the support of the majority of Welsh Labour MSs, Welsh Government Ministers and the entire 2021 intake of Welsh Labour Senedd Members, as well as Wrexham’s Welsh Labour Parliamentary candidate, Andrew Ranger.

Catching up with the First Minister just moments after he announced his resignation.

Teams4U is a charity that is close to my heart and each year it organises its Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

The initiative, which was started in Wrexham by Teams4U founder, Dave Cooke over 30 years ago, provides gifts to vulnerable children and families who are unlikely to receive any presents at Christmas.

People are asked to find an old shoebox, fill it with useful gifts and Teams4U deliver the packages to some of the most disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe, many of whom have fled the war in Ukraine.  Any gifts donated that cannot travel abroad for whatever reason are given to local schools.

I visited the warehouse in Llay in early December, along with Welsh Labour’s Parliamentary candidate, Andrew Ranger, to drop off my donation. Earlier that morning, the third truck full of shoeboxes left for Bosnia and at the time of my visit, Wrexham residents had already donated over 20,000 shoeboxes – an incredible achievement!

I am so pleased this worthy cause is still going strong and the positive impact it has on the lives of vulnerable children cannot be overstated.

Great to catch up with the wonderful @Teams4u along with @asranger.

The third truck full of shoeboxes left #Wrexham for Eastern Europe this morning & the charity has now checked over 59,000 shoeboxes nationally.

Thank you to everyone in Wrexham who has taken part. pic.twitter.com/QxT5qDGDF6

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) December 8, 2023

I recently visited Tesco Extra in Wrexham to support the company’s annual Winter Food Collection.

For more than a decade, Tesco has been working closely with charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare, helping provide food to local communities.  The campaign is more important than ever during this unprecedented cost of living crisis.

Thank you to all the Tesco customers who donated. Everything raised is offered to Wrexham Foodbank to help those facing hardship over the festive period.

Alongside Tesco’s Community Champion, Ali Roberts and Foodbank volunteers.

Congratulations to Magic Dragon Brewery Tap in Wrexham for recently winning the coveted Pub of the Year award.

The accolade for 2023 was awarded by the Chester & South Clwyd branch of CAMRA, the campaign for Real Ale.

Located on Charles Street, many of the Magic Dragon Brewery Tap’s ales and beers are produced at their micro-brewery at the Plassey Holiday Park.

It was a pleasure to be invited along to the celebratory event and to present the award to Richard, Dave and the team.

Throughout December, the pub is hosting a series of free live gigs to help raise funds to tackle homelessness.  All donations collected will be given to Shelter Cymru.

It is great to see a Wrexham business and brewery thriving and establishing itself as a cornerstone of the community.

Great to catch up with the wonderful @Teams4u along with @asranger.

The third truck full of shoeboxes left #Wrexham for Eastern Europe this morning & the charity has now checked over 59,000 shoeboxes nationally.

Thank you to everyone in Wrexham who has taken part. pic.twitter.com/QxT5qDGDF6

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) December 8, 2023

Latest figures show Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has delivered more than 140,000 COVID-19 autumn booster vaccines to many of the most vulnerable people in North Wales.

I encourage all those eligible for the COVID-19 Autumn booster, and the flu vaccine, to take up the offer of vaccination to help protect themselves from the most serious effects of these illnesses and to help protect the wider community from outbreaks, thereby reducing pressures on local NHS services during the busiest time of the year.

A ‘walk in’ service is now in place and those eligible for a booster can attend one of the Health Board’s vaccination centres without an appointment.  The main venue in Wrexham is the Catrin Finch Centre at Wrexham University.

� Vaccinations can stop you from catching flu or COVID-19, and could help reduce the risk of serious illness

Help relieve pressure on NHS Wales services by getting vaccinated

https://t.co/RQbl952mEJ#VaccinationSavesLives pic.twitter.com/L2srd3QQyg

— Betsi Cadwaladr (@BetsiCadwaladr) December 13, 2023

Finally, I wish all Wrexham.com readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  My constituency office will close for the festive period at 1pm on Friday 22nd December and reopen on Tuesday 2nd January.

If you’re a constituent in Wrexham and have an urgent issue in this period, please contact me via email: [email protected].