Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

Today we were paid a visit to the Senedd by Ysgol Pen Barras primary school.

Having year 5 and 6 pupils from the school, which is a stone's throw from my office in Ruthin here to learn about the workings of the Senedd was amazing.  Learning about the work of organisations such as the Senedd is extremely important, and to be able to explain what the central role of the institution is in the landscape of Welsh governance is always gratifying.

I hope that today's visit will stimulate this generation of pupils to take an interest in the work of the Senedd, and also to show an interest in politics.

Good luck to the future Ysgol Pen Barras, and thank you for listening to the presentation and for the fun questions!

Llyr Gruffydd was lucky enough recently to be invited to visit Caernarfon Youth Tennis Club to learn about how they work. 

“The work that the coaching staff do with the youth of the area is phenomenal” said Mr Gruffydd,

The club now attracts more than a hundred school-aged children to play tennis every week in the purpose built Arfon Tennis Centre in the town, and has recently attracted funding from Sport Wales to improve facilities.

Osian Williams, who is head-coach at the club said-

“Thanks to the £200k funding, we’ve been able to secure the future of the club here in Caernarfon. We’ve invested in new lights, new court surfaces and much more”

“Although tennis at the centre had been in decline since its heyday in the 1990s, this funding has supported the continued revival of tennis in the Caernarfon area in recent years.”

“We are an unique tennis club in a way. We are the only Welsh language medium youth tennis club in the world, which is something special we think.”

Mr Gruffydd added-

“Tennis in the Gwynedd area is up against other popular sports when it comes to attracting youth players, but the achievement of the staff and volunteers here in Caernarfon is amazing. Attracting so many young players to the sport is quite an achievement.”

“Maybe we’ll see the tennis stars of the future emerging from the club – with the facilities available to them here, there’s nothing to prevent them from achieving greatness.”

An MS has congratulated Denbighshire school pupils for winning an active travel award.

Llŷr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales in the Senedd, described Ysgol Llywelyn’s achievement of becoming the first school in the region to win a Sustrans Cymru Gold Award as “hugely impressive”.

Mr Gruffydd, of Plaid Cymru, recently visited to school to hear about the work children have been doing to change the way they travel to school so that it’s healthier and more environmentally friendly.

Sustrans Cymru is a charity that is on a mission to help communities come to life though walking, wheeling and cycling to create healthier places and happier lives for everyone.

Llŷr Gruffydd said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet staff and pupils at Ysgol Llywelyn, and I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to them for their warm welcome.

“It’s a hugely impressive achievement to become the first school in the north of Wales to be awarded Sustrans Cymru Gold Award for promoting active travel.

“The pupils have clearly gone above and beyond in making active travel an everyday part of school life, and have made it fun at the same time.

“They are a great example to other pupils across the region of what can be achieved and of how schools can be proactive, challenge travel behaviours and change them for everyone’s benefit.

“This award isn’t just a wonderful accomplishment for the school. It’s also a wonderful accomplishment for the local community.

“I want to see active travel become the norm in Wales where that’s possible. Walking, cycling or scooting to school should be a safe, easy and accessible option for all children in Wales.

“Changing the way we travel to school is an effective way of increasing activity levels amongst children, and it is also key if we are going to tackle air pollution. Sustrans Cymru is making a vital contribution to bring this about.”

A North Wales MS has marked Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month by praising a charity for its “important” work supporting children and their families.

An MS has backed a call for a banking hub to be created in Denbigh after a series of branch closures.

Keir Starmer has been condemned after he refused to commit to giving Wales its fair share of HS2 if he becomes Prime Minister.

An MS joined campaigners and school pupils to celebrate the 40th anniversary of No Smoking Day in Wales.

A housing landlord has been urged to improve communication with local residents in a long-running saga over problem parking.

An MS has praised a “dedicated” peer mentor for a Wales-based kidney charity.

People who have rare diseases are “falling through the cracks” in the health system, according to a North Wales MS.