EssentialsMAG January 2024 – South Wrexham Magazine

January 2024

Your monthly local community magazine

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★ Shop local ★ Eat local ★ Spend local ★ Enjoy local ★

www.essentialsmag.co.uk

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Sale runs from 1st - 31st January 2024. All appointments booked within this sale period will have the discount honoured

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Welcome...

Welcome to our January issue!

February Deadlines: Editorial - 5th January Advertising - 12th January

As we bid farewell to the festive season, January is a time to embrace the promise of new beginnings.

A new year brings a sense of optimism, and a chance to set new goals, and chart new paths.

We’ve got the local area covered!

Delivered by hand to 7,600 homes and businesses more than any other magazine in our area.

In our local community, this spirit of renewal is evident. We've seen it in the numerous community initiatives that have sprung up, the new restaurants, businesses and shops that have opened their doors, and the individuals who are taking steps to make a positive impact.

This month, EssentialsMAG is dedicated to celebrating these stories of transformation and change. We feature local entrepreneurs who are pursuing their passion, community groups and events that are making a difference, and individuals who are overcoming challenges to achieve dreams.

We hope that these stories will inspire you to embark on your own journey in the year to come.

As we step into this new year, let's embrace the spirit of community, support one another, and work together to create a brighter future for our town and region.

Happy New Year!

All the best, Vicky Heathfield

Garden Village, Borras, Pandy, Acton, Bangor-on-Dee, Overton, Penley, Hanmer, Marchwiel, Tallarn Green, Cross Lanes, Worthenbury, Pentre Maelor Also available at 25+ pick-up points across the region.

You can also read our magazines online at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk EssentialsMAG is published by Essentials MAG Limited, a local independent publishing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Essentials MAG Limited.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URLs and phone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. © EssentialsMAG Limited 2023.

Follow us today and stay updated locally @EssentialsMagWrexham @EssentialsMAG1

EMAIL: vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk CALL: 01978 855459

www.essentialsmag.co.uk

Cover Image: Knitted winter sweater

This publication is printed on FSC® certified paper.

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When you have finished reading it please pass it on, or put it in your paper recycling bin.

Local News A Local Success Scott Desert is a local Chartered Architect, setting up the Chartered Practice ‘Scott Architecture’ in 2012. Over the years, Scott Architecture has been involved with a number of interesting local projects, ranging from home extensions, renovations and new builds to commercial projects and was the regional winner of the Building Excellence Award in 2021.

Over the past two years, Scott has been the architect for the Sixth Form extension at The King’s School, Chester. This was officially opened on Thursday 9th November by His Grace, The Duke of Westminster, DL. The extension ties seamlessly into the existing school fabric and includes a state-of-the art drama studio, a common room, a new kitchen and dining area, and five additional large classrooms with interactive learning walls and office space.

Scott told us, “Scott Architecture was involved throughout the project, from initial appraisal stages, through the design, planning permission, building control approval, construction information and assisting on site with regular visits to ensure quality of construction. The project has been a great success.”

The extension at The King’s School is a crucial step in the school’s ambition to increase the number of bursaries to 100 by 2041, providing an asset to the community.

Wrexham 10K - Plans Underway Excitement is mounting in Wrexham as preparations are underway for the highly anticipated, brand-new Wrexham 10K being planned for 21st April 2024.

Organiser, Alan Lewis from Adrenaline Sporting Events told us, “The race offers a lovely route for all runners. The run starts and finishes in the heart of Wrexham on Queen’s Square, with a nice countryside section in the middle. The course takes in some beautiful views and has been officially measured and holds a Welsh Athletics Race Licence.”

Early registrations are being encouraged as places are selling fast.

To book your place head to: www.adrenalinesportingevents.co.uk

Local Doctor Publishes Children’s Book Dr Saloni Surah grew up in Chester and is a member of Hope Community Library Writing Group, based at Castell Alun High School. She is passionate about reading to children and regularly shares read-a-louds, and inspiring poems, on her social media.

She became inspired to write to help children dream after having seen lots of poverty and illiteracy during her career as a doctor.

Dr Surah’s first book, Flora Investigates: The Case of the Missing Gold Eggs, published last year, is aimed at 5-10 year olds, about a girl reaching for her dreams who doesn’t give up. Her second book, The Last Fairy Guardian, is due out later in 2024.

Dr Surah’s books are available on Amazon. For more details visit: www.salonisurah.com, www.youtube.com/@bedtimestoriesbysaloni

Women’s and Girls’ Cricket In line with the ambitions of the England and Wales Cricket Board to increase the participation of women and girls in cricket, Gresford Cricket Club are starting women’s and girls’ coaching sessions at Darland High School from Sunday 28th January 2024. The sessions are for women and girls of High School age, or above, at a cost of £2 per session. No experience of cricket is necessary - just the energy to have a go!

Interested? Contact: justineparry8@gmail.com or visit: www.gresfordcricketclub.com

Wrexham County Borough Council are looking to reform their Local Access Forum (LAF) and are looking for members from across Wrexham county borough to represent their communities and organisations about important issues relating to public rights of way, land management and conservation of the natural beauty of the specific areas. If you would like to attend the first meeting in January, please contact: laf@wrexham.gov.uk.

Share your news with us: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/article

Going Electric

By EssentialsMAG tech contributor DAVID HUGHES Electric cars have been making headlines in recent years, promising a greener and more sustainable future for transportation.

Last month, I took delivery of one - a Volkswagen ID.3, so, four weeks in, here are my initial positives and negatives: The positives: Eco-friendly travel. Stating the obvious really, but it does feel nice to know that you are driving around without the exhaust emissions. Of course, there are plenty of issues when it comes to the manufacture of these vehicles and the batteries that power them, but the end result undoubtedly feels “cleaner” somehow.

Lower running costs and maintenance.

With the price of petrol still high, and even with higher-than-average electricity costs, it still costs considerably less to charge the car than it would do to fill it with petrol for the same range. Maintenance costs are also lower; less mechanical parts to go wrong means more miles without servicing, and lower servicing costs when you get there.

It’s brilliant to drive! Obviously, the car is effectively silent, but for a small whine from the electric motor when you accelerate. The lower centre of gravity from the heavy batteries being at the bottom of the car, and the “instant on” acceleration make it really fun. It’s not going to win any 0-60mph battles, but 0-20mph is very impressive indeed.

The negatives: Range anxiety is real. Despite impressive advancements recently, electric cars generally still have a limited range. I find looking at the miles ticking down quite anxiety inducing, but if I look at the battery percentage it feels a lot more manageable - it starts to feel like a big smartphone!

Charging anxiety is also real. It took me a few days to get a charging cable that would work at home, so I had to charge at public charge points. It can be tricky to find a charger that is compatible with the car, and they can randomly be unavailable. They can be quite slow to charge too.

Upfront costs. Whilst there is undeniably savings to be had in the running and maintenance of an electric car, they are still quite a bit more expensive to buy over an equivalent petrol car. There are less government initiatives now than there were even a couple of years ago. Prices are starting to fall as competition rises, and in the next few years I imagine electric cars will be on a level with petrol equivalents.

So far, my first experience of owning an electric car has been enjoyable, and I’m looking forward to continuing the journey.

EssentialsMAG tech contributor is David Hughes a freelance web developer Tel: 07595 303418 www.davidhughes.co

A Path to Strength & Inner Harmony

By JERRY O’KEEFFE, Marford Karate Club We all have our personal health concerns and hang-ups, as we live in an increasingly challenging world in which work and life, in general, seems to increase our levels of anxiety and stress. Our involvement with the many manifestations of social media is now understood to challenge our sense of self-worth and personal resilience, and the outcome of this can lead to a poor sense of self-esteem or other negative mental and physical health indicators.

What is karate?

Karate, originating from Japan, is a traditional martial art that places a strong emphasis on discipline, precise technique, and mental fortitude. The aim is to cultivate self-defence capabilities through rigorous training and the mastery of striking, blocking, and kicking techniques.

Karate training The first and obvious benefit of karate is learning very effective self-defence techniques which will enable you to defend yourself better in a dangerous situation.

Karate can also significantly increase self confidence, resilience and mental focus.

A typical 90-minute training session incorporates a sequence of warm-up exercises, followed by a comprehensive head-to-toe stretch. This is followed by practising blocking, various strikes and other martial art techniques. A 75-year-old won't have the same capabilities as an 18-year-old, so when you train with us, you'll embark on a distinctive and personal journey recognising these constraints.

Karate can enhance self-confidence, resilience, and mental focus through various aspects of its training: • Achievement: Progressing through belt levels and mastering Karate techniques boosts confidence.

• Discipline: The discipline and routine in training instil a sense of structure and self-control, fostering resilience in facing challenges in everyday life.

• Focus and concentration: Practising Karate demands focus, strengthening concentration and sharpens the mind.

• Physical fitness: Improved physical fitness can positively impact mental wellbeing, and increase confidence.

• Facing challenges: Karate involves facing and overcoming physical and mental challenges during training, which builds resilience and self-assurance.

• Mind-body connection: Learning to synchronise body movements with breathing and mental focus enhances overall awareness and mindfulness.

Marford Karate Club is a not for profit organisation that has trained kids and adults at Marford Community Centre for almost 40 years. We have highlyexperienced instructors committed to giving every assistance to our students.

If you are interested and would like further information or advice, please call: Jerry O’Keeffe on: 07708 404043.

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Dates for your Diary MON 1 JANUARY 2024

EVERY THURSDAY

11 - 12 JANUARY

Charity Heritage Bus Running Day Wrexham - Chester

Walking Netball Rhosnesni High School, Wrexham LL13 9ET

A large selection of vintage vehicles will be running a free service following the Arriva number 1 route.

Encouraging ladies to stay active in a team sport.

Penley Polish Heritage Project Penley Rainbow Centre, A539, Penley, Wrexham LL13 0GB

6pm - 7pm £4.00 per session sheilageorge2@hotmail.com

1 - 6 JANUARY

Panto Performance: Jack and the Beanstalk Grove Park Theatre, Hill St, Wrexham LL11 1SN Latest performance from Wrexham’s oldest amateur theatre based in town. groveparktheatre.co.uk

THUR 4 JANUARY

Vinyasa Yoga Pulford Village Hall, St Mary's Church, Chester CH4 9EU New weekly Vinyasa yoga class. Beginners welcome.

7pm - 8pm Tel: 07530 026792 (Sarah)

THROUGHOUT JANUARY

Blood Donation Sessions Various local locations Give the gift of life - your donation matters!

FRI 5 JANUARY

Wrexham Birdwatchers Gresford Trust Memorial Hall, Gresford LL12 8PS

https://wbs.wales/ EssentialsMAGWrexham

Wrexham Birdwatchers’ January meeting, a talk on “Monitoring Birds of Prey in the Field” by Jimmi Hill.

WED 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 JAN SUN 7, 14, 21, 28 JAN

7:30pm Tel: 01978 855266 (Trevor)

Marford Karate Club Marford Community Centre, Pant Lane, Marford LL12 8SH Come and learn traditional Shotokan-style Karate.

Adults & children welcome.

10.30am - 12pm (Sun) 6.30pm - 8pm (Wed) £4.00 child/£5.00 adult Tel: 07708 404043 (Jerry)

SAT 6 JANUARY

Bingo Night Penley Village Hall, Penley LL13 0NH Eyes down for a full house.

A fabulous night of bingo!

6pm Eyes down 6:30pm @PenleyVillageHall

The Heritage Project will focus on the unique history of Penley from WWII. You are invited to find out more about the project by attending one of the information sessions.

7pm (Thur) 10am (Fri) Free

NEW DATES! 12 - 13 JANUARY

A Green Fairy Tale Overton Village Hall, Pen-Y-Llan St, Overton, Wrexham LL13 0EE A play by The Overton Amateur Dramatics Society, written by local Overton author Amanda Padley, and the cast are all local. There is a raffle, bar.

Refreshments and ice cream during the interval.

6:30pm / 2pm Saturday £8.00 (adults) / £5.00 (child)

Share your events with us - it’s FREE! Let us know your events taking place next month so we can feature them. essentialsmag.co.uk /whats-on

While every effort has been made to ensure all the details are correct at the time of going to print, it is advisable to check details with the venue concerned.

SAT 13 JANUARY

Nightingale House Hospice Christmas Tree Collection Collection only A team of volunteers will collect and recycle your real Christmas tree in return for a donation towards patient care at Nightingale House Hospice. Register online or call to book in your collection. Bookings will close on Monday 8th January at 11:59pm.

Remove all decorations from your tree. Leave your tree outside your house in a visible location before 7am on Saturday 13th January.

Donations Tel: 01978 314292 just-helping.org.uk/ register-tree

SUN 14 JANUARY

Chester Vegan Market Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HQ Perfect for those doing ‘Veganuary’ - bringing together a variety of vegan street food vendors, artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers, smallbatch soapers, local artists, zero-waste champions and loads more!

10:30am - 4pm

For a comprehensive list of local events, shows, groups and classes please visit:

essentialsmag.co.uk/whats-on TUE 16 JANUARY

FRI 26 JANUARY

Holt Flower Club Wrexham Golf Club, Wrexham LL13 9SB

New Year Magic!

Overton Village Hall, Overton LL13 0EE

Cynthia Preston-Jones will be demonstrating her theme “Dedicated Follower of Fashion". All welcome.

An evening of magic, mindreading and comedy, family entertainment and lots of audience participation.

7:30pm £7.00 (visitors) Tel: 07857 896496 (Christine)

7pm £10.00 (adults) / £7.00 (child) Tel: 01978 710631 (Jill)

WED 17 JANUARY

SAT 27 JANUARY

Maelor Music Society Concert Maelor School, Overton Road, Penley, Wrexham LL13 0LU

Table Top Sale Rossett Village Hall, Station Road, Rossett, LL12 0HE

Enjoy an evening recital by the outstanding musicians from Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester.

7:30pm £10 on the door/kids free Tel: 01978 710486 (Geoff)

Tables £6. To book a table telephone the number below. Refreshments.

10am - 3pm Free Tel: 01244 571089

SUN 28 JANUARY 26 - 28 JANUARY

The Big Garden Birdwatch Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring. Register online. www.rspb.org.uk

Women’s & Girls’ Cricket Darland High School, Rosset LL12 0DL Gresford Cricket Club are starting women’s and girls’ coaching sessions.

2pm - 3pm £2.00 justineparry8@gmail.com

Delmar World, Gresford Around the World in 60 Years

Managing Director, ANN ANGLESEA, reflects on Delmar World’s 60th anniversary When in 1964 Ces and Betty Davies – my parents – opened a small travel agency in a room above Gresford’s newsagents, a return trip to London was considered adventurous. British Rail and National Coach tickets were their main line of business – all hand-written, of course!

An overseas adventure By the 1970s, people were starting to venture further afield and having moved into rather more spacious modern offices with a growing team, Delmar developed its Mini-Cruise programme. These were fullyescorted short breaks to Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands by coach and ferry.

For many clients, these affordable trips were the beginning of their overseas travel experience.

Package holidays to Europe – primarily Spain, Greece and Italy – followed, allowing clients to further expand their holiday horizons: some of you may remember the glossy brochures from Clarksons, Intersun, Wings and many other long-gone

operators. In those pre-internet days, as soon as a brochure was launched, there would be a mad scramble for the limited number of free child places and our sales team – including me – could spend hours on the phone trying to get through to secure some. There were no online booking systems then.

Generations of travel In 1979, Freddie Laker started his Skytrain service to Miami, opening up Florida as a family holiday destination. Throughout the 80s and 90s, we escorted groups to Orlando with its myriad of attractions, including the most famous of them all: Disney World. In fact, many of the clients who took their children to this wonderland are now booking with us to take their grandchildren.

Of course, the USA has a lot more to offer than Florida – the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks, Las Vegas, New York City, San Francisco, Nashville and New Orleans to

name a few. In fact, the demand for USA holidays became so overwhelming that we opened a dedicated offshoot of Delmar called the USA TRAVEL CENTRE. This specialised in tailormade, self-drive itineraries and Howard Davies – my brother – became known as one of the UK’s leading USA Specialists. His expertise and knowledge of the USA – which, he has visited more than 200 times – is still invaluable in creating amazing experiences across the States for our clients.

Then in 2001, the world was shaken to its core by 9/11. Travel to the USA stopped and for a while people were understandably reluctant to travel anywhere.

True travel experts That was when we decided to train our team to be true travel experts in worldwide destinations. Within a couple of years, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East were becoming popular and very soon South Africa, South America, India and other exotic locations were added to the list of desirable holiday destinations.

Sail away Over the last decade or so, cruising has changed from being the preserve of the wealthy into a universally accessible holiday choice which has become so popular that in just the last few years, cruise ship capacity has increased tenfold. This has created a plethora of cruise types: from small, sumptuous, all-inclusive, ultra-luxury ships to floating skyscrapers with 19 swimming pools, capable of taking 7,000 passengers on family-friendly, affordable sailings.

Deciding which ship, which type of cabin (or suite, as they are now known) and which itinerary to choose is crucial to the overall enjoyment of a holiday and so a few years ago we launched a subsidiary company – Perfect Cruises. Our team of cruise specialists take great care in ensuring that their recommendations will meet – and even exceed – each client’s expectations.

So, at Delmar we have gone from selling London return coach and rail tickets to advising clients on destinations as diverse as African safaris and round-the-world luxury cruises.

I can’t help but wonder where our clients will be holidaying 60 years from now!

Delmar World are leading travel experts in Worldwide tailor-made holidays & cruises.

Tel: 01978 853 886, www.delmarworld.com 54-56 Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8NE

Wrexham Tourism News

By JOE BICKERTON, Tourism Manager, Wrexham County Borough Council As we start a new year, excitement is high thanks to the continuing popularity of Wrexham as a tourist destination, highlighted by ‘Time Out Magazine’ including Wrexham as one of their ‘must see’ UK destinations to visit in 2024!

Publicity on this scale, not to forget Wrexham’s name being a frequent sighting on Times Square, Sunset Boulevard and around the globe thanks to the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ docu-series, is simply fantastic for us. Looking back on the last 12 months, we have welcomed journalists from the Lonely Planet, United Airlines, the Western Australian, the Telegraph, the New York Times and National Geographic to name just a few.

Based on feedback from travel outlets, Wrexham is one of the most searched for places to visit outside of London, Windsor and Edinburgh, for 2024, and we fully expect international tourism and overnight stays in the region to increase. Not only does this benefit Wrexham’s hospitality businesses, but has knock-on benefits for the wider North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire economies.

Many of our new visitors will undoubtedly have a visit to the STōK Cae Ras and the ever-welcoming Turf Hotel, on their itinerary, but our challenge now is ensuring that we are able to maximise the awareness of our other world class attractions in

the Wrexham area, such as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site – all 11 miles from Gledrid by the Lion Quays through to the Horseshoe Falls outside Llangollen, where the canal originates.

Both National Trust properties in Wrexham, Erddig and Chirk Castle, have just finished spectacular festive programmes and are gearing up for some fantastic new events this year, and we are also seeing new investment from the private sector with a number of exciting projects due to be announced in the coming months.

January also gives us time to think about our goals for the new year, and in April, a new Wrexham 10k running race has just been announced, starting in Queen’s Square and taking in a circular route around Erddig before finishing back in the City Centre. If this gives you a training target for the new year, you can sign up today at; Wrexham 10K - Adrenaline Sporting Events.

Don’t forget – if you’re looking for winter walks or things to enjoy in the Wrexham area, you can download our new tourism brochure and find plenty of ideas and inspiration at www.thisiswrexham.co.uk Happy New Year everyone!

By Joe Bickerton, Tourism Manager at Wrexham County Borough Council T. 01978 292015 www.thisiswrexham.co.uk

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The Diary of a Chainsaw Sculptor

By Award-Winning Sculptor SIMON O’ROURKE The last few months have been very busy indeed. We've been working on a huge (secret) project which is going to be going live, very VERY soon! It's big, fierce, and with a heart-touching back story, and is being made into a film! Keep an eye on our social media channels for more information about that in the next few days and weeks!

We can't wait to share it with you all!

We've also been busy with lots of wonderful wildlife sculptures and pet portraits, as well as some other slightly more unusual pieces, including a lifesize horse bust, a pheasant, a wildlife totem pole, an eagle in flight, a green man face and a star sign totem pole, to name a few!

We took a well earned two week rest over the Christmas and new year period, but we're back with a bang!

of Blackie the Warhorse, as their recent development in Merseyside involved moving a pet cemetery which included the grave of this famous horse. The memorial will be installed in a garden area and will be available for the public to see.

We love having a rich variation in clientele.

From private commissions to public artworks, we enjoy seeing the reactions of people when they see their sculpture for the first time!

As springtime approaches and you are looking at your garden, consider the addition of a unique sculpture that will bring a smile to your face and enhance your outdoor space. No matter the subject, a sculpture is a wonderful way to tell a story or capture a moment in time.

One of our repeat customers, down south, will be receiving her two benches in the next few days, which she commissioned just before Christmas. One is a plethora of cats playing, the other includes two portraits of her horses. It's always good to see pieces you have been working on for a while safely installed into their new home to be enjoyed by the client. And repeat customers are always a great benefit to the business, which this one is.

We have a lovely new client too this month; a construction group who have commissioned a memorial sculpture

By Simon O’Rourke, Environmental artist specialising in wood sculpture Tel: 07886 881815 https://treecarving.co.uk

ysgol gynradd holt ‘a community for learning, caring and sharing’

wrap around care available Holt Community Primary School is a small friendly school for children aged 3 to 11.

ESTYN REPORT FROM NOVEMBER 2022 COMMENTS:

“Holt Community Primary is a happy and inclusive community that places a high priority on the well-being of its pupils.”

“Pupils make strong progress in their learning.”

“The school has a rigorous and structured curriculum.”

OPEN DAYs 22nd and 23rd January 2024 We warmly invite you to our Open Days. This is an opportunity to look around our school, absorb the atmosphere and meet the Head, staff and pupils.

To make an appointment to our Open Day call: 01829 270021 or e-mail: mailbox@holt-pri.wrexham.sch.uk Visit our website: www.holtcpschool.com

Gardening Tips and Advice January - Often the Coldest Month January might be the middle of winter but as the days lengthen, the garden starts to grow.

Now is a great time to plan for the coming gardening year and to order seeds and plants.

Enjoy the fresh air on dry sunny days, and check your winter protection, stakes, ties and supports are still working after any severe weather. Also put out food for birds and leave some garden areas uncut, a little longer, to provide shelter for wildlife in your garden.

1.

Recycle your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch.

2.

Clean pots and greenhouses ready for spring.

3.

Dig over any vacant plots that have not been dug already.

4.

Disperse worm casts in lawns.

5.

Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out.

6.

Prune apple and pear trees.

7.

Start forcing rhubarb.

8.

Plan your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season.

9.

Keep putting out food and water for hungry birds.

10.

Make a polythene shelter for outdoor peaches and nectarines, to protect against peach leaf curl.

Little Scholars Day Nursery The Centre for the Child, Glyndŵr University, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW

For information about places please contact KIM or BECCA

Tel: 01978 314912 littlescholars@activechildcare.co.uk

“The best way to make children good is to make them happy.”

- OSCAR WILDE

Why not pay us a visit and see what we have to offer you and your child...

• Purpose built nursery • Dedicated and passionate practitioners • Registered to deliver EE and the Childcare Offer • Open to the general public as well as students and staff at GlyndŴr University • Holiday Club provision for ages 4‐12 also available

Call today to arrange a visit ‐ 01978 314912 www.activechildcare.co.uk ALSO AT: ROSSETT HOUSE NURSERY, LLAY ROAD, ROSSETT, WREXHAM LL12 0HT. TEL: 01244 571872

Sparkling Magic and Community Spirit

By SOO MOULTON-WILDE, Wrexham & District Pantomime Company The yearly panto by the Wrexham and District Pantomime Company, lights up the William Aston Hall in Wrexham every February half-term. Not only does it enchant audiences, but it also raises substantial funds for local charities!

Since 1906, every penny of profit generated from our annual pantomime has been dedicated to supporting local charities, continuing our long-standing commitment to community welfare.

This achievement fills us with immense pride. Its success is thanks to our dedicated audience and the numerous local businesses that generously donate and advertise with us. Without their support, this simply wouldn't be possible.

Each person involved, whether on stage or behind the curtains, generously volunteers their time and skills, to bring our production to life. We pour our hearts into every detail to ensure a memorable experience for all who attend.

Last year, we supported seven local charities: The Butterfly Suite at the Maelor Hospital, The Venture in Caia Park, The Starbox Appeal, Wrexham Foodbank, OneLove Choir, Refugee Kindness and Nightingale House Hospice.

Come along, you will not be disappointed!

Robin Hood Panto, will run between 9th - 13th February at William Aston Hall, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AW. Tickets are £12 each. To book your seats, visit: www.williamastonwrexham.com Calling all local businesses If you are a local business and would like to advertise with us, or make a donation, please email: wrexhampanto@outlook.com Fiind us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Acton Park Primary School is a friendly, caring and nurturing school with a ‘family feel’, catering for children aged from 3 - 11 years To find out more about our school, or to arrange a visit, please contact us on:

01978 318950

20% off* food january 2024 monday - thursday *This offer expires: 31st January 2024 To claim your discount you must bring this voucher with you. Terms & Conditions apply.

mailbox@actonpark-pri.wrexham.sch.uk

The Dog and Pickle

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We are open from 7:45am to 5:30pm during term time. We also offer childcare during the school holidays.

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Housing Justice - Citadel Help us Beat Local Homelessness

by JOANNE JONES, Citadel Coordinator Housing Justice is a small, highly influential national charity. Our work makes a huge difference to thousands of people who stay at night shelters across the country, and those who are helped in some other way by our Churches, faith and community groups, and their volunteers. In Wrexham, the focus of our work is the ‘Citadel Project’ a homelessness prevention project which supports people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, to find and sustain their tenancies and establish a home. We work alongside volunteers to achieve this.

Local people might experience housing difficulties for various reasons, such as a relationship breakdown, unemployment, debt, health problems, or simply because their landlord is selling up. We take a personalised approach with each person referred to us, and work with other agencies to help support them.

A key aspect of our work is helping people to establish a new home. When a person first moves into a property, they usually need carpets, curtains, appliances, and furniture. The initial cost is daunting for someone on a low income.

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We help people apply for a grant for the white goods and a bed, and we provide good quality donated items. We fundraise through the year to help fund carpets and curtain poles.

We aim to connect people with the local community and help them to use their time meaningfully. This year, we worked in collaboration with community artist, Sophia Leadill, and The 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Project on a local project. The artwork will form part of a new display at Wrexham General Train Station.

We are fortunate to have been selected by the Co-op Community Fund as a ‘local cause’ so please select ‘Housing Justice Citadel’ as your chosen cause on the Co-op app if you are a member.

In 2024, we need more volunteers to be a listening, empathetic ear for someone experiencing housing difficulties and to fundraise for our additional costs.

I would love to hear from you if you would like to join us. Please email Joanne Jones at: j.jones@housingjustice.org.uk Find us on Facebook @HJCymru

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EssentialsMAG Tasty Recipe

Broccoli & Stilton Soup This easy and delicious broccoli and Stilton soup recipe is a fantastic dish for the colder months. Serve for lunch, or as a starter to the main meal.

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 4

2 tbsp rapeseed oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 stick celery, sliced 1 leek, sliced 1 medium potato, diced 1 knob butter 1l low salt or homemade chicken or vegetable stock 1 head broccoli, roughly chopped 140g stilton, or other blue cheese, crumbled

METHOD Heat 2 tbsp rapeseed oil in a large saucepan and then add 1 finely chopped onion. Cook on a medium heat until soft. Add a splash of water if the onion starts to catch.

Add 1 sliced celery stick, 1 sliced leek, 1 diced medium potato and a knob of butter. Stir until melted, then cover with a lid. Allow to sweat for 5 minutes then remove the lid.

Pour in 1l of chicken or vegetable stock and add any chunky bits of stalk from 1 head of broccoli. Cook for 10-15 minutes until all the vegetables are soft.

Add the rest of the roughly chopped broccoli and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Carefully transfer to a blender and blitz until smooth.

Stir in 140g crumbled stilton, allowing a few lumps to remain.

Season with black pepper and serve with crusty bread.

Trying out our recipe?

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Seasonal Treats in January Keep the cold and dark at bay with flavourrich ingredients that are in season now…

Mussels Rope-grown and in peak, plump condition, British and Irish mussels are a real treat on dark January evenings. They’re very easy to cook but need to be eaten the day you buy them and they do require a wee bit of prep.

First, wash in a bowl of cold water and pull off the “beards” – the brown hairy stuff dangling from the shell’s hinge. Give any that are open a good tap and if they don’t shut, discard – they are dead and not safe to eat.

Next, heat a large pan, add the mussels and a little water or white wine, then put the lid on and steam for a couple of minutes until all the shells have opened. Serve as they are or with a sauce – tomatoes with chilli are just the job on a cold night.

Swede Believe it or not, the swede is actually a brassica – a lumpen cross between the cabbage and the turnip, but with a sweet, earthy flavour that works beautifully with dairy. Also known in Scotland as ‘neeps’, it’s a stalwart of Burns Night, served as a coarsely mashed supporting act for the haggis. Alternatively, cut into chunks or chips, toss in olive oil and minced garlic then roast, topped with parmesan, until golden and simply irresistible.

Seville Oranges Home-made marmalade is a cut above the supermarket versions. The key is to use Seville oranges, whose season runs from

the end of December to mid-February and whose aromatic rind is vital for the tangy, bitter-sweet flavour. To ensure your marmalade is up to Paddington Bear sandwich standards, soak the sliced peel overnight, cook with golden granulated sugar for a rich, caramel taste, and use a sugar thermometer so you know when it’s reached the setting point of 104.5°C. Venison High in protein and taste, ultra-lean and chiming perfectly with the growing desire for more natural, sustainable meat, venison is a great choice for January roasts or casseroles. To keep it tender, slow cooking is a must. Try diced venison in beef stock in a crockpot on low with mushrooms, chopped smoked streaky bacon, baby carrots and finely diced onion or leek, then either use as a pie filling or serve with seasonal veg like Jerusalem artichoke, celeriac and parsnip – home-made dumplings or swede chips are a great accompaniment, too.

January’s Shopping List Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chard, Endive, Forced Rhubarb, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Mussels, Parsnips, Pheasant, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Seville Oranges, Spinach, Swede, Turnips and Venison.

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Are You Managing Your Menopause?

By GAYLE WHITTAKER Despite a recent surge in media attention to make the menopause mainstream, there’s still a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding around the subject.

In my therapy clinic I see ladies from all walks of life who come to me with a whole host of menopause symptoms, often without even realising the symptoms they have are hormone induced.

They may be waking up every night, unable to get back to sleep, or feeling more anxious than normal. Some are forgetting words or people’s names. These symptoms are common place among menopausal women and part of a natural transition.

During the peri-menopause (the years leading up to the menopause), a woman’s oestrogen and progesterone hormones fluctuate up and down.

Low oestrogen can leave you feeling confused and depressed and interferes with critical thinking and short term memory among other symptoms. High oestrogen can lead to mood swings and irritability, weight gain etc. There’s a lot of over-lap in symptoms as these hormones fluctuate too.

Some things will almost certainly make hormonal fluctuations worse: stress, lack of sleep and a poor diet being the main three.

As difficult as it is when you’re feeling like this, prioritising yourself is THE most important thing you can do.

Here are some ideas to help: • Challenge yourself to do a 20 minute walk outside everyday, regardless of the weather.

• Buy yourself a new water bottle with markings on to monitor how much you’re drinking. Aim for at least 1 to 1.5 litres a day and in the cold weather consider drinking warm (pre-boiled) water.

• Reduce your sugar intake for a fortnight.

Consider doing the same with alcohol and monitor if your sleep and your general well-being improves.

• Stop and think about YOU before you say yes to things. Give yourself permission to say no and take some much-needed time to just be you.

All in all, making yourself a priority is the key to managing your own menopause.

There are many things you can do and natural and conventional medicines that can help you too.

Don’t struggle on in silence. Do seek support. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss further.

By Gayle Whittaker, MAR MHFT Bowen Therapist and Reflexologist, The Universal Therapist Tel: 07766 701479 www.theuniversaltherapist.co.uk

Business Advice Learning Hub

By VICKY HEATHFIELD Thinking of starting a business in 2024?

Setting up a business is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you can do – but there’s a lot to think about before you get started. Here are my 10 top tips if you are thinking of starting a business in 2024: 1. Begin slowly. Consider starting your business as a side-hustle to test the waters and build a customer base before you make the jump full-time. Be patient and don't expect overnight success.

2. Find a need to fill. There are many businesses that fail because they don't meet a need that customers have. Make sure you're solving a problem or providing a solution that people are willing to pay for.

3. Market research and validation. Before you start spending money on advertising and marketing, do your research to make sure there is a market for your product or service. Talk to potential customers and check out your competition.

4. Create a business plan. A business plan is a roadmap for your business. It will help you stay on track and make sure you're making the right decisions.

5. Secure funding. Starting a business can be expensive, so you'll need to find a way to finance it. There are many different ways to get funding, including personal savings, loans, grants, investors and crowdfunding.

6. Build a website. A website will help you reach potential customers, showcase your products or services, and build your brand.

7. Network. Networking is essential for any business. Get out there and meet people in your industry. Attend events, join clubs, and connect with people face-to-face and online. The more people you know, the more opportunities you'll have.

8. Adapt to change. The business landscape is constantly changing, so it's important to be adaptable and willing to learn.

9. Seek support. Don't be afraid to seek guidance and support from others. This could include experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, business advisors, or even business support organisations.

10. Enjoy the journey! Starting a business can be a lot of work, but it can also be a lot of fun. It takes time to build a successful business. Enjoy the process and don't take yourself too seriously!

Whether you’re starting a new business, working for yourself or managing a team, EssentialsMAG Learning Hub is home to a growing collection of jargon-free marketing and business resources. Visit: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/learning-hub

By Vicky Heathfield, Editor of EssentialsMAG vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk www.essentialsmag.co.uk Tel: 01978 855459

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Free Eye Care Services

By GRESFORD EYECARE In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) plays a pivotal role in ensuring citizens have access to essential healthcare services, including sight tests conducted at opticians. This provision is a vital component of preventive healthcare, promoting early detection of eye-related issues and facilitating prompt intervention when necessary.

NHS-funded sight tests at opticians offer a comprehensive examination of an individual's vision and eye health, catering to individuals of all ages. These tests are not only crucial for determining the need for glasses or contact lenses, but also for identifying potential eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration. Detecting these conditions early significantly enhances the chances of successful treatment and management.

Under NHS coverage, certain groups are entitled to free eye examinations, including children, individuals over 60, individuals diagnosed with specific medical conditions, and those on low incomes or receiving certain state benefits.

If you live in Wales The Welsh General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS), in Wales doesn't just stop at free eye examinations. For those who require glasses following an eye test, the scheme contributes towards the cost, making them more affordable without facing financial barriers, promoting overall eye health and wellbeing.

Who is eligible?

If you reside in Wales you are entitled to a WGOS optical voucher towards the cost of your spectacles, if you are: • Aged under 16.

• Aged, 16, 17 or 18 and are in full-time education.

• On a low income and named on a valid HC2 or HC3 certificate.

• Under 18 who are a care leaver, or are in the care of a local authority.

• Eligible on NHS Complex Lens Voucher (your optician will advise you on your entitlement).

• Claiming benefit: Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers Allowance; Income related Employment and Support Allowance; Pension Guarantee Credit; Universal Credit and meet the criteria, or receiving Tax Credit and meet qualifying conditions.

Visiting an optician is essential to safeguard your eye health, ensuring early detection of potential issues, and providing necessary corrective measures.

Gresford Eyecare proudly participates in the NHS and WGOS schemes, offering free eye tests and spectacles, to those eligible, contributing towards maintaining optimal vision without financial constraints.

Please contact us for more details.

By Gresford Eyecare 17 Chester Road, Gresford LL12 8NB T. 01978 855828 www.gresfordeyecare.co.uk

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Plant-Powered January

By EssentialsMAG environment contributor ROB RENOUF Increasing numbers of us are reducing our meat consumption and adopting a more plant-based diet. Not only can this provide health benefits, it’s also one of the best things we can do for the planet.

The ‘Veganuary’ campaign invites people to switch to vegan food (containing nothing derived from animals) during January. Whilst we’re encouraged to do this for the whole month, participating in a smaller way is fine and offers a great way of discovering plant-based foods.

Environmental impacts of food The amount of animals humans consume globally is barely comprehensible - around 140,000 chickens every minute. Over 80 billion land animals are killed for meat each year, and an estimate for fish and shellfish is trillions. Demand for land and water needed to keep and feed livestock has led to the destruction of massive areas of natural habitat, including Brazilian rainforest. Of the total biomass of mammals on Earth, humans account for 34%, livestock are 62% and the remaining wild animals are now just 4%.

So, can changing our diet make a significant difference?

The United Nations estimates that the greenhouse gas emissions from producing one kilogram of beef are 70.6kg (way above any other food) - lamb is second (39.7) and shellfish third (26.9).

Cheese comes fourth (23.9) and is significantly higher than fish (13.6), pork (12.3) and poultry (9.9).

The figures for plant-based foods are much lower - rice and grains (3.6), breads and pastas (1.6), fruit (0.9), vegetables (0.7) and nuts are the lowest at just 0.4kg of greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram.

The figure for beef is roughly 100 times that for vegetables, so what we choose to eat can make a really big difference.

Where we source our food from and how it’s packaged also matter. Fruit flown in from another country in plastic packaging is vegan, but isn’t good for the environment. Choosing locally sourced, seasonal food can further reduce our impact.

In 2022, around 4% of the UK population said they were vegan; this proportion is continuing to grow, particularly amongst young people. Whilst a vegan diet is likely to produce the biggest benefits for the environment, moving to a vegetarian (no meat), or flexitarian (mostly vegetarian) diet or simply reducing our consumption of the foods with the highest environmental impacts are all positive steps we can take.

EssentialsMAG environment contributor is Rob Renouf robsrenouf@gmail.com

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Sarah Atherton MP Member of Parliament for Wrexham I hope everybody in Wrexham had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A couple of months ago, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt MP, delivered a very positive Autumn Statement for Wrexham. The main announcement was that Wrexham is now an Investment Zone. Now, conditional on Welsh Government support, Wrexham will gain up to £160 million worth of investment, fuelled by tax incentives and grant funding. As a result of this, our city will also benefit from more better-paid and highly-skilled jobs for local people.

The day after the Autumn Statement, I was delighted to welcome the Chancellor to Airbus in North-East Wales. Airbus, which is commonly known for its commercial aircraft wings and supports hundreds of jobs in Wrexham, was one of the key advocates for Wrexham and Flintshire’s joint Investment Zone bid.

For months, I have worked tirelessly to convince the UK Government of the merits of our bid. Wrexham has huge potential – we have one of the largest industrial estates in Europe, employing over 10,000 people, and a rich tapestry of businesses across numerous sectors. While the Welsh Government dragged its feet and was initially noncommittal in offering its support for Wrexham and Flintshire’s bid, we can now look forward, with great optimism, to seizing the benefits that this announcement will inevitably bring.

Meanwhile, in the run-up to Small Business Saturday (2 December 2023), on my website I ran a ‘Small Business Saturday Survey’ asking residents to nominate their favourite Wrexham small businesses. I want to thank the many residents who took the time to shine a light on the wonderful small businesses in Wrexham. It was great to see everyone showing their appreciation and support for our local small business heroes.

Whilst every entry deserved to win, I was proud to give all of the nominated businesses a social media spotlight to share their contributions to our local community. The business that received the most votes was the mother-daughter family-owned business, ‘Making Memories and Scents’. The day before Small Business Saturday, I was delighted to pop down to visit the owners, Michelle and Stephanie, and present them with a bottle of House of Commons champagne to enjoy during the festive period. It is positive to hear that so many residents were shopping locally this Christmas.

Whilst the city centre remains a disappointment for some, Wrexham recently received £20million from the UK Government ‘Towns Fund’, but it is up to Wrexham Council to spend this money. If you have any suggestions as to how this money should be spent, I encourage you to contact your local councillor.

As always, if you are a resident in the current Wrexham constituency boundary and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me by emailing: sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.

Sarah Atherton MP for Wrexham/ Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.

Tel: 020 7217 4885 / 01978 291742 sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk www.sarahatherton.org.uk

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Financial News with Hadlow Edwards

By WARREN HADLOW Four New Year’s Resolutions to improve your financial wellbeing for 2024.

The new year is the perfect time for a fresh start and setting goals for the year ahead, including for your finances. Begin with the most important or the easiest task to tick off straight away - this can make it easier to complete the rest.

Here are our four financial resolution suggestions to help set you on the right path: Check your financial health Knowing what assets you have, and where, can be reassuring. Once you know this, you can start asking questions about how to improve your financial health. This might be evaluating your available cash by checking you have enough emergency funds and if any further reserves could

be invested in the stock market to keep in line with inflation.

It is worth noting that having at least six months’ salary, or two years’ essential expenditure for older people, is a sensible emergency fund.

Make the best of your tax allowances Tax rules are ever-changing and often complex, so it can be helpful to gain advice to learn which allowances apply to you, and which might be the most useful to take advantage of. It’s important to remember that if you don’t use tax reliefs and allowances, you will usually lose them.

Check in on your retirement plans If you aren’t part of your company pension scheme and have the ability – join it! An employer is required to contribute 3% of your relevant earnings to a pension plan, so it makes sense to take advantage of this option.

By Warren Hadlow of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Tel: 01978 311 611 www.hadlowedwards.co.uk

You can also take advice to see whether there is capacity to top up your pension or change where your funds are invested to suit your values and risk appetite.

Make a Will and Power of Attorney* While it’s not the nicest thing to think about, the rules of intestacy mean that your assets may not go to your loved ones if you haven’t made a Will, and having a Power of Attorney means that your friends or family can look after you and your finances if you can no longer do this yourself.

If you would like help to improve your financial health, please feel free to get in touch.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select, and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. An investment in equities does not provide the security of capital associated with a deposit account with a bank or building society.

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Lesley Griffiths MS Member of the Senedd for Wrexham Happy New Year to all EssentialsMAG readers. I wish you a healthy and joyful 2024.

During the run up to Christmas, I visited Tesco Extra in Wrexham to support the supermarket’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 was offered to Wrexham Foodbank to help those facing hardship over the festive period.

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 and are surviving in neighbouring countries. Any gifts donated that cannot travel abroad for whatever reason are given to local schools.

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.

Many congratulations to Magic Dragon Brewery Tap in Wrexham for recently winning the coveted Pub of the Year award. Located on Charles Street, the 2023 accolade was awarded to the pub by the Chester & South Clwyd branch of CAMRA, the campaign for Real Ale. 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 also hosted a number of free live gigs to help raise funds to tackle homelessness. Punters were asked to donate whatever they could afford and all the money collected was offered to Shelter Cymru.

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

As always, if you’re a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I visited the warehouse in Llay in early December to offer my donation and that morning the third truck full of shoeboxes left for Bosnia. At the time of my visit, Wrexham residents had already donated over 20,000 shoeboxes – an incredible achievement!

Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd cyhoeddus / The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds.

Tel: 01978 355743 Lesley.Griffiths@senedd.wales www.lesleygriffiths.co.uk Facebook & Twitter: @lesley4wrexham

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Legal Advice

By EssentialsMAG legal advice contributor CAROL McGUIRE Pre Nuptial Agreements This is an agreement which many people enter into prior to their marriage. For it to be valid, it must be made no less than 28 days prior to the wedding. The citizens of the USA have used it for many years but we normally don’t hear about it, unless it is some rich Actor where millions of dollars are involved and Social Media is full of the same. In the UK it’s starting to come to the forefront more.

In a Civil Partnership, it is a different document but with the same issues contained into it.

Why should we enter into such agreement?

Benefits It sets out all of your financial circumstances and what you would each agree to receive, if divorce proceedings were ever considered in the future. It is drawn up as a contractual document and it sets out what your Property; Income; Capital; Pension Provision; Inheritance Positions and other assets are and what you have agreed to do with the same. Were you to divorce it takes out all of the strain of such, because it shows evidence of intention. It protects your level of income.

If your spouse is a Director of a Company, then it can be regulated to fit into the agreement. It also applies to property, so that if it’s intended to transfer a property to the other spouse, then such can be formulated.

Disadvantages It isn’t necessarily binding, but there are cases where the Courts have put a lot of emphasis on it. For example, if one of the parties became a Paraplegic, then the fund of assets might only be sufficient for a few years of his/her being in a private nursing home. So, whilst the Court will look at the Pre Nuptial Agreement, it may depart from it, if one of the parties has more reasonable needs ie. the one that is ill. In addition, you can’t write into it what your intentions are regarding the children. If the children’s needs haven’t been taken into the equation, the Court will depart from the agreement and provide for them as their interest is of paramount importance.

You cannot change the terms of the Pre Nuptial Agreement. It lasts through the duration of your marriage. Hence, it is something that you really need to think about carefully. The problem is, that at the time this agreement is being entered into, is a time when minds are focused on wedding preparations. So the sooner you do it, the better as it allows for clear thinking and getting some legal advice.

EssentialsMAG legal advice contributor is Carol McGuire of Cyril Jones Solicitors Tel: 01978 367 830 www.cyril-jones.co.uk

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