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Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Sadness as Rhyl mother-and-baby charity closes its two hubs
Blossom & Bloom's wellbeing and development hubs shut for good on Friday (May 30). The charity was established in 2020, and has supported more than 700 families, providing a safe, free-of-charge space for parents with pre-school-age children to attend on a daily basis. In 2023, the wellbeing hub opened at the centre, followed a year later by the development hub, which offers a separate learning space. Blossom & Bloom's wellbeing hub (Image: Vicky Welsman-Millard) It has attributed its decision to close in part to Denbighshire County Council's decision not to allocate it any funds from its share of the Shared Prosperity Fund which it has received for the new financial year from the UK Government. Vicky Welsman-Millard, the charity's founder, said in a joint statement with its board of trustees: 'After five extraordinary years, Blossom & Bloom staff team now make their way to continue their careers within other organisations. 'We would like to thank them all for their hard work and commitment over the years and for staying with us until our last day. 'This has made continuing our wellbeing services possible over the last few months and has provided us time to put together some legacy opportunities for local mums, babies and families. 'Women lift women, and when they are given opportunities to come together, to celebrate each other and offer mutual support, magic happens.' Mrs Welsman-Millard told the Journal her charity received £129,688.09 from Denbighshire County Council's share of the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund in 2023-24, and £119,381.20 in 2024-25, but nothing for 2025-26. This is the third and final financial year when SPF funding will be distributed. The council said its decision not to allocate funds to Blossom & Bloom for this year was due to an 'overall reduction in Shared Prosperity Fund funding'. A public meeting was held in Rhyl regarding the charity's future in May, while a petition was also set up to try to save it. Blossom & Bloom's development hub (Image: Vicky Welsman-Millard) The charity's closing statement added: 'We've seen the impact of empowering women to value themselves and to achieve - personally, professionally and within their communities. 'Mothers with babies and young children are the heartbeat of our community. They are our future, and together they offer immense social value when recognised and supported. 'We have challenged the negative opinions and headlines surrounding young mums, single parent families and mums who are struggling with the parenting journey, and we've shown that with care, connection and opportunity they can thrive. 'Sadly, poverty is the headline economic marker of our town, and the poverty trap is real for so many families locally. 'Our delivery model has built communities, friendships, hope and prosperity. 'Whilst funding constraints close our current much-needed Blossom & Bloom wellbeing services, we are hoping that our model and vision for local families is adopted by statutory services moving forward. 'The team all leave the charity in a paid capacity with fierce pride celebrating the work done, time spent and differences made to hundreds of local families.' A public meeting was also held in Rhyl regarding the charity's future in May. (Image: Submitted) Numerous parents who used Blossom & Bloom's hubs shared their sadness at the closures when the news initially broke in early April. Ebonie Hitchen said the charity 'made me the person I am today' and helped her 'achieve so much', while Laura-Jayne Clark said she was 'heartbroken' and 'extremely disappointed' by the news, having benefited from Blossom & Bloom's 'astonishing' work. The charity's closing statement added: 'Our message to mums: you must never stop learning, about yourself, your family, how the world works through other people's eyes and never stop indoors feeling sad or lonely for more than 48 hours, never stop pushing yourself forward, accessing education and training and creating a family life you are proud of. 'The poverty trap is real. It doesn't just hold you; it reaches for your children and theirs. See it for what it is: a trap designed to keep you small. But you are not small. 'You are the mothers who've grown with us for five years. Every connection is making a difference, every skill gained and qualification earned, every door pushed open that's you breaking chains for generations. 'To every mother: stay connected. Isolation keeps us down, but together, we move mountains. 'With boundless love and absolute belief in your power, happy mums are the best mums.'
Rhyl Journal
09-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Blossom & Bloom: Rhyl meeting held as charity faces closure
Blossom & Bloom's wellbeing and development hubs, located in the White Rose Shopping Centre, will shut on Friday, May 30. The charity, established in 2020, has supported more than 700 families; it aims to provide a safe, free-of-charge space for parents with pre-school-age children to attend on a daily basis. The charity attributed its decision to close in part to Denbighshire County Council's decision not to allocate it any funds from its share of the Shared Prosperity Fund which it has received for the new financial year from the UK Government. The public meeting was held on Wednesday (May 7) at Sussex Street Christian Centre. As well as 60 mums, four councillors attended. Six mothers spoke at the meeting about what the charity means to them, including one who said she felt 'scared, lonely and vulnerable' when she fell pregnant, but then found a 'second home' in Blossom & Bloom. Ashleigh Greenwood, wellbeing support assistant at Blossom & Bloom, said: 'There were so many mums and families (at the meeting); the room was full. 'We had a lot of questionnaires filled out by mums and members of the public about what the impact of the closure would be, and how Blossom & Bloom has helped them. 'What we were hoping to achieve from this was for people to see how needed it is in the community. 'We made a request for the council to go to review its decision - this was our way of trying to show the council how many people are involved and will be impacted by the closure." This request was unsuccessful. Ashleigh added: 'My main concern is about where the families go from here. What's going to happen to all of the mums and babies that rely on this charity so much when we shut the doors on May 30?' Among the councillors in attendance at Wednesday's meeting were Cllrs Brian Jones (Welsh Conservatives, Rhyl Ty Newydd), Michelle Blakely-Walker (Labour, Rhyl Trellewelyn) and Will Price (Welsh Conservatives, Rhyl Trellewelyn). Vicky Welsman-Millard, founder of Blossom & Bloom, expressed her thanks to the councillors for their attendance and for listening to the mums who spoke at the meeting. Vicky Welsman-Millard (R) with some of the mums who use Blossom & Bloom's services (Image: Newsquest) Cllr Jones said: 'A number of speakers expressed extremely powerful factual messages of support for the Blossom & Bloom project, and the need for it to continue here in Rhyl as an essential service. 'This latter point, of an essential service, appears to be have been totally missed by the council.' Cllr Blakely-Walker described Blossom & Bloom's work as 'incredible'. She added: 'I was deeply saddened to hear that the council had made the decision to no longer provide funding to Blossom & Bloom. 'This local charity has worked with over 400 mothers and families within our town of Rhyl and the surrounding areas, providing crucial help and support in their time of need. 'I and a few other councillors recently submitted a scrutiny request for Blossom & Bloom in the hope that the council would explore options for further funding. Unfortunately, however, this was rejected. 'From the standpoint of both a councillor and a mother, I sincerely hope that a resolution can be found which enables Blossom & Bloom to continue providing its invaluable services for our local community. Cllr Price said: 'I was taken back a little, when I walked into the meeting, at how many of our local community was present, and at just how angry they were at this decision to stop the funding for this vital charity. 'I've received various updates over the last month or so from concerned residents of Rhyl and beyond, voicing their anger and frustration due to the loss of funding for this bespoke service they provide to mums and families. 'I am still sitting here today scratching my head as to why they would be so cruel in their decisions to take their funding away. 'The council claims to be at the forefront in looking after people's wellbeing, and being transformational in their ideas and planning strategy, but I personally don't see this in their decision concerning Blossom & Bloom.' A council spokesperson said: 'The council has received the request from Blossom & Bloom and have now responded with information to address the issues raised.'
