National week of action to help people #KnowExactlyWhere in an emergency with what3words

Gwent Police encourages the public to download the free what3words app, which can help them find you in an emergency.

This week, Gwent Police will be taking part in #KnowExactlyWhere week with emergency services, local authorities and organisations around the UK to raise awareness about the free what3words app – and how it can be used to save precious time, resources and lives in an emergency. 

what3words has divided the world into grids of 3m x 3m squares, giving each square a unique combination of three words – a what3words address.
///tortoises.swarm.announce, for example, will take you to a precise location on Ben Nevis where, in February 2020, a group of hikers were rescued. 

The app is free to download for both iOS and Android and works entirely offline – making it ideal for use in areas of the UK with an unreliable data connection. 

what3words can also be used via the online map at what3words.com. The technology is available in over 40 languages, including Welsh, and can be used anywhere in the world.  

‘Where’s the emergency?’ is one of the first questions you are asked when calling 999. But saying exactly where you are can be challenging. Emergencies can happen anywhere, from a remote beach in Scotland, to the side of the M1, to the middle of Hyde Park. Services often can’t detect where you are automatically and dropped pins are difficult to explain over the phone. Landmark-based descriptions are prone to errors and GPS coordinates are long and difficult to communicate. At best, this is a frustrating drain on resources. At worst, it can mean the difference between life and death. 

“A 999 call could be one of the worst times of your life. Having to provide additional directions when you’re under immense stress and the clock is ticking is something that we want everyone to avoid. You never know when an emergency might happen, but with what3words, you’ll always be able to say exactly where help is needed – quickly and easily.” Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words adds,  “We’re extremely proud and humbled to see what3words being used successfully in control rooms up and down the country, and every what3words rescue that we hear about touches our team personally.

Dear All

With the recent developments over lockdown, and permissions being given by the Welsh Government for churches to open for private prayer and services, I just wanted to update you with where we are in The Grosmont Group of churches.

The permissions from Welsh Government and the Church in Wales come with stringent guidelines, and in truth the challenges are a step too far for most of our churches at present. However, we are working hard to open iGrosmont, initially for private prayer, and at a later date for services as the logistics for this are far more complicated.

The guidelines require a complete clean and sanitisation of the church building, removal of all books, furnishings, children’s equipment and anything else of that nature, as it would be impossible to ensure that they were kept Covid free. We need to work out seating so that there is a distance of 2 metres in all directions between each area,
ensuring users are properly protected. We will be stewarding both entrance and exit for the church, again to ensure users safety, and we will be providing hand sanitiser, masks and gloves for all. All of this along with technical information needs to be risk assessed and passed by the Diocese before we can be up and running.

Isn’t all this a bit excessive I hear some say! Well, maybe. However, although we have been reasonably safe in our village the reality is our wider communities have not been so blessed, and we are part of that wider community. It would be impossible for legislation to be made individually, and we take your health and well-being very seriously. We may well have visitors to the village who wish to pray in the church who have been exposed to the virus. It would be a terrible circumstance if someone from the village contracted Covid because we were less than vigilant with our precautions!

So, here is the good news. We have very generously been offered a sanitising treatment by a local company, and once this has all been passed and implemented we aim to open for private prayer on Wednesday 2nd September at 10am for an hour and 7pm for an hour. These sessions will be stewarded, and obviously we will remain open for as long as there is a need at each session. This will continue weekly for the foreseeable future. Starting next Sunday, 9 August at 10am, we will be having an outdoor service of Morning Prayer. With restrictions for outdoor gatherings having been lifted we can accommodate as many of you as would wish to come. We will gather outside of the West Door of the Nave. You will be provided with your own personal service sheet. We ask those of you that are able to bring your own chairs, but we will also have some sanitised chairs available for use.

These services will continue on Sundays where the weather is fine. This practice is already happening at St Mary’s in Llanfair, and possibly at St Bridget’s in Skenfrith in the not too distant future.

Although we have all missed coming together to worship please be assured that our ‘being Church’ has very much continued throughout the lockdown through prayer, community service and the good neighbourliness and love that is so evident in our villages and local communities.

Please support us in our ventures, be patient when things take a little longer than you would like, and know that we are doing our best to keep you safe throughout these unprecedented times.
Revd Gaynor

Important Message/information!

Over the last 24hrs Gwent Police have received 3 reports of theft of working/breeding spaniels/dogs from around the force area.

Locks have been removed and cameras smashed to gain access to secure kennels/sheds/buildings.

PLEASE ENSURE ALL DOGS ARE CHIPPED (REQUIRED BY LAW) AND PLEASE CONSIDER FURTHER SECURITY MEASURE.

Many thanks

Rural Crime Team

CHURCH LINK SUMMER WRITING COMPETITION

Children in the Grosmont Group of Parishes are invited to write a short story with the title ~ ‘ALL AT SEA’.

There will be a prize for the winner in each age group

 5-10 years

11-14 years

Entries should be no longer than four A4 sides and the closing date will be 8^th August.

The winners will be announced in the September issue of the magazine and the stories will be printed in Church Link.

Please send your entries to gilliy@fresto.net and send your stories in Word as an attachment.

Please be sure to let your parent or guardian know that you will be entering and get help/permission to use email.

ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CHILD.

It’s not long until 8^th! Happy writing!

Gilliy Burgess

For the latest update please click below.

https://mailchi.mp/1ae12be8d9c1/police-and-crime-commissioner-update-listening-to-community-concerns-uk-crime-figures-welsh-police-forces-praised-and-more?e=beeffc12f9

Below is a message, posted outside the Ewyas Harold Surgery, which is important for all of us.

Golden Valley Practice

goldenvalleypractice.co.uk

The Grosmont Futures meeting, scheduled for Thursday 23 July 2020 in the Town Hall, has had to be been postponed.  

It is hoped to be able to hold it in early September.

We are hosting virtual focus groups this month to engage with survivors of domestic abuse and sexual abuse.
We want to hear your views and experiences of how we investigate domestic violence and sexual violence within Gwent Police.
Your views and opinions will help us to improve our response to ensure we keep people safe from harm.
The virtual focus group for survivors of domestic violence will take place on Tuesday, July 21, at 6pm.
The focus group for survivors of sexual violence will take place on Tuesday, July 28 at 6pm.
The groups will be run by the force’s survivor engagement co-ordinator and will be confidential.
Liz Lowther, survivor engagement co-ordinator, said: “I want victims to know that they can trust us and that together we can improve the services Gwent Police offer to survivors. The virtual focus groups are a first for us, during this health crisis it’s vital that we continue to serve our communities and support victims.
“I understand that taking part in an event such as this may be very difficult, especially during this time. I would like to reassure those wanting to take part that you can contribute as much or as little as you feel comfortable in doing so and that support will be available.
“By working together we can make a difference to the service we provide to victims of domestic and sexual violence in our communities.”
Anyone interested in taking part in the virtual focus groups can get in contact with Liz Lowther for more information on how to join in.
Call 0300 1232133 or email Elizabeth.Lowther@gwent.pnn.police.uk
We are running a campaign encouraging people to #ReadBetweenTheLines and help those who may be suffering from domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse is not always immediately obvious or visible.
Domestic abuse can take many forms including:

• Emotional
• Financial
• Threatening, controlling  & coercive behaviour
• Sexual
• Physical

If you are a victim, or are worried about someone you know, you can call the Live Fear Free helpline 24/7 for advice and support;

Phone 0808 80 10 800

Text 07860 077 333

You can also call Gwent Police on 101 or direct message us on Facebook or Twitter. In an emergency always dial 999.

Find more information about the help and support available here.

For more on the #ReadBetweenTheLines campaign click here

Thursday 16th July saw the Angel Inn open its doors for the first time since March.  A huge amount of work went into preparing for this day and the village showed its appreciation with bunting and messages.  

www.angelinngrosmont.co.uk