As President of North Wales based NWAMI, Networking for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration, I spoke via a video recorded for the organisation’s ‘Celebration of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee’ of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s dedicated service to the Commonwealth.

Referring to Her Majesty’s position as Head of the Commonwealth, I said: “The title, which has been held by the reigning British Monarch since its establishment, is used by the ceremonial leader who symbolises ‘the free association of independent member nations’, comprising of 54 Member states”, adding “Celebrations are also taking place across Wales, the UK and the Commonwealth”.

I also referred to NWAMI’s mission, building ‘Community Cohesion by sharing the diverse cultural achievements of mankind’, and quoted NWAMI’s Founder and Chair, Dr Sibani Roy, when she said that “NWAMI wants to bring the Commonwealth to North Wales and works hard to bring this dream to reality".

As a Patron of the Enbarr Foundation, the award-winning community interest company which has rescued the wonderful John Summers Clock Tower site in Deeside and turned it into a community hub, I was very pleased to visit Saturday’s Jubilee Street Party at the site.

It was a great pleasure to visit the Denbighshire Urdd Eisteddfod 2022 on Kilford Farm, near Denbigh, to attend national voluntary youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s reception in the Denbighshire County Council tent, to wander around the Eisteddfod Maes and to visit a number of the stalls for a chat.

This year the Urdd is celebrating its centenary, 100 years since it was formed to protect the Welsh language. The first branch of the Urdd was established in Treuddyn, Flintshire, at the top of the lane I live on, and my own children, who attended primary school in Treuddyn, were past competitors.

Online engagements included meetings to discuss concerns regarding Local Authority provision of care and support for Autistic people, a meeting as Chair of the Senedd/Welsh Parliament’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee with Audit Wales and the Auditor General for Wales, and a meeting to discuss outstanding concerns regarding Mental Health Services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Further engagements included a visit to Cyd Innovation at their office in Greenfield Business Centre, to discuss their business pushing progress towards net zero housing. Cyd Innovation is a specialist company helping Welsh Housing Providers, Social Landlords and the housing sector overall to accelerate progress towards homes that are affordable to heat and kinder to the environment.

If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.