A  group of schoolchildren from Abergele made history by burying a time capsule at the new headquarters of a housing association.

The pupils from Ysgol Glan Gele also sang to entertain guests at the official opening of Cartrefi Conwy’s offices on the North Wales Business Park on the outskirts of the town.

It was also a proud day for architecture student Jade Reed-Williams, 20, from Denbigh, who designed the building’s external display sign.

Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive Andrew Bowden told guests the environmentally friendly building, called Morfa Gele, would not have been possible without the full support of Conwy County Council.

He said: “Seeing this brand new building open for business and gauging the reaction of the 110 members of staff who are now working here, we have got it right.

“No one person could have achieved what we see today in this marvellous airy, bright and professional work area.

“It has been a team effort between Owen Ellis Architects, Ingo Interiors and of course the locally-based Wynne Construction who were appointed as the contractors along with our wonderful Cartrefi Conwy staff.

“We are also delighted that Morfa Gele, which means costal marsh near the river in Welsh, sets a new standard in environmental best practice.

“Two thirds of the roof space is covered in solar panels to provide much of our electricity needs while the water saving sanitary ware has sensors to ensure we use the minimal amount of water.

“In addition, we supported the local area with all the timber, stone, block work, aggregates and concrete sourced from North Wales as well as 76% of the labour involved in the construction project was from the local area too.”

Andrew Bowden paid tribute to former Llandrillo College student Jade Reed-Williams after the sign she designed was unveiled.

He added: “Jade was tasked with creating a design befitting of this new building. She presented to us a concept of a limestone plinth and glass upper block with our logo etched upon it and lit from below using energy from our solar panels.

“I was also delighted to present Jade with a £250 cheque as a thank you for her efforts in creating the wonderful sign that she did.”

“And of course, we were all thrilled to have some of the children from Ysgol Glan Gele join us for the official opening and to put the time capsule in the ground.

“The plan is that the capsule will remain buried, here at Morfa Gele, for 50 years. It contains many things that tell the Cartrefi Conwy story as well as information about the area.

“It also includes newspapers and reports and drawings the children have produced depicting their homes today and how they envisage homes will look half a century from now.”

Jade Reed-Williams was thrilled to be given the opportunity to design the building’s exterior sign.

She said: “I was studying at Llandrillo College on a foundation course when I was approached by my tutor and asked to design the exterior sign for Morfa Gele.

“I went along to Morfa Gele and talked to as many people as I could and played around with some ideas. People talked to me about how Cartrefi Conwy was transparent and open and how, as a social landlord, it engaged with and was well respected by tenants.

“The design sort of came from that really. I wanted it to be simple but send out a strong message. I was a bit nervous about what people would think of the sign but I do think it sits well with the building design and location.”

Jade, who is now studying architecture at Huddersfield University, added: “I was also thrilled to see Julia Buckley-Jones, the head teacher of Ysgol Glan Gele, here at Morfa Gele.

“She taught me as a seven year old at Ysgol Gwaenynog, Denbigh and it was lovely to catch up with her and tell her what I have been up to.”

Julia Buckley-Jones said the children of Ysgol Glan Gele, had really enjoyed preparing art work which was included along with other items and placed within the time capsule before it was buried in the grounds of Morfa Gele.

She said: “As a school we were thrilled to be asked to take part in this project and to come along to the official opening of the building. The children were really excited especially when it came to burying the time capsule in the ground. It is a concept that they have become very excited about.

“The children thought about how they would like to see homes look 50 years from now compared to today and they then turned those ideas into paintings and drawings.”

A campaign to turn Wrexham into Wales’s first dementia friendly town has been given a major boost by two education chiefs.

Both David Jones, the Principal of Coleg Cambria, and Professor Mike Scott, the Vice Chancellor of Glyndwr University, have given their wholehearted backing to the ground-breaking Purple Angels scheme.

The campaign was launched in Wrexham by the locally-based Pendine Park care organisation after it was suggested by a member of staff, activities and well-being coordinator Anita Moran.

The aim is to raise awareness with local shops and other businesses, providing them with a simple training manual so that they are better equipped to recognise the symptoms of dementia and respond accordingly.

Businesses that sign up to the scheme will then display posters and stickers with the Purple Angels logo to signify that they are dementia aware.

Anita, who was inspired to join the Purple Angels campaign by the experience of her late father Barry who had dementia, was overwhelmed by the support of the town’s two major educational institutions.

She is the first person in Wales to become an ambassador the worldwide Purple Angel campaign.

Her colleague, Chris Hodge, who works as a teacher with Pendine Park’s in-house training company, Smartcare Teaching Care Centre, has now also become an ambassador.

Anita, who works at the Hillbury care home, said: ““I really can’t believe it,  I’m so made up by the backing of Glyndwr University and Coleg Cambria because  I didn’t think I would get this much support.

“There is a lot of momentum building up now and it looks like my dream of turning Wrexham into Wales’s first dementia friendly town is about to come true.”

Coleg Cambria boss David Jones was delighted to support the campaign.

He said: “Unfortunately so many of us are touched by issues to do with dementia, though friends family and colleagues, so I think it’s really forward thinking of all of those involved in Wrexham to be involved in this initiative and I’m delighted Coleg Cambria can be involved.

“We also have so many young people who care for members of their own families who have dementia so raising that awareness of this issue is a top priority.

“We all need to work together and I take my hat off to the people here at Pendine Park, to Anita for the way she showed initiative and the way in which the proprietor, Mario Kreft, has backed her.

“I think there are so many things that are good about the Wrexham area and we’re leading the way in Wales on this issue.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Professor Mike Scott whose own grandmother had dementia.

He added: “It’s an excellent campaign coming out of Pendine Park which as we all know is doing so much great work.

“This disease is affecting so many people now – not just those who are unfortunate enough to have dementia but also their families and their communities.

“The idea of getting this wide awareness through the community of this is just a superb thing to do in the context of getting people to understand the seriousness of the situation.

“The sad thing is that the demographics tell us that this problem is going to get worse and worse and worse so it this is a vitally important campaign.”

It is also a cause close to the heart of Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE.

He was inspired to open his first care home in 1985 because he was unable to find suitable care for his beloved grandmother, Mrs René Warburton, who had dementia.

Mario said: “The Purple Angels campaign has certainly struck a chord because  it’s just such an easy campaign to understand and so many people now are touched by dementia in their families.

“We need to become more aware of the impact of dementia on people’s lives and the little things we can do to make those lives that bit easier to live.

“The support of two major educational institutions like Glyndwr University and Coleg Cambria is crucial.

“Wrexham is ahead of the curve on this issue and I’m hoping the rest of Wales will take their cue so that we can become a much more dementia friendly country.”