The most recent gardening workshop with Rachel and the team from Groundwork Wales was another great success. We transplanted raspberries and grapes from cuttings. Transplanting raspberries is really easy to do. The best time of year to transplant red raspberry plants is in early spring (before the leaves start to sprout) or late autumn (after the leaves have fallen), when the plants are dormant. We look forward to the remaining two weeks of this eight-week course.
The team at Caerphilly People First recently met with the outreach team from Autistic Minds to discuss the skills courses they have on offer. Our members decided that they would like to learn more about living skills such as: cooking, shopping, cleaning, budgeting money, understanding bills, and many more. The group will be taking part in these skills workshops in the near future, and they are open to all who are interested.
Hate Crime Awareness week 2022 ran from Sunday 9th to Sunday 16th October. On Thursday 13th October we delivered hate crime training at the Fleur-de-Lys community centre. Ffion, the trainer, talked about:
We also watched some videos produced by Newport People First, showing four people with learning disabilities talking about their experience of hate crime. Ffion ended the session by handing out easy-read leaflets co-produced by Caerphilly People First, which cover many of the topics included in her presentation, and also include useful telephone numbers and website addresses.
Yesterday we attended our fifth workshop with Groundwork Wales in Pontllanfraith. This week we planted strawberry plants by repotting them into a raised flower bed. We look forward to continuing our work with Groundwork Wales next week. It was very interesting learning how to pot and repot strawberries.
Yesterday the Focus Group was joined by Jeff Cuthbert, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent. Jeff and his team presented certificates of thanks for the feedback we provided in August to help create hate crime awareness leaflets. Jeff also spoke about his role as Commissioner, and asked if any of the group has experienced hate crime.
Jeff wrote about the visit: ‘Today I was delighted to meet with Caerphilly People First. I wanted to thank them for their involvement in helping to create a new easy read leaflet in partnership with my office to make sure people with disabilities are safe. The leaflet provides information on the many types of abuse people with disabilities may face and reinforces the importance of reporting a crime. It offers information on organisations that offer unique support to those with additional needs’.
On 6th October Ffion held her third relationship course, this time at Neuadd St Catwg Community hall in Gelligaer. The group spoke about the differences between men’s and women’s bodies, and what people call their private parts. We did an exercise called “you can touch me here” where we used pictures of men’s and women’s bodies and highlighted different areas in three colours: green for areas you are happy for anyone to touch, yellow for areas only those closet to you can touch, and red for areas that are private and just for you to touch. Ffion stated: ‘this was one of my favourite sessions so far; everyone enjoyed the session, and people weren’t too shy to ask questions’.
On Wednesday 5th October Ffion and Christy attended the shortlisting session for the All Wales People First ‘Through our Eyes’ photography project, at the Marriott Hotel in Cardiff. Through Our Eyes shares the stories of people with learning disabilities in Wales through photographs and videos, and they will be staging an exhibition at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, on November 24th, which will be attended by Mark Drakeford MS and Jane Hutt MS. The group at the shortlisting session decided which pictures they liked best, and which pictures best represent the project, which challenges perceptions and stereotypes by highlighting the valued roles and activities of people with learning disabilities in our communities.
We had another great craft session last week, which involved designing our own mugs and glasses. Members had a great time, while learning a new skill. Thanks to Cheryl from the Parent Network for helping out, and thanks to Caerphilly Cwtsh for funding the activity.
Last week we enjoyed our fourth session with Groundwork Wales at the allotments in Pontllanfraith. We planted and watered daffodils, sweet peas, and hyacinths. The group really enjoyed this session – it was educational and fun.
This week we held our third workshop with Groundwork Wales at Taraggan Educational Gardens & Nursery. The group planted herbs, purple mustard, oregano, coriander, parsley, rocket, and broad beans. Many thanks to Rachel and the team from Groundwork for another enjoyable session.
