Category Archives: News

Gardening Group

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Yesterday, at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens and Nursery, our volunteers built a wigwam support and planted runner beans. They also planted courgettes and French beans. Thanks to John for all his help and for showing us the best way to utilise all the space on our plot. The carrots, onions and broadbeans are slowly starting to sprout and the fruit trees are all looking really good.

Our volunteers sowed the courgette seeds by planting them individually on their sides and spaced them out to give them room to grow. They have also been covered to encourage growth and to stop the slugs and snails snacking on them. The French beans have been sown outside as there is no longer a risk of frost. They have been planted directly in the ground and should be ready to harvest in around forty-five days’ time.

Cookery and the Coronation

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Friday’s cookery session was all about celebrating the coronation of King Charles III.  Our members and volunteers all looked amazing in their costumes and finery, and the chicken stir fry chosen by Amy was delicious.

Our members prepared pak choi, carrots shaved into ribbons, peppers, spring onions, cabbage, and mushrooms for the stir fry, which we served with spring rolls and prawn crackers.

Everyone did a great job as always, and thanks to Ffion for the quiz on the Royal family.  We finished off the party with strawberry trifle, Victoria sponge, and lots of laughs.

Reconnect Through Music

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Thanks to Daniel Fitzgerald from RecRock for a another great music session yesterday. Our members once again had a great morning at Reconnect through Music, singing their favourite songs and having a go on the keyboard, and Matthew did a great version of Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.

RecRock will be on Friday (12th May) rather than Wednesday next week, and will be held at Fleur De Lys Community Centre as part of our last Cookery session. Volunteers will be singing, dancing, and serving up hotdogs and burgers, so please book a space if you would like to join us

Gardening Group

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Yesterday morning, Caerphilly People First volunteers Sam, Morgan, Amy and Rees worked on our new fruit plot at the TARAGGAN Educational Gardens & Nursery in Gilfach. The vegetable plot is starting to take shape and is looking much better now the weeds have been cleared, and the sun was shining, making it the perfect morning for working outdoors. The blackberries and blueberries our volunteers planted last week are also looking good. If you would like to volunteer with us at TARAGGAN, we are there every Tuesday morning from 10.30am onwards.

Caerphilly 2035 Consultation

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The Caerphilly 2035 Masterplan is a blueprint for the future of Caerphilly town centre, which includes options and ideas to enhance and regenerate the area. Last week we were visited by Tahnee and two colleagues who are working with Caerphilly County Borough Council to gather the views of residents and businesses on what they like about Caerphilly, what could be improved, and what they think about the new plans.

Our members told Tahnee they would like to see better parking, more public toilets, and improvements to the train and bus stations. On the plus side, they all love the castle and events such as food festivals, concerts and ice skating, which they would like to see more of. We will continue to work with Tahnee in the future to give our views on council decisions and the development of the project.

Music with RecRock

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Our members blew the roof off at the most recent Reconnect through Music session with RecRock. We sang songs by Bob Marley, Elvis, The Proclaimers, and Neil Diamond, and Gethin, Natalie, Morgan, Matthew, Nick, Lisa, and John played drums along with their favourite songs, accompanied by Daniel from RecRock on the guitar.

It’s great to see everyone growing in confidence and making friends through the music group. Getting up and singing in front of people isn’t easy, but our members put on fantastic performances every week.

Gardening Project

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Today volunteers Sam, Gethin, Morgan, Rhys and Adrian began working on a second gardening plot we have obtained at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens & Nursery, which we will use to grow fruit. John showed us how to transplant the blackberries and blueberries from pots into the ground, and how to look after them. The other plot (the vegetable plot) is looking good after a bit of weeding, and so far we have planted broad beans, onions, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, blackberries, and blueberries. Well done everyone – you are doing a fantastic job.

Cookery

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Homemade Cottage Pie topped with cheddar was Amy Jones’s chosen dish at last week’s cookery session, and it tasted amazing. We used 5% fat lean mince, Worcestershire sauce, tomato puree, garlic, beef stock, and dried mixed herbs. We added onions, carrots, and peas to the mince and topped it off with creamy mash and cheddar. We then popped it in the oven for twenty minutes to finish cooking. We also made a Quorn version that tasted just as nice, for members who don’t eat meat.

We served the cottage pie with cauliflower, green beans carrots peas and gravy. Our members prepared carrots and onions, dicing them into small pieces to add to the mince, then peeled the potatoes for the mash.

Ffion and Amy hosted a quiz and bingo while lunch was cooking – well done ladies for keeping everyone entertained. Thanks so much to everyone who volunteered – you all worked so hard, as usual.

There is no class next week so we will see you all on Friday May 5th when Tracy Tregaskis has chosen to make chicken stir fry.

Professor Ruth Northway

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On Wednesday 19th we attended an event celebrating the career and retirement of Professor Ruth Northway. Happy retirement Ruth, the difference you have made to people’s lives throughout your career is immeasurable, and thank you for always supporting People First. Enjoy your well-earned retirement, we’re sure you will be as busy as ever.

Best wishes from Caerphilly People First volunteers, members, and staff.