During yesterday’s Independent Living Skills course run by Austistic Minds we talked about coping techniques and creating a coping skills toolbox. This is a place for you to keep things that calm you down in periods of distress. The group learned about various coping techniques such as self-soothing (comforting yourself using different techniques), distraction (taking your mind off things by doing something that makes you happy), keeping a diary to express your feelings, and meditation. Next week we will be learning more about personal hygiene, including shaving.
Category Archives: News
Focus Group Art Session
Yesterday we enjoyed our third session with Elizabeth from the Islwyn Arts Art and Wellbeing project. The group drew and coloured animals and insects – including butterflies, hedgehogs, wasps and bees – for our nature canvas. We also painted the two canvas backgrounds which we will transfer the animals and insects onto at a later session. #communityempowerment
Cookery Course
Great start to our Cookery project last week which has been funded by #ComicRelief Community Fund in Wales! This project will help our local community by encouraging people to eat healthier and become more independent.
We’d like to thank everyone who volunteered on the launch day of the project, particularly Natalie who suggested making leek and potato soup (eaten with a warm baguette), a perfect choice for a cold and frosty day. The food was delicious and the positive feedback from the group was great to hear.
The course continues Friday 27th January at 10.30am at Fleur-de-Lys community centre. You are welcome to book a place on 07940 474640, but hurry because the class is almost full!
Comic Relief Community Fund in Wales
We have received £3,000 from the Comic Relief Community Fund in Wales to fund a community group where adults with learning disabilities will come together and learn basic cookery skills, how to use kitchen equipment, and how to prepare a healthy meal. Many of our members have gained weight during the pandemic and want to learn how to cook healthier meals. Some members have told us that they would like to live independently in the future, and would like to learn basic cooking skills to give them to confidence to do so.
The sessions will also make a difference to the lives of our members by giving them the opportunity to socialise in a group environment and make new friends, reducing isolation and loneliness, and improving mental health. We will be holding 13 sessions in total, and they will begin on Friday 20th from 10:30am-2:30pm at Fleur-De-Lys Community Centre. They are free to attend for anyone with a learning disability, and if anyone is interested in attending they can contact Ffion on 07488 350518.
#ComicRelief
Focus Group Activities
Yesterday we began our 5 week art course with Elizabeth from Islwyn Arts. The team decided to produce one big artwork which everyone will contribute to rather than individual pieces of art. The group wanted the theme of the art to be nature, and we all drew things associated with nature (birds, flowers, butterflies), which Elizabeth will scan and use for the final artwork. We all really enjoyed expressing ourselves and can’t wait for the other sessions.
Also yesterday we were joined by Victoria and Jo from Autistic Minds who delivered Independent Living Skills (ILS) training to the group. We spoke about confidence, and were asked to point out things we are confident and not confident about, and need assistance with. This is a six week course and we’re really excited to learn more.
Gardening at TARAGGAN
This week we made our final visit of the year to TARAGGAN (Tenants and Residents Association Green Gym and Nursery) Educational Gardens & Nursery in Gilfach. We’d like to thank John for all his help and for teaching us so many new skills; we really appreciate it. The project restarts in February 2023, and if anyone would like to join us then, please email enquiries@caerphillypeoplefirst.org
Christmas Crafts
Thank you to Cheryl Smith from The Parent Network Community Forum for a great afternoon of Christmas Crafts this week. It was lovely to see some new members joining us, as well as our usual group. Our Craft workshops are a great way to learn new skills, reduce isolation and loneliness, and make new friends. Please follow Caerphilly People First on Facebook if you’d like to learn about future events and workshops.
Join the Caerphilly Conversation
Over the last couple of years Caerphilly Council has been asking residents which council services are most important to them, and which areas they feel the council should prioritise. This week Caerphilly People First members joined the conversation when they gave their views on what is important to them. You can have your say by completing the online survey at:
www.caerphilly.gov.uk/caerphillyconversation
Showing Resilience through COVID 19 Conference
At the beginning of December, Ffion, Nat, Hannah and Amy – supported by Christy – attended the ‘Showing Resilience Through the COVID 19 Pandemic’ conference at the University Of South Wales. Jenny from Cwm Taff People First opened the conference by sharing the agenda for the day. She was followed by Edward Oloidi from the University of South Wales who talked about the COVID research he did during the pandemic.
Caerphilly People First members Ffion, Amy, Nat and Hannah spoke individually about their experiences of COVID, including vaccines, lockdown and coming out of lockdown. They were followed by student nurses Laurie Wood and Jade Savage who talked about working in a vaccine centre. Attendees then took part in workshops titled ‘Living with COVID’ and ‘Loss & Bereavement’ (the latter was facilitated by Caerphilly People First). We then headed back into the main conference area where Cwm Taff People First talked about their work on the Health Champions project. Attendeed then took part in another workshop, where they talked about ‘What is good health care? What can I expect from health services? and How can I keep myself healthy?’
After lunch we headed back into the main conference area where Cwm Taff People First showed their ‘My Day My Way’ film and Ffion talked about the Caerphilly People First Reconnect Focus Group which we run every Tuesday. The last workshop of the day was called ‘Hopes & Dreams for the Future’. The event closed with Martin and Sarah from the University Of Wales talking about the project they have recently been involved in with TRAC members. It was an amazing day and we were glad to be part of it.
Through Our Eyes Exhibition
On Thursday 24th November 2022, Ffion, Christy and Sam attended the launch of the Through Our Eyes project at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. Through Our Eyes shares the stories of people with learning disabilities in Wales through photographs and videos which challenge perceptions and stereotypes by highlighting the valued roles and activities of people with learning disabilities in our communities.
The welcome address and keynote speech was given by First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS. Joe Powell, Chief Executive of All Wales People First, then talked about the importance of the exhibition, and Lucy Hinksman, the project worker and project photographer gave a speech on her experiences of going out to different groups to take photos. This exhibition will be in the Senedd until February 4th 2023, and is open to the public Monday to Friday 9.30-4.30, Saturday & Bank hols 10.30-4.30, and closed on Sundays. We feel it’s important for people to visit this brilliant exhibition to see the many activities being undertaken by people with learning disabilities.
