Category Archives: News

Mindfulness

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Thank you, Dr Andrew Lewis, for our mindfulness session this week, where we learned about mindful eating. Chocolate meditation is a form of mindfulness meditation where a piece of chocolate is used as a focal point for all the senses. You hear the wrapper and smell, feel, see, and taste the chocolate as part of the practice. Mindfulness meditation trains the mind to focus and stay in the present. Of course, we all enjoyed the chocolate! In two weeks’ time, we are looking forward to a walking mindfulness session.

Warm Spaces – Reconnect through Breakfast

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Thank you to Sophie Morgan and Tracy Tregaskis, for volunteering at last week’s Reconnect through Breakfast session at Rhymney Community Centre. This is an initiative funded by Bute Energy and Cwtsh which aims to provide a warm space and free breakfast for people. The ladies did a fantastic job serving crumpets, toast, croissants, and teas and coffees.  We will be back at the centre on Thursday 23rd March from 9:30 – 11:30am, so join us if you can.

Cookery Session

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At last Friday’s cookery session Caerphilly People First members made tuna pasta bake and prepared a fresh salad. Thanks to Sam Evans for the suggestion – it was definitely a thumbs up and tasted delicious. It was great to see everyone coming together, preparing a healthy meal, socialising and, most of all, having fun. Jordan did a great job taking photos and captured some great shots. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, you were amazing as always. Gareth has chosen to make lasagne, veg and garlic bread next week.  See you all then!

Mindfulness

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Thank you, Andrew, for our fourth mindfulness session this week.  Once again we learned how deal with anxious feelings, and how to relax.  We talked about how animals and children live in the moment – the key to this is to pay attention to what is occurring in the present moment by observing thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise.  Next week, we will be practising mindful eating with Andrew.  Please contact Caerphilly People First if you would like to join the session.

Cookery

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This week the members made sausage casserole and mashed potatoes, as suggested by Wayne.  The group did a great job preparing the mushrooms, peppers, onions, and potatoes.  It’s wonderful seeing everyone learning new skills and becoming more confident in the kitchen.  Thank you to all our volunteers – you’re amazing.  Next week Sam Evans has chosen to make tuna pasta bake.

Relationships and Sexuality Course

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Caerphilly People First recently held the first session in our Relationships and Sexuality course.  This was run by Ffion and Lisa from Innovate Trust.  During the session the group discussed what is sex, keeping yourself and others safe, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, consent, and different types of contraception.  Even though this can be a very sensitive topic, everyone joined in, and there was much laughter from the group.  If anyone would like Ffion to provide a relationship course, please get in touch with her on 07488350518 or ffion@caerphillypeoplefirst.org

Cookery

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At this week’s cookery session Caerphilly People First members and volunteers made Easy Hunters Chicken (as suggested by Adrian).

Ready in just 30 mins (if you already have BBQ sauce), it’s full of flavour, and there are loads of different options when it comes to how to serve it.  Each member had a go at wrapping the bacon around the chicken breast and adding the sauce and grated cheese.  They then served their chicken with carrots and broccoli, and white rice.

Great choice Adrian, everyone really enjoyed the food.  Thanks to everyone who volunteered – you all worked so hard.  Wayne has chosen to make sausage casserole and mash next week, so we’ll see you all then.

Health Meeting

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Ffion and Natalie recently took part in an online meeting with Swansea University, attended by health professionals and other People First groups.  Ffion and Nat spoke about their experiences of COVID and lockdown.  Ffion talked about how she struggled with her mental health, anxiety and depression during this period, and how happy she is now things are back to normal and she has regained her freedom.  She also talked about her experiences of receiving the vaccine.  Natalie spoke about how frightened she was before having her jabs, and how ill she was afterwards.  Despite this she is glad she had the vaccine because it meant that she could start seeing her family again and make a return to work with Caerphilly People First.

Mindfulness Session

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Caerphilly People First members attended their third mindfulness session with Andrew at Libanus Lifestyle this week.  Andrew is brilliant at helping people to relax and overcome feelings of anxiety.

We talked about practicing mindfulness and how it can overcome anxiety.  Any type of meditation will help slow down overthinking, but mindfulness meditation is a particularly good place to start.  Even a small amount of meditation can be beneficial, so to reduce negative thoughts try sitting and observing your breathing for ten minutes.

RecRock Concert

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The free St David’s Day concert which featured musical performances from music wellbeing groups run by RecRock in Caerphilly County was a massive success, with a great turnout there to witness the brilliant musical performances.  Caerphilly People First members Sophie, Natalie, Morgan, Richard and Chris were among the singers at the White Rose Centre in New Tredegar, where songs by The Police, Elvis, George Ezra, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Alicia Keys, The Beatles, and many more were performed.  A big well done to everyone who performed and attended (and sang along!), and thank you to Dan from RecRock who put the concert together.