Category Archives: News

Hate Crime Training

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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:

  • Examples of hate crime
  • Reasons for hate crime
  • Who can carry out hate crime
  • Where hate crime can happen
  • How to spot hate crime
  • Who you can report it to
  • How to keep safe at home and in public
  • How to keep safe when using your phone or the internet

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.

Jeff Cuthbert – Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent

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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’.

Relationship Course

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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’.

‘Through Our Eyes’ Photography Project

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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.

Scrabble Art Workshop

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It was great to see everyone at our crafts session yesterday, where we took part in a scrabble art workshop. We used scrabble letters and glitter to make name frames. Thanks to Cheryl from The Parent Network for running the session; she will be joining us again next week when members will personalise their own mug. Thank you to Caerphilly Cwtsh Community & Localgiving (Magic Little Grant) for funding this activity.

Welsh Ambulance Service

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This week the focus group had a meeting with Mandy from the Welsh Ambulance Service. At the workshop we learnt about the 7 important checks ambulance staff will do to find out what is wrong. The 7 checks are:

1. Temperature (how hot or cold you are)

2. Blood Pressure (how hard your heart is beating)

3. Oxygen Levels (how much oxygen is in your blood)

4. Pulse (how fast your heart is beating)

5. Breathing- Ambulance staff will watch your chest to see if you are breathing ok.

6. Blood sugar levels (how much sugar you have in your blood)

7. Pain score (how much does it hurt?)

We also talked about what happens when you call 999.