Tag Archives: caerphilly people first

Our Planet Session 2 – Recycle, Reuse, Restore!

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Yesterday we had our second Our Planet session with the lovely Kurtis and Sophie from Innovate Trust, which was all about Recycling, Reusing, and Restoring.

We talked about:

How to recycle household items correctly.
Recycling clothes to reduce waste.
Using reusable water bottles and coffee mugs to cut down on plastic.
Saving food by cooking less, freezing leftovers, and avoiding waste.
The benefits of rechargeable batteries – and where to recycle non-rechargeables (most supermarkets that sell them will take them back!)

We also found out there’s lots of helpful recycling info on the Caerphilly Borough website if you’re ever unsure what goes where. A really educational and inspiring session – everyone enjoyed it and learned something new!

FULL HOUSE at Reconnect Through Music!

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Wow! Another amazing karaoke & dance session today week with 55 people joining in the fun! 29 different songs were performed, with some absolute bangers, including:

Morgan – Green Green Grass of Home (Tom Jones)
Elizabeth – Money, Money, Money (ABBA)
Ffion – Pink Pony Club (Chappel Roan)
Brian – Sweet Caroline (because it wouldn’t be Music Wednesday without it!)
Wayne – I Should Be So Lucky (Kylie Minogue)

The feedback is always incredible!

“I love singing and dancing!”
“I’ve made new friends!”
“The staff are so friendly!”
“These sessions make me happy!”

We’re back on April 16th for another sing-song & dance-off! See you all then!

Relaxation & Movement with Chair Yoga!

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This afternoon, we had a wonderful Chair Yoga session with the amazing Lisa Harwood from EchoYoga! We explored the power of sound and vibration using singing bowls – special bowls that create deep, soothing sounds when played. Some members even balanced them on their bodies to feel the vibrations travel through them!

We also enjoyed some gentle chair stretches and yoga poses, helping us improve flexibility, strength, and relaxation. To end the session, we closed our eyes, took deep breaths, and embraced a moment of calm and mindfulness with peaceful music. A big thank you to Lisa for another fantastic session – we can’t wait for the next one!

One Planet Project – Week 1!

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This morning, we kicked off our 4-week One Planet Project with Kurtis, Assistant Project Officer from Innovate Trust, alongside Mared Hughes, Project Officer, who led the session. We had a great discussion about energy – where it comes from, how we use it in our homes, and most importantly, how we can use less energy and save money!

Our members have signed up for the Energy Saving Challenge and will be making small changes that have a big impact, including:

Boiling only the water they need for hot drinks
Switching off lights when not in use
Turning off the tap while brushing teeth & shaving
Making small adjustments to help save the planet

These simple steps help us save water, reduce waste, and cut down on energy bills. We’re excited to welcome Kurtis back next week to learn all about recycling!

Gethin & Nat Join TRAC Discussion Online

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Gethin and Nat recently joined other TRAC members via Teams for an important research discussion led by Professor Steven Walden. TRAC (Teaching, Research, Advisory, and Committee) is a group that brings together people with learning disabilities to work alongside professionals, providing valuable insight into health and social care.

The session covered:

Research discussions on key topics
Training and teaching student nurses
The importance of cervical screening for health and well-being

Stacey Rees led an insightful discussion on teaching and training, helping members understand the role they can play in educating future healthcare professionals.

Reconnect Through Cookery – Pizza Party!

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On Friday our amazing members got creative in the kitchen, making delicious homemade pizzas! They prepped mushrooms, peppers, and a fresh, healthy salad with lettuce, cucumbers, spring onions, and tomatoes. Using tortilla wraps as the base, they spread tomato purée, then topped them with cheese, ham, pepperoni, sweetcorn, and even pineapple (yes, we went there!).

A HUGE thank you to Cheryl and Zoe for all your help, especially since some of us had to leave early to attend the Police Crime & Justice Plan launch. And thanks to everyone who helped out in the kitchen!

Ffion & Nat at the Police Crime & Justice Plan Launch

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Our amazing volunteers Ffion and Nat had a great afternoon on Friday at Penallta House, Caerphilly, for the launch of the Police Crime & Justice Plan 2025-2029, when they received a special thank you from the new Gwent Police Commissioner, Jane Mudd, for working with Rhian and her team to make the plan accessible and easy to read.

The top priorities for Gwent are: preventing anti-social behaviour, safer communities, protecting the vulnerable, putting victims first, and reducing reoffending.

Jane Mudd highlighted the importance of working together to make Gwent a safer, better place by bringing partners together to improve efficiency and effectiveness. It was also great to hear Ruth Jones MP supporting the plan and sharing her views on better support for victims of crime, especially those affected by domestic abuse. Chief Constable Mark Hobrough said: “This plan is not just a document—it is a roadmap for a safer and more just society.”

We will be meeting Rhian this week to add the finishing touches to the easy-read version.

Annual Health Checks Filming

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Morgan and Ffion had a fantastic day today filming with Primary Care Liaison Nurses Clair and Babs! They talked about Annual Health Checks — how they feel visiting the doctor, what to expect, the examinations involved, and the reasonable adjustments that can be made to support people during their appointments.

We’ve had an amazing few weeks working with the nurses and learning so much about the importance of health checks. Plus, we’ve had loads of fun filming to raise awareness! A huge thank you to Andrew the cameraman – he was fab with our members and made the filming experience even better!

We can’t wait for the big launch and to watch the final result… with popcorn, of course! Stay tuned!

Hackathon: My Beautiful Life – Part 2

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We had a fantastic day yesterday at Llanhilleth Miners Institute working in collaboration with other People First groups on the My Beautiful Life project!

We explored what truly matters to us in health & social care, community, and housing. We brought our discussions to life through art, music, and drama, and the results were absolutely amazing! Some of our members helped write a song, others took part in acting, while some expressed themselves through musical instruments and canvas drawings. It was incredible to see so many individuals come together and share their voices in such creative ways!

A huge thank you to all Caerphilly People First volunteers and members for attending, and to Jenny from Torfaen People First and Blaenau Gwent People First for an absolutely fantastic creative event!

We Love Reconnecting Through Music!

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We had another brilliant Reconnect through Music session in Fleur-de-Lys today, with our extra-talented members belting out 27 different songs! The singing, dancing, and smiles were a joy to see. Once again, we welcomed a few new faces, and everyone enjoyed a tasty buffet prepared by Cheryl and Zoe.

Thanks to everyone who came (and helped to tidy up afterwards), and a special thank you to Ffion for doing the register and collecting the contributions for teas and coffees. We can’t wait to see you all in a fortnight’s time, same time, same place, when once again our members will blow the roof off the place!