Tag Archives: Learning Disability

All Wales People First National Council

Posted on by

Exciting News! This week Amy Jones is attending the All Wales People First National Council for the first time as a new representative. As a rep, Amy will share important issues from our group that might impact people across Wales and could need national action. This is a fantastic opportunity to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear. Wishing Amy the best of luck in her new role!

Yesterday, Amy and Christy had a great first day at the National Council Meeting. Chief Executive Joe Powell gave a talk about what National Council reps do and the jobs of the Chair and Vice Chair. After lunch, we had elections, when the following people were elected:

Lucy – New Chair
Kurtis – New Vice Chair
Neil – New board member

We also looked at the last meeting notes and talked about important actions. Amy spoke for Caerphilly People First and said our members want:

Better healthcare
Mental health support that is easy to understand
More information about health checks

A great first day—looking forward to more!

Annual Health Check Video

Posted on by

We’ve been busy in the office with the Primary Care Learning Disability Nurses. Together, we are promoting the Annual Health Check. If you have signed your consent form and agreed to take part, here are the new dates for practice and filming:

March 14th (Friday) – Filming
10:30 AM (Max 2 hours)
At Bargoed YMCA

March 19th (Wednesday) – Practice
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
At Bargoed YMCA

March 26th (Wednesday) – Filming
10:30 AM
At Bargoed YMCA

Let’s spread the word about the importance of Annual Health Checks!

My Beautiful Life

Posted on by

On Friday we talked about OUR LIVES – what we enjoy, what we need, and how to make things better!

WORK & ACTIVITIES
“I like working with adults with learning disabilities.”
“I enjoy People First and seeing my friends.”
“I love plane spotting with my outreach worker.”
“I need more activities.”
“I like going shopping.”

SUPPORT
Some members prefer female staff.
“I don’t need support all the time, but I need more help with my mental health.”

COMMUNITY
“I want to feel safe.”
“We need more opportunities.”
“More exercise classes that are easy for me to do.”
“I want more people to talk to me and accept me.”

HOME
“Sometimes, staff are not nice.”
“I sometimes feel lonely.”
“I like my own room and space.”
“I love my dogs, my family, and nice food.”
“I enjoy going to respite.”

HEALTH
“I don’t like having a bad belly, and I can’t eat the foods I enjoy because of allergies.”
“Staff help me understand my health.”
“I like walking with my support worker.”
“Doctors take too long to answer the phone.”
“I like walking to keep fit and listening to music.”
“I need longer doctors’ appointments.”

This is ‘My Beautiful Life’, a way for us to share what makes us happy and what support we need. Thank you to everyone for sharing – your voices matter!

What an incredible Reconnect Through Music session!

Posted on by

Today our amazing members belted out 23 different songs, filling the room with laughter, dancing, and pure joy! We welcomed lots of new faces and enjoyed a delicious buffet – the atmosphere was absolutely buzzing!

A HUGE THANK YOU to:

Peter the caretaker for all your help
Stu & Nat for hosting an epic karaoke session
Helen & Sharon for doing the register and helping clear up
Cheryl & Zoe for preparing the delicious buffet

See you all in a fortnight – let’s do it all again!

Exciting Visit from Transport for Wales!

Posted on by

Yesterday, our focus group had a fantastic visit from Clare, who works for Transport for Wales. She introduced us to the Orange Wallet Scheme, a brilliant tool designed to help people who may need extra support while using public transport. The Orange Wallet contains cards where users can write down their specific needs, making it easier to communicate with railway staff and ensure a smoother journey.

We also had a great discussion about the new trains, who we can ask for passenger assistance at the station, and how to navigate train travel with confidence. To put our learning into action, we’re planning a group trip to Barry when the weather improves! This will be a great opportunity to practice purchasing tickets, boarding, and traveling together while enjoying a fun day out. A huge thank you to Clare for such an informative session!

Human Rights & Relationships

Posted on by

We’ve had another fantastic morning with our friends at Torfaen People First for Week 3 of Relationship Training! Today, Ffion covered an important topic: Human Rights in Relationships & LGBTQI+ Rights.

Human Rights in Relationships:

You have the right to choose who you want to be friends with or in a relationship with.
You deserve respect – no one should hurt, control, or pressure you.
You have the right to say yes or no – no one can force you to do things you don’t want to.
Everyone has the right to love who they want – safely & happily!

What Does LGBTQI+ Mean?

L – Lesbian (women who love women)
G – Gay (men who love men)
B – Bisexual (people who love both men & women)
T – Transgender (people whose gender is different from birth)
Q – Queer or Questioning (people exploring their identity)
I – Intersex (born with a mix of male & female traits) + – Includes non-binary, pansexual & more

LGBTQI+ Rights Matter!

Everyone has the right to be themselves & love who they want.
No one should be treated badly because of who they love or how they identify.
Love is love, and the law protects LGBTQI+ people from discrimination.
Let’s celebrate love, respect, and being our true selves! If you ever feel unsafe or treated unfairly, talk to someone you trust – you are never alone!

Reconnect Through Cookery – Full House & Fun Quiz!

Posted on by

We had a fantastic turnout at Friday’s Reconnect Through Cookery session! Everyone enjoyed tasty chicken burgers with fries, and our members prepared a fresh and healthy side salad.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped out in the kitchen, and to Sarah & Hayley for sorting the register and raffle. Big shoutout to Gethin & Taylor for hosting a fun St. David’s Day Quiz – great job, both of you! Thanks, everyone, for another amazing session!

Important Update:

This week is music session only on Wednesday (5th March)
Cookery resumes the following Friday (14th March)
From March 5th onwards, sessions will alternate weekly.

Another Amazing Morning at Reconnect Through Music!

Posted on by

Yesterday’s morning session was a full house once again – new faces, incredible singing, and plenty of dancing! And, of course, we all enjoyed some delicious chip butties to keep us going!

A huge thank you to Belle – it’s been wonderful working with you over the past few weeks! Next week, our members will be running the karaoke session, so get ready for another morning of music, laughter, and friendship. We can’t wait to see you all there – same time, same place, more fun!

Crafty Creations & Bingo Fun!

Posted on by

Yesterday, our members got creative, making wooden plaques for their bedroom doors and beautiful spring wreaths to brighten up their homes. We also had a blast playing bingo with the Multiply group at Bargoed YMCA — lots of laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even a few lucky winners!

That wraps up our craft sessions for now, but don’t worry, we’re back next week at 10:30am to chat about travel training on the train! If you fancy joining in, feel free to pop along. See you there!

Week 2 of Our Relationship Course!

Posted on by

Yesterday, we visited Torfaen People First for the second week of our relationship course. Ffion led a fantastic session on “My Body, Understanding My Body, and Consent.” The group had great conversations and lots of interaction, making it a fun and informative session. Next week, Ffion will be covering contraception and the different types available.