This morning, we wrapped up the final part of our friendship & relationship training with our amazing friends from Torfaen People First! Ffion led the session, covering contraception, identifying body parts, and discussing pregnancy tests and the different types available. We also practiced how to put on a condom and had some great discussions about sex, sex toys, and consent.
It’s been fantastic working with you all over the last few weeks! A huge congratulations to everyone who completed the training and earned their certificates!
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!
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!
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.
Yesterday, Ffion spent the morning with Torfaen People First, delivering an engaging Relationship Training session. The group had fantastic discussions about:
What makes a good boyfriend or girlfriend? What makes a good or bad friend? How to handle arguments in a healthy way.
Everyone got involved in fun games, watched educational videos, and shared their thoughts — giving brilliant feedback and learning something new. Next week’s session is all about “Understanding Your Body & My Body” — we can’t wait to see you all again!
Ffion Poole and Amy Jones recently delivered ‘Learning Disability Awareness and Health Care’ training to people from Shared Lives, the Caerphilly Learning Disability Social Worker team, and representatives from Care in the Community. The aim of this course is for people to gain a greater understanding of people with learning disabilities. The feedback we received was great, with comments including “the session was presented very well and information was given clearly”, “very informative, with lots of opportunities to ask questions”, “information given will help me to be a better social worker”, and “it was great that it was being led by people with experience of having learning difficulties”.
Well done to our amazing volunteers Gethin and Morgan for attending the Brushcutters and Trimmers training this week! A big thank you to Richard for delivering the training, and to James for providing the PPE. They had a fantastic time, and Gethin especially enjoyed using the strimmer! Huge thanks to Theresa and Dave for hosting us up at Ynys Hywel Farm.
Last week our executive assistant Ffion Poole delivered training on relationships, friendships, and online safety to the members of “Our Voice, Our Choice” in Ceredigion.
The sessions were provided to two different group over 2 days, and it was great to see everyone sharing their thoughts, having meaningful conversations, and learning together. Both groups were so welcoming, and interacted really well throughout the sessions.
The sessions kicked off with the Skittles icebreaker, then we dived into discussions about friendships and relationships. The first part of the session was all about relationships, and the group talked about what makes a good girlfriend or boyfriend. Other topics covered during the training included: what makes a good or bad friend, how to handle arguments, and online safety tips.
Here is some of the feedback we received from the people who took part in the sessions:
Harriett: “It’s been good, I’ve learned to be careful and really enjoyed it.”
Sue: “I enjoyed it and it was nice hearing everyone’s experiences.”
Tom: “The presentation was great, I learned a lot about relationships.”
Melissa: “I loved it! A great place to learn about friendships and relationships—I could relate to so much.”
Ian: “It was interesting, the tutor made it fun, and I really enjoyed it.”
Here is what we are up to this week. We still have a few spaces for Chair Yoga on Tuesday if you’d like to join us – members loved last week’s session!
Amazing day at the University of South Wales on Friday! Caerphilly People First TRAC volunteers teamed up with third-year student nurses for a hands-on simulation session. Nat rocked her fake wound makeup, and Ffion’s acting as a patient with severe abdominal pain was spot on! The nurses handled the pressure like pros, showing just how valuable these real-life practice scenarios are. Huge thanks to everyone involved — what a fantastic learning experience!
