Author Archives: Peoplefirst

Reconnect Through Music

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Fleur-de-Lys Community Centre was packed yesterday for our fortnightly Reconnect Through Music session, creating a fantastic atmosphere full of smiles, laughter, and socialising 😄💬 Music once again brought everyone together, and our talented members sang an impressive total of 22 songs during the session 🎤🎶

Theresa kicked things off with a heartfelt performance of “Never Forget” by Take That, and Natalie soon had everyone moving and singing along with “One Love” by Bob Marley 🌍🎶 Ellysia followed with an energetic version of “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, while Kelvin treated us to two songs by Cliff Richard 🎸✨ Wayne kept the energy high with “Who’s That Girl” by Madonna, and Paula and Natalie teamed up for two fantastic duets, performing songs by ABBA and The Righteous Brothers 💃🎼 There were many other great performances, making the session varied and enjoyable for everyone involved 🌟

We would like to say a big thank you to Cheryl and Helen for preparing a lovely lunch 🥪💐, and to Pete the caretaker for getting the centre ready for us and making sure everything ran smoothly 🔑👏

The feedback from members was incredibly positive and really shows how much these sessions mean to people. Theresa said she enjoyed making new friends and feels the sessions cannot be improved 😊❤️ Anthony told us that our music sessions are the best in the world! 🌍🌟 Emily shared that she really enjoyed the loud music 🔊🎵 It was another wonderful session filled with music, friendship, and joy 💕🎤

We look forward to welcoming everyone back at our next Reconnect Through Music session on Wednesday 4th February! 📅🎶

Reconnect Through Cookery

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It was really nice to see our members and volunteers on Friday, at our first Reconnect through Cookery session since the Christmas break. The session had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with everyone happy to be back together. Alongside the cooking, members also took part in group activities that encouraged social interaction and fun. A quiz and a game of bingo helped create lots of laughter and conversation, adding to the positive atmosphere of the session. Members loved reconnecting after the Christmas break, working together as a group, learning and practicing cookery skills, and taking part in fun, inclusive social activities.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped in the kitchen and supported members throughout the day, and a massive thank you to Cheryl, Zoe, and Helen for running the session and making sure everything went smoothly. We would also like to say a huge thank you to Natalie for running the quiz, and to Tasha for calling out bingo – your continued support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.

Our next Reconnect Through Cookery session will take place on Friday 30th January, when we will be cooking cottage pie. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another enjoyable session, and we’ll see you then!

National Council Meeting

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Ffion Poole recently attended the online All Wales People First National Council meeting. The meeting began with a welcome, and everyone introduced themselves. The group talked about the ground rules for the meeting. These rules help everyone feel safe, respected, and able to speak and be listened to. The group then looked at the minutes from the last meeting. People were able to check for mistakes, ask questions, and hear updates on actions agreed at the last meeting.

Joe Powell, the Chief Executive, gave an update to the group. He talked about the work of All Wales People First and shared information about the workplan for 2026. Representatives then shared issues from their local groups. These were issues that may need action across Wales.

Chloe Cannon spoke to the group next. She is an All Wales People First Representative on the Lived Experience Collective Board. Chloe explained the work of the CARE Research Centre for Adult Social Care and the work they do at Cardiff University. She also asked people to share their experiences of older people with learning disabilities.

All Wales People First has decided that a Member Code of Conduct may be needed. A Code of Conduct is a set of rules about how people should behave at events. The group talked about whether a Code of Conduct is needed and what rules should be included.

The group also talked about future National Council meetings. This included where meetings should be held, how people get information, and future meeting dates. Other updates were shared, including progress with Adfest planning, feedback from the Disabled People’s Rights Plan consultation, and feedback from the Direct Payments consultation.

Reconnect Through Music – Session Report

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We had a fantastic start to 2026 with our first Reconnect Through Music session of the year, and what a brilliant session it was! 🌟 Despite the freezing weather outside ❄️, a lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere was created by everyone who attended.

A total of 25 songs were performed by our incredibly talented members 🎤🎸. The session was kicked off perfectly by Ellysia, who set the tone for the day with “Happy New Year” by ABBA 🎉. This was followed by many great performances, including:

Natalie – House of Fun by Madness 🏠🎶
Anthony – You Drive Me Crazy by Shakin’ Stevens 💃
Ffion – Stuck on You by Lionel Richie 💖
Sean – Down Under by Men at Work 🌍
Liz – Simply the Best by Tina Turner 🌟
Christine – Let It Go from Frozen ❄️🎤

There was lots of singing along, dancing, and smiling throughout the session 😄🕺💃, showing just how much everyone enjoyed the music and being back together after the Christmas break. At lunchtime, everyone enjoyed a perfect hot dog lunch 🌭, which gave people a chance to relax, chat, and socialise together.

We received some lovely feedback from attendees:

Victoria said she enjoyed socialising with different people 🤝
Olivia said she enjoyed meeting new people 😊
Jason said he enjoyed listening to the performances 🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who came out in the cold weather ❄️👏. Your energy, enthusiasm, and support helped create a great session 🎵❤️ See you for another music session in two weeks (Wednesday 21st January)!

🎄✨ A Magical Christmas Party!

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On Friday we had the most wonderful time celebrating together at our Christmas party 💃🕺 We enjoyed a silent disco, with our lovely Daren keeping the party going with a disco in between 🎶🎧

🎅 We were thrilled to have a visit from Santa, and of course the naughty Grinch who tried to steal everyone’s selection boxes 😆🎁 There was lots of dancing, laughter, and fun, yummy buffet food, Christmas crackers pulled, and everyone looked amazing in their fancy dress and Christmas jumpers 🎄🤶 🎟️ We also had some fantastic raffle prizes – well done to all our winners! 👏

It truly was a day full of Christmas joy, smiles, and togetherness ❤️ A huge thank you from us all at Caerphilly People First to our amazing volunteers 🌟 We couldn’t do what we do without your continued support. Special thanks to Peter, the caretaker, for all his help and support at Fleur-de-lis Community Centre throughout the year 🙏

🎄❤️ We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, filled with love, joy, and happiness. We’ll see you all again in January – take care and thank you for being part of our People First family ❤️✨

Reconnect Through Music

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Today’s Reconnect Through Music session was full of energy, joy, and festive spirit! With 22 fantastic performances, members showcased a brilliant range of songs — from heartfelt ballads to upbeat Christmas classics. The hall looked magical thanks to the Christmas decorations 🎄✨, creating the perfect atmosphere for a fun and welcoming afternoon.

A few highlights from today’s performers:

Matilda sang “Wild Heart” by The Vamps 💙
Mandy gave a powerful performance of “The Power of Love” by Jennifer Rush 🌟
Theresa performed “If I Never See You Again” by Wet Wet Wet 🎶
Anthony sang “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen 👀💗
Ffion performed “Nice To Meet You” by Myles Smith 🎵

Christmas Songs 🎅🎄

Susan sang “Mistletoe and Wine”
Ellysia performed “All I Want for Christmas Is You” 🎁💖
Sean shared a lovely version of “Away in a Manger”
Adrian treated us to “Blue Christmas” 💙🎄

All performers brought enthusiasm, confidence, and festive spirit to the stage. Well done, everyone! 👏✨ In addition everyone enjoyed a delicious buffet of hot dogs prepared by Christy, Cheryl, Zoe, and Helen 🌭😋. A big thank you to the team for their hard work!

We received some wonderful feedback from participants:

Sean said he enjoyed singing, chatting, meeting people, and the food! 🎤🗣️🤝🍽️
Ellie and Becky loved dancing 💃🎶
Anthony shared that he loves everyone who attends! ❤️🥰

Today’s Reconnect Through Music session was joyful, festive, and full of talent; the event was a huge success. Thank you to all performers, volunteers, and supporters who make these sessions so special. It’s clear that these sessions help people feel connected, confident, and part of a supportive community.

✨ Reconnect Through Cookery

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On Friday our members cooked up a delicious cottage pie 😋🥔 and prepared fresh leeks, broccoli, and cauliflower 🥦🥬🌿. Everyone worked together brilliantly and the kitchen smelled amazing!

A HUGE thank you to all our lovely volunteers for helping in the kitchen ❤️, and to our fantastic support staff for running the quiz and bingo 🎉🧩. And a special shout-out to Peter for setting everything up — we appreciate you! 🙌 It was definitely a session to remember 💛

See you all tomorrow for Reconnect Through Music 🎶 and Friday for our Silent Disco Christmas Party 🎧🎄

🎄✨ Christmas Craft Session ✨🎄

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Yesterday our members enjoyed another brilliant Christmas craft session with Louise and the team from Multiply! 🎅🧶 They made the cutest Christmas gonks out of wool, and everyone did an amazing job. ❤️

We all enjoyed a lovely cuppa ☕ and some tasty pastries 🥐 while chatting and socialising together. It was a warm, festive morning filled with fun and creativity! ⭐💬 Don’t forget — our last craft session is next Tuesday! 🎁✨

Reconnect Through Music

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Today’s Reconnect Through Music session was an absolute hit! The room was packed with energy, smiles, and incredible talent. 😄🙌 The atmosphere was buzzing from start to finish, with everyone joining in, singing along, and enjoying the chance to reconnect through the power of music. 🎶💛

A total of 27 songs were performed today! 🌟 Here are some of the great performances we enjoyed:

Matilda delivered a stunning version of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman 🎪✨
Ffion & Amy brought the fun with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun 💃🎉
Anthony gave a heartfelt performance of Perfect by Ed Sheeran ❤️🎸
Natalie lit up the room with Murder on the Dancefloor 💃🔊
Ben, our new member, wowed everyone with Cold Heart by Dua Lipa 🎧💙
Theresa got everyone singing along to Wonderwall 🎸🎶
Adrian rocked the classic Return to Sender 📬🎤
Susan charmed the room with Take Me Home, Country Roads 🌄🛣️
Sean brought festive cheer with Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens 🎄🎅🎵

The group enjoyed delicious pizza prepared by Christy and Cheryl — thank you both! 🍕❤️ It added to the warm and friendly atmosphere that everyone felt.

Feedback was glowing! ✨

Helen said it was a happy atmosphere and that everyone interacted so well. 😊🤝
Moira shared that she really enjoyed everything. 💛
Vicky especially loved the dancing and socialising. 💃🕺🎉

It’s clear that today’s session brought people together in the best possible way. A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made today so special. Your energy, positivity, and talent created a wonderful day for all. 🌟💖 Also a big thanks to the Moondance Foundation for funding these sessions – they make a huge difference to our members. Here’s to many more sessions filled with music, laughter, and connection! 🎵😊✨