Category Archives: News

Meeting about Benefits Reform

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Yesterday afternoon, Ffion, Nat, Gethin, and Amy joined an online meeting with other People First groups across Wales. The meeting was run by All Wales People First and was about Benefits Reform.

We talked about:
Changes to benefits money from the government
The Access to Work scheme that helps disabled people in jobs
Getting good jobs and being treated fairly
Health and safety at work

What is Access to Work? Access to Work helps pay for things like:
Travel to work
Job coaches or support workers
Special equipment or changes at work

We also talked about:
Making benefits easier and fairer
Getting faster help from Access to Work
Helping people move from volunteering to paid jobs

And organisations like the Equality and Human Rights Commission which:
Makes sure disabled people are treated fairly
Protects people’s rights
Helps stop discrimination

The government should:
Give money to these organisations
Listen to disabled people’s voices
Follow equality laws

We also spoke about Health and Safety at work:
Some people need changes to help them stay safe
Staff should get health and safety training
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) checks if workplaces are safe

Next steps:
Kelly will fill out the consultation form from All Wales People First. This means our group’s voice will be heard and shared!

University of South Wales Training Session

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Amy, Nat, and Gethin visited USW this morning to take part in a training session in the Simulation Suite. Today was all about being a patient!

Amy played a young lady with a learning disability, epilepsy, and a chest infection.
Nat portrayed a lady with a learning disability who lives in supported living and loves to visit A&E — she claimed to have drunk shampoo and bleach!
Gethin played a young man with a learning disability who fell into a bin and cut his head, with a suspected concussion.

The nursing students did amazing and worked brilliantly with our TRAC members. It was great to see them:

Asking for Health Profiles
Making reasonable adjustments
Using easy read language

Nat gave feedback and said the nurses did great! So proud of our team and the future healthcare professionals learning how to support people with learning disabilities with care and compassion. Great job everyone! You were all stars today!

Reconnect Through Music

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Wow, what an amazing session! We had over 25 songs, featuring classics from The Fugees, Phil Collins, George Ezra, Robbie Williams, and Ed Sheeran. Our members absolutely loved it! There was plenty of singing, dancing, and a delicious buffet lunch. It was wonderful seeing everyone have so much fun, and we even saw some new singers take the mic!

We also took some great photos to promote World Mental Health Day. Seeing everyone smile and connect through music was truly heartwarming. A massive THANK YOU to all our amazing volunteers – we couldn’t do it without you! See you all in two weeks!

All Wales People First National Council Meeting Report

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Yesterday, Amy Jones attended the All Wales People First National Council meeting via Zoom. The meeting started with introductions and a check of the last meeting’s minutes to spot any mistakes and hear updates.

Updates:
Joe shared what he’s been working on.
Reps talked about the Mirror Principles to see if they need changing and how to check if self-advocacy groups are following them.

After Lunch:
We talked about important issues like transport and benefit cuts. Lynne Griffiths, who knows a lot about learning disabilities, was chosen for the board.

Adfest Update:
Day One: Joe’s introductions, four workshops, talent show for members, stalls, Mirror Awards, photo booth, and disco in the evening.
Day Two: AGM, four more workshops to choose from, another talent show (with voting for winners), and more stalls.

Geraint’s Request:
Make a video answering questions like, “How do you want to be seen, heard, and valued?”
These videos will be shared on social media. Other Zoom participants can also make videos and send them to Tracy.

Chair Yoga Fun with Lisa!

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Another fantastic yoga session yesterday with the lovely Lisa! We got creative and made mindfulness pockets filled with flowers, leaves, and lavender. The room smelled amazing! We stretched it out with some Chair Yoga poses, then ended the session on a relaxing note by laying on the floor with our legs over the chair while listening to calming music. Breathing exercises helped us unwind and feel at peace. We’re already looking forward to more yoga magic with Lisa in August and September after the summer break! Thank you, Lisa, for guiding us on this wonderful yoga journey!

Reconnect through Cookery – Cottage Pie Delight!

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On Friday we whipped up a delicious cottage pie using lean mince, buttery mash, fresh vegetables, and rich gravy! Our amazing members prepared cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, onions, and mushrooms to add to the mince, making it a hearty and wholesome meal.

A big shoutout to Sarah for keeping everything running smoothly on the floor, and Nat for helping with the tables. And a huge THANK YOU to Rees, Connor, Nat, and Delyth for helping out in the kitchen. Cheryl did a fab job dishing up a delicious lunch, and we couldn’t have done it without Peter, our awesome caretaker, who’s always lending a hand.

Our members had a blast cooking, eating together, and catching up. They love these sessions for making friends, sharing meals, and having a good laugh. The quiz was a big hit too! We’ll see you all in two weeks for another delicious session where we’ll be making lasagne and serving it up with a fresh salad!

Chair Yoga with the lovely Lisa!

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At our most recent chair yoga session we used stress balls to exercise our fingers, did some great stretches, and practiced yoga poses while holding on to the back of our chairs.

We named our poses “Tree Pose” and “Surfing Pose” – and even had a special Sleeping Beauty Yoga story for our relaxing time, accompanied by soothing music.

Everyone had so much fun and left feeling happy and relaxed. Thank you, Lisa! See you next Tuesday afternoon at 12:30pm.

TRAC in Action at the University of South Wales!

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Yesterday our amazing TRAC members Amy, Gethin, and Natalie teamed up with maternity student nurses and learning disability nurses for a powerful training session! They took part in realistic scenarios based on being new parents and preparing for the arrival of a baby. The goal? To show how all fields of nursing must work together for the best outcomes.

Communication is key! It’s not just what we say – it’s how we say it. Clear explanations, empathy, and tailored support can make a HUGE difference for parents with learning disabilities. By supporting people properly, we give everyone the chance to become amazing parents and raise their babies in a safe, loving environment. They absolutely loved the day and took away some important lessons!

Massive thanks to our TRAC members, the brilliant nurses, and Stacey and the whole team for making it such a great day! So proud of Amy, Gethin & Natalie; you’re helping change the future – one conversation at a time!

Reconnect Through Music Was A Hit!

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What a session we enjoyed yesterday – 50 people came along and blasted out 22 cracking tunes! Morgan brought the house down with Tom Jones, and When You Say Nothing at All by Ronan Keating, Ffion gave us all the feels with Fifteen by Taylor Swift, Sean had us dancing with a classic Madonna hit, and so many more amazing performances – the energy was through the roof!

We had pizza, dancing, singing, and laughter – what more could you want?! These sessions help build confidence, friendships, and bring pure joy to everyone involved. Our members say they “feel included, happier, and more confident” – and we LOVE hearing that! See you all again on Wednesday, May 14th – we can’t wait!