Crafts

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Craft activities can be highly beneficial for adults with learning disabilities for several reasons:

  1. Enhances Fine Motor Skills: Engaging in crafts like making ladybirds helps improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills through activities like cutting, gluing, and painting.
  2. Promotes Creativity and Self-Expression: Crafting allows individuals to express themselves creatively, which can be particularly rewarding and therapeutic.
  3. Boosts Self-Esteem: Completing a craft project provides a sense of accomplishment and can significantly boost self-esteem and confidence.
  4. Encourages Social Interaction: Craft sessions often take place in group settings, promoting social interaction and teamwork, which are essential for building social skills.
  5. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Crafting can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity that helps reduce stress and anxiety, providing a positive focus and distraction from everyday challenges.
  6. Enhances Cognitive Function: Following instructions and planning a project can improve cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving, concentration, and memory.

Today’s activity of crafting ladybirds would have offered all these benefits, combining creativity, skill-building, and social interaction in a fun and engaging way. Thank you Cheryl Smith & Zoe Dummett for a great afternoon. Check out our designs below.

Gardening at TARAGGAN

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Caerphilly People First Volunteers have been working on weeding one of the plots and tidying up at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens. The gardens are looking beautiful, with lots of flowers and fruits making an appearance. We volunteer at TARAGGAN every Tuesday morning at 10:30am. If you want to join us, please feel free to pop along.

This a report by head gardener Morgan Jones on our most recent visit to the allotments:

Earlier this morning me, Christy Taylor, Gethin Chamberlain & Rees Powell went up to TARAGGAN allotments to do a shift on the garden. When we got there, I asked Kyle Richards “What is there for us all to do on the garden today?” He said “there’s weeding that needs to be done, so we’ll do that.” As I’ve done since I was appointed Head Gardener I told both boys what they had to do in order for us all to start gardening. I told Rees to get the trowels and kneeling pads out of shed 1, and between myself and Gethin we got 2 wheelbarrows out of shed 2 to put all the weeds in.

Annual Health Checks

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We recently received a visit from Clare and Tracy from the primary care learning disability nursing liaison team. They stopped by to talk about annual health checks and gave us some information about who’s eligible to receive one, and how we can book.

We look forward to seeing you both again on July 30th and can wait to have a look at and try out some of the equipment they use at the Doctors.

An annual health check for adults with learning disabilities is a comprehensive assessment designed to identify and address health issues that may be overlooked or unmanaged in this population. The aim is to improve health outcomes and quality of life. Here are the key components:

  1. Physical Health Assessment
  2. Medical History Review
  3. Mental Health Evaluation
  4. Lifestyle and Preventive Health
  5. Social and Environmental Factors
  6. Communication Needs
  7. Care Planning

These checks are typically conducted by a general practitioner (GP) or a nurse, often in collaboration with other healthcare professionals familiar with the needs of people with learning disabilities. The goal is to provide holistic care that addresses both physical and mental health needs, ensuring that individuals with learning disabilities receive appropriate and timely healthcare.

Reconnect Through Music

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Caerphilly People First members had a fantastic time at their most recent music session with Dan from RecRock. The room was filled with energy and enthusiasm as everyone gathered to participate. Dan’s engaging style and musical expertise brought out the best in each member, encouraging them to sing their hearts out. The session included a mix of popular songs from artists like Celine Dion, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, Queen, and many more, creating an inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere. Thank you to the Libanus Lifestyle Chapel team for providing hot dogs for lunch; they were enjoyed by all. Next week, unfortunately, is our last session for the summer, but we will have a blast for our final get-together. Please come in fancy dress if you like, as we will have some party songs and party food.

Recrock at the Cwtsh Community Event

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Yesterday we held our RecRock session at Oxford House in Risca, at the Cwtsh Community Wellbeing event. The garden was the perfect setting for our members to sing their favourite songs and have a dance. We also got to make fruit kebabs with Multiply Caerphilly, and have festival make-up and hair done. Next week, we will be back at Libanus Lifestyle Chapel on Wednesday from 10:30am until 12:30pm.

Relationship Course

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Last week Ffion Poole delivered the final part of her relationship course at Oxford House. The last session focused on human rights. We discussed the barriers people face when it comes to relationships, our right to have relationships, and we also talked about fairness, equality, and respect. Well done to everyone who attended the sessions. Your input and views were great to hear, and we’ve all learned something new over the past few weeks.

Learning Disability Event

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As part of Learning Disability week 2024 Caerphilly People First volunteers recently attended a Learning Disability event at the Civic Centre in Pontypool. They shared their opinions and experiences about going out with friends and the barriers they face. They also talked about having paid employment and what their ideal job would be, with Gethin saying he would like to be a train driver. Additionally, they discussed their rights, emphasising their right to live happily in the community, the right to love, and the right to make their own choices. Working with all the feedback will ensure service providers hear our voice and work together to improve things for our future.