Yesterday, Ffion Poole – supported by Christy Taylor – visited the Newport People First offices to deliver the second workshop of her relationship course. She spoke about relationships, how to meet people, and what makes a good or bad boyfriend/girlfriend. She also gave the group scenarios and asked if they pointed towards a healthy or unhealthy relationship. Ffion is looking forward to providing the third part of the course to the group.
Yesterday saw the final mindfulness session with Dr Andrew Lewis at Libanus Lifestyle. Over the past six sessions, we have practised how to calm the body and mind, the body scan, living in the moment, mindful eating, and for our final session, mindful walking.
Mindful walking is the practice of becoming aware of your surroundings and how your body and mind feel while moving. How do you practice mindfulness when walking? Walk at a natural pace. With each step, pay attention to the lifting and falling of your foot. Notice movement in your legs and the rest of your body. Whatever else captures your attention, come back to the sensation of walking. Members and volunteers have enjoyed every session – especially mindful eating with chocolate – and are practising mindfulness often. Thank you Dr Andrew Lewis for everything.
Finally, after weeks of rain, this week we had the perfect weather to work on our plots at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens & Nursery. Volunteers Sam Evans and Gethin Chamberlain planted mixed beetroot, which will grow into a mixture of colours – red, white gold, and the unusual pink ringed chioggia, giving a variety of flavours for salads.
Caerphilly People First Volunteers are at TARAGGAN every Tuesday morning from 10.30 until 12.30. Working outdoors is great for your well-being and mental health, so if you would like to join our gardening team, please get in touch.
Lisa’s choice of chicken curry at last week’s cookery session was enjoyed by everyone. Luke, Richard, and Jordan did a fantastic job making the curries, and congratulations to the quiz and raffle winners – it was lovely to see everyone having fun. We’d like to thank all our volunteers, who always do an amazing job.
As it’s good Friday next week, there will be no class, so we will see you all on April 14th when Paula has chosen to make toad in the hole, mash and veg. See you all then, and have a great Easter.
Yesterday Caerphilly People First held our AGM (Annual General Meeting) for 2023. At the meeting we went through a summary of the annual trustees’ report for 2021-2022, which details all the activities we took part in during that financial year, as well as looking at a summary of the financial report for the same period, explaining what we have spent our money on, and who has funded us.
Also at the AGM we elected a new Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer. After each nominee gave a speech on why they thought they should be given the roles, the nominees left the room and the rest of the group voted for who they thought should be elected. The result was that Sophie Morgan was elected Chairperson, Natalie King was elected Vice Chairperson, and Ffion Poole was elected Treasurer. The ladies will be in post for three years and we’d like to wish them all the best in their new roles – we know they’ll do an excellent job.
At Friday’s cookery session, Gareth chose to make lasagne – sheets of pasta floating in a lean beef bolognaise and cheese sauce, served with vegetables and garlic bread as side dishes. Our members and volunteers helped prep the vegetables, bolognaise and lasagne ready for cooking, and the end results tasted amazing – well done everyone.
Thanks to Amy Jones and Ffion Poole who ran the quiz whilst we waited for the lasagne to cook, and thanks to Tracy Tregaskis, Sam Evans, and Cheryl Smith for volunteering in the kitchen – you all worked so hard. Next week, Lisa has chosen to make chicken curry and rice.
Here is the latest edition of the Caerphilly People First newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading about the recent activities of our members.
Our Reconnect through Music group was full this week, so thank you to everyone who took part in concert rehearsals, playing keyboard and guitar, and singing songs by artists including Elvis, Neil Diamond, Erasure, and Madonna. A great morning was had by all.
Thank you, Dr Andrew Lewis, for our mindfulness session this week, where we learned about mindful eating. Chocolate meditation is a form of mindfulness meditation where a piece of chocolate is used as a focal point for all the senses. You hear the wrapper and smell, feel, see, and taste the chocolate as part of the practice. Mindfulness meditation trains the mind to focus and stay in the present. Of course, we all enjoyed the chocolate! In two weeks’ time, we are looking forward to a walking mindfulness session.
Thank you to Sophie Morgan and Tracy Tregaskis, for volunteering at last week’s Reconnect through Breakfast session at Rhymney Community Centre. This is an initiative funded by Bute Energy and Cwtsh which aims to provide a warm space and free breakfast for people. The ladies did a fantastic job serving crumpets, toast, croissants, and teas and coffees. We will be back at the centre on Thursday 23rd March from 9:30 – 11:30am, so join us if you can.
