Tag Archives: Learning Disability

Reconnect through Music

Posted on by

Concert practice was in full swing this week, and everyone sounded great.  It was great to see some new people attend our Reconnect through Music session with Dan from RecRock, taking part in singing and playing instruments.  It can be very nerve-wracking to perform in front of people, but everyone did brilliantly.

The group will be taking part in the St David’s Day concert at the White Rose Centre in New Tredegar on 1st March at 1:30pm.  This is a music performance by various wellbeing groups in Caerphilly and is free to attend.  We hope to see you there!

Gardening

Posted on by

This week Caerphilly People First Volunteers have been hard at work on their garden plots, planting broad beans.

Broad beans are packed with a whole host of vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet can be beneficial to your bones, brain function, and immune system. Broad beans take 16 to 20 weeks to reach maturity and can be planted from February onwards, for harvest throughout the summer.  We are looking forward to picking them and eating them when the time comes.

Caerphilly People First Volunteers are at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens & Nursery in Gilfach every Tuesday morning from 10.30am onwards, so feel free to pop along if you would like to get involved.

Reconnect through Music

Posted on by

Another great session last week with our reconnect through music group, led by Dan from Recrock.  At the session we practiced for our St David’s concert which is happening on Wednesday 1st March at the White Rose centre in New Tredegar.  All are welcome to attend this event, which will consist of musical performances from Caerphilly People First members and individuals from other groups. 

Cookery Course

Posted on by

Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s cookery session – it was another great success.  The group made beef burgers from scratch, as suggested by Carly.  We made the burgers using 5% fat lean mince, and added fried onions, cheese, and ketchup to our buns, and the results tasted amazing.  Some members chose to have their burgers with salad and onion rings, and some chose chips.

It was lovely to see everyone coming together, learning new skills and sharing tips with each other on how to make the perfect burger.  Thanks again to everyone who volunteered – we couldn’t do it without you.

Moira has chosen to make creamy buttery mashed potato, served with fish fingers and peas next week.  We won’t be making the fish fingers from scratch, so we will also have time to make some chocolate Rice Krispies cakes.

Gardening & Walking

Posted on by

Yesterday the group took part in a couple of healthy outside activities.  During the morning we restarted work on our allotment at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens & Nursery after the winter break.  It was lovely to see John again and we’d like to thank him for tending to our plot throughout the winter.  Our volunteers couldn’t wait to get back to their tools and prepare the plot to plant broad beans next week.

Lunch was followed by a brisk walk in the beautiful sunshine.  Connecting with nature and working outdoors is so important and has so many physical and mental benefits.  Our members have been looking forward to this day, and really enjoyed it.

Our volunteers meet at TARAGGAN every Tuesday at 10.30am, so if you would like to get involved please get in touch.

Mindfulness

Posted on by

This week the group enjoyed another mindfulness session with Andrew at Libanus Lifestyle Centre in Blackwood. The group talked about stress and took part in the Body Scan.

The Body Scan is a mindfulness meditation which involves scanning your body for pain, tension, or anything out of the ordinary. Some of our members were so relaxed we could actually hear snoring (Gethin Chamberlain)!

How do you a full body scan?

1. Get into position. Find a quiet place

2. Breathe deeply. Take a few deep breaths.

3. Take notice. Be aware of all the physical contact your body is making.

4. Start the scan.

5. Breathe through it.

6. Scan your whole body.

We ended the session by reciting the following mantra: I am calm. I am present in the moment. I am at peace. I am conquering my fears.

The music was beautiful and everyone felt so relaxed afterwards.  We look forward to continuing our mindfulness journey every week.

Cookery Course

Posted on by

We had another very successful cookery session last week – attended by over 30 people – during which the group made spaghetti Bolognese. Members made their own sauce using cherry tomatoes, basil, coriander, garlic, tomato puree, and a few oxo cubes. This was added to the 5% fat lean mince and served with spaghetti and fusilli pasta, and cheesy garlic bread.

It’s wonderful to see everyone learning new skills and catching up with friends, old and new. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, and we’ll see you all again on Friday, when Carly has chosen to make beef burgers.

Art and Wellbeing

Posted on by

Yesterday we held the 5th and final session of our art and wellbeing project with Liz from Islwyn Art Project CIC. The canvasses look fantastic, and we’d like to thank Liz, who’s been amazing to work with.

This is feedback we received from one of our members and volunteers, Morgan, who attended the art and wellbeing project.

When Elizabeth first came to Caerphilly People First five weeks ago, everyone was looking forward to see what she had lined up for us. As the weeks went on we found that the arts sessions were really enjoyable. Today was the last session with Elizabeth, but at some point she’s going to be coming back to do more creative things with us. After these sessions I have more confidence to draw and be artistic.