Two Comic Relief funded projects in Denbighshire joined forces on Monday 11th March to celebrate this year’s Comic Relief theme, the Danceathon!

Age Connects North Wales Central got together with Denbighshire Arts Service to provide a mini danceathon at Dolwen Day Care Centre. Year 2 pupils from Ysgol Y Parc in Denbigh visited the care home and took part in an intergenerational dance session run by NEW Dance, one of the delivery partners on the Denbighshire Arts Service Comic Relief project.

Comic Relief funds the Age Connects NWC Speak UP project which is designed to build up self-confidence and empower residents in care homes to Speak UP for themselves.

As part of the Speak UP project Dolwen and Ysgol Y Parc have become firm friends and intergenerational sessions now run on a regular basis. The sessions continue to be a positive and fun experience for all!

Ysgol Y Parc and Dolwen also take part in the Music and Dance in Denbighshire Care Homes project which is also funded by Comic Relief. The project is managed by Denbighshire Arts Service and delivered by NEW Dance and Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias Music Centre at the three Local Authority Care Homes in Denbighshire (Awelon in Ruthin, Cysgod y Gaer in Corwen and Dolwen in Denbigh). Each care home has one dance workshop and one music workshop per month; this includes linking in with local schools and community groups who visit the care homes to take part in activity.

N.B Selection of pictures attached from the sessions – Year 2 pupils from Ysgol Y Parc and Dolwen residents/day visitor

Last Thursday Eirianfa came alive with the Age Connects Christmas gathering. Children from Ysgol y Parc entertained us with the singing and they were treated to a visit by Father Christmas and an opportunity to sit in a police car.

We had a range of stall holders selling Christmas gifts and the Scouts had a fun competition for everyone to enjoy.

We were entertained by Brenda and her Band and the Ruthin U3A Ukulele Band The Pleasant Pluckers. Salford Community Café served refreshments.

The Mayor had the most difficult job of judging a drawing competition from children from Ysgol y Parc and Ysgol Fron

A lovely evening was had by all who attended and we would like to thank our kind volunteers who helped on the evening, Eirianfa, Saflord Community Café, Brenda and her Band, Pleasant Pluckers, Vale of Clwyd 1st Denbigh Scouts, Cheese2go, North Clwyd Animal Rescue, Teg for Textiles, The Kings Garden, Jewelscraft, Mayor of Denbigh, North Wales Police and of course Father Christmas.

Last Thursday our Forum Coordinator for Denbighshire Abbe and Rebecca our Denbighshire Community Navigator spent the morning at the Ruthin Livestock Centre talking to farmers about health and well-being. They had a great morning talking to farmers about support which is available to them within the community, promoting our forums and informing people about the services provided by Age Connects. It was a successful morning and the pair managed to talk to over 20 people.

On Saturday, Rebecca attended the Flu Clinic at the Llangollen Health Centre, this very successful event meant that she spoke to over 35 people informing them of her role, promoting Talking Points, informing people about services within the community as well as promoting Dewis.

As part of Denbighshire County Council  Celebrating Age week we hosted an afternoon of fun filled activities at The Alive Church in Prestatyn

Over 70 people enjoyed the afternoon which included dancing, artwork, information about nature and gardening, nail painting and World War memorabilia. Our Speak UP project brought the seaside inside to brighten up the day and food was provided by Salford by the Sea Community Café. We would like to thank Kings Garden Enterprise, Bezaeel Arts, Abs-olute Beauty, Teg for Textiles, Salford by the Sea Community Café and the Alive Church for all your support.

This week Denbighshire County Council has been celebrating “Ageing Well in Denbighshire” by sharing a series of videos about initiatives involving older people. Here is the video about our “Speak UP” project.

Would you consider volunteering for only 2 hours a week?
You would be trained and have lots of support.

The project works in care homes in Denbighshire, Conwy and Gwynedd. Whatever your skill…. listening, singing, crafting, quizzing, chatting… you could add something to the project.

Interested?….then phone 01745 816947 or Contact Us via the webform.