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Prestatyn Older People’s Forum: March 2019
An Older People’s forum was held in Prestatyn Library on the 28th March 2019. The meeting was very well attended and three speakers were able to join us.
Ann Griffith – Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner attended Prestatyn Forum on Thursday 28th March and spoke about the work she is doing in North Wales. Forum members were also able to participate in a Q&A with Ann which members enjoyed.
Rebecca Szekely – Community Navigator talked to the forum about her role and how she and her colleagues can support members in finding help and support within the community.
Rachel Twiss from Deafblind UK attended the forum and informed members about her role within the community and the services they can provide from befriending to assistance with technology.
Intergenerational Comic Relief Fun in Denbigh
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
Tweedmill and Age Connects grafting together for gardeners’ delight
Dig this! The popular regional shopping outlet and the empowering older persons’ charity have joined forces to promote wellbeing for carers and those they care for.
Tweedmill, St.Asaph, has been host to a garden developed by Age Connects North Wales Central, Denbigh, since 2015. The garden was designed to support those living with dementia to engage with the natural world and use gardening tasks in a constructive and therapeutic way.
The successful Perennials project is set to bloom thanks to the continued support of Tweedmill. Perennials, will be focusing on sowing seeds of hope and, cultivating community connections for anyone in a caring role and for those they care for; to participate together in the development of a ‘stroll garden’ at the site, learn more about gardening, pass on their skills or simply enjoy light gardening duties without the responsibility for the garden.
Participants will be able to grow food and flowers to take home and will be working together with a local school. Following the sessions, gardeners may choose to enjoy some retail therapy and a cuppa at the prominent attraction. Russell Booth one of the owners of Tweedmill says “It is important that Tweedmill works with and supports local charities, so as to give something back to the community in appreciation of all their loyal customers”
Age Connects Christmas Event 2018
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.
Celebrating Christmas
Age Connects are holding a Christmas event on the 13th December in Eirinfa, Denbigh 5pm-9pm. People of all ages are welcome to get together to celebrate the festive season. Father Christmas himself will be making a special appearance together with live music, refreshments, stalls and a raffle with some fabulous prizes. Cllr Catherine Jones, Mayor of Denbigh will be attending as well as Town Councillors and Police Officers from the local police station. All are welcome to join in the fun! For further information please contact 0300 2345007
Remembering Ted
Edward Evans known as ‘Ted’ volunteer friend and colleague for over 13 years. Ted took up volunteering for ACNWC at the age of 82 years young!He contributed to a number of our services, always with good humour and kindness.
Ted was a shining example of an older person being able to take on new challenges and make a difference to the lives of others. He made home visits to people who use our services and always ensured that the service users were given the best possible experience.
He always went the extra mile to ensure that if he wasn’t able to help them then he would signpost them to another agency or organisation.
He commanded huge respect amongst his colleagues for the way he took on board new information and the way he offered advice on how we could improve our service.
He will be sorely missed but we thank him for his huge contribution and friendship.
1,000,000 Steps!
Age Connects NWC staff have decided to challenge themselves by walking 1,000,000 in one week to raise money and awareness of their projects in Denbighshire and Conwy whilst supporting their own health and well-being at the same time!
Monies raised will go towards events and future projects which support older people in Conwy and Denbighshire.
The challenge starts on the 18th November 2018 and ends on the 24th November 2018.
Keep up to date with their progress on by following their twitter page @ageconnectsnwc
To sponsor the team: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/1millionstepsacnwc
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.
Celebrating Age 2018
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.
