New Llandeilo Day Club is a hit
Older people living in Llandeilo have given the thumbs up to their new day club.
The club, run by the WRVS at the council’s Maes Elfryn Sheltered Housing Scheme, threw open its doors for the first time this week.
Almost 30 members have attended and enjoyed a cooked lunch and a chat with friends and volunteers.
It was a change for some who had previously attended a council-run day club at the nearby Noddfa Teilo.
In the hands of volunteers, the new club provides a more flexible service for older people and, because it is no longer run by the council, more people are able to join as eligibility criteria no longer applies.
Husband and wife Gordon and Mary Kendrick are two of those that have moved from Noddfa Teilo.
“It’s been lovely,” said Mary, aged 74. “I think the thought of the move was worse than it actually was. We’ve all enjoyed, and will be looking forward to the next few weeks when we start having more entertainment.”
The new club provides social activities from 11.30-2.30pm every Wednesday and Friday, where the previous club’s running time was constrained by the availability of council transport.
A reduced rate taxi service has been arranged for the new club offering a return journey for £2.
Amanda Cooke, WRVS co-ordinator in Carmarthenshire, said: “The first week of the club has gone extremely well. We had 19 people attending on the first day and 27 on the second. They enjoyed an excellent meal and then had a chat or played cards for the rest of the afternoon.
“We’ll be fully settled in over the next few weeks, and then we’ll be able to include more entertainment – maybe music and bingo – and then hopefully the numbers will grow and it will become a vibrant club.”
Llandeilo’s new day club is the fourth to be successfully taken over by voluntary and community groups in Carmarthenshire.
It is hoped a fifth will open in Newcastle Emlyn within the next few weeks. Discussions are currently underway between council officers and the local community.
The transfer of day clubs from council operation has allowed £400,000 to be redirected to areas of higher need, such as domiciliary and dementia care.
It also frees county council transport to support the discharge of hospital patients.
As part of the changes to day services, all members of the council day clubs were also offered assessment for day care centres, which offer higher level of care, including personal care.
Cllr Pat Jones, Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to hear that the new day club in Llandeilo is up and running and that clients are enjoying in their new surroundings.
“We understand that the change has been difficult for some, but this has definitely been a change for the better.”
She added: “Even though we have had to make changes, not one person has lost their day club provision, and many people are now receiving a higher care package at our day centres.”
If you would like to join the new day club in Maes Elfryn, or if you have time to volunteer or provide entertainment, please call the WRVS on 01269 843819.
Members of the new Llandeilo day club, Mary and Gordon Kendrick, with WRVS staff Kellie Cridland and Amanda Cooke. Pic Jeff Connell
The club, run by the WRVS at the council’s Maes Elfryn Sheltered Housing Scheme, threw open its doors for the first time this week.
Almost 30 members have attended and enjoyed a cooked lunch and a chat with friends and volunteers.
It was a change for some who had previously attended a council-run day club at the nearby Noddfa Teilo.
In the hands of volunteers, the new club provides a more flexible service for older people and, because it is no longer run by the council, more people are able to join as eligibility criteria no longer applies.
Husband and wife Gordon and Mary Kendrick are two of those that have moved from Noddfa Teilo.
“It’s been lovely,” said Mary, aged 74. “I think the thought of the move was worse than it actually was. We’ve all enjoyed, and will be looking forward to the next few weeks when we start having more entertainment.”
The new club provides social activities from 11.30-2.30pm every Wednesday and Friday, where the previous club’s running time was constrained by the availability of council transport.
A reduced rate taxi service has been arranged for the new club offering a return journey for £2.
Amanda Cooke, WRVS co-ordinator in Carmarthenshire, said: “The first week of the club has gone extremely well. We had 19 people attending on the first day and 27 on the second. They enjoyed an excellent meal and then had a chat or played cards for the rest of the afternoon.
“We’ll be fully settled in over the next few weeks, and then we’ll be able to include more entertainment – maybe music and bingo – and then hopefully the numbers will grow and it will become a vibrant club.”
Llandeilo’s new day club is the fourth to be successfully taken over by voluntary and community groups in Carmarthenshire.
It is hoped a fifth will open in Newcastle Emlyn within the next few weeks. Discussions are currently underway between council officers and the local community.
The transfer of day clubs from council operation has allowed £400,000 to be redirected to areas of higher need, such as domiciliary and dementia care.
It also frees county council transport to support the discharge of hospital patients.
As part of the changes to day services, all members of the council day clubs were also offered assessment for day care centres, which offer higher level of care, including personal care.
Cllr Pat Jones, Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to hear that the new day club in Llandeilo is up and running and that clients are enjoying in their new surroundings.
“We understand that the change has been difficult for some, but this has definitely been a change for the better.”
She added: “Even though we have had to make changes, not one person has lost their day club provision, and many people are now receiving a higher care package at our day centres.”
If you would like to join the new day club in Maes Elfryn, or if you have time to volunteer or provide entertainment, please call the WRVS on 01269 843819.
Members of the new Llandeilo day club, Mary and Gordon Kendrick, with WRVS staff Kellie Cridland and Amanda Cooke. Pic Jeff Connell
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