Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A new day club which launched in the Teifi Valley just a few weeks ago is already thriving. The Newcastle Emlyn club is one of many newly established in Carmarthenshire since the local authority gave independent and voluntary groups the chance to run their own services. Situated near to the Maes Llewellyn Care Home, Church Lane, the club is run by Age Concerns Ceredigion and Sir Gâr, and replaces a club previously run by the council. Members meet every Tuesday and Thursday and have the opportunity to enjoy a hot meal, entertainment and new experiences, including Nordic walking and computer taster sessions. A nail cutting clinic has just been introduced, and volunteers are also applying for funding for three laptops to create a computer café, where one-to-one training will be offered. After just a few sessions, the membership has increased to 21. Gwyneth Jones, of Age Concern Ceredigion, said: “The club operates in partnership with Age Concern Sir Gâr and offers volunteer opportunities,...

Members of the new Day Club in Llandeilo have given it a thumbs up. The club is run by the WRVS in Maes Elfryn. Picture: Mary and Gordon Kendrick, members of the day club, with Kellie Cridland and Amanda Cooke, WRVS staff. Pic: Jeff Connell

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 ever...

Carmarthenshire County Council Day Club services are being redesigned to enable better use of resources for those in need of higher levels of care in the community. Five Day Clubs in the county will be affected by the plans, but whilst there will be some reorganisation for staff, many service users who currently use the day clubs will be offered a higher level of service within the council’s Day Centres, and others will be offered places at local independently-run luncheon clubs and social groups. The small number of staff who currently run Day Clubs will be offered redeployment opportunities elsewhere within the council, these could include opportunities within the council’s Day Centres where vacancies have been identified. The Day Clubs affected are Ystradowen Day Club, Ystradowen; Noddfa Teilo Day Club, Llandeilo; Gwendraeth Day Club, Pontyates; Caemaen Day Club, Llanelli; and Teifi valley Day Club, Newcastle Emlyn. The review of day services is a progression of decisions made by Ex...