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

Age Cymru Sir Gâr are celebrating reaching their 21st year operating as a charity for people aged 50-plus in Carmarthenshire. The charity has supported people to live longer, live independently, make informed choices and have control over their lives. The charity is extended a warm invitation to all members of the public to come and join in the celebrations on Thursday, March 30, at St Peter’s Civic Hall, Nott Square, Carmarthen, from 12-3.30pm. Like all good parties, there will be music, activities and refreshments throughout the afternoon. There will be taster sessions of all the activities the charity has helped to set up around the county as well as some new activities. You can have a go at Nordic walking, seated exercise or dancing, as well as the more traditional knitting, arts and crafts. The charity was set up in October 1995 with their first office in Cross Hands. The charity moved to Blue Street in Carmarthen and needed to move again in 2001 to more suitable, disabled-frie...

People aged 65 or over are being advised to get vaccinated against influenza (‘flu’) soon for best protection this winter. Flu can be very serious for older people, and the annual ‘Beat Flu’ immunisation programme is now underway throughout Wales, encouraging individuals most at risk of serious complications from flu to get protected with a free flu vaccination. As well as older people this also includes pregnant women and those with certain long term health conditions as these groups are at high risk of complications if they catch flu. Older people, and the carers of those whose health may be at risk if the carer becomes ill, are being advised about the dangers of flu with a clear message from Public Health Wales to “Beat flu before it beats you!” Last year in Wales around a third of the people in Wales aged 65 and over missed out on getting their flu vaccine. Ian Thomas, Chief Executive of the older people’s charity Age Cymru, said: “As part of our annual Spread the Warmth campaign, ...

'Get ready for winter’ – that’s the advice today for over 65s from an older people’s charity and the Welsh Government’s warm homes scheme. Age Cymru and Nest are teaming up to give away handy ‘Winter Wrapped Up’ guides which contain advice on preparing for winter. The ‘Winter Wrapped Up’ guide has information about issues including: · Getting your central heating system serviced by a Gas Safe-registered engineer · Insulating and draught-proofing your home · Making sure your smoke alarms are working properly · Installing carbon monoxide alarms in your home It’s part of Age Cymru’s annual ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign to help keep older people across Wales warm, safe and well over the winter. “With winter just around the corner it’s a good time to plan ahead to make sure we are able to keep ourselves warm, safe and well over the colder months” said Age Cymru’s Spread the Warmth coordinator Angharad Phillips. “Working with Nest, we have put together our ‘Winter Wrapped Up’ ...

On Wednesday 20 April 2016 sports scientists at Aberystwyth University and AGE Cymru Ceredigion will host a free ‘functional fitness workshop’ aimed at the over 60s in the county to assess their ability to perform daily tasks. This is the third time this annual event has been offered, and will take place between 10am-4pm in the Carwyn James Building on the Penglais campus of the University. Dr Marco Arkesteijn, a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics at IBERS said: “Supervised by staff, our students run the activities on the day, focusing on a series of tests to assess the current fitness status of individuals. There is no obligation to commit to anything following the assessment but those taking part will be fully informed about their current level of fitness, and can address any issues that may arise in their own time, at their own pace.” The workshop aims to assess an individual’s fitness and ability to perform various daily tasks, referred to as ‘functional assessments’. At...

“Do you really regret your tattoo?” asks charity arts project A Cardiff tea room is to be the location of an unusual art exhibition about over older people and their tattoos. ‘No Regrets’ is a photographic exhibition by the Gwanwyn arts festival from older people’s charity Age Cymru. It gets under the skin of over 50s by asking them the question “Do you really regret your tattoo in older age?” ‘No Regrets’ is going to be on show at Waterloo Tea on Waterloo Gardens, which supports local artists by displaying their work as a six-week exhibition. Featuring photography by Michal Iwanowski, the exhibition promises to deliver a positive and inspiring study of tattoos on older skin and the stories behind the ink. Says Emma Robinson, Age Cymru’s Arts & Creativity Development Officer: “Gwanwyn is the Wales-wide, national arts festival for older people, championing and we’re delighted to partner up with Waterloo Tea in Cardiff. “The idea for ‘No Regrets’ came from the notion that people who...

Carmarthenshire residents can have their Will written for free and make a donation to charity at the same time during April. Local law firm Mary Evans & Co is running a ‘make a free Will month’ during April and offering customers the chance to donate to Age Cymru and Age Cymru Sir Gar. The company’s Mary Evans says: “We are pleased to be supporting the Age Cymru Free Wills month and confirm that all Wills made by us under this initiative will be provided by us completely free of charge. “However, it is also hoped that some people will wish to make a donation to Age Cymru towards the cost of the important work they do, namely to lift as many older people as possible out of poverty and to combat loneliness and isolation amongst Welsh pensioners through their activities. “The suggested donations are £95.00 for a single Will and £135.00 for a mirror Will which also involves a saving on our usual charges for wills in addition to the obvious VAT saving. “Some people might well al...

Dr Bernadette Fuge, Chair of Age Cymru, has been awarded an OBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honour list for her work at the charity.  Bernadette, born and educated in Flintshire, has been our Chair since 2009 after being a trustee of Age Concern Cymru from 2005. She is a graduate of the Welsh National School of Medicine and worked as a community paediatrician and partner in a Cardiff GP practice before joining the Welsh Office in 1990. Following devolution she held the positions of Principal Medical Officer, Head of NHS Quality and was the first Medical Director of NHS Wales in the National Assembly. Bernadette says: "I am very honoured to receive this award. “It is a privilege for me to work with and for older people and a tribute to the staff, partners and volunteers of Age Cymru for their work to improve the lives of older people in Wales.” Ian Thomas, Age Cymru’s Chief Executive says: “Many congratulations to Bernadette on being awarded an OBE. “Bernadette has contributed gre...

A 91-year-old South Wales woman was drying toilet paper on the radiator and eating just two boiled potatoes a day because she was so desperately short of money. That’s one of the shocking examples highlighted by a new report by the older people’s charity Age Cymru about pensioner poverty in Wales. ‘Life on a low income’ has been launched at the National Assembly for Wales. The report finds that: · 84,000 older people in Wales live in poverty; · Just under 50,000 older people in Wales live in severe poverty on £183.50 per week or less; · 200,000 older people report cutting back on food, heating, and social activities for financial reasons; · 42,000 of older people report getting into debt in recent years; ‘Life on a low income – the reality of poverty for older people in Wales’ is based on research by Age Cymru and real-life case studies of the hardships faced by some older people in Wales. Report author Graeme Francis of Age Cymru says: “All older peopl...

A Pembrokeshire older people’s charity has changed its name and joined a national network of charities for older people. Age Concern Pembrokeshire’s new name is Age Cymru Pembrokeshire and it has become a member of the Age Cymru family of charities. Commenting on the change, Age Cymru Pembrokeshire’s Chief Officer Jane Slade says: “This is a very exciting time for us and a time of change. “After over 20 years as Age Concern Pembrokeshire, Age Cymru Pembrokeshire will continue to provide support and services for people in the area. “Local people will still be able to access our free, confidential, information and advice service and be supported by our befriending scheme and carer support programme. “We will also continue to provide our ‘Home from Hospital’ programme; our ‘Home Support’ service; our nail cutting service; socialisation packages and our telephone care calls. “It goes without saying that after 20 years, we still need the support, enthusiasm and energy of our cohort of v...

A Welsh charity is calling on the people of Wales to celebrate Wales and Welshness during ‘Big Welsh Month’ in March. Age Cymru – Wales’ largest older people’s charity, is organising the fun-filled month to raise funds to support its work with older people. Emma Lionel of Age Cymru says: “Big Welsh Month is Age Cymru’s new fundraiser which kicks off on St David’s Day and it runs all through March. “We’re asking the people of Wales to get involved, celebrate Wales and everything that’s Welsh, and have fun while helping Age Cymru to help older people across Wales. “Big Welsh Month is a great way of bringing everyone together to celebrate the diversity of Wales and we’re all very excited by it – we’ve even had someone in Melbourne in Australia contacting us wanting to be part of the celebrations. “So get involved and have fun with Age Cymru, your friends and family by celebrating Wales and Welshness during Big Welsh Month this March.” How you can get involved with Big Welsh M...

Age Cymru is wishing trick-or-treaters a happy Halloween for Thursday night (October 31). We want everyone to have a fun and trouble-free night as our Safeguarding Manager, Louise Hughes, says: “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Halloween on Thursday. “But we also need to remember that not everyone wants to be involved in the celebrations. “This is why we’ve put a list of tips together which will allow everyone to have a happy Halloween.” Here are Age Cymru’s Top Halloween tips: Parents or guardians should accompany children who are trick-or-treating; Parents or guardians should call in on neighbours in advance to make sure that it will be okay to trick-or-treat them on Halloween; Older people who may not want trick-or-treaters calling in on them on Halloween can put a note in their window to ask people to stay away; If you are a trick-or-treater, please stay away from any houses that have got a note in the window asking you not to knock on their door; Be com...

Ian Thomas has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Age Cymru. Ian has extensive experience of working in the voluntary sector and is currently Director of Scope Cymru. Prior to his current post, he was Director of Alzheimers Cymru and Director of Services/Operations (UK) for the Alzheimers Society. Ian says, "I feel that the time is now right for me to use my knowledge and experience base to lead an organisation that I have huge belief in, to ensure that the future for older people in Wales is as bright and secure as possible." Ian will be taking up his new role on December 2.

Cardiff Bay will be grooving to the reggae beats of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra this Saturday (25 May). The 30-strong group is playing a set of Bob Marley and Lord Tanamo covers and original songs at the Wales Millennium Centre at 1.30pm. It is part of the Gwanwyn festival – a month of art events for over 50s organised by the charity Age Cymru. Says Phil Thomas, Gwanwyn’s coordinator: “Bristol Reggae Orchestra is one of the UK’s most unique and uplifting community projects and it is made up of people of all ages. “We’re very proud to have them headlining this free concert we’re holding on Saturday 25 May on the Glanfa stage of the Wales Millennium Centre. “If your experience of reggae is all from record, come along on Saturday - it promises to be a toe-tapping show of crowd pleasers, world music and an infectious reggae beat. “Our show will also feature the world premiere of piece of music commissioned by Gwanwyn featuring Dylan Fowler on guitar and Adam Doughty on an African harp...

A scheme to help older people claim the benefits they deserve is being run by Age Cymru in Llanelli until November. The More Money in Your Pocket campaign will see surgeries giving older people information about the benefit system. Future surgeries will be held in Tumble Memorial Hall at 12noon and 2pm on Tuesday, September 25, Llansawel Community Hall at 10am on Friday, October 5, and finally at Black Mountain Centre, Brynaman, at 1pm on Monday, November 5. Call 01554 784080 for a campaign booklet.