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

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...

A total of 95,000 hot meals will be delivered to the doorsteps of older people living in Carmarthenshire this year alone. An army of WRVS volunteers, working with the county council’s social care division, ensure that more than 800 older residents have access to healthy and nutritious meals regardless of rain, wind or shine. And Cllr Pat Jones, the council’s executive board member for health and social care, is leading the tributes to the volunteers as part of National Meals on Wheels Week (October 11-17, 2010). “Meals on Wheels provides an essential service for older people living in Carmarthenshire,” she said. “We are proud of the volunteers who do their rounds no matter what the weather, to make sure that people are provided with a hot, nutritious meal. “I've been on many rounds with the volunteers, so I know from my own experience what a worthwhile service this is - and it complements the wide range of services the council provides to help people live independently within their...