Category: Community

Categories
Community Local Mental Wellbeing

Cyfannol (Women’s Aid) New Website Launch

Cyfannol Women’s Aid has launched a new website, aimed at reassuring anyone in Gwent who has experienced any form of domestic abuse or sexual violence that they are not alone and that support is available. 

Cyfannol.org.uk has a range of new features designed to break down barriers to accessing support and improve signposting within communities:   

  • An online Directory of Support Services to help people navigate the options available across Gwent and access the right support for them.  
  • A bank of Self-Help Resources, including trusted sites and links to safety guidance, information about options, sources of specialist support, a glossary of useful terms, and more…   
  • Survivor Stories – in their own words – to reassure and inspire others. Anyone is welcome to submit their story to help grow this bank of first-hand experiences and inspire more people to reach out for support.  
  • More options for Getting in Touch, including a new online call-back form  
  • Information about Cyfannol’s Support Services across Torfaen, Newport, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent and the wider Gwent area  

People may not necessarily be aware of the support services in their area, but we can all help to signpost so people know where to turn if they do need support. 

Follow Cyfannol on social media to help spread the word and browse www.cyfannol.org.uk to find out more.

If you would like to print the poster below a pdf can be found on Cyfannol’s main Gwelcol page.

Categories
Community exercise health and fitness Local Mental Wellbeing Social

Sport in Mind

Sport in Mind ® is an award winning mental health charity (unaffiliated to Mind and not part of the local Mind network) offering free, weekly physical activity sessions for anyone 17+ 

We are the UK’s leading mental health sports charity and deliver physical activity (sport, walking, dance and movement, gardening and exercise sessions) projects in partnership with the amazing NHS in order to aid recovery, promote mental wellbeing, improve physical health, combat social isolation and empower people to move their lives forward in a positive direction. 

We’ve seen firsthand the positive impact physical activity can have on people’s mental health having supported the recovery of thousands of people each year (sporty people and people who say they’ve never previously liked sport). We believe there’s a sport or physical activity out there for everyone and Sport in Mind’s aim is to ensure every single person in the country has the opportunity to improve their mental health through a physical activity session they enjoy. 

Our activity timetable in Gwent: 

What:  Table Tennis in Abergavenny  (more information available on our Activity Map) 

When: Every Tuesday 2.00 – 3.00pm 

Where: Abergavenny Community Centre, Merthyr Rd, Abergavenny NP7 5BY (Main Hall) 

What:  Yoga in Ebbw Vale (more information available on our Activity Map) 

When: Every Wednesday 12:00 – 1:00 pm   

Where: Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, Lime Ave, Ebbw Vale NP23 6GL (Dance Studio) 

What:  Yoga in Abergavenny (more information available on our Activity Map) 

When: Every Thursday 1.00 – 2:00 pm 

Where: Abergavenny Community Centre, Merthyr Rd, Abergavenny NP7 5BY (Creative Room) 

If you are encouraging participants along to our sessions, please complete our Online Participant Form (ideally before attending the first session) – https://www.sportinmind.org/online-partcicpant-sign-up 

Quotes from Sport in Mind participants: 

“Being given the opportunity to play sport has helped me build confidence and be myself again. I’ve also made some really good friends.”   

“Playing sport has given my life focus and helped me get back on track.”   

“I’ve been through some hard times with depression but joining Sport in Mind’s groups have made a massive difference to my life and for the first time in years I feel like I’m making huge strides on my road to recovery.” 

Categories
Community Local Social Volunteering

Gavo Awards – Monmouthshire 2022

We recently had our first Volunteer Awards ceremony in Monmouthshire since before the Pandemic began. We couldn’t be more proud of our wonderful volunteers and were so very happy organise an event to thank those who do not ask for thanks.

Featured categories: Trustee & Director, Sport, International, Environmental, Welsh Heritage & Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Parent and Child, Food Sustainability, Youth/High Sheriff Award, Lifetime Achievement and Inspirational.

For more information click on the link below

https://www.gavo.org.uk/post/monmouthshire-volunteers-celebrated-at-gavo-awards-evening

Categories
Community environment Local

Gavo Cash4U Fund

GAVO are delighted to announce that we are currently accepting applications for this years Cash4U fund.

This is an innovative and exciting youth led funding opportunity which encourages young people from 14-25 to apply for up to £1000 per project.

The aim of the fund is to support more young people to be active within their own communities.

Previous applications that were successful supported young people in the area of sports, arts, culture, wellbeing and the environment.

Applications are assessed by a panel of young people and the whole process is very simple.

Please get in touch if you are interested in applying or would like to be on our assessment panel.

Chris Irving

Youth Volunteer Officer

chris.irving@gavo.org.uk

Categories
Community gardening Horticulture Local Mental Wellbeing Social Volunteering

Growing Space

Growing Space is a registered mental health charity that specialises in supporting individuals with mental ill health, autism or a learning disability. Our aim is to build confidence, develop social skills and improve their quality of life through the provision of therapeutic training, vocational skills, creativity and work experience.  

With sites across south Wales, Growing Space provides a network of support projects, developing skills and knowledge for our participants.

Our accredited and non-accredited opportunities include experiencing and interacting with nature, horticulture, woodwork, creative arts, social enterprise, development of life-skills and wellbeing.

For many of our participants, engagement is one of the many steps towards voluntary work, job opportunities or further education. 

For more information visit the website using the link below

https://growingspace.org.uk/

 
 
Categories
Community exercise gym health and fitness Local

A & J Future Fitness

A&J Future Fitness is a great local gym in Abergavenny that welcomes users of all abilities. The gym offers two separate areas, downstairs is the weights section and upstairs contains a cardio suite and an open space area for more freeform workouts (punchbag, kettle bells, skipping ropes, a sledge and mats for abdominal exercises).

The staff at the gym are very welcoming and will give advice if required (just ask for Arnie or Gavin). There’s also a personal trainer who provides one-to-one sessions for a more focused approach.

A&J Future Fitness also work in conjunction with local support and mental health groups and are more than happy to discuss availability for your group or service to use the gym.

A quote from a regular gym user “I use the gym three days per week and it’s helped me to add focus and structure to my life. I’ve also become much fitter and as a result my self-esteem has improved. I’ve also made friends with other gym users who are regulars like myself. It was hard when I first started but I couldn’t imagine not going, exercise is so important to me”.

Visit A&J’s website below for more information

http://aandjfuturefitness.co.uk/

Categories
Community Food Local Volunteering

Newport FoodCycle

FoodCycle Newport has been operating in the Community House on Eton Road for just over a year now. We aim to prepare, cook, and serve 3-course meals every Tuesday from 6.30pm, using surplus food from local businesses. At FoodCycle we aim to support those struggling with food poverty aswell as poor wellbeing and loneliness, all while doing our bit for the environment and saving food that would otherwise go to waste.

We offer 0-hour commitment volunteer opportunities including, cooking, hosting, and surplus food collection. Food collection is done throughout the afternoon, usually between 2-4pm on the Tuesday. Cooks are asked to arrive at 4.30pm, where we look at the surplus food donations and come up with a 2-3 course menu and work as a team to create an enjoyable vegetarian meal for our guests. Hosts arrive at 5.30pm to set up the dining area and make sure everything is ready for our guests, welcoming them with a smile and a hot or cold drink when they arrive. Food service starts at around 6.30pm and we’re usually finished up for the night at around 8pm.

The aim is for all FoodCycle projects to be volunteer led, so for those volunteers who are looking to get more involved and take lead of their local FoodCycle project, we offer Project Leader roles. As project leader you will receive extra training and shadowing to be able to lead a FoodCycle session without FoodCycle staff.

All guests from all walks of life are welcome at a FoodCycle meal, we operate a fully inclusive guest policy where anyone can join us. Especially now in the cost of living crisis, we offer a warm place and a hot meal to anyone who wants it. Feel free to pop down to a FoodCycle meal to meet our team and enjoy some tasty food and conversation with us!

Volunteer Grahame’s quote – “There are few better feelings of emotional satisfaction than the feeling of helping people in the community that need and deserve help and the feeling of working with likeminded volunteers achieving the same goal.”

For more information visit FoodCycle’s website below

https://foodcycle.org.uk/

Categories
Community Food Local

Breakfast Drop In

Breakfast drop in opening at The Lighthouse!

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