Caerphilly People First

Caerphilly People First We are a self advocacy organisation in Caerphilly Borough, run by and for citizens with learning disabilities.

26/01/2026

🌟 Caerphilly Parent Network Volunteer Awards Event – Event Report 🌟

Today, we were honoured to attend the Annual Caerphilly Parent Network Volunteer Awards Event, and what an inspiring occasion it was 👏💙

It was truly uplifting to hear about the incredible range of voluntary work being carried out by the Caerphilly Parent Network across the borough. The event celebrated the dedication, kindness, and commitment of individuals who selflessly give up their time to support others in their communities 🌈🤝

Several awards were presented throughout the event, including:
🏆 Inspirational Volunteer
🏆 Personal Journey Award
🏆 Most Enthusiastic Award
🏆 Humble Hero Award

The final award of the day was the Sian Northey Award, which holds a very special meaning 💐 This award is named in honour of Sian Northey, a wonderful and much-loved volunteer who contributed so much to the Parent Network before she sadly passed away a few years ago. Each year, the award is presented by Sian’s son, Gethin Chamberlain, a valued member of Caerphilly People First, making the moment especially moving and meaningful ❤️

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Caerphilly Parent Network for inviting us to be part of such a positive and heartfelt event 🙌 And of course, thank you as well for the lovely buffet – it was very much appreciated! 🥪🍰

Overall, the event was a wonderful celebration of community spirit, generosity, and the power of volunteering 💫

21/01/2026

We had a great time at our music session today! WE DO NOT OWN RIGHTS TO THIS MUSIC!

🎵 Reconnect Through Music – Session Report 🎵 Fleur-de-Lys Community Centre was packed today for our fortnightly Reconnec...
21/01/2026

🎵 Reconnect Through Music – Session Report 🎵

Fleur-de-Lys Community Centre was packed today for our fortnightly Reconnect Through Music session, creating a fantastic atmosphere full of smiles, laughter, and socialising 😄💬 Music once again brought everyone together, and our talented members sang an impressive total of 22 songs during the session 🎤🎶

Theresa kicked things off with a heartfelt performance of “Never Forget” by Take That, and Natalie soon had everyone moving and singing along with “One Love” by Bob Marley 🌍🎶 Ellysia followed with an energetic version of “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, while Kelvin treated us to two songs by Cliff Richard 🎸✨ Wayne kept the energy high with “Who’s That Girl” by Madonna, and Paula and Natalie teamed up for two fantastic duets, performing songs by ABBA and The Righteous Brothers 💃🎼 There were many other great performances, making the session varied and enjoyable for everyone involved 🌟

We would like to say a big thank you to Cheryl and Helen for preparing a lovely lunch 🥪💐, and to Pete the caretaker for getting the centre ready for us and making sure everything ran smoothly 🔑👏

The feedback from members was incredibly positive and really shows how much these sessions mean to people. Theresa said she enjoyed making new friends and feels the sessions cannot be improved 😊❤️ Anthony told us that our music sessions are the best in the world! 🌍🌟 Emily shared that she really enjoyed the loud music 🔊🎵 It was another wonderful session filled with music, friendship, and joy 💕🎤

We look forward to welcoming everyone back at our next Reconnect Through Music session on Wednesday 4th February! 📅🎶

We have our Reconnect Through Music session tomorrow (Wednesday 21st January) from 10.30am to 1.00pm at Fleur-De-Lys com...
20/01/2026

We have our Reconnect Through Music session tomorrow (Wednesday 21st January) from 10.30am to 1.00pm at Fleur-De-Lys community centre. Come along with a smile and a few song suggestions! See you tomorrow :)

It was really nice to see our members and volunteers on Friday, at our first Reconnect through Cookery session since the...
20/01/2026

It was really nice to see our members and volunteers on Friday, at our first Reconnect through Cookery session since the Christmas break. The session had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with everyone happy to be back together. Alongside the cooking, members also took part in group activities that encouraged social interaction and fun. A quiz and a game of bingo helped create lots of laughter and conversation, adding to the positive atmosphere of the session. Members loved reconnecting after the Christmas break, working together as a group, learning and practicing cookery skills, and taking part in fun, inclusive social activities.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped in the kitchen and supported members throughout the day, and a massive thank you to Cheryl, Zoe, and Helen for running the session and making sure everything went smoothly. We would also like to say a huge thank you to Natalie for running the quiz, and to Tasha for calling out bingo - your continued support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.

Our next Reconnect Through Cookery session will take place on Friday 30th January, when we will be cooking cottage pie. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another enjoyable session, and we'll see you then!

Happy Birthday to our Executive assistant Ffion 🎉🥳 we hope your birthday is as special as you, have a wonderful day cele...
19/01/2026

Happy Birthday to our Executive assistant Ffion 🎉🥳 we hope your birthday is as special as you, have a wonderful day celebrating! 🍾💛

Don't forget we have our cookery class tomorrow (Friday 16th January) 11am at Fleur-de-Lys, when we will be making curry...
15/01/2026

Don't forget we have our cookery class tomorrow (Friday 16th January) 11am at Fleur-de-Lys, when we will be making curry.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

14/01/2026

Gerraint interviewed several of our members when we launched our Manifesto back in 2025.

We've put the interviews together into a video on our YouTube channel.

Have a watch and listen to what our members have to say about the Manifesto and about voting in the Senedd elections this year. https://youtu.be/wcUZYgt6Tig

And you can read our Manifesto on the website here: https://ow.ly/3Ge550XVWEt
(pic: N Hirst)

14/01/2026

Yesterday Ffion Poole attended the online All Wales People First National Council meeting. The meeting began with a welcome, and everyone introduced themselves. The group talked about the ground rules for the meeting. These rules help everyone feel safe, respected, and able to speak and be listened to. The group then looked at the minutes from the last meeting. People were able to check for mistakes, ask questions, and hear updates on actions agreed at the last meeting.

Joe Powell, the Chief Executive, gave an update to the group. He talked about the work of All Wales People First and shared information about the workplan for 2026. Representatives then shared issues from their local groups. These were issues that may need action across Wales.

Chloe Cannon spoke to the group next. She is an All Wales People First Representative on the Lived Experience Collective Board. Chloe explained the work of the CARE Research Centre for Adult Social Care and the work they do at Cardiff University. She also asked people to share their experiences of older people with learning disabilities.

All Wales People First has decided that a Member Code of Conduct may be needed. A Code of Conduct is a set of rules about how people should behave at events. The group talked about whether a Code of Conduct is needed and what rules should be included.

The group also talked about future National Council meetings. This included where meetings should be held, how people get information, and future meeting dates. Other updates were shared, including progress with Adfest planning, feedback from the Disabled People’s Rights Plan consultation, and feedback from the Direct Payments consultation.

🎶 Reconnect Through Music – Session Report 🎶 We had a fantastic start to 2026 with our first Reconnect Through Music ses...
07/01/2026

🎶 Reconnect Through Music – Session Report 🎶

We had a fantastic start to 2026 with our first Reconnect Through Music session of the year, and what a brilliant session it was! 🌟 Despite the freezing weather outside ❄️, a lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere was created by everyone who attended.

A total of 25 songs were performed by our incredibly talented members 🎤🎸. The session was kicked off perfectly by Ellysia, who set the tone for the day with “Happy New Year” by ABBA 🎉. This was followed by many great performances, including:

Natalie – House of Fun by Madness 🏠🎶
Anthony – You Drive Me Crazy by Shakin’ Stevens 💃
Ffion – Stuck on You by Lionel Richie 💖
Sean – Down Under by Men at Work 🌍
Liz – Simply the Best by Tina Turner 🌟
Christine – Let It Go from Frozen ❄️🎤

There was lots of singing along, dancing, and smiling throughout the session 😄🕺💃, showing just how much everyone enjoyed the music and being back together after the Christmas break. At lunchtime, everyone enjoyed a perfect hot dog lunch 🌭, which gave people a chance to relax, chat, and socialise together.

We received some lovely feedback from attendees:

Victoria said she enjoyed socialising with different people 🤝
Olivia said she enjoyed meeting new people 😊
Jason said he enjoyed listening to the performances 🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who came out in the cold weather ❄️👏. Your energy, enthusiasm, and support helped create a great session 🎵❤️ See you for another music session in two weeks (Wednesday 21st January)!

06/01/2026

To make a referral to one of our Advocacy services please complete our referral form.

06/01/2026

Here you can find a comprehensive overview of the Police and Crime Commissioner's Office. From introducing Commissioner Alun Michael and the dedicated team to outlining the organisation's vision and core values.

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Bargoed YMCA
Bargoed
CF818JA

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+441443834444

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