Caerphilly People First

07/04/2026

🗳️ Democracy & Voting Workshop

A big THANK YOU to Gerraint and Simon from Learning Disability Wales for delivering a fantastic workshop this morning! 🙌

With the Senedd elections coming up on May 7th 2026, it was the perfect time to learn all about democracy and voting 🇬🇧✨

We had great fun using the pop-up voting station🗳🗳

👉 Different ways to vote:
In person at a polling station 🏫
By post 📮
By proxy (someone you trust votes for you) 👥

👉 How to register to vote:
You can register online 🌐
You need your details (like National Insurance number)
Make sure you register before the deadline ⏰

👉 How to find your constituency in Caerphilly borough;

Visit the UK Government website 🔍
Enter your postcode 📍
It tells you where you vote and who represents you

We also got creative making our democracy paper chain ⛓️💡
We shared ideas about what we want to see changed and improved in our communities!

💬 Why voting is important:
It gives you a voice 🗣️
It helps shape your future 🌍
Everyone’s vote matters ❤️
Our members really enjoyed this fun and informative session 😄
We learned so much and had a great time together!

👏 Thanks again to Gerraint and Simon for making it so engaging!

Learning Disability Wales

02/04/2026

🎶✨ Reconnect Through Music – What a Day! ✨🎶

We had an absolutely brilliant session today, with an incredible 27 songs performed! 🎤💫 The energy was amazing from start to finish.

It was so lovely to see Matilda again, who wowed us with songs from The Little Mermaid 🧜‍♀️ and K-Pop Demon Hunters 🎶🔥. Sean brought the vibes with Tears for Fears 🎹, while Susan had everyone singing along to Living Next Door to Alice 🚪🎵.

We loved the duet from Ffion & Amy singing Olly Murs 💕🎤, and Chris gave us a fantastic It’s Not Unusual 🕺. Anthony performed Hopelessly Devoted to You ❤️, and Christine got the whole room moving with Shut Up and Dance 💃🕺 (and yes… many people DID dance!).

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their amazing talents 🌟👏 — you made the session so special. The hall was packed (big thanks to Pete for setting everything up 🙌), and the delicious pizza 🍕 prepared by Christy & Zoe was a big hit!

💬 Feedback from the group:

Cheryl enjoyed meeting friends 🤝😊
Paula loved singing and chatting 🎶💬
Anthony said he loves everyone and that he’s a karaoke legend! 🎤👑

Thank you all for making it such a joyful and memorable day! 🎉🎶💖

31/03/2026

fans I'm not available as I have appointments booked.

31/03/2026

Here is the latest edition of the Caerphilly People First newsletter.We hope you enjoy reading about our recent activities!

31/03/2026

With ABLE – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 12 months in a row. 🎉

31/03/2026

🌿☀️ Garden Day at TARAGGAN Educational Gardens ☀️🌿
Today we visited TARAGGAN Educational Gardens and what a beautiful day it was! The sunshine really lifted everyone’s spirits 🌞😊
Our members worked incredibly hard, getting stuck into weeding one of the garden plots 🌱💪 It’s amazing to see the teamwork and dedication – everyone played their part and made a real difference 👏
Gardening has so many benefits 🌼💚
🌿 Helps reduce stress and anxiety
🌿 Boosts mood and wellbeing
🌿 Encourages physical activity
🌿 Brings people together and builds friendships
It was also lovely to see John, who once ran the community garden – a really special moment for everyone 🌻👋
Days like this show just how powerful being outdoors and connecting with nature can be 🌳✨
Already looking forward to the next visit!

27/03/2026

Another fantastic Reconnect Through Cookery session! 🍳🌮
The atmosphere was lovely, and it was great to see everyone smiling, chatting, and enjoying themselves 💛
We made delicious chicken fajitas, served with a crispy, fresh salad. Our amazing members got hands-on preparing lettuce, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms 🥗👏 We topped it all off with salsa and sour cream—and some even braved a jalapeño! 🌶️😄

A big thank you to:
✨ Amy for a brilliant quiz – everyone loved it!
✨ Sam and Rees for helping with the dishes 🧼
✨ Helen and Zoe for volunteering their time and dishing up delicious wraps 🌯💛
✨ Ffion for keeping everything organised with the register

These sessions mean so much to our members—bringing people together, building skills, and having lots of fun along the way 😊
Already looking forward to the next one! 🙌

18/03/2026

🎶☀️ Reconnect Through Music – Session Highlights ☀️🎶

Today’s Reconnect Through Music session was a fantastic success, with a brilliant turnout on a beautiful sunny day 🌞. The room was full, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere as everyone came together to enjoy over 20 amazing performances from our talented members 🎤✨.

We kicked off the session in style with Ellysia performing Dancing Queen by ABBA 💃, instantly getting everyone in the mood. Anthony kept the energy high with Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson 🎶, followed by Sean’s great rendition of Oh Julie by Shakin’ Stevens 🎤. Amy delivered a powerful performance of Undo by Sanna Nielsen 🌟, and Kelvin brought plenty of charm with Living Doll by Cliff Richard 🎸. Alongside these, there were many other wonderful performances that kept the room buzzing throughout.

It was brilliant to see so many smiling faces 😊, with members singing along, dancing 💃🕺, and really enjoying the session together. The atmosphere was, as always, warm, inclusive, and full of positivity. We were also delighted to welcome two new members, Benjamin and Callum 👋—it was great to have you join us!

A big thank you goes to Pete for setting everything up 🎛️, and to Christy, Cheryl, and Helen for preparing a lovely lunch 🍽️. Most importantly, thank you to all our members who continue to make each session so memorable 💙.

💬 Feedback from today:
🗣️ “I love this session so much, with all my friends around me.” – Anthony
🗣️ “It’s a helpful and happy atmosphere, and fun.” – Ceri

We’re already looking forward to the next session! 🎶✨

17/03/2026

17/03/2026

17/03/2026

Today we joined together outside the senedd alongside Torfaen People First ,Cwm Taff people first, All Wales People First, and other People First groups and Mencap for a peaceful protest about something that really matters ❤️
No cash = no rights.
For many adults with learning disabilities, cash isn’t just money — it’s independence, choice, and control. Not everyone has a bank card. Not everyone can use a cash machine. Some people in supported living are given a cash allowance to manage their daily lives. Taking cash away takes away freedom.
We need a society where people can choose cash and card — not one or the other. Because real inclusion means making sure everyone can take part.
We made our voices heard loud and proud 🎶
We sang a brilliant song written by Cwm Taff members and chanted:
“Keep cash, keep choice, listen to every voice!”
This is so important. A cashless society risks leaving people behind — and that’s not okay. Everyone deserves to feel confident, included, and in control of their own money.
After the protest, we had a lovely walk around the bay and enjoyed some ice cream 🍦
…but unfortunately, they didn’t take cash — which just shows exactly why this campaign matters.
Let’s keep raising awareness.
Let’s keep pushing for change.
Let’s keep cash, keep choice, and listen to every voice 💬✨

Thank you Cwm Taff People First for inviting us to join you at this important protest 🪧🗣💸