DMiP MEMBERS, CARERS, VOLUNTEERS AND THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN MEETING CENTRES – WE NEED YOU to voice your feelings about our Powys Meeting Centres!
Powys County Council Commissioning team are carrying out a public Engagement Project to assess what ‘DAY OPPORTUNITIES’ are available and to identify any gaps in service provision. They are asking people to complete an online survey and to attend public consultation events.
Dementia Matters in Powys' Meeting Centres are an ideal example of a ‘Day Opportunity’ and we need as many Powys Meeting Centre supporters as possible to complete the survey, attend these events and VOICE YOUR SUPPORT. As we are currently under threat of closure due to lack of funding these events are very well timed and are a perfect opportunity to let Powys County Council Commissioning Team know how important the Meeting Centres are to you and what impact a closure would have on you.
When asked "what does good look like" I would say - Powys Meeting Centres in four major Powys towns (a model example for the rest of the nation) and when asked "what would better look like" I would say - funding to sustain current Meeting Centres and 'better' would be each Meeting Centre running for 3 days a week (the minimum number of days as per the Meeting Centre model)....
12 Meeting Centre sessions per week across Powys could be delivered for £300,000 per year.
Although this is a lot of money it is a small amount in the statutory budget; other projects receive this amount and more on an annual basis and surely people living with Dementia and their Carers deserve this level of support? PLEASE HELP US TO GET THIS MESSAGE ACROSS TO THE STATUTORY FUNDERS...
Thank you,
Deborah, CO, DMiP.
The events are being held across the County, during the day and the evening and run for 1 hour. We would be incredibly grateful if you and your families could attend and voice your thoughts about Powys Meeting Centres as this may lead to Powys Meeting Centres receiving the much-needed statutory funding that would ensure the continuation of your Meeting Centres – please join us and take advantage of this opportunity.
Details of the events are below, along with a link to a survey, we would be grateful if you, your family and friends, could take the time to complete the survey as this will also help to put Powys Meeting Centres on the Commissioning Team’s agenda.
There is also an email address if you would like to send a direct email to the Commissioning team.
A wide scale engagement exercise about the day opportunities available across Powys has begun, the county council has said.
There are currently a variety of day opportunities available in the county. These include:
• Day centres for older people and adults with learning disabilities.
• Independent organisations that provide activities for adults that have specific care and support needs, such as Dementia café’s, Integrated sports groups, and wellbeing sessions.
• Activities that are open to everybody that people can attend with or without support.
Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys, Cllr Sian Cox said: "We know that our wellbeing depends on a range of things, which vary a little from person to person, but fundamentally include feeling fulfilled, valued, part of something and in control of our lives. Day opportunities should contribute to these aspects of wellbeing.
“We know from conversations with many people across Powys that our day opportunities could contribute more meaningfully to fulfilled lives. This engagement project will explore, with you, how that might be done.
“I encourage everyone with an interest in day opportunities to take part. We want to understand what matters to people who use day services, have in the past or may in the future; what matters to carers, families, and communities; what works well already, and what ‘better’ might look like; as we work together towards equal, inclusive, and high-quality day opportunities across Powys.”
For more details and to take part in the online engagement exercise, please visit: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/day-opportunities-review
Paper copies of the survey are available to pick up from your local library and once complete you can hand it back to staff at a Powys Library, alternatively you can scan it and email it to haveyoursay@powys.gov.uk.
The closing date for responses is Monday 11 December 2023.
If you would prefer to provide your views on day opportunities in person, a number of engagement events will be held throughout the county during November 2023:
Monday 13 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Coed Isaf Day Centre, Welshpool
6.00pm -7.00pm Ysgol y Trallwng, Welshpool
Tuesday 14 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm The Court Day Centre, Llandrindod Wells
6.00pm – 7.00pm Celf Centre, Llandrindod Wells
Wednesday 15 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Arosfa Day Centre, Brecon
6.00pm – 7.00pm Y Gaer, Brecon
Thursday 16 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Maesywennol Day Centre, Llanidloes
Friday 17 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm The Park Day Centre, at The Library, Newtown
Monday 20 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Canolfan Day Centre, Ystradgynlais
6.00pm – 7.00pm The Library, Ystradgynlais
Tuesday 21 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Sylfaen Day Centre, Llanidloes
6.00pm – 7.00pm Llanidloes High School
Wednesday 22 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Castell y Dail Day Centre, Newtown
6.00pm – 7.00pm The Library, Newtown
Thursday 23 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Cyfle Newydd Day Centre, Machynlleth
6.00pm - 7.00pm Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Machynlleth
Friday 24 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Beacons Creative, Ffrwdgrech Estate, Brecon
Monday 27 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm The Rhyd Day Centre, Brecon
Tuesday 28 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm Mencap Day Centre, Llanfyllin
6.00pm – 7.00pm The Library, Llanfyllin
Wednesday 29 November
6.00pm - 7.00pm Builth Wells Primary
Thursday 30 November
1.30pm – 2.30pm East Radnor Day Centre, Presteigne & Knighton
6.00pm – 7.00pm John Beddoes School, Presteigne
Friday 1 December
1.30pm - 2.30pm Antur Gwy, Builth Wells
Monday 4 December
1.30pm – 2.30pm The CRiC Centre, Crickhowell
6.00pm – 7.00pm Crickhowell High School
Tuesday 5 December
1.30pm - 2.30pm The Library, Hay on Wye
6.00pm - 7.00pm Online (Contact thedayopportunitiesreview@powys.gov.uk for joining details)
Wednesday 6 December
1.30pm – 2.30pm The Library, Llanfair Caereinion
6.00pm – 7.00pm Ysgol Bro Caereinion (Primary Campus)
Thursday 7 December
1.30pm – 2.30pm Online (Contact thedayopportunitesreview@powys.gov.uk for joining details)
6.00pm – 7.00pm Hay on Wye CP School
You can also email comments to: thedayopportunitiesreview@powys.gov.uk