Community scheme helps bring people together over Christmas

Neath Port Talbot Council’s pioneering community support scheme has helped to host a Christmas party to bring some festive cheer to local residents.

The party was arranged to bring the communities of Skewen and Longford closer together over the Christmas period, encouraging people to develop new friendships and alleviate social isolation.

Held at Ty Santes Fair Community Centre, over 80 residents attended the party which was jointly organised by Emma Jones from the Council’s Local Area Coordination scheme, volunteers from St. Mary’s Church, and Saffron Thomas, a 16-year old college student. To kick-start the day, a delicious hot buffet was served followed by entertainment from Bob Thomas, 12 year old Brianna Hughes and the Abbey Road Ukes who got the audience singing and clapping to many Christmas songs.

Reverent Chris Cole, who opened the event, said:

“Thank you to all those that made this event possible. I am overwhelmed by the community coming together and making this a day to remember.”

 The Council’s Local Area Coordination scheme currently spans across 5 areas of Neath Port Talbot. The scheme’s outreach workers, known as Coordinators, help people to avoid reaching a crisis or help people to recover if a crisis has already happened. Using their local knowledge, Coordinators work alongside people and their families to identify and access resources in the community to help build a vision of a better life.

 Councillor Peter Richards, cabinet member for adult social care and health, said:

“This is a great example of how our Local Area Coordinators can work alongside existing groups in the community to support people to improve their wellbeing.

“It is encouraging to see so many people coming together to help one another. Nobody should be alone over the Christmas period, and events such as these can help to make sure this does not happen.”

Local businesses ASW Property Services and Rokoko Hairdressers sponsored the party with other businesses and residents donating a range prizes.

 To find out more about Local Area Coordination, visit www.npt.gov.uk/localareacoordination .

Cynllun cymunedol yn helpu i ddod â phobl at ei gilydd dros y Nadolig

Mae cynllun cymorth cymunedol arloesol Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot wedi helpu i gynnal parti Nadolig er mwyn dod â pheth o hwyl yr ŵyl i’r trigolion lleol.

Trefnwyd y parti i ddod â chymunedau Sgiwen a Longford yn nes at ei gilydd dros gyfnod y Nadolig, gan annog pobl i wneud ffrindiau newydd a lliniaru ynysu cymdeithasol.

Daeth dros 80 o drigolion i’r parti, a gynhaliwyd yng Nghanolfan Gymunedol Tŷ Santes Fair, ac a drefnwyd ar y cyd gan Emma Jones o gynllun Cydlyniant Ardal Leol y Cyngor, gwirfoddolwyr o Eglwys y Santes Fair, a Saffron Thomas, myfyriwr coleg 16 oed. I gychwyn y diwrnod, cafwyd bwffe poeth blasus, gydag adloniant i ddilyn gan Bob Thomas, Brianna Hughes, sy’n 12 oed, a’r Abbey Road Ukes, a sicrhaodd â’u caneuon Nadolig niferus bod y gynulleidfa’n dechrau canu a churo dwylo.

Dywedodd y Parchedig Chris Cole, a agorodd y digwyddiad:

“Diolch i bawb a wnaeth y digwyddiad hwn yn bosibl. Rwyf wedi fy nghyffwrdd yn fawr gan y ffaith bod y gymuned wedi dod ynghyd a gwneud hwn yn ddiwrnod i’w gofio.”

Mae cynllun Cydlyniant Ardal Leol y Cyngor yn cwmpasu 5 ardal yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot ar hyn o bryd. Mae gweithwyr allgymorth y cynllun, sy’n cael eu galw’n Gydlynwyr, yn helpu pobl i osgoi wynebu argyfwng, neu’n eu helpu i ymadfer os yw’r argyfwng eisoes wedi digwydd. Gan ddefnyddio’u gwybodaeth leol, mae’r Cydlynwyr yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â phobl a’u teuluoedd i ganfod a chyrchu adnoddau yn y gymuned fydd yn helpu i greu gweledigaeth o fywyd gwell.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Peter Richards, yr aelod cabinet dros ofal cymdeithasol a iechyd oedolion:

“Mae hon yn enghraifft wych o’n Cydlynwyr Ardal Leol yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â grwpiau sydd eisoes yn bodoli yn y gymuned er mwyn cefnogi pobl i wella’u llesiant.

“Mae’n galonogol gweld cynifer o bobl yn dod ynghyd i helpu ei gilydd. Ddylai neb fod ar eu pen eu hunain dros gyfnod y Nadolig, a gall digwyddiadau fel y rhain helpu i sicrhau nad yw hynny’n digwydd.”

Noddwyd y parti gan y busnesau lleol ASW Property Services a Rokoko Hairdressers, a chyfrannodd busnesau eraill a thrigolion amrywiaeth o wobrau.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am Gydlyniant Ardal Leol, ewch i www.npt.gov.uk/localareacoordination .