A care organisation is set to open a new community centre in a converted former chapel in Wrexham – at a time when council-run centres are under a threat of closure.
The Pendine Park care organisation is throwing open its doors to the wider community, particularly older people, by providing a meeting place and somewhere safe and warm where they can get together socially.
The chapel attached to Hillbury House Care Home, in Hillbury Road, has been reconfigured to create space for the community centre. The altar will still be there but can be partitioned off.
A tea dance is being organised at 1.30pm on Friday, January 31, to celebrate the official opening of the community centre by the Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr David Bithell.
Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: “We decided to try and engage further with the wider community. Things are tough, certainly so far as the economic climate is concerned, and the borough council are having to drastically cut back on what they can offer.
“We want to ensure no one is left isolated and alone. We want to offer somewhere where people can go along and enjoy meeting with, and making new, friends.
“Somewhere where there is always a cup of tea or coffee waiting and the chance to have a good chat. And the chance to participate in various enriching activities if they so wish.
“We also want to see our residents making new friends too and getting to know people who may not be residents but still live in the area.
“Research from the Royal Voluntary Services found that Sunday is the loneliest day of the week for older people, with many missing contact with their family.
“It’s clear that many older people dread being isolated on a Sunday so we will be opening our doors on Sundays so older people in Wrexham can enjoy a bit of company and conversation.
The new community centre, which will be called The Gwern Alyn Community Centre, will open with a tea dance which is being organised by young people from the Prince’s Trust who are currently on a three-week training course with Smartcare, Pendine Park’s Teaching Care Centre.
Mr Kreft explained: “Gwern Alyn is next door to Hillbury and was our first Wrexham care home and both Gwern Alyn and Hillbury, despite their very separate identities, work very closely with each other.
“I am delighted with the work our Smartcare Teaching Care Centre and our care home managers doing with young people from The Princes Trust. We currently have a second intake of students who are completing a three week course which includes a City and Guilds training award.
“These young people, all from the Wrexham area, are unemployed and looking to find work or training.
“I want them to become involved with our new community centre and I want them to get a better understanding of older people while the older people get to see just how good and caring many of our younger people really are.
“Hopefully, future Princes Trust students will continue contributing to the work being done at the new Gwern Alyn Community Centre.
“Social care is a brilliant way of getting a first step into employment and hopefully some will make it a career and become the social care workers and nurses of the future.”
Smartcare Teaching Care Centre staff trainer, Joyce Williams, says 14 young people from the Wrexham area are engaged on the Truth About Youth, Princes Trust, Get Into Care course.
She said: “These young people have really thrown themselves into the course and are doing exceptionally well.
“They have been learning new skills and getting a better understanding of what working in the care sector is all about.
“They are working alongside mentors in all of Pendine Park Care Organisation’s care homes to get a better insight into what is required for a future career as a care practitioner.
“It’s a three-week course and results in a City and Guilds Training Award. They are organising a tea dance for both residents and the wider community as a means of launching the new Gwern Alyn Community Centre.
“It’s also a chance to show themselves, as capable young people, in a positive light insofar as residents and visitors are concerned.”
Princes Trust student, Clair Williams, 24 of Wrexham, says she is thoroughly enjoying the course and she is looking forward to helping organise the Tea Dance.
She said: “I’m unemployed and have been since I had my two young children, who are aged three and two. I want to get back into work and since being at Pendine Park, I’m really interested in working in the care sector.
“Becoming a care practitioner really does interest me. It’s not what I expected at all. I thought I’d find old people sat about doing nothing but sleep all day. But nothing is further from the truth.
“They are all busy with various activities and seem really happy and friendly. The staff are fantastic too – so caring and thoughtful.”
She added: “I’m really looking forward to the tea dance, it’s a chance to show people what we can do. It will also be good to see older people having a good time and doing something they want to do.”
Fellow Princes Trust student, Manon Williams, 21, of Corwen agreed, adding: “I did health and social care, business studies, maths and English at college but I’m out of work now.
“Taking part in the Princes Trust course at Pendine Park is absolutely nothing like I expected. Residents have so many activities and are really busy. And there is a lovely homely atmosphere too.
“It’s really given me the ambition to do well and get a job, in the care sector, where I can train and develop my skills.”
She added; “The tea dance will be a really good event and I‘m really looking forward to it.
“People living around Gwern Alyn and Hillbury House Care Homes haven’t got a lot to do I don’t think so the idea of having a community centre for everyone to use is brilliant.
“And the event gives us, Princes Trust students a chance to show what we can do. I’m really looking forward to it.”
