News Categories: Older Persons

Y Gorlan celebrates 35 years landmark anniversary

A Grandmother from Bangor has heaped praise on the sheltered accommodation scheme where she has raised her family, as Y Gorlan celebrates a landmark anniversary.

Glenys Rowlands was the first person to move into the Y Gorlan development in Bangor after taking the job as a live-in warden, moving into her home in 1987 with her husband and three children, then aged seven, three and two.

Now Glenys enjoys welcoming her grandchildren to Y Gorlan and says the development has had a massive impact on the lives of hundreds of residents over her time there.

Y Gorlan is situated in the heart of Bangor and is run by North Wales Housing.

It sees residents maintain an active social life while enjoying all the benefits of living in a sheltered accommodation scheme that allows people to maintain their independence.

Glenys said:

“Our aim is to create a community feel and independence for residents for as long as possible whilst offering support where needed.

“Residents can feel safe and secure in the knowledge that assistance is always on-hand in an emergency.

“Over the years, the people living here have become like an extended family, they have watched my children grow up and this is something I wouldn’t have changed for the world.”

Tenants regularly enjoy day trips together and the landlord has run volunteering sessions for students at Bangor University who would make tea and put on activities for the residents.

The scheme offers 31 easy to manage self-contained apartments for people over 60 and gives the option for family visitors to use a guest room at a small fee.

Life at Y Gorlan has changed significantly over the years and is now home to a mix of tenants with different needs. Before her role as a live-in warden, Glenys trained to become a nurse, where she has seen her skills come to hand when residents have been ill.

Glenys added:

“There is an emphasis at Y Gorlan spending time with people face-to-face as a way to help tackle loneliness, particularly after the pandemic. The accommodation has a common room for residents to connect and there is a regular coffee morning every fortnight, including ones for charity.”

There are no plans for Glenys to give up work at Y Gorlan. She has become the heart and soul of the sheltered accommodation and has offered a friendly face to residents in need of support.

Eirlys Parry, Head of Older Persons said:

“This is a great celebration for Y Gorlan. We are extremely lucky to have Glenys managing the scheme over the years, she is an asset to North Wales Housing and we’re so grateful of all her hard work. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Glenys.

Happy Birthday to Y Gorlan, we hope you enjoyed your celebration; here’s to the next 35 years!”

Taverners court resident takes on walking challenge

Taverners Court resident Val Conway, pictured in the yellow tee-shirt, celebrated her 78th birthday in June and committed to walking 78,000 steps in a week to raise money for the charity SHINE. SHINE provides specialist advice and support for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

Residents and scheme Manager Susan Gough joined Val on the first day of her fundraising and a really lovely afternoon was had by all.

Val was awarded the BEM for her services to charity in the New Years Honours list. She tirelessly raises money for a variety of charities and volunteers on a weekly basis for the Llandudno PHAB Club (Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied), although the pandemic has temporarily put paid to the weekly meetings.

Good luck to Val on your challenge!

Good neighbours rewarded

North Wales Housing have celebrated community spirit with their ‘Good Neighbours Award’ for the third year running. The popular competition pays tribute to North Wales Housing tenants who have made a significant difference to the lives of their neighbours.

Iwan Evans, Tenant Participation Co-ordinator explains:

“Entries were at a record high as neighbours rallied together in the fight against Coronavirus, helping each other in their time of need.

Our Older Persons schemes found it particularly difficult with the restrictions enforced this year, and they really helped each other during this time. Therefore it’s no surprise that the two winners are from our Extra Care schemes.

We are pleased to reveal that this years winners are Geoff Uttley of Llys y Coed and Jean Hayward of Hafod y Parc.”

An active member of the scheme’s residents association, Geoff always offers a helping hand to his fellow residents, from helping replace ink cartridges to shopping. When allowed, he’s also the first to organize activities in the schemes to keep spirits up. When restrictions were eased Geoff organized a socially-distanced film preview which cheered residents up no end.

Described as a ’gem’, Jean helps a lot of the residents at Hafod y Parc, helping with their shopping and general chores, as well as being very busy with the garden area, helping to make it a nice place for the residents to relax.

Congratulations Geoff and Jean for winning this competition and thank you being such good neighbours.

Changes to Extra Care Schemes arrangements

Welsh Government have announced changes from 1st June relaxing lockdown rules, allowing members of two separate households to meet outdoors at any one time as long as they stay local and maintain social distancing.

We have carefully considered how these changes affect our Extra Care Schemes. Our first concern is always for the safety of our residents and staff and we have cautiously considered how these changes can be implemented in practice.

  • Visitors will now be allowed outdoors on the scheme, and have will be provided with additional guidelines.
  • We will designate socially distanced areas on the scheme for accommodating visitors.
  • We are asking visitors to pre-book visitors appointments with the Manager to ensure that we have adequate seating and social distance measures at all times in place.
  • People must also continue to wash their hands thoroughly and often.

If you have any questions, or would like to make an appointment, please contact the scheme Manager.

Vote for Y Gorlan and make the garden grow!

Y Gorlan, Sheltered Accommodation in Bangor, has been selected by Tesco for their ‘Tesco Bags of Help Grant Scheme’ throughout March and April 2019.

The project with the highest number of votes across your region will receive £4,000, the second placed project £2,000, and the third placed project £1,000.

If successful, the money will help Y Gorlan to complete Phase 2 of their garden makeover! Phase 1 was completed in November 2018, with works such as Planting bulbs for the Spring, building a garden love seat and several raised beds filled with fruit plants and herbs.

The revamp was carried out in partnership with Wild Elements, a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to getting people in North Wales outdoors and connecting people to nature, improving lives, opportunities and aspirations.

Rowena Maxwell, Older Person Housing Officer explains:

“The garden looks great following Phase 1, with the daffodils, snowdrops and crocus flowers peeking through the ground already. However, we want to improve on the hard work already carried out by Wild Elements. The money would help us improve the garden’s accessibility and provide a shaded area to sit and encourage opportunities for socialising and activities. We also hope to develop several additional sensory garden areas sections filled with scented and textured plants.”

Tom Cockbill, Wild Elements Director said:

“The Wild Elements team are looking forward to phase 2 of Y Gorlan gardens. People undertaking qualifications during phase 1 thoroughly enjoyed the project, and a gentleman living in Y Gorlan commented at the end of phase 1 that the project had given him ‘something to live for’. It’s feedback like that we love as we know we’ve made a difference.”

“Extending the gardens further will make a big difference to the lives of Y Gorlan residents, giving a beautiful, green space in the middle of town to spend their time, potter in the garden and socialise with each other.

“Wild Elements volunteers also gain a lot from the project, enabling them to gain new skills, increase confidence and self-esteem and improve their employability.”

Please help Y Gorlan and cast your vote throughout March and April! To vote all you need to do is take the token you get with every transaction and plant it in the special boxes near the entrance.

North Wales launch of Herbert Protocol

The Herbert Protocol has been launched in north Wales as an initiative between the Alzheimer’s society, North Wales Safeguarding board and North Wales Police.

The Protocol is named after George Herbert, a War Veteran of the Normandy Landings who suffered with dementia. George sadly died when he went ‘missing’ on his way to his childhood home.

The aim of the Herbert protocol is to help the Police’s response time to a report of a missing vulnerable person with a medical condition such as dementia who may become lost and unable to return home independently and safely. The Herbert protocol is an information form that can be completed with the individual and would be held by the organisation that completed it to ensure it is kept up to date.

The form asks for information such as personal details, next of kin, medical information, GP contact details, travel abilities, jobs, interests and hobbies, places they might go, weekly habits, previously found places and circumstances, and up to date photograph.

The aim is by having all this information already collated, it could assist the Police to respond quicker to finding the missing persons. Statistics prove the sooner a missing person is reported and a search is underway the higher the chances are that they are found alive and well.

The Herbert protocol form can be completed online or on paper and is to be kept by the organisation who has completed it, the police would only require the information if the individual goes missing. An electronic copy can be emailed to the control room or a hard copy can be handed to the first officer to arrive on scene.

Further information and a copy of the information form can be downloaded from
https://www.north-wales.police.uk/advice-and-support/stay-safe/herbert-protocol.

Macmillan Coffee Mornings success

Cakes were flying off the shelves this September at Macmillan Coffee Mornings across our resident schemes.

Our Older Persons schemes take up the challenge every year, enjoying tasty cakes over coffee. This year they raised an amazing total of £1,497.50!

The Metropole in Colwyn Bay also raised a brilliant £125.00 by hosting a coffee morning in their flats.

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer. Macmi ask people all over the UK to host their own Coffee Mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan.

Well done everyone who got involved and raised all the money.

NWH awarded wellbeing award

North Wales Housing was awarded ‘Conwy Wellbeing Organisation Ambassador Award’ at a CVSC Awards ceremony on Thursday 15th June.

Gemma Struthers, Community Wellbeing Officer for Conwy Community Wellbeing Team explained why North Wales Housing were chosen for this award:

“We wanted to thank NWHA for being so supportive of the Conwy Wellbeing programme. By helping to spread the word about the Wellbeing programme and hosting a range of activities at the NWHA Older Persons schemes; we have been able to collect some fantastic case studies about the positive impact the wellbeing programme has had.“

“Thank you for your continued support and promotion of the Community Wellbeing activities and 5 Ways to Wellbeing, your help has been invaluable to the success of our programme.”

Community Wellbeing activities are held at Extra Care Schemes Hafod y Parc and Llys y Coed, hosting events such as Ukulele workshops, historical presentations and seasonal craft and talks.

Shelley Hughes, Scheme Manager at Extra Care scheme Hafod y Parc, Abergele, picked up the award on behalf of North Wales Housing at the awards ceremony.

Glenys celebrates 30 years at Y Gorlan

Glenys Rowlands celebrated 30 years as a Warden at Y Gorlan, Bangor on Tuesday 28th March 2017.

During her time at Y Gorlan, a Sheltered Housing scheme in Bangor, Glenys has helped and supported a considerable number of residents during her time as Warden.

Glenys has also called Y Gorlan home for these 30 years, bringing up her children here:

“Living at Y Gorlan is like having one big extended family. The children were only small when we moved into Y Gorlan, now they’re all grown up and have children of themselves!

“I really don’t know where the time has gone. Thank you to all the residents and staff at North Wales Housing for all your help, support and kindness over the years.”

Jude Horsnell, Communities Director at North Wales Housing:

“We are very lucky to have Glenys doing such a great job. It’s not just residents she has supported, families have benefited from all her hard work and care too, easing their worries about their family members.”

“Thank you Glenys for all your hard work and all that you have done for everyone and for still doing such a fantastic job”.

Y Gorlan is a Sheltered Housing scheme situated in Bangor. Centrally located on the High Street it offers 31 easy to manage, self-contained one bedroom flats to rent for those aged over 60. You can find our more about Y Gorlan here.

Happy 104th Birthday Mr Jones

Llys y Coed resident Mr Jones celebrated his 104th birthday on Wednesday 22nd March.

Scheme Manager Cheryl Haggas and fellow residents helped him celebrate in style at a special birthday party at the Extra Care scheme in Llanfarfechan.

Ysgol Babanod Llanfairfechan sang happy birthday to Mr Jones before tucking into an afternoon tea and special birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Mr Jones – here’s to many more to come!

You can find out more about Llys y Coed and Extra Care here.