The new service opened its doors on Monday 21st February and focuses on enhancing and developing relationships and building self-confidence. This enables clients to better manage their health, wellbeing and self-care while combating loneliness.
Town Councillors Frank Hemmings (Chirk North) and Terry Evans (Chirk South) visited the centre on Monday 7th March along with Councillor John Pritchard, Lead Member for Adult Social Care for Wrexham County Borough Council, to formally launch the service and meet staff and clients.
Councillor John Pritchard says: ‘I am sure this facility will benefit the residents of Frank and Terry’s Ward and surrounding area, for which I would like to thank The Rainbow Foundation who have set up similar projects in Penley and Marchwiel that have been very successful.
It will also be helpful for any residents who feel lonely or require any advice from The Rainbow Foundation and their staff in the future, as I have experienced within my own Ward during the previous 2 years during the Pandemic. The assistance given by the team was very much appreciated.’
Councillor Terry Evans adds, ‘’I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome the Rainbow Foundation’s Day Opportunities service to Chirk, it’s fantastic to see family friends – some of whom I have known for over 50yrs – using the service already. What a great resource for older residents of Chirk!’
Operational Manager Geraldine Vaughan says “as an active ageing charity, we have worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic to support older people, particularly those with dementia and multiple disabilities to stay living in their rural communities and address the wider determinants of ill health. When other services closed their doors, we kept going, but our work is not done!
Winter is particularly hard time of year for older people within our communities, especially with energy prices on the rise. By expanding our day opportunities and home care services into the Chirk area, not only will we be able to enable even more people to live independently for longer but a high-quality care service in the community and at home will help reduce the winter pressures faced by our overstretched NHS.”
Day Opportunities Manager Lisa White adds “we are incredibly excited to be bringing our award-winning day opportunities service to Chirk. Our mission is to help older people to retain their sense of worth, and to provide access to support, services and facilities that can empower people stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. This is why our day opportunities service focuses on enhancing and developing relationships while building self-confidence and working to combat loneliness and isolation. Staying active, eating socially and social contact with peers through our care hubs, can have a real positive impact on both health and wellbeing.”
Operating out of Chirk Parish Hall, the service will initially run on a Monday and Thursday each week, moving to 5 days a week once the service is fully established. The charity will be able to support clients with transport if required. You can find out more about the service by contacting The Rainbow Foundation on 01948 830730.
