The information provided in this edition is correct at time of press.

Newport Community Connectors Winter 2020 newsletter

Community Connectors – working through the pandemic

Since lockdown began at the end of March, Newport’s Support to carers Community Connectors have supported over 1,000 people The community connectors are continuing to provide support with information and advice on how to access services. With unpaid carers. At the start of the pandemic 540 carer packs the help of volunteers from partner agencies such as POBL containing useful information were distributed. and Volunteering Matters, the connectors helped people gain access to shopping and essential items, such as prescriptions Carers Week was celebrated a bit differently this year. Unable and electric or gas token collection. to hold planned events due to social distancing rules, the council led a week-long information sharing campaign via They also provided information on the community hubs, run by email and social media. It aimed to equip carers with useful , which provided food banks and Welsh knowledge to help them in their caring role. Government food parcels for those who were shielding. Feedback from Carers Week The team gathered information on the needs of people and “Well done with all your efforts for Carers Week last week. I think the challenges they faced during this period and advised partner it was a really positive week. Thank you for all the info, links and agencies for further support to be given. resources in the daily emails too”. “That was very helpful and I have joined the Cuppa Class Today. Connectors continue to be in touch with those who attended Was very nice and helpful for me.” community groups such as the Chatty Café and offered regular wellbeing calls. They also provided information on telephone Contacting the connectors befriending services for those who felt socially isolated during Email: [email protected] lockdown. In addition, the connectors continue to support Phone: 01633 656656 Monday- Friday 9am-5pm our minority ethnic communities with translated resources and Web: www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors guided support. and complete an information request form.

www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors Roundup on local groups, projects and organisations in Newport

Citizens Advice Libraries

The Citizens Advice Bureau is available and able to provide Some Newport libraries have reopened their doors and are support on a number of issues including: open for booked visits only. Visits must be pre-booked and will be for 15 minutes with a • Benefits, employment, debt and family matters maximum of two people per booking. (tel: 0300 3302 117) • EU settlement enquiries (tel: 0300 3309 059) Central Library: open Tuesday - Friday, 10am-12.30pm • Claiming Universal Credit (tel: 08000 241 220) and 1pm-4pm. Malpas Library: open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and For more information visit www.cab.org.uk/wales Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Ringland Library: open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Winter fuel payments Library: open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm This is a payment made to people over pension credit age to help with fuel costs. Most payments are made automatically The other libraries remain closed and it is hoped that they between November and December and the payment will be will be able to reopen them shortly. made by 13 January 2021. For further information visit www.newport.gov.uk/ If you don’t receive the payment, but think you are eligible, libraries or call 01633 656656. the deadline for claiming payments for winter 2020 to 2021 is 31 March 2021.

For more information visit www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment or call 0800 731 0160. The Chatty Café

The Chatty Café is a social group where people can meet to chat, have a drink and maybe a meal, and make new friends. Newport Community Connectors will also be available to offer advice and information. It is hoped that the Chatty Café will resume soon – when it is safe to do so.

For more information email [email protected] Activate Your Life or phone 01633 656656. Feeling worried or anxious can have a big impact on your health and for some people life can be particularly difficult.

Activate your life is a free online course designed to help people improve their mental health and wellbeing. There are four videos, each lasting around 40 minutes, which are available on the Public Health Wales website - https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/activate- your-life Dewis Cymru

Dewis Cymru provides information on well-being services in your area. The site has information about people and services that can help with the things that matter the most to you. For more information visit www.dewis.wales

2 www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors Befriending services Newport Family Information Service

Newport’s Family Information Service

provides quality Gwasanaeth Gwybodaeth i Deuluoedd Casnewydd information and Family Information Service advice on childcare, Newport activities for children or parenting support.

For more information visit www.newport.gov.uk/FIS, phone 0800 328 84 83 or email family.informationservice@ newport.gov.uk

• being safe and secure online Think Digital project and preventing fraud • exploring hobbies and The Think Digital project is for people aged over 50 who live interests - e.g. music, art, in Gwent. It works with people via the telephone to help craft, nostalgic videos etc. them gain digital skills such as: For further details or to • getting online and using the internet register your interest, • setting up email and social media accounts please contact • learning how to connect digitally with family and friends by Nia Thomas on email or video call 07747 027623 or • setting up online shopping accounts and help on how to use Chloe Robinson on them 07783 710481 or email • setting up online banking digital@agecymrugwent. • how to pay rent online and linking in with local services org.

Bigger Picture Hub

The Bigger Picture is an organisation led by volunteers based at the community hub in Francis Drive, . It was set up by sisters Carys and Rachel Jones and delivers community projects for families such as music, youth provisions, cooking lessons. It also has a food bank and baby café.

As a response to COVID 19 the Bigger Picture has been delivering food items to Newport families who have been struggling during lockdown, including BAME and refugee communities.

The food parcel scheme has attracted a number of partners including the BAME Community Connectors team at Newport City Council who which refer struggling families to access the project.

Other partners include Newport County AFC and Dragon Taxis who have supported with the distribution of food parcels and providing transport.

Organisations supporting the initiative include Aldi supermarket, Newport City Homes, Newport Round Table and Kings Church. The project carries out two deliveries a week and reaches 80 families per month.

3 Feed Newport CIC Feed Newport CIC offers a range of goods and services to families and individuals in receipt of benefits. Located at 192 Commercial Road, Newport, NP20 2PP, they run a number of community initiatives including: • Food bank - to help tackle food poverty in the community, redirecting surplus food to those who are in need through referral scheme. • Community hubs - supporting people who are homeless, refugees, older people, people fleeing domestic violence and those at risk through living in poverty. • Soup kitchens - offer a great place to grab a decent meal, have a chat and see a friendly face in a clean and safe environment. • Community shop- open every Thursday 10am to 2pm. Providing essential aid and support if needed or to simply collect a basic food parcel.

For more information call 01633 549796 or e-mail [email protected]

FAN – Friends and Family

FAN (friends and family) groups provide an hour of stimulating conversation and mutual support. During lockdown they brought structure to the weeks and months which seemed very long for some and helped people feel less isolated. Groups were well attended by local people and those from around the world who are now in the UK including friends from Eritrea, Iran, Turkey, Sudan and Saudi Arabia – all locked down in .

Members of the group all value the opportunity to connect with others, to share experiences, ideas and support. For those learning English FAN is a wonderful place to practise informal English skills. The oldest participant is 95 and the youngest is 20. Virtual FAN groups have enabled their members to connect with people who once attended and who have returned to other countries. Recent groups have included friends speaking from Japan, Brazil, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, France and Spain. Meetings are held on Mondays at 11am and 2pm and Tuesdays 2pm. For further information and to join a FAN meeting visit www.thefancharity.org/fan-groups/virtual-fan-meetings/ Joining instructions for each group can also be found here.

Pride in Pill During lockdown Paul Murphy and his volunteers from Pride in Pill continued to distribute food supplies and water bottles to the homeless and elderly people in and Pillgwenlly. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Pride in Pill, please contact Paul Murphy on 07775 449683.

4 www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors Newport Yemeni Community Association (NYCA)

The Newport Yemeni Community Association NYCA also completed a 24 kilometre walk (NYCA) delivered food packages to the community representing the 24million people suffering in because they wanted to make a difference to people Yemen from the biggest humanitarian crisis in the in the community who were socially isolated. world. They worked in conjunction with Newport Rotary Club to help build and raise They delivered on average 45 food packages a week awareness for the current crisis happening in for a 12 week period, to people of all communities Yemen and were overwhelmed by the turnout. across Newport. For people in the community Young people as well as adults within the who were forced to isolate due to COVID-19, the community showed their unity and togetherness NYCA and their volunteers felt it was so important as they started the walk from Asda in Pillgwenlly to support them by providing food packages, even all the way to in Rogerstone and though many of the volunteers are holding down full- back. time jobs as well as caring for their own families. They would like to thank the Uskmouth Rotary It was important that providing this support it created Club and everyone who donated to their just a sense of community spirit and a bond across giving page, which raised over £1,800! neighbourhoods. NYCA delivered to people of all nationalities across the city including Yemeni, Syrian, For more information please visit Egyptian, Sudanese, African, Jamaican, White Welsh www.nyca.org.uk or and Iranian, whoever needed their help. e-mail [email protected]

Newport Veterans social group Newport Veterans social group started in November 2019 with the aim to bring veterans out of isolation by giving them somewhere to socialise and make new friends through creating their own network of support. The group meets on Fridays from 12-2pm at Bar Amber, formally known as The Old Ivy Bush, Clarence Place. Every third Friday of the month Veterans U.K. visits the hub to provide support to veterans on subjects such as war pensions, AFC claims and other professional advice. This will use the support hub which is run separately Within the hub people can find information on the from the match day hubs. type of support available for veterans and their families. For those who struggle in noisy and crowded New times for this will be 12-2pm on match days environments the veteran’s hub will be open every with family members will be held separately to Thursday from 12-2pm - when we are able to safely veterans only groups for us to offer more diversity do so. Support is either provided on a one-to-one to all group members and for the purposes of basis or can be done via family or friends. supporting our veterans with mental health. Also available is a match day veterans hub at Rodney The group’s mission is to make Newport one of the Parade for rugby and football games. They can be best places for supporting veterans and their families, found in the marquee on the stadium grounds for using the full potential of the stadium and the support two hours before kick-off for every home game with of Newport County and Newport and also Newport County and Dragons Rugby. the support of our local community. There are plans to relocate the support hub to For further information, please call to help veterans get used to the David Watkins on 07828 972904 or email stadium environment before attending match days. [email protected].

5 Newport Outdoor Group The Newport Outdoor Group (NOGs) will be arranging evening walks on Mondays and Thursdays. Volunteers will be leading both events, with a maximum of 12 participants on each walk.

There are currently no indoor meetings and no printed programmes. Walk details are circulated to all members via email.

People will need to be a group member to take part on the walks but anyone can join and pay their annual £15 membership at any time.

There is a comprehensive COVID-19 procedure in place which can be viewed on the NOG website For more information and to join the - https://www.newportoutdoorgroup.co.uk/ Newport Outdoor Group email norman. policies-and-procedures/ [email protected]. Neighbourhood Hubs Newport's neighbourhood hubs offer residents easy access to vital services in local communities. Hubs offer classes, young person’s support, family services, employment advice, activities and community projects. There are four hubs in total across the city. These are:

Central Hub

HUB CANOLOG Located at Pill Flying Start and covers Pill, , and Allt-yr-Yn. HYB CENTRAL Email: [email protected]

East Hub

Located at 282 Ringland Circle, Newport, NP19 9PS (the former Ringland community DWYRAINT HUB centre) and covers Ringland, , Somerton, , Beechwood, St Julians, HYB EAS Langstone and Underwood. Email: [email protected]

North Hub

Located at Malpas Court House, Oliphant Circle, Newport, NP20 7DU and covers HUB GOGLEDD Bettws, Malpas, Shaftesbury and . HYB NORTH Email: [email protected]

West Hub

GORLLEWIN Located at Community Centre, Bideford Road, Newport, NP20 3XT HUB HYB T and covers Maesglas, Gaer, , Rogerstone and Marshfield WES Email: [email protected]

Link: https://www.newport.gov.uk/en/About-Newport/Neighbourhood-HubsNeighbourhood-Hubs.aspx

6 www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors Are you a carer?

Do you care for a relative or friend of any age, who is living with disability, mental or physical illness, substance misuse, or who just needs a bit of extra support? If they cannot manage without your help, you are a carer.

There are many ways that Newport City Council can support you in your caring role including arranging an assessment of your own needs as a carer as well as providing information, advice and access to other organisation for support. Information includes:

• Carer’s Handbook • Carer’s Directory • Carer’s Guide to Planning for Emergencies • Carers Emergency Card • Applications for carers parking permits

Sign up to the Carers Network to receive regular information for carers and/or invitations to carers network meetings – email [email protected]

For more information visit www.newport.gov.uk/carers, tel 01633 656656 or email [email protected]

Jointly – a new Parents for Change and digital support The Meet available for Parents for Change supports the parents and carers? carers of disabled young people aged between 17 to 25 years. They meet on the first Tuesday Carers UK has developed a useful app called of the month to discuss a wide range of issues Jointly which makes communication and from, health, education and daily living. coordination between those who share caring responsibilities as easy as sending a text message. Parents for Change also run a social group, The Meet. This is a social group for disabled young Designed by carers to help make caring less adults between 17 to 25 years old. stressful and more organised, carers can create a ‘circle of care’ to share caring duties through instant For further information phone 07737 679824, messaging, task lists, calendars, medication lists and email [email protected] or more. [email protected] The Gwent Region has secured funding for carers to access the ‘circle of care’ feature for free. To get a free access code contact [email protected] or phone 01633 656656.

For more information visit www.jointlyapp.com

7 Newport Mind

Newport Mind is a mental health organisation based in Newport and offer a wide range of support for those experiencing problems with their mental health.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic Newport Mind still offer support to those in need and have moved their community groups on line. Activities include:

• Monday: art and craft for wellbeing, 1:30pm – 3:30pm • Tuesday: writing group, 1:30pm – 3:30pm • Wednesday: singing group, 10am – 12pm • Thursday: music appreciation, 1:30pm – 3:30pm • Friday: men’s group, 10am -12pm photography 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Activity groups are run via Zoom and if you would like to join any of the groups call 01633 258741 or email enquiries @newportmind.org

Newport Mind also offers other forms of support to those who need support with their mental health including counselling, family services and a number of courses. For more information visit www.newportmind.org

Ask-SARA Face coverings for lip reading Ask-SARA is a free and easy to use service that can provide useful Newport company GL100 Services, which is information about products to make owned and run by disabled people, are now daily living activities in your able to supply NHS compliant 3 ply British home easier. made lip-reading face coverings to both individuals and in larger quantities.

Simply choose a topic, answer some Made from machine washable poly-cotton simple about ways to make life easier; fabric with elasticated support under the chin details of products that might help and and over the nose the clear window enables where to get them; and contacts for facial expressions to be clearly seen. Adult more advice and support if needed. and children's face coverings are available.

Visit: www.newport.gov./care For further information visit and click on 'Ask Sara' www.gl100services.com Pobl Respite Service Pobl can provide support to unpaid carers on behalf of Newport City Council including telephone support and a sitting service. Services are offered following a Carers Assessment where a need is identified. To find out more visit www.newport.gov.uk/carers, phone 01633 656656 or email [email protected]

8 www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors Newport Live Loud!

Newport Live Loud is a friendly group hosted on the video-conferencing platform Zoom. The group provides support to people with Parkinson’s who have voice or communication issues.

Run by volunteers - many of whom have Parkinson's - the free sessions are welcoming and supportive. Participants can take part in activities which are fun and varied and can improve their confidence to speak up in everyday life. Typical activities include breathing exercises, reciting poetry and taking part in group discussions.

To join in a trial session email Mariëtte Williams on [email protected].

For further information and other local support visit www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/local-groups.

Personal information will not be shared with anyone outside of Parkinson’s UK. To learn more about their privacy policy visit https://shop.parkinsons.org.uk/pages/parkinsons-uk-privacy-policy

The Muslim community of Islamic Society of Wales, led by Newport Imam Bargah, Qasr e Abu Talib (a.s) of Black Lives Matter Newport commemorated the martyrdom of Hussain the grandson of the prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) On 12 June approximately 1,200 people attended who sacrificed his life for human dignity, justice and against oppression. a planned march in Newport city centre in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Commemoration took place towards end of August 2020 This was one of many events that took place in to mark significant Islamic period known as Muharram and Wales and across the country, highlighting racial in particular Ashura the 10th day of Muharram. inequality and injustice, sparked by the death of George Floyd. For more information on the work of the Islamic Society of Wales phone 01633 243871. To show solidarity with the movement, the Civic Centre was lit purple for four nights as well Newport Diyanet as other significant buildings across the UK.

Education Community Work is continuing with local BAME communities Centre to ensure that the momentum created by Black Lives Matter is maintained and Newport continues All mosques across Newport have put in place safety to be a city which values and embraces diversity. measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Before attending a mosque for prayers you will need to contact your local mosque to book a space, as this will help with the track and trace scheme.

You will need to perform the ablution (wudu/ghusl) from home as washing and toilet facilities will be closed inside the mosques. Face masks must be worn and you must bring your own praying mat and a bag to put your own shoes in.

Prayers will be conducted with social distancing in place. To book a prayer space contact Newport Diyanet Education Community Centre on 07845 964199.

9 Newport Sporting Memories Clubs have combined and gone online

With the current restrictions Sporting Memories clubs in Newport have decided to go online.

The new online club meets weekly every Thursday 11.15am to 12.15pm. The volunteer-led clubs use archive images of sport, memorabilia and news reports to trigger fond memories of playing or watching sport.

As well as reminiscing about sport and allowing group members to tell their stories through sporting memories, they have some fun with quizzes and even a Spot the Ball competition! Everyone is welcome to join in, to talk about sport and connect with others in your community.

For more information contact Nikki at [email protected] or phone 07515 916305

Newport Live Newport 50+ Forum Newport Live has been welcoming members back to their centres since early August. The Newport 50 Plus forum meets quarterly to discuss issues affecting Sessions need to be booked in advance and people aged 50 and over. there have been changes made to timetables and classes. For information on how For the latest information visit to join email www.newportlive.co.uk, [email protected] phone 01633 656757 or email [email protected]

10 www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors Newport Carers Forum

The Newport Carers Forum is run by carers, for carers. They represent carers at national and local levels and provide opportunities for carers to meet and share their knowledge and expertise. Newport Carers Forum also hold a number of social activities and welcome all unpaid carers to join them.

For more information email [email protected] or phone Jackie on 07561 551733 Visiting Newport Safely

Newport shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs are now able to open, welcoming back customers. There are changes to pedestrianised areas of the city centre to support social distancing and improve the safety of visitors, including additional barriers at key points to increase pedestrian areas in the city centre.

To ensure the safety of yourself and others please follow the guidelines below.

How to visit safe From 14 September, face coverings were made mandatory in indoor public places, like shops. Under 11s and people with health conditions don’t have to wear one.

Face coverings will be required in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas. This includes a very wide range of locations, such as shops and shopping centres, places of worship, hairdressers and salons, cinemas and museums, gyms and leisure centres, and anywhere that is open to members of the public.

• Keep the recommended distance between you and others at all times including when queuing and waiting  for transport • Follow signs and guidance in streets, shops and restaurants • Use contactless to pay for goods • Wear a face covering in circumstances where it might be difficult to stay the recommended distance  from others • Wash hands regularly • Be considerate of vunerable people and those with mobility issues • Walk or cycle to visit if you can • Pre-book/ make an appointment with businesses offering this service • Find tourism and hospitality businesses in Newport which are now re-open For further information visit www.newport.gov.uk/visitsafe We're Good to Go

We’re Good To Go is the official UK mark to show that a business has worked hard to follow government and industry Covid-19 guidelines and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

Look out for the We're Good to Go logo in Newport!

11 Yoga with Frea

Now could be a great time to try something new!

Frea is a British Wheel of Yoga trained teacher who offers fun and accessible yoga classes, workshops and 1:1 sessions for both beginners and intermediate students. She also offers chair and teenage yoga. One to one sessions are now up and running and indoor classes and hopefully will resume when it is COVID restrictions allowing, Frea is teaching safe to do so. face to face classes in Beechwood Park on Saturday mornings and during the week Visit Frea’s website for up to date details (weather permitting). She is also teaching www.yogawithfreanewport.co.uk or seven classes a week online via Zoom. email [email protected]

Test, Trace and Protect

As part of Welsh Government COVID-19 Test, Trace and Protect, the Gwent contact tracing team will telephone people who may have been in touch with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Beware of fraudulent calls: genuine calls will display as coming from phone number 02921 961133 and may be received on any day of the week between 8am and 8pm. Emails or texts will be sent. They will ask you to confirm your name, address and date of birth only, under no circumstances will any sort of payment be asked for.

For more information visit https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-your-questions

12 www.newport.gov.uk/communityconnectors