The future of day centre services up for debate

As MyWelshpoolTV reported earlier this month, Day Centre services are set to return to Welshpool soon, and now Powys County Council says it is launching a countrywide discussion on their future delivery.

Our report highlighted how Welshpool Community Haven, a charity created by local carers, is reintroducing the services on a Friday to start at the Ann Holloway Day Centre, next to the hospital.

It’s a much-needed service for the town and the news report has been watched thousands of times as Welshpool gets excited to welcome its return.

Meanwhile and by coincidence, Powys County Council has launched a wide-scale engagement exercise about the day opportunities available across the whole county.

Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys, Cllr Sian Cox, said: “We know that our wellbeing depends on a range of things, which vary a little from person to person, but fundamentally include feeling fulfilled, valued, part of something and in control of our lives. Day opportunities should contribute to these aspects of wellbeing.

“We know from conversations with many people across Powys that our day opportunities could contribute more meaningfully to fulfilled lives. This engagement project will explore, with you, how that might be done.

“I encourage everyone with an interest in day opportunities to take part. We want to understand what matters to people who use day services, have in the past or may in the future; what matters to carers, families, and communities; what works well already, and what ‘better’ might look like; as we work together towards equal, inclusive, and high-quality day opportunities across Powys.”

The council explained that there are currently a variety of day opportunities available in the county, including:

-       Day centres for older people and adults with learning disabilities.

-       Independent organisations that provide activities for adults that have specific care and support needs, such as Dementia café’s, Integrated sports groups, and wellbeing sessions.

-       Activities that are open to everybody that people can attend with or without support.

How to take part:

For more details and to take part in the online engagement exercise, visit https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/day-opportunities-review.

You can also email comments to thedayopportunitiesreview@powys.gov.uk

The closing date for responses is Monday, December 11.

You can provide your opinions in person through these local engagement events.