by Robert Lloyd
Snooker legend, Llanelli hero and ‘active pensioner’ Terry Griffiths was the guest of honour for the grand opening of the new Age Cymru Sir Gâr offices in Trostre, Llanelli.
Mr Griffiths OBE, 67, also helped launched the charity’s new ‘advocacy service’ in Carmarthenshire.
“It was very much a double scoop for us at Age Cymru Sir Gâr,” said the charity’s chief officer Ann Dymock.
“We managed to celebrate both the launch of our new advocacy project called ‘Help to be heard’ and the opening of our new premises at the LEC Workshops in Trostre Road.
“And, to put the icing on the cake, we had a true local hero and sporting legend to do the honours for us.
“Terry Griffiths is greatly admired by young and old in Carmarthenshire and it was a delight to have him cut the ribbon on what was a big day for Age Cymru Sir Gâr.
“This is a wonderful start to the year for us, letting people across Carmarthenshire know where we are when they need us, but also celebrating our new offices in our 20th year and our wonderful new advocacy project which has already supported more than 60 people to have their voice heard.”
Age Cymru Sir Gâr is the older persons charity serving the over-50s of Carmarthenshire.
The ‘Help to be heard’ advocacy project has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
It will help older residents in Carmarthenshire secure their rights, understand situations they are in and ensure that their voices are heard and respected.
Staff and volunteers were on hand at the launch day to promote advocacy for older people and explain how the already popular service can benefit more people across the whole of Carmarthenshire.
The grand opening also saw other events at the new Age Cymru Sir Gâr HQ, including opportunities to learn new crafts (put on by its successful West Wales Befriending Links project), the chance to learn new digital skills, plus talks and information stands on all of the charity’s valuable projects, including welfare benefits advice and the ever-popular ‘Practical Services’ projects such as handyperson and gardening.
Harvey Jones, chairman of Age Cymru Sir Gâr, said he was delighted to see the opening of the new HQ.
He added: “We want to build on the quality we’ve got with this new building. We want to do a quality job and stick at it!”
Guest of honour Mr Griffiths, winner of the World Snooker Championship, the Snooker Masters and the UK Snooker Championship, entertained the 100-plus who attended the opening with amusing anecdotes.
He also paid tribute to Age Cymru Sir Gâr’s valuable work in the community and welcomed the new advocacy project as a major tool in giving older Carmarthenshire people a voice.
Although there are some advocacy services in Carmarthenshire these mainly centre around those with mental health issues, dementia or learning disabilities and are funded by local authority or Welsh Government via a fund called supporting people.
The Age Cymru Sir Gâr advocacy service is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire in that its criteria is solely based on age and issue as it helps older people have a voice and be heard.
For instance, it deals with a range of issues from elder abuse, to helping people understand their care systems to sorting out problems with energy and phone companies which don’t listen or try and railroad vulnerable older people into paying bills they don’t owe or purchasing items they don’t want. Advocates speak up for those unable to do so themselves. The service is free.
Mr Griffiths said: “There is a strong demand for advocacy to support vulnerable older people in Carmarthenshire as not all have supportive families or access to information in a way they can understand, so Age Cymru Sir Gâr’s Help to be Heard advocacy project goes a little way to meeting the demand for help and support that Carmarthenshire’s older residents need and want. The project aims to support older people and make sure they have a voice.
“It is also great to see Age Cymru Sir Gâr moving to new, larger offices so that they can expand the services and support they provide to Carmarthenshire’s older residents. I’m delighted to help promote the location of the new office so that many more people can access information, advice and other services.”
Age Cymru Sir Gâr’s new offices are at Unit 5-11, 100 Trostre Road, LEC workshops, Llanelli, SA15 2EA. Telephone – 01554 784080.
The office is open for drop in from 9am – 2pm to the public, Monday to Friday. However, the phone lines are open from 9am to 4pm after which time there is the national helpline – tel. 08000 223 444.
Age Cymru Sir Gâr is a charity affiliated to and partner with, Age Cymru and Age UK. Age Cymru Sir Gâr is an autonomous charity that sources its own funding to provide support and services for Carmarthenshire’s older residents. The charity supports people aged 50+.
Age Cymru Sir Gâr website www.agecymru.org.uk/sirgar
Age Cymru website www.agecymru.org.uk
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