Wales & West Utilities help Liberty to keep their liberty
Based in Caerau, one of the most deprived wards in Cardiff, Liberty was set up to support the elderly and disabled residents within the immediate vicinity of Tresedar Way, to give them a better quality of life. Many residents were excluded and isolated due to mobility issues, with a lack of facilities and activities exacerbating the problem.
The grant of £2,000 from Wales & West Utilities enabled the group to put on a number of trips and days out, as requested by members. The trips give them something to look forward to, that will get them out of the house. The trips have been the catalyst around which people have developed friendships and now feel part of the wider community.
‘Prior to the group starting, people would acknowledge each other in the street but no more than that. Now they know each other’s names, stop and talk, visit each other and have developed a robust network of support that means everyone watches out for each other…..people feel less isolated as a result.’
The project supported a total of 40 local elderly residents to get out and about, 10 of which were disabled. The funding enabled the group to hire specialist transport so that they could go out as a group, rather than separately. In addition to the social networks that have been created, beneficiaries have developed increased awareness of, and access to, available services and agencies.
'One member who is wheelchair bound has until recently slept in her chair as she has been unable to transfer into her bed. She is incredibly independent and unwilling to have the support of a carer just yet. Through talking to the group and making suggested connections to other agencies our member has been able to source a new bed that she is able to transfer to from her wheelchair. She is ‘sleeping’ in a bed for the first time in years, the difference this has made to her is obvious for all to see.'
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