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Laughter could be just the tonic for Welsh communities thanks to big funding

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They say that laughter is the best medicine and the emotional and physical benefits of laughter have been well documented.   

 

That’s why the Feelgood Communities CIC group is among the 65 community-based projects across Wales to share in nearly £240,000 awarded under the latest round of the Awards for All small grants programme (Full list of projects available at the end of release and full project descriptions available by clicking on the link here).

 

Feelgood Communities CIC will use their award of £5,000 to launch the first ever Wales National Laughter Day (12th June 2013) - a project to promote laughter throughout the country. The aim of the project is to provide wellbeing and laughter activities to improve the mental and general health of communities www.feelgoodcommunities.com and https://www.facebook.com/laugh4wales .

    

The group will provide sessions based on games which encourage laughing and self awareness and include time for discussions and group interaction. The sessions are based on the fact that laughter is proven to relax the whole body, boost the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins and protects the heart. This is particularly beneficial to people with mental health problems, carers and disabled people who often live in stressful circumstances. The sessions will bring people together from a wide range of backgrounds to learn ways of easing stress which enables them to cope better. 

 

The group will work to recruit volunteers who will run laughter sessions after the first Wales National Laughter Day is held. They will also consult with local community organisations and hold sessions to show people in Wales how they can use laughter to improve their health and happiness.  The long term aim is to establish and run laughter clubs across Wales. The clubs will enable people to learn new skills and mechanisms for dealing with stress and difficult situations, increase their self confidence and ability to express emotions, improve social skills and help them increase awareness and understanding of themselves and others. 

 

Highlighting the importance of the project, Mr Robin Graham, a Director and Laughter Specialist at Feelgood Communities, said: “We have been developing our laughter-related work since 1998, mixing a scientific approach and analysis with contemporary creative ideas.  We have brought our laughter skills to businesses, local authorities, education establishments, health related and other organisations in the UK and other countries, as well as sharing ideas through theatre based performance.”

Robin, who has an MA in Health and Happiness Awareness, added: “Just by laughing, we can improve our health and our happiness and better manage stress. This is simply because our physiology changes when we laugh. Laughing helps us rebalance ourselves. It helps us to be healthier and relaxed by decreasing stress hormones, increasing antibodies to fight infections, lowering blood pressure, releasing endorphins which give us the ‘feel good factor’ and improving respiration and circulation. It’s also a shared experience that creates a good memory.”

Other grants awarded highlight the diversity of what can be funded through the Awards for All programme. The Anaphylaxis Campaign will use their grant of £1,071 to deliver an interactive workshop in Cardiff for young people aged 11 - 18 with severe allergies, whilst Cylch Meithrin Cwrt Henri in Carmarthenshire will run a project called `Cymraeg i’r teulu’ which will allow parents to develop their Welsh language skills with their children.

And it’s playtime in North Wales thanks to the latest awards. Cylch Meithrin Porthmadog in Gwynedd will spend their award of £5,000 on educational resources and toys including outdoor play equipment for children. And in Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrexham, Canolfan Ceiriog Centre CYF will also spend their award of
£3,436 on developing an outdoor play area to provide a safe and stimulating space for children attending the Cylch.


In an intergenerational project, Arts Alive in Crickhowell, Powys, will spend £5,000 on bringing together older people living in sheltered housing and young people at a homeless shelter to create art works exploring themes of housing and homelessness. And last but not least Swallow Laryngectomy Club in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf will use their £1,560 to arrange social outings for their members who are recovering from throat cancer to enable them to adapt to their condition and improve their speech.


Gareth Williams, Awards for All Programme Manager for BIG in Wales, said: “Awards for All is having a positive impact throughout Wales. Money is helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities.”                                                              

 

Available in English and Welsh, application forms are available to download from www.awardsforall.org.uk or by phone on 0845 4 10 20 30.

 

Full list of awards (Click here for full project descriptions)

 

Organisation

Location

Award

Organisation

Location

Award

Beaumaris 50's Club

Anglesey, Isle of

£5,000

Beaufort Centre Management Committee

Newport

£4,400

Breaking Barriers Community Arts

Blaenau Gwent

£4,965

Whittle Court and Bungalows Residents Association

Newport

£5,000

Mid Valleys East Argoed Ward Art Society

Caerphilly

£3,287

Happy Hearts

Newport

£2,000

Club 707

Caerphilly

£3,375

Penhow Community Council

Newport

£5,000

Feelgood Communities CIC

Cardiff

£5,000

Noah's Ark  Fun Club

Pembrokeshire

£4,314

The Anaphylaxis Campaign

Cardiff

£1,071

Ambleston And Tufton Senior Citizens

Pembrokeshire

£2,285

Home-Start Butetown, Grangetown, Riverside

Cardiff

£2,380

Cilgerran Community Council

Pembrokeshire

£5,000

Llangynin Nature and Gardening Group

Carmarthenshire

£2,807

Canolfan Pennant

Powys

£4,800

Cylch Meithrin Cwrt Henri

Carmarthenshire

£4,638

Crickhowell Community Primary School

Powys

£4,200

Hoelion Wyth Cangen Hendygwyn-ar-Daf a'r Cylch

Carmarthenshire

£2,390

The National Council of Young Men's Christian Association of Wales Incorporated

Powys

£5,000

Brynaman Kids Club

Carmarthenshire

£4,867

Swallow Laryngectomy Club

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

£1,560

Tumble Family Centre

Carmarthenshire

£2,500

Telecentre And Business School Ltd

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

£5,000

Myddfai Community Council

Carmarthenshire

£1,396

Nixon's Workmen's Institute

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

£5,000

Whitland Old Age Pensioners Association

Carmarthenshire

£4,535

PAST Carers Group R.C.T.

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

£5,000


Pensioners Voice - Porthyrhyd & Llanddarog Branch

Carmarthenshire

£3,706

Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs

Swansea

£5,000

Felinfoel Executive Committee Ltd.

Carmarthenshire

£3,695

1st Loughor Brownies

Swansea

£2,914

Taf/Myrddin Tenant Network

Carmarthenshire

£4,680

1st Llwchwr Guides

Swansea

£2,622

Clwb Croeso Llandysul

Ceredigion

£2,420

The Killay Scout Group

Swansea

£5,000

The Royal Air Forces Association Cardigan Branch,No 278

Ceredigion

£4,970

Cymdeithas/Guild Tabernacle Cwmrhydyceirw

Swansea

£1,967

Llanfwrog Community Association CIC

Denbighshire

£4,500

Trallwn Senior Citizens Club

Swansea

£4,985

Waen Congregational Chapel

Denbighshire

£5,000

Glyncollen Primary School

Swansea

£4,550

Denbighshire Farm Women's Club

Denbighshire

£4,920

South West Wales Neurological Alliance

Swansea

£1,000

The Visually Impaired Persons Club

Flintshire

£1,540

The Wednesday Club

Torfaen

£1,200

LAFS (Lixwm Afterschool ) Club

Flintshire

£1,450

Pontnewynydd Old Age Pensioners Social Club

Torfaen

£2,900

Clwyd Alyn Housing Association Limited

Flintshire

£4,610

Pontypool Dance Club

Torfaen

£2,090

Age Concern - Caerwys Branch

Flintshire

£2,410

Wainfelin and Pen Tranch Community Association

Torfaen

£1,620

Cylch Meithrin Porthmadog

Gwynedd

£5,000

Mudiad Meithrin Cyf

Wales

£4,862

Arts Alive

Monmouthshire

£5,000

Music in Hospitals

Wales

£3,780

Port Talbot Community Sports Limited

Neath Port Talbot

£4,793

Cornerstone Church (Cwmbach)

Wales

£1,600

Skewen and District Historical Society

Neath Port Talbot

£4,989

Canolfan Ceiriog Centre CYF

Wrexham

£2,000

 

Trebanos OAP Association

Neath Port Talbot

£2,665

Cylch Maes-y-Gornel

Wrexham

£3,436

Port Talbot Women's Institute

Neath Port Talbot

£4,405

Gresford and Pandy Sport & Leisure Ltd

Wrexham

£4,999

The Gold Cross

Neath Port Talbot

£5,000

 

 

 

All in this Together update

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All in this Together is an independent (non-government funded) organisation which was created to put co-production principles at the heart of public services in Wales.
The All in this Together home page has now been updated at (http://allinthistogetherwales.wordpress.com/) with all relevant and current information about the campaign, including letter templates, press releases, etc.
Click on Wales, the IWA news magazine, is featuring the campaign - ‘Recovering Welsh traditions of co-operation and community‘.
The Guardian Social Care Network will be publishing an item on co-production and the Open Letter in their weekly newsletter, and the Western Mail / Wales Online will also be covering the compaign.

Cardiff Third Sector Council has posted about the campaign here and WCVA has written about their support for the campaign here.
The campaign has sent a Letter to the Editor (Western Mail) and will share the link when it’s published. If you feel so inclined, you could also write to the Western Mail letters page.
All in This Together is encouraging you to tweet , post, email, and tell the world in general about this. Twitter @WalesCoPro

Tender opportunities

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EVALUATION OF PUPIL DEPRIVATION GRANT
Publication date:24/04/2013
Procurer reference: C227/2012/13
Please note: this notice has been published in English only

Value of tender: £Undisclosed

  

CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE – NON OJEU
Contract Type
Services
Is this notice funded by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO)?
No

  
SECTION I: Contracting Authority
Name of the Organisation
WG SPFP - KAS
Contact Name
Joanne Starkey
Address
Welsh Government, Knowledge and Analytical Services, Room 3.15, Government Buildings, Cathays Park
Town
Cardiff
Postcode
CF5 1HR
Phone
029 2082 6734

   
SECTION II: Details of the Contract
Service category
8
Is it a framework agreement?
No
Classification of contract (CPV codes)
79315000 - Social research services.
Title of the Contract Awarded
EVALUATION OF PUPIL DEPRIVATION GRANT
Description of the contract Awarded
To support the important role schools play in helping to improve the outcomes for children from deprived backgrounds independently of other initiatives designed to tackle the root causes of deprivation, the Welsh Government has introduced the £32.4 million Pupil Deprivation Grant. The
creation of the Pupil Deprivation Grant reinforces the Welsh Government's intention to reduce the impact of poverty on educational attainment.
To support the implementation of the Pupil Deprivation Grant, the Welsh Government wishes to commission a combined impact and process evaluation of the grant. The two key aims for the evaluation are to:
1) To evaluate how the PDG is being interpreted and implemented in practice.
2) To evaluate what impact the PDG is having on pupils' performance and on practice within schools.

   

SECTION III: Award of Contract
Contract has been awarded based on:
The most economically advantageous tender, in terms of:
- The proposed approach to deliver the objectives as outlined in section 3
- The proposed design of the study
- Demonstrated understanding of education policy and practice in Wales and beyond
- Proposed approach to ensure the timetable is met
- Cost as broken down in the attached price schedule
Contract Number
C227/2012/13
Name and Address of Successful Supplier
Company Name
Ipsos MORI
Address
79-81 Borough Road
Town
London
Postcode
SE1 1FY
Country
Email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web Address
http://www.ipsos-mori.com
Value of Contract Awarded to the Supplier
£119668
Is this contract likely to be sub-contracted?
Yes

   
SECTION IV: Administrative Information
Reference Number
C227/2012/13
Does this contract relate to a Project / Programme funded by EU funds?
No

   


Independent Professional Advocacy Service for
Children and Young People Looked After, Care Leavers
and Children in Need aged 0-24
Publication date:26/04/2013
Procurer reference: B365/13
Please note: this notice has been published in English only

Value of tender: £Undisclosed 

  

PRIOR INFORMATION NOTICE - OJEU
R2.0.7.D02
Form Type
Services

  
SECTION I: CONTRACTING AUTHORITY
I.1) NAME, ADDRESSES AND CONTACT POINT(S)
Official name:
Bridgend County Borough Council
Postal Address:
Bridgend County Borough Council, Partnerships and Commissioning Group, 4th Floor Sunnyside , Sunnyside
Town:
Bridgend
Postal code:
CF31 4AR
Country:
United Kingdom
Contact point(s):
Andrew Mcgee
Telephone:
01656 644044
E-mail:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax:
01656 642436

  

I.2) TYPE OF THE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND MAIN ACTIVITY OR ACTIVITIES
Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities
Yes

Object of the contract

II.1) TITLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONTRACT BY THE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY
Independent Professional Advocacy Service for Children and Young People
Looked After, Care Leavers and Children in Need aged 0-24
II.2) TYPE OF CONTRACT AND PLACE OF DELIVERY OR OF PERFORMANCE
(Choose one category only – supplies or services – which corresponds most to the specific object of your contract or purchase(s))
Service category number
25
Main place of performance or of delivery:
Main place of performance or of delivery
Throughout the region which includes Swansea, Bridgend and Cardiff local authority areas, and also delivery in other parts of UK where looked after children have been placed by these responsible authorities.
II.3) SHORT DESCRIPTION OF NATURE AND QUANTITY OR VALUE OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES
II.3) SHORT DESCRIPTION OF NATURE AND QUANTITY OR VALUE OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES
Bridgend County Borough Council (and the collaborative partners - City and County of Swansea, and Cardiff City Council) are committed to ensuring that children and young people looked after, care leavers and children ‘in need’ in the region are taken seriously, are listened to, and have their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives

This is our Collaborative Advocacy Commissioning Plan Outcome, as specified within the Collaborative Advocacy Commissioning Plan. A fundamental component to this commitment, is ensuring that all children and young people who have a statutory entitlement to independent
professional advocacy, (under the legislation listed below), are able to access the support of an independent professional advocate.
The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to notify the market of Bridgend County Borough Council’s intention to procure (on behalf of the collaborative partners) an Independent Professional Advocacy Service for children and young people looked after, care leavers and children in need
who require the support of local authority children’s social services departments. The likely duration of the contract will be 3years, with an option to roll on for a further 2 years, based upon a full evaluation of provider performance by the end of the third year. Thus the maximum possible duration of the contract will be 5 years.
It is the intention of the collaborative partners to consider opening this contract to other local authorities within Wales and the UK at the 3 year evaluation mark.
It is currently the intention of the Council to utilise an EU Restricted tender route.
II.4) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV)
85300000 - Social work and related services.
85312300 - Guidance and counselling services.
85312310 - Guidance services.

II.5) SCHEDULED DATE FOR START OF AWARD PROCEDURES
02.09.2013
II.7) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Provisional procurement timetable:
Publish PQQ 17/06/2013
Receipt of PQQ 17/07/2013
Issue ITT 22/07/2013
Receipt of Tenders 13/08/2013
Contract start date 01/04/2014
All information contained in this PIN is subject to change before the contract notice is published.
SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SECTION VI: COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
VI.2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Date of dispatch of this notice
26
4
2013

Launch of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme

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Men aged 65 in Wales are being invited to take part in a new screening programme launched on 1 May 2013 by Public Health Wales.

The Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme will offer men a quick, painless, one-off test to check for a condition that can be life-threatening if left undetected.

The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. Sometimes, as people grow older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak and stretch to form an aneurysm. When this happens there is a risk that the aorta may split or tear (rupture).

Not every AAA will rupture but if it does the chances of getting to hospital in time and surviving surgery are poor.

The new screening programme aims to reduce this risk of rupture through early detection, appropriate monitoring and treatment.

Llywela Wilson, Head of the Wales AAA Screening Programme, said, “We would encourage all men who receive an appointment for AAA screening to take up the offer for this quick, free and very important check of their health.

“There are no signs and symptoms of having an AAA so most men with one will know nothing about it until it ruptures, and their chances of surviving will sadly be very poor.

“The screening programme aims to reduce this risk by providing men with a simple, painless ultrasound scan that will detect whether an AAA is present.

“The screening takes only a few minutes but it really could help save your life.”

An AAA can happen to anybody but is most common in men aged 65 and over who smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or have a family history of AAA.

If an aneurysm ruptures, it can cause serious internal bleeding with a high risk of death. It is estimated that 80 per cent of people who suffer a ruptured AAA will die, usually before reaching hospital.

The aim of the screening programme is to reduce the number of deaths from a ruptured AAA by half in the men invited to be screened, by 2025.

From 1 May 2013, all 65-year-old men who live in Wales and are registered with a GP practice, will be sent a letter inviting them to attend a screening appointment which will take ten to 15 minutes.

Screening clinics will be held regularly in locations around Wales such as GP practices, community hospitals and community health facilities.

Previously, a small number of individual screening programmes have taken place in GP surgeries in some areas of Wales but this will be the first all-Wales screening programme.

Most men have a normal result so will not need to be screened again.

If an AAA is detected, it could be small, medium or large. Men with a small AAA will be invited back for a monitoring scan every year, and those with a medium AAA will be invited for further monitoring scans every three months. 

Men found to have a large AAA will be referred to hospital to discuss surgical treatment to repair it with a specialist team.

Ambassador for the AAA programme, former Wales rugby international JJ Williams has recently turned 65 and will be taking up his invitation for screening.

He said, “I have to admit that I was unaware of this condition but as soon as I found out more about how serious it can be I was determined that I would take up the offer of screening.

“I know that most men rarely go to the doctors or talk about their health issues which is why I wanted to support this programme and spread the word that just a simple ten minute test could help save your life.

“By attending the screening it ensures that if you have an AAA it will be  detected early and depending on its size, you can be regularly monitored or offered appropriate treatment.”

Although AAA can happen to anyone, there are steps that people can take to reduce their risk of developing an AAA. 

These include giving up smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and taking regular exercise.

More information on AAA screening is available from the programme website at www.aaascreening.wales.nhs.uk

 

Anyone who is not eligible for screening as part of the programme but is concerned about a family history of AAA is advised to speak to their GP.

 

CASE STUDY

Accepting an invitation from his GP for AAA scan when he turned 65 years old proved to be a life-saving decision for Gordon Lewis.

The retired coal miner from Abercwmboi was found to have a large AAA and within a week of having the scan was undergoing surgery at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant to repair the aneurysm.

Now he is urging other men aged 65 to say yes to the invitation to attend the new screening programme in Wales.

The married father of three said, “I didn’t realise that I had anything wrong with me as I had no symptoms and had been feeling fine so when they told me they had found an AAA it was a real shock.

“I am so glad I went because I had a large aneurysm that could have ruptured at any time. I was immediately referred to the hospital and within a week was having surgery.”

Mr Lewis, who has two grandchildren, made a good recovery from the operation and within six weeks was completely back to normal, so much so that his doctor told him he couldn’t believe he had even had surgery.

He knows how lucky he was and is determined to encourage other men to take up the offer to the scan.

He said, “It’s so very important to go for this scan and my family and are I so grateful that I went. If you are lucky you won’t have an AAA but if you do have one, you will be so glad that you went as it really does save your life.

“Since having my operation I have realised that this is something that can affect a number of men my age and will be telling friends that they should definitely have the scan. “

 

FACTFILE

Things you need to know about AAA

·         AAA is six times more common in men than women, and becomes increasingly common with age.

·         Ruptured aneurysms are a small but significant, cause of death in the UK.  In the UK, each year an estimated 6,000 people die as a result of a ruptured aortic aneurysm. In men over 65, ruptured AAA is responsible for 2.1 per cent of all deaths.

·         In Wales in 2010, there were 246 deaths from AAA in men, 95 per cent of which were in men aged over 65. Around half the deaths attributed to ruptured aneurysms take place before the patient reaches hospital

·         About 95 men out of 100 (95 per cent) who are screened for an AAA will have a normal result

·         About four men out of 100 (4 per cent) will have a small or medium-sized AAA

·         Six men out of 1,000 (0.6 per cent) will have a large AAA

New substance misuse service for children and young people in Cardiff and the Vale

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Barnardo’s Cymru and Inroads are partnering up to create a new Substance Misuse service for Children and Young People in Cardiff and the Vale. This will provide support to young people up to the age of 18 years old to help reduce the negative impact that drugs and alcohol may be having on their lives.

The service will be ‘Open Access’, which means that anyone can ask for support if they are using substances or are affected by someone else’s substance use.

The type of support will include both groupwork and 1:1 sessions with an experienced project worker. The staff will work flexibly to meet the needs of every individual to support them in achieving their goals.

Barnardo's Cymru and Inroads are asking if you can help them with:

a)    Creating a name for the service.

b)    Designing a logo.

c)    Any other comments on how you think the service should work.


To find out more, please call Leoni Oxenham at Barnardo's Cymru on (029) 2049 7531 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Page 7 of 162

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