Unpaid Carers Festival

Carers Week 5th-10th June 2023

-Lester Bath

It was decided to hold another Unpaid Carers Festival this year, but with face to face events - the first festival in 2020 was online, and it was agreed that it would be a good idea to combine it with Carers Week. An Unpaid Carers Festival sub-group was set up after the Gwynedd Carers Network meeting in January.

We were keen to offer a variety of activities across the county to try to reach as many carers as possible, and we had a bit of feedback from carers as to what they would like to do, namely pamper sessions and mindfulness walks With the support of Coleg Llandrillo Menai in Bangor and Dolgellau, it was possible for us to offer pamper sessions in the two colleges, and Tomos Lloyd (Byw’n Iach/Outdoor Partnership) and Anna Williams (North Wales Wildlife Trust) offered to lead walks in Arfon, Dwyfor and Meirionnydd

Llwybrau Llesiant arranged a number of activities in Caernarfon, which were pen to all carers, and Community Arts offered face to face felting sessions in Caernarfon on the Friday All the Community Connectors contributed to the Festival, with a number of activities in South Meirionnydd, arranged by Bethan Wyn Roberts, CRT South Meirionnydd; Nia Jones, CRT Caernarfon, working with Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn on an event in Bontnewydd; and Siôn Llywelyn, CRT Bangor, arranging cuppa and chat in Hwb Ogwen, Bethesda There was also an opportunity of a walk and afternoon tea for carers of people living with dementia, and an information day for parent carers of adults and children with learning disabilities/additional needs.

Acknowledging that some carers cannot manage face to face events because of the nature of their caring role or work, there was an offer of an introductory Dru Yoga course online, available between 5th – 30th June Also, Gwynedd Libraries gave a number of felting packs for carers to make in their homes.

"I so appreciate meeting up with all those on the same journey as myself as it above all else makes you feel less alone, whilst being a witness to what difficulties others have to undertake in their caring role. It is truly amazing to see in that relatively small group what difficult lives people have and yet thanks to yourselves can have enjoyable days too".

“Thank you for running the felting workshop. It is lovely to be able to meet new people in a relaxing atmosphere, and learn a new craft at the same time.”

“It would be nice just to have a bit of pampering.”