The Tenby Diabetes UK group raise over £120,000 in their 43 years!
Hollie raises over £4,000 after her son Callum was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
Empowering
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Since you last heard from us you may have noticed something has changed. We’ve renamed our quarterly e-newsletter, and it’s all thanks to you!
We asked our awesome online audience for ideas, and the top picks were ‘Connection from Diabetes UK Cymru’ and ‘Connected Cymru.’ So, we mashed them together and voila! Meet ‘Connected... with Diabetes UK Cymru’! It’s all about staying close and sharing what matters most in Wales. Get ready for juicy updates, inspiring stories, and loads of support.
It’s our way of staying connected with the fantastic diabetes community in Wales and shouting all about the work our supporters and volunteers are doing to make a difference!
We’re eager to be sharing our third issue, and even more excited that it’s officially springtime! So, expect to welcome warmer days and longer evenings. In this edition, we’ve got lots of exciting events to share with you! Hear all about ‘Ali-Fest’, a one-day music festival in North Wales, our firstever Cardiff Wellness Walk, and our next Live Well Hub! We’ve also got lots of updates from our Together Type 1 Young Leaders and some fantastic fundraising stories.
Some of our highlights from the year so far include the Treorchy Male Choirs’ St David’s Day event in Aberdare, which was a brilliant evening honoring Welsh music and raising money! We also celebrated Random Acts of Kindness week by sending our supporters in Wales handwritten cards, which was our small way of saying a very big thank you!
We hope you enjoy reading our Spring issue, please feel free to email walespress@diabetes.org.uk with your story ideas or feedback. Happy reading!
From your editorial team
Every year in Wales we celebrate Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day in February, to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes and to show everyone how brave and strong our type 1 warriors are. This year was extra special as we teamed up with our Together Type 1 Young Leaders who shared their feelings of living with type 1.
In 2023, the Spire Cardiff Hospital team embarked on a series of challenges in support of Diabetes UK Cymru. From an impressive 86 km cycle from Bristol to Cardiff to conquering the Cardiff Half Marathon, their efforts have raised over £4,000 in donations. Their dedication and determination showcase their commitment to making a meaningful difference in the fight against diabetes.
“Living with type 1 diabetes can be having a splinter in your finger, other days it can be having a broken finger. To me having diabetes means understanding that you are different and that’s ok, it’s the people that accept and embrace your differences that makes having type 1 diabetes that little bit easier.”
Mya
“It feels like a rollercoaster some days and other days it just feels like a struggle, because when my sensor goes off and I’m out with friends there is limited places to go to do my insulin, and when I go places and my sensor goes off some people are thinking what is that going off and then I have to explain it’s a sensor for my diabetes.” Alex
“I have conflicting feelings surrounding type 1, for me it can be challenging as it’s a never-ending rollercoaster. It’s something that you can’t ever take a break from and it can at times be physically and emotionally draining. I like to compare it to weighing scales, as we’re always trying to balance the highs and lows of Type 1.” Divya
■ Find out more about our Together Type 1 community in Wales on their Instagram.
Empowering Voices: Together Type 1 team champions peer support and awareness across Wales!
Our Together Type 1 Team have been busy over the last two months raising awareness of type 1 diabetes and the importance of peer support! So far they have…
■ Attended the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) event in Swansea where they spoke to education staff about Together Type 1 and the 4Ts.
■ Shared their stories to raise awareness for Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day.
■ Attended the Cardiff Student Union Fresher’s Fair to talk all things type 1!
■ Spoke to Rocio Cifuentes, Children’s Commissioner for Wales at the ‘My Voice Matters’ event in Swansea during Children’s Mental Health Week.
■ Met with Joel James MS
for an introduction to the Welsh Youth Parliament and the importance of having their voice heard.
■ Held their first social of the year - a game of mini golf! Sparking lots of conversations about numbers, from scoring golf to glucose readings.
■ Held their biggest online meet with 15 young people with Colette Marshal, Diabetes UK new CEO with guest speakers Wendy Gane and Paul Pritchard from the All Wales Diabetes Patient Reference Group.
■ They also attended a dropin event with the Cwmbach Diabetes UK Group at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon to offer support to young people in the area!
The fun doesn’t stop there, on the 29th of each month they meet online to discuss the highs
and lows of living with type 1. If you would like to join the online meet ups please email Michelle.Jenkins@diabetes. org.uk. For more Together Type 1 Cymru updates make sure to follow @tt1_cymruwales on Instagram.
Hollie raises over £4,000 after her son Callum was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
Here’s Hollie Harris with her son Callum. After Callum’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis in January 2023, Hollie and her family were keen to raise lots of awareness about the condition. So, in December 2023 they hosted a charity bingo night to raise money for Diabetes UK Cymru and her local Diabetes UK Family group.
In February the Treorchy Male Choir hit all the right notes at St Elvan’s Church Aberdare raising money for Diabetes UK Cymru!
Jack Harries, a member of the choir, organised a St David’s Day Celebration through his company, Harries Productions. Jack has set out on a mission with his partner, Morgan, who lives with type 1 diabetes to raise over £10,000 for Diabetes UK Cymru as it is a charity close to their heart.
Harries Productions first event included the internationally renowned Treorchy Male Choir, the star of BBC One’s All Together Now Rachel Lee Stephens, and the outstanding Dare to Sing Ladies’ Choir. The evening raised a fantastic £570!
We want to say a huge thank you to Jack and Morgan for choosing to support our charity and to everyone who donated so generously on the night!
The event was a great success, with lots of people from the local community in Welshpool attending the evening and local businesses offering prizes for the bingo and raffle to help raise lots of money. In total, the family raised a fantastic £4,133. Hollie also secured an extra £1,000 from Morrisons match funding.
Are you a music lover based near Mold in North Wales? A new festival ‘Ali Fest’ is on the horizon this summer with tickets set to be released within days!
Ali Fest - set for Sat July 6th 2024 is a music-based festival in memory of Alastair Thomas. Ali was a fantastically talented musician who helped other local musicians at the start of their journey. Ali Fest is also about raising awareness of the symptoms & complications of type 1 diabetes.
Rhydymwyn FC will be holding event this year where the public get a chance to see some of the best local talent north wales has to offer. This event will cater for all ages with children getting a chance to meet their favourite Marvel & Cosplay characters,
The
there will also be craft stalls, face painting, food venders and a fully licensed bar.
You can follow our social media for ticket info or take a look at their Facebook event page for the line up of acts and much more!
group raise over £120,000 in their 43 years!
Earlier this year the Tenby Diabetes UK group announced that they were closing after 43 years together!
Back in February our Fundraiser Joe and National Director Rachel visited the group for their final meeting to thank them for their hard work and dedication. Since the group was founded in 1981 they have organised many events, including walks around Llys Y Fran Reservoir and very popular treasure hunts.
They have raised over £120,000 which has enabled us to continue our work in diabetes research, education, awareness and support!
A huge diolch yn fawr a da iawn to the group members
- Kathryn, Gaynor, Edward, Maureen, Sian, and Gwyneth.
Join us for our brand-new Wellness Walk in Cardiff on Sunday 16 June 2024! Starting in pretty Pontcanna Fields, you'll walk through Bute Park, past Cardiff Castle and through the city centre before heading to Cardiff Bay and returning via the River Taff. The route is step-free so we welcome people using pushchairs or mobility scooters. There are plenty of toilets at the start/finish as well as the rest stop in Cardiff Bay.
Celebrate your achievement at the end of your Wellness Walk with your special finishers medal in our Finisher's Area. You can grab a massage, speak to a Diabetes Specialist Nurse or write on our gratitude board.
■ Join hundreds of others and walk towards a healthier, happier future. Register at https:// wellness-walk.diabetes.org.uk/find-a-walk/cardiff/.
We rely on a brilliant team of volunteers to help support our events, from helping us set up, support our walkers around the route, or handing out medals at the finish line.
■ Find more information about the volunteering opportunities available on our website https:// wellness-walk.diabetes.org.uk/volunteer/
We are delighted to share some great news regarding the All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme.
In its first year, the programme supported over 3,000 individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The Welsh Government, recognising the significant impact of type 2 diabetes on individuals and the growing number of people living with and at risk of type 2 diabetes in Wales, has approved continued funding in this year’s Welsh Government Budget.
We are pleased to announce that the programme will continue to receive £1 million in annual funding for the 24/25 financial year.
Diabetes UK Cymru Policy and Public Affairs
Manager Mathew Norman said: “While this is a positive development, we believe it is crucial to advocate for long-term investment in the programme and its integration into healthcare pathways throughout Wales.
“We urge the Welsh Government to prioritise the sustainability and expansion of this vital initiative in the upcoming budgetary processes for the 25/26 financial year.”
“By prioritising preventative health measures, we can reduce the pressures on the NHS, promote better health outcomes, and ultimately enhance the well-being of the Welsh population.”
Every year, Diabetes UK Cymru attends the Welsh Spring Political Conferences. This year we started by attending the Welsh Conservatives party conference in Llandudno North Wales (Feb 2024).
Jointly, we hosted a debate with the British Heart Foundation Wales on the urgent need for increased NHS investment in preventative health measures, such as health education and promotion, early detection, prevention and remission programs as well as lifestyle interventions. We also touched on the need for increased access and awareness of new technologies for people living with diabetes as
well as access to ongoing care and management for their diabetes.
We also jointly hosted an exhibition stall with Obesity Alliance Cymru where we showcased our supermarket game where elected members (including the Prime Minister!) played a game of avoiding the BOGOF and mix and match deals at the end of aisles and tills. This work is part of raising greater awareness and understanding of the impact high-fat, sugar, and salt foods have on our diet and overall health, ahead of future regulations by the Welsh Government for positive food environments.
Each year Diabetes UK Cymru host a series of ‘Live Well Hubs’, these are free health and wellbeing events for people in Wales. The events showcase lots of local health and wellbeing services that can help educate and inspire people in the community to make positive lifestyle changes.
So, if you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, or would like to improve your health and wellbeing, we can help! Come along to hear expert advice on healthy eating, exercise, mental health, and more.
At the events you will have the opportunity to find out your risk of type 2 diabetes, speak to members of the Diabetes UK Cymru team and a chance to win some supermarket vouchers!
Do you live with diabetes or know someone who does? Are you looking for support locally?
We have a variety of support groups across Wales that typically meet face-to-face once a month. These groups offer local information and support and the opportunity to meet other people living with diabetes.
Currently, we have active groups in Abertawe, Cardiff, Cwmbach, Flintshire, and Neath. Find out more about joining these groups here
■ If you are a healthcare professional who would like to speak at our of our local group meetings and events please email wales@ diabetes.org.uk.
Our next Live Well Hub will be at The Riverfront in Newport. We’ll be joined by local organisations and services, including Newport Live, Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme, Specsavers, GAVO, EPP Cymru and more!
Join us for cooking and fitness demonstrations, lifestyle support, health MOTs, diabetes resources and the opportunity to win some supermarket vouchers.
■ Come along between 11 am and 3 pm on Monday 29 April. Email Wales@diabetes.org. uk for more information.
We’ve partnered with Cardiff Council to run a series of cooking sessions at Bute Pavilion for people looking to learn more about cooking and healthy eating.
Each person attending the course picked their own recipes and adapted them to make them healthier and budget friendly. Some of the recipes included stuffed peppers with rice and beans, sweet and sour prawns, a roast dinner, falafel burgers, three bean chili, chicken salad and cod and sweet potato wedges. Attendees also had the opportunity to use an air fryer and a food processor.
At the start of the course, the attendees took part in an activity to estimate how much sugar was in everyday food and drink that they consumed, such as a can of coke or a tin of soup. This was an eye-opening experience, which made some of the learners reflect on the amount of sugar they consume.
One participant at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes said:
“I had a really nice time at the cookery course, it was good to learn about the Air Fryer as I’d never used one before’.
Another participant told us: “It has proved to be a real ‘eye-opener’ for me, and now with my newfound experience I feel up to the task of providing myself simple nourishing food on a budget, as well as having more confidence on being ‘let-loose’ in the kitchen.”
We also had some participants with Additional Learning needs who attended with support workers who said the course really helped them, particularly with their numeracy skills.
■ The cooking classes will continue throughout the year, if you would like to take part please email Emma Rowley at emma.rowley@Cardiff.gov.uk.
We’ve partnered with The National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) to run a series of workouts that people can access online.
The National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) is a chronic condition prevention and management programme which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of sedentary and inactive adults who are at risk of developing or who have an existing chronic condition. It provides a 16-week programme of physical activity to individuals referred by NHS health professionals, using behaviour change techniques to embed positive physical activity habits.
Erin Taylor, who is an exercise specialist
for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board led six sessions which included chair yoga, pilates, Zumba and tai chi!
Erin said: “Exercise is beneficial for so many reasons. It improves our health, fitness and also our mental health.
“I chose to work alongside Diabetes UK because I understand the importance of exercise being available to everyone. Exercise can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and can also help management the condition.”
The digital exercise series will be launched at the next Live Well Hub in Newport, Erin will also be joining us so feel free to come along and ask her your exercise questions!
We have teamed up with The Shared Plate to bring back our cooking Series!
Join us for a fun experience where you’ll learn new recipes, cooking tips, and tricks from our talented chef. Get ready to whip up delicious dishes and connect with fellow foodies and people living with diabetes.
■ Our first session will be on Wednesday 24 April 2024 from 6 pm til 7 pm. To book your place on the session, email us on Wales@diabetes. org.uk or call us on 02920 668272.
