I have loved reading the stories in this newsletter – it’s great to see what everyone is getting up to. I particularly loved reading about all the good things going on in your local communities – everything from volunteering to taking part in activities that are meaningful to you.
I also enjoyed attending the most recent Better Together events. It has been lovely to see staff and the people we support socialising and having fun - but just as importantly, to hear from you about what you are happy with and what you think needs to improve.
I am thrilled that we have recently welcomed Sara Davies, our new Director of Support Services – whom you may have met at a Better Together event. Sara, like me and the whole Director Management Team at Mirus, is committed to working to make our support the best it can be.
Kirsty Davies-Warner Chief Executive
1 Newsletter Gwent What’s inside Better Together updates Social activities Sharing your experiences Where you live Increasing independence Mirus Moments People in your area What’s coming up 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 May 2024 www.mirus-wales.org.uk
Updates from your area
What is Better Together?
Better Together refers to the way in which Mirus gathers information. We gather information from everyone, so that we can be sure that we focus on improving the things are most important to people.
Updates from your area
People in Gwent held a joint Better Together event with Powys at the Subud Hall in Brecon on 22nd March 2024.
At the event we enjoyed chatting with friends, playing an Easter themed bingo game with lots of prizes, and eating a colourful buffet.
We also told you the most common themes from the latest feedback you have given us. We’ll use this feedback to make improvements to the things that are most important to you.
You said:
You like doing activities that increase your independence and confidence
You like where you live, and want your spaces to reflect your personalities
You love socialising with friends, but would like more opportunities to meet new people
You want to learn to look after your physical health
You want to work on communication, including learning Makaton
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You said, we did Social activities
You told us that you love spending time being social and having fun with other people.
Being social is a great way for people to make and build on friendships and connect with others. People have loved the social gatherings that have taken place over the last few months.
One big event that everyone loved was the Better Together Powys and Gwent event – with people from Ystradgynlais, Brecon and Gwent attending. There was a raffle, a delicious buffet, and a game of Bingo - where winners received easter eggs and special gifts that had been donated by local businesses.
The theme for the Better Together event was Easter, and there were lots of Easter decorations put up around the venue. There was Easter bunting that read ‘Happy Easter’ and pictures of rabbits, easter eggs and chicks stuck onto the walls. On every table, there was also a vase of daffodils.
Aside from bingo, there were also a bunch of fun activities such as colouring in. There were blank pictures of easter eggs that people could colour in any way they chose.
Another great part of the event was that at the front of the venue, there was a board that featured people supported in the Powys and Gwent area who had won a Mirus Moment award. The winners were then presented with certificates.
The event was enjoyed by all, and everyone loved singing and dancing with staff and their friends.
Everyone had an egg-cellent time!
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Sharing your experiences
Autism Acceptance Week
Tuesday 2nd – Monday 8th April was World Autism Acceptance Week. People across Mirus got involved with and planned some exciting activities to raise awareness of autism and funds for the National Autistic Society.
Rhys, our Mirus Representative for Gwent, was keen to get involved and share his experiences.
Rhys has autism, which is a processing difference – it is a different way of experiencing, processing and looking at the world. Autism is considered a spectrum, meaning there is no ‘typical’ autistic person, but autistic people often share similar characteristics, such as differences in the way they communicate, understand and use language.
Like everyone, autistic people all have their own strengths, differences and likes – being autistic doesn’t define them.
Rhys said:
“Autism is not necessarily a disability. It’s a manner of thinking as far as I’m concerned.”
During the week, he was involved in multiple Mirus videos, sharing his thoughts and opinions while raising awareness of autism. When asked about his biggest strength, Rhys said:
“I’m bold! There’s nothing I am afraid to say.”
Like everyone, there are things that Rhys finds challenging, such as concentrating and tasks that involve multitasking - but he deals with
Watch the full video online on YouTube at bit.ly/waaw2024
these challenges very well. Rhys said: “I do breathing exercises and meditation.”
Rhys went on to explain that the only time he can multitask is when he’s doing things that require minimal concentration. He said: “The rest of the time, I can’t do two things at once; my mind just isn’t geared up that way.”
When asked how he would respond if someone offered to take his autism away, Rhys said:
“I’d refuse, the good outweighs the bad entirely.”
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Where you live
You said, we did
You told us that you love where you live, and want to make your houses even more homely and reflective of your personalities.
When Donna first moved into her new home in Gwent in 2021, her room wasn’t decorated. Recently in a conversation with staff, she told them that she fancied a change, and wanted to make the room feel like her own.
Donna wanted to learn new skills, and was keen to get fully involved in the decorating process.
Together, Donna and Mirus staff went to look at some paint and wallpaper samples to find the perfect colour to make her room her own. She decided on a gorgeous sage green paint colour for the accent walls, and a sage green and white flowered wallpaper for the feature wall.
Soon after, Donna and her support worker started stripping the old wallpaper. Donna did lots of it herself, and her support worker did the parts she couldn’t reach. Donna loved getting involved, and she learned lots of new DIY skills.
She also got involved with painting her bedroom furniture – she painted her cupboards from white to light grey.
Donna is happy with her room now that it is reflective of her own personal style, and she’s very proud of being involved in the project from beginning to end.
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Donna got fully involved in decorating her room
Increasing independence
You said, we did
You told us that you like doing activities and taking on responsibilities that increase your independence and confidence. Justin won a Mirus Moment for doing just that!
One of Justin’s long-term goals is to increase his independence. After speaking with Justin about ways that he can work towards achieving his goals, staff encouraged Justin to try new activities, and to use a weekly planner to plan his activities so that he has more time to prepare for what’s coming up.
As part of increasing his independence, Justin now has control of his weekly planner, and picks the activities he would like to do each week.
As well as introducing new activities, staff encouraged Justin to continue to do some of the activities he already enjoys, such as going to Cwmbran on the bus, to avoid overwhelming him by changing too much at once.
Justin has stepped out of his comfort zone and has taken part in different activities such as ‘Wheels for All,’ an inclusive cycling group, and has also started going swimming.
Staff found that by using a weekly planner Justin has more time to process upcoming activities, which has helped to reduce his anxiety. He is now happy to stick to the activities on his planner, rather than cancelling them like he often did previously.
In the meeting about his goals, Justin also told staff that he sometimes gets lonely and thought that a pet could help keep him company. He thought that having an animal to hold and play
with might help him feel more connected and give him some added responsibility.
Justin originally thought that a rabbit would be the best pet for him. But, after researching how to look after a rabbit, he realised that the cost of supplies and ongoing care, as well as the amount of space they require, might be too much for a first pet. His research led him to choose a pet hamster instead.
So, for his birthday this year, after lots of planning, he brought home a hamster that he named Coco.
This is the first time Justin has owned a pet, and he has taken on the responsibility very well. He stays on top of cleaning the cage and ensures Coco’s food and water are topped up daily. He is a proud hamster parent!
Staff are hopeful they can introduce more activities and responsibilities to Justin, incorporating new activities that are meaningful to him to ensure that he is stimulated and can learn new skills and gain new experiences.
As a result of Justin improving his independence and increasing his responsibilities, he won a Mirus Moment in March. Congratulations Justin!
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Justin with his new hamster, Coco (above) and at inclusive cycling group ‘Wheels For All’ (right).
Mirus Moments
Celebrating achievements
A Mirus Moment is when someone has done something extra special.
People supported by Mirus and Mirus staff members can both win prizes, when they are nominated by others for doing something great.
You can nominate people who you think deserve to be recognised for their achievements. We have made the online form even quicker and easier to complete, and we hope that even more people will nominate. www.bit.ly/mirusmoments
Each month Mirus Representatives select their favourite nominations to win a prize. Winners will then go forward to be in with a chance of winning a Mirus Star at our awards ceremony later in the year.
Your area’s Mirus Moments 2024 winners so
far
Justin won a Mirus Moment for taking on more responsibility and increasing his independence.
Nominate online!
You can nominate a person supported by Mirus or a Mirus staff member by filling out the form at the link below.
Each person nominated could win a Mirus Moment, and go on to be in with a chance of winning a Mirus Star.
www.bit.ly/mirusmoments
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Justin L
People in your area
For information and support
Mirus staff members Stay up to date
Responsible Individual
Sara Davies
Sara.Davies@mirus-wales.org.uk
Sara is our new Director of Support Services, and will be Responsible Individual while Sally Bathurst is on maternity leave from mid May 2024.
Area Manager
Vickie Woodland
VickieW@mirus-wales.org.uk
Mirus Reps
Mirus Rep
Name: Rhys Larson
Area: Gwent
Stay up to date with what’s happening across Mirus by following us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram or our website.
www.facebook.com/miruswales
www.twitter.com/miruswales
www.instagram.com/miruswales www.mirus-wales.org.uk
About Mirus Reps
Mirus Reps are volunteers who are supported by Mirus. They are the voice of people supported by Mirus in their area. Their role is to provide feedback and opinions from other people we support to Mirus.
Their goal is to make things better for people supported by Mirus, and help to make sure that people can do the things they love.
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local activities
The Big Lunch
The Big Lunch is an annual event where people get together and meet up with existing friends, and make new ones. Your Big Lunch will be a combined event with Cardiff. More details coming soon.
When: First weekend of June TBC
Where: Cardiff - location TBC
Get involved with... What’s coming up activities across Mirus
Mental Health Awareness Week
When: 13th - 19th May
Where: On our social media @MirusWales and events held across Mirus
What: Activities, information sharing and encouraging people to get involved with things that can improve mental health.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/mhawmay2024
Volunteers Week
When: 3rd - 9th June
Where: On our social media @MirusWales
What: Celebrating our volunteers and raising awareness of volunteering opportunities across Mirus.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/volunteersweek2024
Speak to Mirus staff or visit the web links for more info.
Carers Week
When: 10th - 16th June
Where: On our social media @MirusWales and at our Respite house on Pantbach Avenue in Cardiff
What: Listening to and learning from the feedback from unpaid carers. Raising awareness of the challenges that carers face. Learn More: www.carersweek.org
Learning Disability Week
When: 17th - 23rd June
Where: On our social media @MirusWales and at All Wales People First’s Adfest
What: Sharing positive stories, and attending the All Wales People First conference, Adfest. People can also attend Adfest on 19th or 20th June. £30 for members, £45 for non-members. Learn more: www.bit.ly/adfestflyer2024
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