Our Impact in Powys: 2022-23

Taking on exciting new challenges

Jamie moved in to shared supported living in 2021, at the age of 18. Since he moved, Jamie has taken on so many new challenges that have helped him to gain more independence.

Jamie is a keen car enthusiast and has applied for Brecon College to learn how to become a mechanic. Excited to get ahead, Jamie bought himself an old car which is in need of repairs to practice his new skills on in his spare time. He’s also started to learn to drive and budget his money!

Understanding the importance of looking after your health and wellbeing, Jamie has joined as a volunteer at the St John’s Community Garden. The gardening skills that he has learned have enabled him to start his own vegetable garden at home, so that he can be more self-sufficient with healthy food. He’s also learning to plan his meals so that he can have a healthy balance of food, and has started the Couch to 5K running programme.

mirus staff member Vickie said:

“Jamie has taken a big step moving in to supported living, and has grasped the challenge with both hands. He’s proven that he is capable of anything that he sets his mind to –and I’m sure with hard work, he will achieve all his plans.”

Jamie is already a very involved member of his local community, and everyone is looking forward to seeing what exciting new challenges he will take on next.

Jamie volunteering at the St John’s Community Garden

Making improvements to the community

The Brecon Community Garden is a joint venture between mirus, the St John’s Centre in Brecon and volunteers from the local community.

Several people supported by mirus regularly volunteer to help out at the garden. They have found that being outside is a great way to boost their mental health and wellbeing.

One volunteer from the local community makes use of the foodbank, which is also provided by St John’s. He said that volunteering in the garden is his small way of “giving back” to the community.

The garden has become increasingly popular, and it has now become a great focal point of the community. It has attracted more volunteers, who have joined as a way to get to know their neighbours, including a Ukrainian family who have recently moved to the area.

Everyone is welcome to visit the garden at any time, and people who drop by are guaranteed a warm welcome. Volunteering takes place on Tuesday afternoons.

Jamie and Tina volunteering at the garden

Sharing skills and inspiring others

This year we’ve helped people to understand how technology can improve their lives by organising technology events in Cardiff and Swansea. Technology providers showcased their devices and services to attendees.

Among the exhibitors was Craig, who is supported by mirus in Ystradgynlais. Craig started his YouTube channel called The Craig Jones Journey in 2019, after his Support Worker, Greg surprised him with a film documenting their trip to Disneyland Paris. He uses platform to tell people about his life and share his interests.

Craig said:

Together with his Support Worker, Greg, Craig has filmed and edited lots of videos, and he used the event to share his videos and skills as a way to inspire others to do the same.

Craig thinks that making video content is a great way to express yourself, and wanted to encourage others to try it. He said:

Once they have completed filming, the two sit down together and edit the footage. They watch the clips and choose music, photos, extra videos and sound effects. All of these things create the final video.

Support Worker, Greg, already had a keen interest in videography, and he was delighted to pass some of his knowledge on to Craig. Greg said:

“Craig creates elaborate ideas, and always follows his own unique path. The time we spend together is not only fun, but it helps us to become better creative thinkers. I love seeing Craig’s reaction to the finished video.”

Craig is currently exploring the possibility of setting up his own TikTok account, but in the meantime, you can watch his videos on YouTube.

Though the process of making a video takes a long time, the reward comes in seeing the results. Craig said: “I come up with ideas, then I work with Greg to plan things out. Whether it’s a vlog or a cover song, there needs to be a bit of planning. What song to sing? What story to tell? Then we get the camera out and turn imagination into reality!”

“Video making is a hobby that I enjoy doing. I love singing and performing, and people love to watch.”

“You can become anything you want. A singer, a writer, an actor, a superhero. Your imagination has no limits. It’s also a wonderful way to create memories for you, your family and friends to look back on.”

Craig and Greg manning the mirus stand at the Tech event

Craig recording a video in front of a green screen

Community Networker Jade and Area Manager Jane spent weeks finding and gathering unwanted toys and delivered them to the Ystradgynlais Community Centre.

There were so many toys that it was all hands on deck to help sort them into groups of toys that were suitable for different ages. The collection completely filled the Community Centre, with toys stashed in every available space!

On December 6th the doors opened on the Ystradgynlais Toy Fair. It was an inclusive event, open to everyone with no limits on what could be taken. People supported by mirus joined on the day to offer tea and mince pies to people who attended.

One person who attended said:

The many messages of thanks received made it clear that this event had a huge impact on people who were otherwise facing a very difficult Christmas.

“I cannot thank you enough, you helped me so much. When I got home I cried my eyes out because I didn’t think my kids would have anything for Christmas. I am so grateful.”

The shelves were packed with toys that were free to take

Staff from mirus joined together with Ystradgynlais Community Dreams to make the fair a success

mirus staff were in high spirits on the day of the fair

Celebrating the achievements of our stars

We held a mirus stars awards event to celebrate the fantastic achievements and great things that the people we support and our staff accomplished.

People connected with mirus used our mirus moments form to nominate others throughout the year, based on achievements that matched our values; Together, Respectful, Responsible, Empowering and Courageous. Our mirus reps from each region then had the difficult task of selecting 40 of the very best nominations out of a total of 192, and those people became our mirus stars semi-finalists.

At our mirus stars pre-awards parties, held in Cardiff and Swansea City Stadiums, we read out the nominations of our 40 semi-finalists, and encouraged everyone to vote for their favourite using electronic voting pads. Each category had 4 people selected to go forward to the final stage as mirus stars finalists, which were chosen by our Trustees.

The mirus stars awards event itself was a fabulous celebration, with Alex who is supported by mirus, and staff member Jamie dressed as the greatest

showmen to introduce the event and get the crowd cheering. Everyone was so excited to see who the winners for the events were, and to celebrate their success with them.

Our mirus stars winners were:

Together – Beth Broad, supported in Powys

Respectful – Allan Ramsahoi, staff member in Cardiff

Responsible - Sophie Scheeres, supported in Cardiff

Empowering - Andrea Romanga, supported in Swansea

Courageous – Matthew Clarke, supported in Neath Port Talbot

The incredible mirus stars winners celebrating on stage

To end the event, the fabulous drag collective ‘House of Deviant’ took to the stage, and lip synced, danced and encouraged the audience to take part in challenges.

House of Deviant is Wales’ first inclusive drag troupe for people with learning disabilities, and Sophie Scheeres, who is supported by mirus in Cardiff, performs as Miss Shade B****. They are fierce, sassy, and incredible performers, and their passion and excitement on the day of the event was contagious!

We received an inspirational nomination for Beth, who is supported by mirus in Brecon. Beth was the winner for the category Together.

Beth volunteers for a number of organisations that bring people together. She organises and leads walks for People

First, volunteers at a whole food shop where she cooks and serves customers and volunteers in a charity shop. After gaining a qualification certificate, Beth also leads a Nordic walk once a week with Age Concern.

We love reading about the achievements and courageousness of people connected with mirus, and we can’t wait to see what amazing nominations next year’s awards brings.

House of Deviant provided fabulous entertainment

Sophie performing as Miss Shade B****

Our Greatest Showmen introducing the ceremony

People cheering the winners

Beth was a winner for the category Together

The whole crowd were up and celebrating