Y Sied Brings Community Together
Residents at Cartref yn y Coed, Pobl’s newly built older person’s accommodation in the Treberth area of Newport, came together at Y Sied Community Hub recently to celebrate how they are driving positive change in their community.
Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, speaks to the community at Y Sied
Treberth and Bishpool Over 50’s Network, led by the Integrated Wellbeing Network, part of Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board, and supported by a network of organisations, partners, and community leaders, hold two events annually to raise awareness of available services and to deliver targeted health and wellbeing information and campaigns.
This month saw Y Sied hosting the latest event, with the resident’s community group throwing open their doors to welcome visitors from the wider community.
Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, Helena Herklotts, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, and Councillors Emma Stowell-Corten and Jason Hughes were among the guests who met residents and enjoyed a tour of the new development, taking the opportunity to cut the ribbon and officially open the new salon and community shop which are at the heart of the scheme.
Amanda Davies, Group CEO, Pobl Group, oversees the cutting of the ribbon to formally open the new salon at Y Sied
The first part of the event saw a market style event, with service and community stalls, focused on community, wellbeing, and financial resilience, helping to prepare people with knowledge for winter planning.
Then, after refreshments, there was a presentation of certificates to residents who have successfully completed First Aid in The Workplace and Food Hygiene L2 courses, enabling them to successfully cater for breakfast clubs and other community gatherings centred on neighbours coming together to eat and socialise.
Following a poetry recitation from residents, those gathered were then treated to the official premiere of ‘The Life of Y Sied’, a short fly on the wall style documentary film funded by Pobl, directed by the community, and produced by start-up company White Crow Productions. An emotional roller-coaster of a film, it tells the story of the community hub, the neighbours and friends who use it, and the support they provide each other as they go about their everyday lives.
Samantha Howells, Area Regeneration Manager, Pobl Group, said:
“Cartref Y Coed is a flagship development for Pobl. A little over a year since the first people moved in, we are now able to fully appreciate just how important the element of community space is within these developments and the benefits it brings to the wider community.
“The Community Group have fully embraced Y Sied and are leading its development, supporting each other and creating services such as the community shop that will make a real difference to the lives of people who live here. The role of Pobl and the network going forward is to come alongside the community, understand what matters to them and support and enable their vision.”
Victoria Dyer of the Aneurin Bevan UHB Public Health Team, said:
“It was fantastic to see the hard work of the network paying off with the success of the event. This really was an effective partnership approach, linking the strengths of the community and wider organisations to deliver targeted health and wellbeing support for local residents.
“There was such a positive and community feeling to the day that was immortalised in the wonderful film produced by the residents, showcasing the support they provide to each other and wider community. A real example of unity and shared purpose.”
Everyone involved is extremely grateful for the support of Hale Construction for the installation of the salon at Y Sied and to Tesco who supported the event supplying refreshments and provide ongoing support to the community shop.
