Deafblind UK is set to launch a project created to connect those struggling with the challenges of sight and hearing loss in South Wales to local social opportunities.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the three year project will empower people who are deafblind to overcome personal challenges in confidence, motivation and mobility. It will also address lack of inclusivity existing within local social opportunities.
Mike Wycherley, Head of Charitable Services at Deafblind UK, said: “We are all too aware of the set-back that the Covid pandemic has caused for many people with sensory loss. A lot of people who were once fiercely independent are telling us that they are struggling to find the confidence to return to normal life.”
“Through the Community Reconnections project, people will receive bespoke support to help them achieve their desired outcomes, whether this is to return to a local social group, to start using their favourite café once again or to try something exciting they’ve never done before – it’s entirely up to them!”
The charity will recruit two local officers who will work on a one to one basis with deafblind citizens to assess and address their challenges. Through specialised support, they will also help local venues and activities to become more accessible and inclusive. Mike said: “From our experience of running social groups for many years, we understand the importance to people’s wellbeing of having a friendly meeting space for them to build friendships and feel connected to their community. Sadly, many mainstream social opportunities are not as accessible to people with sensory loss as they could be. We are keen to help them to address this, and we have found that many venues are enthusiastic about taking this step, once they have the right knowledge and a little upskilling.”
Deafblind project participants will also be able to access a “mobility buddy” – a volunteer who will help them to become routinely active by going for short walks or supporting them to start using public transport with confidence. “We want to provide a safe environment within which people can re-learn how to do these things for themselves, so that they can ultimately regain their independence and open up their horizons.” Said Mike.
This project will run for three years from 1st October 2022, across the counties of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and Newport. Support is free of charge.
Please contact us for more information.
Prosiect Ailgysylltu Cymunedol Deafblind i wella cyfleoedd cymdeithasol i bobl sydd wedi colli eu golwg a’u clyw yn ne Cymru
Bydd yr elusen genedlaethol, Deafblind UK (a elwir yn Deafblind Cymru yn lleol), yn lansio prosiect a grëwyd i gysylltu’r rheiny sy’n mynd i’r afael â heriau colli golwg a chlyw yn ne Cymru â chyfleoedd cymdeithasol lleol.
Diolch i gyllid gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol, bydd y prosiect tair blynedd yn grymuso pobl sy’n ddall fyddar i oresgyn heriau personol o ran hyder, cymhelliant a symudedd. Bydd hefyd yn mynd i’r afael â diffyg cynwysoldeb sy’n bodoli o fewn cyfleoedd cymdeithasol lleol.
Dywedodd Mike Wycherley, Pennaeth Gwasanaethau Elusennol Deafblind UK: “Rydyn ni i gyd yn ymwybodol iawn o’r rhwystrau mae pandemig Covid wedi’u hachosi i lawer o bobl sydd â nam ar eu synhwyrau. Mae llawer o bobl a oedd unwaith yn hynod annibynnol yn dweud wrthym eu bod yn ei chael yn anodd cael hyd i’r hyder i ddychwelyd i fywyd normal.”
“Trwy’r prosiect Ailgysylltu Cymunedol, bydd pobl yn cael cefnogaeth bwrpasol i’w helpu i gyflawni eu canlyniadau dymunol, p’un ai dychwelyd i grŵp cymdeithasol lleol, dechrau defnyddio eu hoff gaffi unwaith eto neu roi cynnig ar rywbeth cyffrous dydyn nhw erioed wedi’i wneud o’r blaen – nhw piau’r dewis!”
Bydd yr elusen yn recriwtio dau swyddog lleol fydd yn gweithio ar sail un i un gyda dinasyddion dall fyddar i asesu a mynd i’r afael â’u heriau. Trwy gefnogaeth arbenigol, byddant hefyd yn helpu lleoliadau a gweithgareddau lleol i fod yn fwy hygyrch a chynhwysol. Dywedodd Mike: “O’n profiad ni o redeg grwpiau cymdeithasol am flynyddoedd lawer, rydym yn deall pwysigrwydd lles pobl o gael gofod cyfarfod cyfeillgar iddyn nhw er mwyn meithrin cyfeillgarwch a theimlo cysylltiad â’u cymuned. Yn anffodus, nid yw llawer o gyfleoedd cymdeithasol prif ffrwd mor hygyrch i bobl sydd â nam ar eu synhwyrau ag y gallent fod.
Rydym yn awyddus i’w helpu i fynd i’r afael â hyn, ac rydym wedi gweldd bod llawer o leoliadau’n frwdfrydig dros gymryd y cam hwn, wedi iddynt gael y wybodaeth gywir ac ychydig o uwchsgilio.”
Bydd cyfranogwyr prosiect Deafblind hefyd yn gallu cael mynediad at “gyfeillion symudedd” – gwirfoddolwr a fydd yn eu helpu i fod yn actif yn rheolaidd drwy fynd am dro byr neu eu cefnogi i ddechrau defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn hyderus. “Rydym eisiau darparu amgylchedd diogel lle gall pobl ailddysgu sut i wneud y pethau hyn drostynt eu hunain, fel y gallant adennill eu hannibyniaeth yn y pen draw ac ehangu eu gorwelion,” meddai Mike.
Bydd y prosiect hwn yn rhedeg am dair blynedd o 1 Hydref 2022, ledled siroedd Abertawe, Castell Nedd Port Talbot, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Caerdydd, Bro Morgannwg a Chasnewydd. Mae’r gefnogaeth yn rhad ac am ddim.
Cysylltwch â Deafblind UK am fwy o wybodaeth:
0800 132 320
