Join us every Tuesday for fun, friendly and informative cake decorating classes with Val Landers. Val has over 50 years experience

We know that you  may not always have time to prepare for our classes, so we have made sure that all you need to do is remember to turn up and we will provide everything you need, plus you will never leave empty handed!

Class times:
Tuesday 10.30-12.30
Tuesday 1.00-3.00

Cost £5.00 per class

Join us every Wednesday for a relaxing ceramics class. This is a great way to explore ceramic decoration. We stock a wide variety of bisqueware, which is pottery that has already been fired — or ‘bisqued’ – and is primed for decoration with glazes and underglazes. This means that in order to complete an easy ceramic project, you simply select the item that you like and then paint it. We then dip the item in our kiln and it is ready for you to take home at your next class.

We have a range of bisque shapes available including; animal shapes, money boxes, vases, tiles, coaters, dinosaurs, cups, mugs and plates.

Class time:
Wednesday 1.00-3.30pm

Cost £2.50 plus the cost of your ceramics item.

If you want to learn all the skills you need to create your very own handmade jewellery to perfectly complement your style then this class is for you.

Our jewellery making courses are headed by an expert teacher who knows all the tips and tricks behind crafting amazing accessories to complete your look. They’ll guide you on every step of the crafting process, showing you some of the best techniques used by the professionals along with how to make earrings, necklaces and even braided bracelets. It doesn’t matter if this is your first attempt at making homemade jewellery, as this class is suitable for complete beginners and those with a little more experience.

Class times:
Thursday 1.00-3.00pm
Friday       1.00-3.00pm

Cost £5.00 per class

Whether you are starting from scratch, coming for a refresh, or want to fill in the gaps- come and learn at a pace that suits you.

We run weekly Digital Inclusion Classes every Friday 10-`12pm. Our friendly tutors allocate time to answer questions that are specific to you and what you would like to learn. If you don’t have your own equipment, we have digital devices that we are able to loan out.

The cost of this session is £2.50

New members are always welcome, this activity takes place at our Widdershins Centre every Wednesday  1:00pm – 2:00pm and is suitable for people living with dementia.

This session is free to attend, transport can be arranged for a small cost.

Take a look at some of the videos of our choir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_YjfRWBZvI

Spaces are limited, so please contact 01495 769264 to secure your place. 

Every Wednesday we offer a special roast dinner at our Bistro.  This is available from 12 until 2.00 at our Widdershins Centre.

Booking is essential, contact us on 01495 769264.

Our transport services are crucial for helping maintain a sense of independence.

We provide a chargeable transport service to enable people to access our many services. Our transport is available for regular bookings, one off appointment, assistance to a hospital appointment or to attend one of our events.

Unfortunately we are not able to transport electric wheelchairs.

Contact 01495 769264 to check for availability and a member of staff will provide you with a cost for the journey.

A dementia diagnosis can come as a shock to the person with the condition and those around them. However, there are sources of help and support for everyone involved.

Here at Age Connects Torfaen, we have developed a unique Dementia Centre of Excellence that utilises our significant experience and expertise of working with people with dementia and their carers.

Every service within the centre has been specifically established to suit both the needs of the person with dementia and their carer. Our specialist team delivers personalised, high quality services in line with the Dementia Vision in Wales.

The centre enables us to give people coping with dementia a better quality of life, helping them to lead fulfilling, independent lives for as long as possible.

Do You Love Music?

Why not join our Love To Sing Dementia choir, suitable for all music lovers.

New members are always welcome, this activity takes place at our Widdershins Centre every Wednesday  1:00pm – 2:00pm and is suitable for people living with dementia.

This session is free to attend, transport can be arranged for a small cost.

Spaces are limited, so please contact 01495 769264 to secure your place.

Take a look at some of the videos of our choir:

Our Merry Moments programme focuses on improving the mental health and emotional well being of older people with memory issues living in Torfaen.

It is a safe, and enjoyable experience, offering carers the opportunity to rest or have some ‘me time’.

Whether it’s a morning, afternoon or full day, you will be welcomed by our specialised dementia friendly staff, who are dedicated and fully trained.

Within Merry Moments we can offer people with Dementia:

Our Merry Moments Sessions take place Monday – Friday  from 10-1.00pm, 11.30-2.30pm.

Transport can also be provided at an additional cost.

To book in for a free taster session, please contact 01495 769264.

We provide a person-centred, supportive environment for those living with young onset dementia and mild cognitive impairment aged 40-65years. We welcome individuals and their carers across Gwent

We support people to have a meaningful and a varied program of activities and opportunities that aim to alleviate social isolation, promote and maintain independence and skills.

Activities on offer include:

Group sessions are held at Widdershins Centre on:

For more information please contact us on 01495 769264.

It’s essential that we all take good care of our feet in later life. It lowers our risk of having a fall and reduces our risk of infection, as well as relieving pain. Age Connects Torfaen foot care services help older people who are unable to look after their feet.

In partnership with the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, we offer a professional nail cutting service to administer basic foot care services to older people (some medical exclusions apply).

We hold regular nail cutting surgeries within Torfaen and the surrounding areas. These are located at:

Appointments can be booked by contacting 01495 769264.

At our Widdershins Centre, we have a comfortable and fully equipped salon where our experienced staff offer friendly hairdressing and beauty treatments at competitive prices.

Appointments can be booked by contacting 01495 769264.

Our befriending hubs are a great way of keeping older people active and involved in their local community.

We run weekly befriending hubs throughout Torfaen, located at focal points of the local community. They have disabled access and transport can be arranged on request.

The hubs are based at the following venues:

All befriending hubs are open from 11.30-2.00pm

A two course lunch club costs £7.00

Please contact 01495 769264 to make a referral to our befriending hubs.

Age Connects Torfaen provides a free independent and confidential general advice service to Torfaen residents aged 50 plus, their families, carers and professionals.

Issues affecting older people and their carers include: Staying Warm At Home , Adaptations And Aids To Help You Remain Independent In Your Home, Legal Issues, Social Care & Alternative Housing Options. 

We also offer Specialist Advice on maximisation of income, responding to benefit queries and assisting with benefit applications.

You can access the service by telephone 01495 769264, weekly Tuesday Drop In (12 noon-2pm), email, allocated appointment & home visit where necessary.

Increasing income through benefit entitlement can make a real difference to people’s lives: that’s why it’s at the heart of our service

The Age Connects Torfaen Information & Advice Service was formed in 2009 in response to the overwhelming demand for information, advice and assistance on welfare benefits for the over 60’s.

Since then the service has grown from strength to strength providing a quality service to older people in the local area.

If you have any enquiries about benefit entitlement and income maximisation for older people please contact a member of our friendly team who can provide further information on our service.

Telephone: 01495 769264.

Making a Will

We are very aware that writing a Will can be viewed as costly, complicated and often involve making decisions which can be difficult and upsetting. Although we recognise these difficulties, it is important to focus on all the positive outcomes that can come from preparing a Will.

Making a will is one of the most important things you can do. It means that you can state the people and the charities that you would like to benefit from your Will. Without a Will, the authorities will decide who inherits and it can take considerably longer to finalise proceedings, whilst also costing significantly more.

Things to consider before making your will:

• Details of your assets, including home and contents, jewellery, car, bank accounts, and life insurance policies etc.
• Names and addresses of family, friends or charities you wish to benefit from your Will
• Names and addresses of those you choose to appoint as Executors to carry out your wishes
• Other considerations, such as funeral arrangements, floral tributes and organ donation

We want to ensure that you get the best possible advice when making your Will, so we have teamed up with Accord Solicitorsto ensure you receive the service that you need and deserve. Accord Solicitors will provide a free Will preparation service, all we ask is that you consider making a donation to Age Connects Torfaen

Why should I use Accord Solicitors?

1. They have lots of experience preparing Wills and prepare thousands per annum, so you are in good hands
2. A standard Will only states who is to benefit when you die. These “Estate Planning Wills” ensure that your estate finishes up where you want it – quite the difference.
3. At present, Accord Solicitors will prepare your Will free of charge – a service which usually costs £150 for a single client and £240 for a couple. This way, you can support Age Connects Torfaen and get a good deal.

What can Accord Solicitors do for you?

They make your Will free of charge. You don’t pay. The charity doesn’t pay. You simply consider a donation to Age Connects Torfaen. It’s as simple as that.

Age Connects Torfaen relies on voluntary donations to allow us to continue our valuable work. It doesn’t matter how much you donate, all funds raised will help provide much needed services and support for local older people .

We would like to encourage all customers who don’t already have a Will to consider this very generous offer from Accord Solicitors. In doing so, you can plan for you and your family’s future, and at the same time, support the valuable work of our Charity.

To arrange an appointment, please get in touch:
Age Connects Torfaen:
Tel: 01495 769264 or Email: widdershins@ageconnectstorfaen.org   

You can also visit the website to find out more about their wide array of services by clicking here.

Free Will Review

We want to ensure that you get the best possible advice when reviewing making or reviewing your Will, so we have teamed up with Accord Solicitors to ensure you receive the service that you need and deserve. Jones Whyte will provide a free Will Review service, all we ask is that you consider making a donation to Age Connects Torfaen.

Why should you have your Will reviewed?

• Very often a Will alone is not enough
• Your circumstances may have changed
• Research shows that 1 in 4 Wills are defective or of poor quality*
• A Will only directs where your assets will go when you die – not where they will end up. Quite the difference.

Why should you do it now?

None of us know what’ is around the corner. If you leave it until you need it, it could be too late.

Why should I use Accord Solicitors?

• They see many Wills with errors
• They see many clients who need a Trust to back up their Will
• The review is free of charge. They call it a safety check.
• If you need a new Will, that is also free of charge.

What can Accord Solicitors do for you?

• They review your Will free of charge
• You get a new Will, if necessary, at no cost
• You don’t pay. The charity doesn’t pay. You simply consider a donation to Age Connects Torfaen

Why should I use Accord Solicitors?

1. They have lots of experience preparing Wills and prepare thousands per annum, so you are in good hands
2. A standard Will only states who is to benefit when you die. These “Estate Planning Wills” ensure that your estate finishes up where you want it – quite the difference.
3. At present, Accord Solicitors will  review your Will and prepare a new  Will (if necessary) free of charge – a service which usually costs £150 for a single client and £240 for a couple. This way, you can support Age Connects Torfaen and get a good deal.

Age Connects Torfaen relies on voluntary donations to allow us to continue our valuable work. It doesn’t matter how much you donate, all funds raised will help provide much needed services and support for local older people .

We would like to encourage all customers who don’t already have a Will to consider this very generous offer from Accord Solicitors. In doing so, you can plan for you and your family’s future, and at the same time, support the valuable work of our Charity.

To arrange an appointment, please get in touch:
Age Connects Torfaen:
Tel: 01495 769264 or Email: widdershins@ageconnectstorfaen.org   

You can also visit the website to find out more about their wide array of services by clicking here.

Thank you for enquiring about our special price Lasting Power of Attorney offer

Putting in place a Lasting Power of Attorney will enable you to chose who will make decisions on your behalf if the worst should happen and you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself. With an ageing population and one in three of us experiencing dementia in our lives,  putting  things in place to ensure your affairs can be taken care of is vitally important.

Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document which appoints someone you trust to act for you if you become unable to make decisions or manage your affairs – both financial and property and health & welfare.

Without a Lasting Power of Attorney, your family might need to go to court, which can cause lots of delay, hassle and expense. We want to ensure that you get the best possible advice when making your Will, so we have teamed up with Accord Solicitors to offer a special price Lasting Power of Attorney. Accord Solicitors will complete a Lasting Power of Attorney for £199.

​Why should I use Accord Solicitors?

• They prepare thousands of Lasting Powers of Attorney each year, so you are in good hands
• They let you decide whether and when to register it. This can save you over £75 per person.
• You keep control. So, even if it’s signed and registered, no-one can use it until you say so.
• Accord Solicitors will prepare your Lasting Power of Attorney at a special price of just £199 and make a donation to Age Connects Torfaen.

Age Connects Torfaen relies on voluntary donations to allow us to continue our valuable work. It doesn’t matter how much you donate, all funds raised will help provide much needed services and support for local older people .

We would like to encourage all customers who don’t already have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place to consider this offer and help plan for you and your family’s future.

To arrange an appointment, please get in touch:
Age Connects Torfaen:
Tel: 01495 769264 or Email: widdershins@ageconnectstorfaen.org   

You can also visit the website to find out more about their wide array of services by clicking here.

HOPE — Helping others participate and engage

This exciting new project will be supporting people to engage, participate, gain information, have their voices heard, understand their rights, make choices, be involved, share experiences, raise awareness of advocacy, and develop skills and knowledge.

HOPE will deliver advocacy support at a community level through a range of advocacy models by recruiting and then fully training and supporting project volunteers. HOPE aims to support people at an early stage in their issues or concerns to prevent them slipping into crisis. We want to help people to get the help and support they need at the earliest point and we know that the current COVID-19 pandemic will have had a big impact on the lives of older people so they might need more support than ever to reengage with their communities and to get access to services as restrictions are lifted.

HOPE will deliver advocacy for older people (50+) and carers across Wales. HOPE staff and volunteers will also engage with communities who can guide us to make sure the service we provide is right for the needs of older people and carers in their areas. We’ll develop forums to support us to do this or we’ll work with existing ones where they exist. We don’t want to duplicate existing services but rather we want to make sure we work with and complement the existing advocacy providers and forums across Wales.

HOPE will identify and support Advocacy Ambassadors through the forums, who will promote awareness of rights and choices, and the importance, benefits and outcomes of advocacy. HOPE will promote advocacy in all its forms to show how important it is and what a difference it can make.

HOPE will establish a programme of training, workshops and events enabling advocates across Wales to further develop their skills and knowledge. Training and workshops will also be available to other professionals who would benefit from greater awareness of advocacy and how to access it.

This is a Wales wide project but we’ll be working across regions with regional staff in place. These regions are:

• Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan
• Dyfed Powys
• Gwent
• North Wales
• Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

As this is a new project, we’ll need some time to get it all up and running across some very large areas, so even within the regions we’ll have to focus our attentions on specific areas of most need in the early stages. We’ll then be rolling HOPE out across the regions. Please bear with us as we do this.

For more information, please visit the following page , take a look at the documents below or email us at kerry.beckett@ageconnectstorfaen.org

In response to the pressure being caused by the cost-of living increase, Age Connects Torfaen has established a partnership with LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership).

Our free energy advice home visit will check your utility tariff, benefits, offer advice on energy saving measures and equipment (including LED bulbs, draft excluders, radiator reflectors).

This service is available to anyone :

• With a household income below £31k or
• In receipt of a range of benefits.

During the visit with an Energy Advisor, they will look to install some simple energy efficiency measures including door brushes, hot water cylinder jackets and radiator panels.

Your home may also benefit from some extra insulation and/or heating system replacement. If this is the case the Energy Advisor will try to find suitable funding for you which may offer partial or full grants towards the cost of heating or insulation for your home. Our Energy Advisor will also look at whether you would benefit from a full benefits assessment. This service can help you apply for any benefits you may be entitled to but are not claiming, help you manage any debts and provide general money advice. It may also be appropriate to let your local council know about a possible home hazard that has been identified during the visit.