Widdershins Centre, Sebastopol: Providing crucial support in the heart of the community
The Older People’s Commissioner was in Torfaen this week, to hear directly from older people about the action she should take to deliver positive change.
The Commissioner visited the Widdershins Centre in Sebastopol, Pontypool, where she met and spoke with around 30 older people about the things that can make growing older more difficult, and the improvements they’d like to see.
Older people told the Commissioner that the activities, services and support provided at the centre are hugely important to help them stay connected to their friends and community and to help them maintain their independence.
Key issues highlighted by the older people the Commissioner spoke to included limited public transport options, difficulties accessing health services – particularly GPs – and barriers due to digital exclusion.
The experiences, views and ideas shared by the older people the Commissioner met with will help to shape her upcoming Strategy and Work Plan as well as her ongoing work to improve policy and practice.
The visit to Widdershins was part of a wider series of visits to groups and community spaces across Wales where the Commissioner and her team will be hearing directly from older people about the action they should deliver and the key issues they should focus on, with visits to every local authority in Wales planned in the weeks ahead.
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said:
“I’d like to thank everyone at Widdershins for giving me such a warm welcome and for speaking with me about the changes and improvements they’d like to see, and the action they’d like me to take as Commissioner.
“It was great to see the positive difference that the activities, services and support provided at the centre are making to the lives of older people, whether that’s accessing services like nail-cutting to help people to maintain their independence, or simply popping to the on-site Bistro for a cuppa to catch up with friends.
“The experiences shared will help me develop my Strategy and Work Programme, which will have older people’s voices at its heart.”
The Widdershins Centre is a community hub run by Age Connects Torfaen, which provides activities, support and information for older people, offering services including befriending, advice on health and financial entitlements, a nail-cutting service and social activities. The centre also has an on-site hairdresser and a Bistro, which provides hot, nutritious and delicious meals, as well as teas and coffees.
Chief Executive of Age Connects Torfaen, Angela Reed, said:
“We are deeply grateful to the Older People’s Commissioner for visiting the Widdershins Centre. Their visit not only highlighted the critical importance of advocating for the rights and dignity of our older community but also inspired us to further our mission of creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for all. The Commissioner’s insights have reinforced our commitment to continuous improvement in our services, and we look forward to partnering with her to ensure every older person feels valued and respected.”
Alongside travelling throughout Wales to speak directly with older people, the Commissioner is also inviting older people to share their experiences in writing by completing a short questionnaire.1
The Commissioner added:
“I want to hear from as many older people as possible, from a wide range of different backgrounds and communities, so please do make your voice heard by completing my questionnaire if you can and help deliver positive change for older people.”
