New Outdoor Recreation Area For Care Home Residents

Residents at Llys Y Bryn care home in Llanelli will have a new outdoor recreation area to enjoy thanks to Next Steps. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Building firm Lloyd & Gravell are leading the project to transform what was an overgrown outdoor area for the benefit of residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ten candidates have been chosen to take part in the Next Steps competition to win full-time paid construction apprenticeships with local building firms TRJ Ltd as well as Lloyd & Gravell Ltd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They are working alongside skilled tradesmen to learn basic skills including carpentry, bricklaying, plastering and ground works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the competition, two community projects have been chosen for the candidates to work on – Llys Y Bryn and Cwmaman paddling pool. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The candidates have cut back the overgrown weeds and grass, made benches and a pergola so residents have somewhere to sit, and built raised flower beds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Care home manager Lindsay Smith said it was unrecognisable: “They have been fantastic, there has been no disruption to the residents at all and the candidates have been very well behaved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The residents were unable to use the area, it was overgrown, there was nowhere for them to sit, there was no shelter. It will make such a big difference to them; the candidates have worked so hard; they even found a path we didn’t know was there. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Now they have somewhere to sit and enjoy, flowers to look at, it is so much more user-friendly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Director of Lloyd & Gravell Kevin Gravell said: “We are delighted that we have been able to carry out this project at Llys Y Bryn; the staff and residents are so grateful and it has been a rewarding experience for the candidates too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When we came up with the idea of Next Steps we wanted to provide opportunities for apprenticeships, but giving back to the community was also an important part.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Next Steps is a joint initiative between the two building firms and Constructing Carmarthenshire Together – a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council’s Property division, Coleg Sir Gâr, and Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “I am delighted that Llys Y Bryn has been able to benefit from Next Steps. By working on the project not only have the candidates have been able to learn new skills but they are also helping the community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​