Community Scheme Brings People Together Over Christmas
The Council’s Local Area Coordination scheme has held its first Christmas lunch to help bring people in the community closer together.
Known as ‘Mingle at the Miners’, the community lunch takes place on a monthly basis with the aim of building relationships and enabling people to develop new friendships to alleviate social isolation.
Over thirty-five people living in the communities of Skewen, Neath Abbey and Longford attended the lunch that was organised by the scheme’s Local Area Coordinator. Held at The Miners pub in Skewen, everyone who attended had the opportunity to get to know each other over a three course Christmas meal, a game of fun bingo and singing on the karaoke.
Emma Jones, the Coordinator for the area and organiser of the lunch said:
“Arranging lunches such as these are a great opportunity to meet new, local people in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It shows how just a few hours chatting with people in your own community can lead to lasting friendships.
“It was encouraging to hear everyone comment on how much they enjoyed and how they would like to attend again next year.”
The Local Area Coordination scheme focuses on supporting people using resources available in the community to relieve the pressure on Council care services. The coordinator for the area will work closely with the community using their local knowledge to provide information and advice to help people lead a better life.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Ali Thomas OBE said:
“It is encouraging to see so many people coming together to help one another. Nobody should be alone over Christmas, and community lunches can help to make sure this does not happen.
“This is just one of many ways that the Local Area Coordination Scheme can support people in their own communities to lead a better life.”
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