A community group which supports the vulnerable and lonely and their carers in the Vale of Clwyd is appealing for volunteer drivers to help them reach even more isolated people.<\/p>\n
The Denbigh Forget Me Not Project\u2019s team of willing helpers hold regular free monthly activities and meetings at the town\u2019s Plas Pigot Social Club but would like to extend their services to local villages.<\/p>\n
Their Saturday morning workout attracted a good turnout of all ages and was taken by Shaun Hughes, an exercise instructor with Denbighshire Leisure Services, and attended by Lisa James, of one of the project supporters, Lock Stock Self Storage.<\/p>\n
It was followed by a free lunch provided by Forget Me Not volunteers and Chair Leah Roberts said: \u201cIt was very popular and we\u2019ve had three new members and they have all enjoyed the activity and being able to get together and have a chat afterwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no pressure to stay for the whole session and people can drop in as they like but we are seeing more staying and we\u2019d just like to be able to reach even more of those who are struggling or living with dementia.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic transport can be challenging to access in local villages and that\u2019s why we are appealing for volunteer drivers to give some of their time once a month to transport people to and from our sessions because we will reimburse them for petrol.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Forget Me Not Project was launched in Denbigh in 2020 and is also supported by the Freeman Evans Trust, a private charitable trust for those in need in the former Borough of Denbigh.<\/p>\n
The pandemic curtailed the Project\u2019s face to face sessions so the team created a sub-project, recruiting 280 volunteers who completed over 10,000 tasks during lockdown to support those most at risk.<\/p>\n
Leah added: \u201cThe sub-project remains ongoing and involves offering prescription collection, crisis dog walking, befriending telephone calls and much more.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who are struggling the project also supplies fresh food parcels, food vouchers, birthday presents and other treats.<\/p>\n
\u201cA second sub-project called Winter Wishes is co-ordinated by a small committee of six who work tirelessly throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaun, a GP referral instructor who works with clients from 16 to 90 with a range of issues, said: \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing some dynamic moves they can do without leaving their armchairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone seemed to enjoy it and we hopefully we can do some more work with them in future \u2013 I live in Denbigh and it\u2019s just an hour out of my day so it\u2019s good to be able to give something back to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lock Stock\u2019s Lisa James said: \u201cThe Denbigh Forget Me Not Project\u2019s team of volunteers here do a fantastic job to provide what is clearly a much-needed service.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur business was founded in Denbigh and as a company we feel a real connection to the town and so we are pleased to be able to support the work the Forget Me Not Project are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sioned Garrod, a resident of Cysgodfa, in Denbigh, said: \u201cI was widowed 15 months ago and it can be difficult getting out to meet people again but I\u2019ve been coming to the sessions and really enjoying them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to do something different and lose yourself for an hour and then you can have a chat. It really helps me cope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tina Roberts, from Awel y Dyffryn, Denbigh, was attending her third session with the Forget Me Not Project and she said: \u201cI have known Leah for a long time and she was a brilliant support when my husband, Harry, died four years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a nervous breakdown but I\u2019m well again now and have got my life back and can enjoy activities like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about self-care and quality time and it\u2019s so special to us. I\u2019m just so grateful to the people here who give up their time for us. I\u2019m so lucky to have such exceptional friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lock Stock, which now operates 26 storage parks across North Wales and the border counties \u2013 recently-opened Porthmadog is the newest – is the largest container-based storage company in the UK.<\/p>\n
The business, founded in Denbigh in 1999, has over 4,000 storage units providing over four million cubic feet of space at its parks across North and Mid Wales and the border counties.<\/p>\n
Their existing sites stretching from Holyhead and along the North Wales coast at Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Bangor, Llandudno, Abergele and Rhyl, on the Dee at Flint, Saltney and Deeside and inland at Denbigh, Mold, Buckley, Wrexham and Newtown in Powys, and at Oswestry and Shrewsbury in Shropshire.<\/p>\n
The company also specialise in the off-site hire of containers such which can be delivered by their specialist lorry, sizes range from 10-feet long up through 20-footers to 40-foot units, all eight feet high and eight feet wide, from 640 to 2,560 in cubic feet in volume.<\/p>\n
For more on the work of Denbigh Forget Me Not Group, including how to volunteer, go to https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/The-Denbigh-Forget-Me-Not-Project\/100057277606937\/<\/a><\/p>\n For information about Lock Stock Self Storage including off-site container hire contact them on 01745 817178 or go to https:\/\/lockstock.biz\/<\/a><\/p>\n