Our Connecting Carmarthenshire service is for adults who live in Carmarthenshire who need information, advice and support with mental health, learning disabilities and autism, physical disabilities, being an unpaid carer, or housing related support.
We have started a new initiative with the more rural parts of the county. Many of the villages within Carmarthenshire are quite isolated with poor transport links and the residents living there have no services available to them within their immediate community.
It came to the attention of staff working in the service that one village was experiencing a problem with substance misuse as well as domestic abuse which escalated during the Covid pandemic.
In addition, the Family Centre within the village was little used and staff felt that this would be an ideal location to start a Connecting Carmarthenshire drop-in centre.
Robert, our Community Gateway Officer, contacted various relevant support organisations such as DDAS (Dyfed Drug & Alcohol Service), CARMDAS (Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Service), Careers Wales, Mencap, MIND, Marie Curie, Salvation Army Employment Plus, Cyfle Cymru, Digital Communities Wales, plus others, to invite them to attend the drop-in to support members of the public. All the organisations were very keen to join us and the first drop-in was held on 19th October and proved to be a great success.
One attendee said: “I made an appointment with Careers Wales for the following Wednesday. They were really helpful and kind – they opened my eyes up to so many opportunities and offered to continue with my support in order to help me get on courses or training opportunities and to develop my CV. I am so glad that I went to the drop-in, my future is looking a lot brighter.”
 We now have dates for the next drop-in and the first one in a different village and already have confirmation of attendance by approximately 14 support organisations.
These community drop-ins will be held monthly and the aim is to extend this initiative throughout Carmarthenshire.
For more information please contact heidi.wilton-baker@nacro.org.uk
