A generous donation of £100 has enabled us to set up a 'Cooking on a Budget' course in Newport.

Clients have been invited to come in on a Wednesday and they will be taught to cook a meal that they can then take home to feed their families that evening.

This money will be used to buy the necessary food and equipment to start up the scheme.

The first CoCo (Coffee and Company group) event for the Torfaen and Monmouthshire Alcohol Service was held in Chepstow on Wednesday 4th August.

This was a great success, giving service users the opportunity to mix and socialise in an informal way.  Feedback and questionnaires were completed on structured and informal group work and events clients felt they would like in the future.

The next CoCo events are to be held on Abergavenny on 25th August, and in Pontypool on 29th August.  Requests have also been received to hold an event in Monmouth as well.

Links: Event Details (Coco.pdf)

The Cardiff and Vale Speed Networking Event took place on 29 July at Future Inns Hotel in Cardiff.  The event was organised to encourage partnership working and to give the Peer Mentors and operational staff an opportunity to meet the many different organisations that refer into the service.  The event was well attended, with 33 different organisations turning up, ranging from drug and alcohol service, welfare to work providers, service user groups, employers, colleges, housing associations and Jobcentre Plus.  

A Remploy adviser said she thought it was a very productive, successful and enjoyable morning and once it started the time flew by.  She made several new contacts and now understands more about what everyone has to offer.  She is putting together a register for her colleagues to use and refer people to for the future.

A co-ordinator from Jobcentre Plus also said he enjoyed the event, it was very well organised, and he made invaluable contacts.

For photos of this event, see our Facebook page on the website.

The Kaleidoscope team in Wales enjoyed a day out in Tenby.

The Awayday is a thank you to the staff who have worked tirelessly over the past year to support the people we care for.  Central to our values is to care for people, both staff and our service users.  The best way to care is to have a little fun and to celebrate achievements.  

The day finished, as is becoming traditional, with a game of rounders.  Eric and Mary Blakebrough (the founders of Kaleidoscope) joined us and captained our two teams; Mary's team won1-0.

For more photos go to our Facebook page.