FLINTSHIRE RANGERS team up with Cyfle Cymru volunteers to help Buckley bloom.
Twice a month, Cyfle Cymru and Kaleidoscope North Wales volunteers unite to complete garden and maintenance tasks at a former industrial site on Globe Way in Buckley.
Participants have helped to create pedestrian footpaths leading to the pond, cleared weeded areas to sew wild flowers in their places, and levelled out grass verges.
Cyfle Cymru participant David started volunteering in attempt to boost his health and wellbeing.
He has been volunteering for a few months now and has attended several of Cyfle Cymru’s events, including the volunteering events at Wepre Park.
He said: “It gives you purpose, to get out of bed and do something with your day”
David, 53, has completed his first aid training funded by Cyfle Cymru and looks forward to to attending other courses in future in hope that it will help him with his fire safety business.
David also explained that some members of the public have even approached the volunteers to thank them for making their community a place to enjoy.
“It’s nice to feel like you’re doing something useful and making a difference!” he said.
Flintshire Ranger, Alistair Hemphill, explained how everyone involved is benefitting from the event.
The rangers benefit from some extra manpower, the participants develop life changing skills, the community benefit from the mended footpaths and wildlife is encouraged into the area.
“Everything we do here is for the wider community” Alistair said.
Cyfle Cymru Peer Mentor, Tim Quick commented: “The rangers are really great with the participants.
“The main aim for the participants is to improve on their health and wellbeing while enhancing their CV for the future.
“For a lot of people, this is their first time doing these sorts of things and it really helps to combat isolation”
Tim also welcomed participants from the Affinity Drug Intervention Programme, a partnership between Kaleidoscope North Wales and CAIS – and the project’s contribution to food and refreshments.
“It’s good to see so many different services coming together Like Cyfle Cymru, Affinity and Flintshire County Council, to help the public.
“A lot of the volunteers are very shy and isolated, so this is a great chance for them to feel a part of the community by helping” said Tim.
Cyfle Cymru is an EU funded peer-led project that aims to assist individuals with experience of low mental health and substance misuse to get back into work.
For more information about Cyfle Cymru click here, call 0300 777 2256 or email ask@cyflecymru.com
Cyfle Cymru is delivered by members of the DACW Consortium.
Cyfle Cymru is part of the Welsh Government’s Out of Work Service, supported by the European Social Fund.
