AN OPEN day was held at Blaenau Ffestiniog’s Age Well Centre to raise awareness of the services on offer and to provide advice on keeping safe and warm all year round. The open day at Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn in the town was also attended by Liz Saville Roberts MP. The centre has been developed over the past 18 months by Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn in collaboration with the local community. At the open day, representatives from Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn, y Dref Werdd and Resource Efficient Wales were in attendance to provide useful advice and answered questions in relation to both keeping safe and well over the winter period and about how to heat the home more affordably.

Eleri Jones, chief executive of Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn, said: “Ageing doesn’t have to be a worrying or lonely experience. We at Age Cymru Gwynedd a Mon run community-based events and activities for older people across the two counties all year round. “We are always here to provide support – be that with mobility issues, or practical matters such as insurance or benefits. “The event in Blaenau Ffestiniog gave us an opportunity to promote two important campaigns in particular which were our Spread the Warmth campaign and the national Warm Homes Campaign.”

Mrs Saville Roberts, presented members with ‘winter warmer’ emergency packs containing warm socks and a blanket, mug and torch.

She said: “Today I’ve seen people having a cup of tea and cake with each other or taking some light exercise, and what really makes an impression on me is how much fun people are having.

“People like to come together; we know that keeping fit is good for our health, but we also need to socialise, and this centre gives an opportunity for individuals and for the community as a whole to come together and have that fun. Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn is doing very important work here.”

Eleri added: “By providing support for people to continue to socialise and be active we can give people a positive outlook on getting older and give our ageing population a great quality of life.”