Rainbow Centre gets high praise

The MP for Clwyd South, Simon Baynes, has highlighted the “excellent” work of the Rainbow Centre in Penley at a recent Health and Social Care questions in Parliament.

He asked Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP, whether he agreed that combating loneliness is vital to ensuring the health and wellbeing of elderly people, something he has seen first-hand in the work of the Penley Rainbow Centre.

Although the Rainbow Centre has been unable to open throughout lockdown, their volunteers have been able to make home visits and welfare calls as well as meals on wheels, and advice and support with mental health and well-being.

Mr Baynes also mentioned the charity he helped set up called ‘Concertina – Music for the Elderly’, which helps overcome loneliness by providing live music to care homes and day centres across England and Wales.

“I’ve been involved in combating loneliness among the elderly through Concertina – Music for the Elderly for more than 25 years,” said Mr Baynes.

“Music not only brings joy to people but is also one of the best ways to communicate, particularly with people suffering from dementia.

“Last week, we marked Loneliness Week, which is a problem at the best of times for many elderly people but has been particularly acute during the coronavirus crisis.

“It shows just how important the work by organisations like the Penley Rainbow Centre is in making elderly and vulnerable residents feel part of our community at this difficult time.”

Maps updated

Maps highlighting cycling routes around Audlem have been updated.

The Cycling for All around Audlem maps were launched in 2017 and have proved so popular that supplies of the map leaflets became exhausted last year despite two reprints.

The map offers 30 different routes around the Audlem area avoiding main roads wherever possible and routes range from four to 35 miles.

Early in 2020, both the leaflet and the on-line route content was to be updated and the specific route information now matches the leaflet and can be accessed via adapt.audlem.org/maps.html

There have been over 25,000 visits to these route pages over the last three years.

The information on refreshment facilities is affected by the current Covid-19 restrictions. Once arrangements are eased, map users should check the status of these facilities before relying on them.