Gwynedd Council is formally seeking to ‘wind up’ centres at Cricieth and Blaenau Ffestiniog which are no longer used for day care. The services have not been offered by the council at Y Ganolfan, Blaenau Ffestiniog or at Encil y Coed, Cricieth by Cyngor Gwyned since the Covid period – amid increasing reliance on alternative community hubs and support.
The Encil y Coed building at Cricieth is owned by Cyngor Gwynedd and home to the Cricieth Library. The building is also used by other organisations for community events. Discussions will be held with these organisations who want to extend use of the facility, the council has said.
Y Ganolfan at Blaenau Ffestiniog is owned by a local community group and had seen Cyngor Gwynedd renting space there. A report will be presented recommending that its adults, health and well-being department should officially ‘wind-up’ use of Y Ganolfan, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Encil y Coed, Cricieth for day care use, at the council’s Cabinet meeting on January 21.
The decision comes amid a shake-up of day care and respite services, the emergence of more community-based support services, the development of community hubs, and to meet legislation. The department will also seek backing for a proposal to continue collaborating with community groups and the third sector to support individuals in their homes, using and supporting alternative community services.
Three ‘traditional’ day centres had already closed, including Cysgod y Coleg, Bala, day centre with Age Cymru having developed well-being services, Noddfa Madog Day Centre, Porthmadog and Maesincla Day Centre Caernarfon.
Centres at Plas Hedd (Bangor) and Bryn Dysynni, Tywyn, had re-opened since Covid, and there is day care available at Plas Y Don, Pwllheli. “However, these services have now been reviewed and are offered under the control of residential homes and are not separate services,” a council report noted.
The day services provided by the council are only for individuals with intensive care and support needs, and with specific eligibility criteria. At Cricieth and Blaenau, the report said, “the circumstances of the majority of original attendees had also changed” with some having passed away.
It noted that the “challenges” faced as a result of Covid-19 had given the council “an opportunity” to reconsider day care provision.
The report stated that alternative support was being offered, through a combination of domiciliary care services, dementia support service, specialist day care from health (Blaenau Ffestiniog Health Centre and Hafod Hedd, Bryn Beryl), Dementia Actif weekly activities, sessions by Y Dref Werdd and Age Cymru.
At, Cricieth, a meeting was held with the local councillor in November, 2024, where “… individuals and their carers favoured more bespoke support instead of attending a centre with traditional activities,” the council report said.
It added: “…the community of Cricieth is managing to hold its own activities and it appears that there is not as much of a demand for a traditional day care provision. There is a feeling that there is a greater need for a local information hub in Cricieth, to enable people to gain easy access to information about support services.
“Work is underway with the local community to look at how a provision or convenient information system can be established, within the area’s existing resources, and with the opportunity to discuss partnership options with the third sector, Grŵp Cynefin and Internal Provider, to make use of the Hafod y Gest Extra Care Housing site in Porthmadog.”
At Canolfan Blaenau Ffestiniog, conversations with the local member and discussions in November, 2024, with the members of the Trust/Blaenau Ffestiniog Community Centre Committee, were also held
The report noted: “Some concerns were expressed about the potential impact on the residents of the Ffestiniog area, specifically on vulnerable individuals who were experiencing loneliness and a lack of social provision.” However it was noted that Y Dref Werdd was offering social provision for residents facing loneliness. Further discussions will be held, including collaborating with local enterprises.
There is also a plan to “recruit and strengthen” services at Bryn Blodau, with “the hope of recommencing some day care provision on some weekdays.” And it confirmed that “a new local enterprise has been in contact and “…hopes to offer day activities for people aged over 65 years with dementia, or a long-term health condition, in the Llŷn and Eifionydd area.
“They intend to use facilities that are already available at local community hubs, at Hwb Heli in Pwllheli, and Y Traeth Football Club, Porthmadog. They are prepared to provide day activities in different settings and on different days in many local communities,” the report said.