Useful Links

A selection of useful links and materials for our community.

Useful Organisations

Confucius Institute provides Chinese language, culture courses and workshops in Welsh schools, Universities and the community. They also have a Chinese school for local Chinese children and young people on Sundays.

South Wales Police is the law enforcement department against crimes and maintaining order. Their hate crime team works closely with ethnic minority groups in Swansea to promote community cohesion and eliminate hate crimes.

Swansea Carers Centre is a specialist voluntary organisation which provides support to carers and former carers across the city and county of Swansea. They support people who care for those with an illness or disability. Also, they provide support and information to carers across Swansea by providing welfare benefits advice, access to grants and special funds, counselling service, dementia support, respite care and more.

SCVS is an organisation that supports, develops and represents third sector/voluntary organisations, volunteers and communities in the Swansea area.

Race Council Cymru’s aim is to eliminate racial discrimination, promote diversity and equality and fostering mutual understand through arts, cultural and heritage activities.

Race Council Cymru’s aim is to eliminate racial discrimination, promote diversity and equality and fostering mutual understand through arts, cultural and heritage activities.

Useful Sites

Telephone 0800 132 737

Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.

NHS Direct Wales

Telephone 0845 4647

Health advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Kooth PLC is a digital mental health and wellbeing company working to provide a welcoming space for digital mental health care, available to all.

Telephone: 0800 1111

Childline is a free, confidential service available to anyone under 19 in the UK. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you any time, day or night.

Telephone 0845 767 8000 (6pm-11pm)

Saneline is a national mental health helpline providing information and support to people with mental health problems and those who support them. If you’re a carer needing support you can contact all of the above as well as Carers Direct and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, both of whom are able to provide support and advice on any issues affecting you.

Telephone: 0808 80 23456 (8am – midnight, seven days a week)

Text: 84001

Meic is a confidential, free helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales. You can call, text or instant message them in Welsh or English for support, advice and information.

Telephone 0800 132 737

Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.

NHS Direct Wales

Telephone 0845 4647

Health advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Telephone: 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours a day)

Email: [email protected]

Provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.

Welsh Women’s Aid is the national charity in Wales working to end domestic abuse and all forms of violence against women. We are a federation of specialist organisations in Wales (working as part of a UK network of services) that provide lifesaving services to survivors of violence and abuse – women, men, children, families – and deliver a range of innovative preventative services in local communities.

We have been at the forefront of shaping coordinated community responses and practice in Wales since we were established in 1978. We do this by campaigning for change and providing advice, consultancy, support and training to deliver policy and service improvements for survivors, families and communities.

Providing help and advice about violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence

A number of reports have highlighted that although there is an over-representation of BME adults within the mental health services there is also an under-representation of BME young people accessing mental health services. Furthermore, BME people are less likely to be referred by a GP for support despite this leading to higher percentages than average later being admitted to hospital with chronic mental health problems.

As part of Diverse Cymru’s mission, we are striving to make positive differences in these statistics. We are using our position to raise awareness both within Wales’ BME communities and among health care professionals of the additional issues and barriers that face BME people around accessing mental health services.

We want people to feel confident and comfortable when accessing services, and for health care practitioners to feel more knowledgeable when facing the complexities of the issues that some BME people face in seeking help.

We work with people who are experiencing challenges with their mental health, and with communities who want to create a greater sense of connection, ownership and wellbeing in the places that they live.

Hafal is a Member-led Charity supporting people with mental health problems – with a special emphasis on those with a serious mental illness – and their carers and families. We also support others with a range of disabilities and their carers and families.

Covering all areas of Wales, our services are underpinned by a unique Recovery Programme. Based on modern principles of self-management and empowerment, it offers a methodical way of achieving recovery by focusing on all areas of life.

One of the leading Mental Health Charities in Wales. We are an independent, non-profit and non-political charity which works with people who have a mental health related issue, other voluntary organisations and statutory services to promote mental well-being. We aim to ensure there is a comprehensive range of mental health services throughout Wales.

Our objective is to support people to make long-lasting changes in the areas of their lives that are currently not working for them. We aim to provide the best support to people affected by mental health, their families and carers.

We’re Mind Cymru, the mental health charity.

We’re an unstoppable community of people in Wales who won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve. Together with our 20 local Minds in Wales we’re committed to improving mental health in this country. Together we’re Mind in Wales.

Time to Change Wales is the first national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems.

The Time to Change Wales campaign is delivered by a partnership of two leading Welsh mental health charities.

Mind Cymru is Mind’s force for change in Wales. Informed in everything they do by people with direct experience of emotional distress they campaign vigorously to create a society that promotes good mental health and that challenges mental health stigma.
Adferiad Recovery provides support for vulnerable people in Wales and their families and carers. They have a particular focus on people with mental health problems, substance misuse problems, and those with co-occurring and complex needs.

Time to Change Wales leaflets:

English

Chinese

The Chinese Autism is an online platform with the purpose of empowering the Chinese-speaking autism community by providing accurate, reliable, and culturally relevant information and resources to promote greater awareness and understanding of autism. Additionally, with the aim to support professionals in better serving the Chinese neurodivergent community and to increase awareness outside the Chinese community of the unique challenges they faced.

Motor Neurone Disease is such a debilitating disease that affects a person’s ability to communicate.

If you struggle with English, their MND Connect helpline or Benefits Advice Service can arrange for an interpreter to join your telephone call. If you ask, health and social care professionals may also be able to arrange for an interpreter to help you at a future appointment.

Welsh Refugee Council is the leading organization in Wales, promoting equality for and fostering good relations towards asylum seekers and refugees in Wales.

Macmillan cancer support provides physical, finance, and emotional supports for people who affected by cancers.

The Health and Safety Executive(HSE) is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation, and enforcement of workplace health, safety, and welfare. They provide different essential guidance at work in multilingual versions. Please click on Chinese on the linked page to access the Simplified Chinese guidance.

Official Police Online platform for anyone to report a crime online. Police will handle your report and be in contact with you (via email or phone call, depending on your preference) to follow up in 8 hours. You have to provide your personal details including; name, home address, phone number, email etc. If you want to report a crime anonymously through us, you can contact us at [email protected]

NHS has prepared multilingual leaflets for BCG and Hepatitis B vaccination, which is crucial to safeguard your child(ren)’s health. Please click on Chinese in the linked page to access the Simplified Chinese leaflet.

Fire Services provided a safety checklist for home fire safety. They also provide FREE fire safety check for homes, please contact us if language need is required.

 

TV license is essential if you watch programmes of BBC on any platform or devices. If you want to know more about this or want to declare that you do not need a TV license, you can refer to the official Simplified Chinese information here.

A page that helps refugees and asylum seekers to understand their rights in different aspects. The page provides multilingual online machine translation for language needs other than English and Welsh. (Please refer to English version source text for accuracy).

Useful Articles

Water pipes outside the house can burst due to freezing and thawing due to temperature changes. It is recommended to wrap outdoor water pipes and water meter facilities with insulation materials, and water supply facilities in the shade should be thickly tied.

If a water pipe bursts, you can take the following steps:

  • If you find that one of the water pipes may be frozen, immediately turn off the main tap switch and boiler in the house. It is usually under the kitchen sink, but it can also be found in downstairs bathrooms, kitchen cupboards, garages, cellars and under stairs.
  • Then open other taps and empty the system as soon as possible. If you can, collect water in a bucket to flush the toilet and wash your hands. When the water stops flowing, turn off all taps.
  • Use a towel to soak up the running water to stop the damage.
  • Call a WaterSafe approved plumber, who are qualified to help you fix your water pipes. Visit the official website to find a plumbing company near your home https://www.watersafe.org.uk/

If there is a leak near electrical appliances, do not touch them, go to the fuse box to cut off the power.

Please click on the article link on the left to read the full text.

The most important source of human exposure to carbon monoxide is cooking or other fuel-burning appliances that are poorly installed, malfunctioning, or used improperly (including inadequate ventilation). Examples include improperly installed home boilers and the use of barbecues and portable generators indoors or in tents.

Because carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart or brain, certain groups of people, such as pregnant women and young children, and people with coronary artery disease, angina, asthma, or anemia, are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stay safe during Christmas

Please note that the festive period is a peak period for theft. Thieves will focus on homes and shops that may have valuables, such as designer goods and jewellery.

Unclosed windows or unlocked doors (including cars) are easy targets for theft. Simple precautions include:

Take all precautions
Don’t leave valuables in plain sight
If you see any suspicious behaviour, please call the police as soon as possible.
You are also welcome to visit the Swansea Police Community Service Open Day every Friday, from 9am to 12pm, on the first floor of the Swansea Grand Theatre.

From 17 September 2023, most 30mph speed limits in Wales, are changing to 20mph.

This will make Wales one of the world’s first countries to have a default 20mph limit where people live, to keep our communities safer and improve quality of life.

The speed limit is changing on residential and busy pedestrian streets to:

  • make our streets safer, reducing the number of people killed or injured (as well as reducing the impact on the NHS)
  • encourage more people to walk and cycle
  • help to improve our health and well-being
  • safeguard the environment for future generations

Get ready for 20

The evidence from around the world is very clear – reducing speed limits reduces collisions and saves lives.

When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle travelling at 30mph they are around five times more likely to be killed than when hit by a vehicle travelling at 20mph.

Making streets safer

A recent public health study estimated that the 20mph default speed limit could result in:

  • 40% fewer collisions
  • saving 6 to10 lives every year
  • avoiding between 1200 and 2000 people being injured every year

This would save around £92m in prevention during the first year alone.

Encouraging walking and cycling

Most people in Wales support a lower speed limit where they live.

In a public opinion survey, 62%of people agreed they ‘wished everyone would slow down a bit on the roads’ and 55% agreed that ‘streets would be a lot nicer for pedestrians with a 20mph speed limit’.

Vehicle speeds are one of the main reasons why people do not walk orcycle or allow their children to walk or cycle to school.

Lower traffic speeds will encourage more walking and cycling.

Supporting 20

You can help create safer streets and healthier communities by driving at 20mph or below, on residential and busy streets.

GoSafe and the Police will continue to enforce 20mph, like any other speed limit, to make our roads safer for all users. They will also be helping to engage and educate motorists.

See street lights? Think 20

From 17September, when you see streetlights, you should assume that the speed limit is 20mph, unless signed otherwise.

These streets will generally be residential or busy pedestrian streets.

Not all streets will change to 20mph.

Your local council will consider which streets should remain at 30mph and where they do, there will be 30mph signs to tell you this.

You can find out more about exceptions to the new speed limit on GOV.WALES or your local council website.

Japanese knotweed

July 17, 2023

Beware of this plant because it is extremely invasive and causes huge problem for home owners that causing damage to the property and house value dropped by thousands of pounds.

Note: The article is written in Chinese.

Different types offraud are now getting so bad that people are suspicious of every piece of information they receive. The government is now actually taking action to hit back at this cybercrime. They invested £ 30 million to help investigate these crimes. They announce that in the future if any elderly people received any calls about their retirement pension, it’s definitely a fraud because the government has put a ban on these calls.

“Powered transporters” is a term used to cover a variety of novel and emerging personal transport devices which are powered by a motor, including e-scooters.

This information sheet aims to provide guidance to users and purchasers of these vehicles, as well as to help retailers, manufacturers, hirers, and importers to understand the law about their use.

Hay Fever

May 18, 2023

Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid, and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

What causes hay fever? Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes, and throat. Pollen is a fine powder from plants.

Warm Wales offers free advice and support to ensure people across Wales have warm and safe homes.

Their Healthy Homes Healthy People (HHHP) project aims to help to reduce energy bills, apply for schemes and support those affected mentally by fuel poverty.

A team of Community Workers offers a range of advice, support, and referral options tailored to the needs of the household. Healthy Homes, Healthy People is open to everyone, but some of the services we refer to have their own eligibility criteria. These criteria usually relate to whether someone is on a low income, on certain means-tested benefits and / or have health conditions. The Community Workers are extremely knowledgeable and discuss all criteria with individuals before making referrals.

From energy-saving advice to income maximisation support; call for more information or help:From energy-saving advice to income maximisation support; call for more information or help:

Call : 01656 747 622 / 01656 747623

Email : [email protected]

Website:https://www.warmwales.org.uk/about-warm-wales/

Or call CIWA for assistance: 01792 469919

Healthier! Greener! And good for your pocket!!

You and your bicycle

Safety tips:

  • you have the right size and type of cycle for your comfort and safety
  • the lights and reflectors are kept clean and in good working order
  • the tyres are in good condition and inflated to the pressure shown on the tyre
  • the wheels spin freely
  • the gears are working correctly
  • the chain is properly adjusted and oiled
  • the saddle and handlebars are adjusted to the correct height.
  • you should fit a bell to your cycle.

You MUST

  • ensure your brakes are efficient
  • have white front and red rear lights lit when cycling at night
  • New Cyclist or have not ridden for a while

IF you are an inexperienced cyclist or have not ridden for a while, consider taking a cycle training course. Bikeability offers hourly on-site sessions for all ages and all abilities at a very reasonable price.

They also teach traffic signs and the rules of the road, planning routes, safe road positioning, and signaling (particularly at junctions), and basic cycle maintenance. For more information, see https://www.bikeabilitywales.org.uk/what-we-provide/

People are easy targets when they are vulnerable and fall into a scam. With the steep rise of energy prices, struggling families and business are looking for cheaper supply, but unfortunately this is where problems start. Unregulated energy brokers are leaving people and small business open to scams. In the past year, broker complaints made up 382 – or roughly 10 per cent – of the issues reported to the Energy Ombudsman from small firms.

A spokesman for the Ombudsman says: ‘Mis-selling is a major source of complaints, with firms saying they weren’t given the full facts on pricing by the broker.

‘Currently, brokers are unregulated and fall outside our remit as an ombudsman. This means we are unable to require a broker to take steps to put things right.’

To protect ourselves, we should only use reliable and trustworthy energy brokers or supplier. If you are not sure which one to use, you can ask CAB for advice. If you think you are scammed, report to the police straight away.

Swansea Citizen Advice CAB

Address : Second Floor, City Gates, 50a Wind Street, SWANSEA,SA1 1EE

Website : http://www.citizensadvicesnpt.org.uk/

Email : [email protected]

Contact number : 0808 278 7926

Contact Action Fraud’s specialists by calling 0300 123 2040

To find out more, you are welcome to contact CIWA!

Tackling Gambling

July 7, 2022

GamCare is a national provider of free information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling.

Research suggests that only a tiny proportion of women affected by gambling-related harm are currently reaching out for support. GamCare is concerned that many people still think of gambling as a ‘male issue’, and that stigma and shame prevents women from coming forward.

GamCare will provide FREE training, resources and ongoing support to staff, volunteers and professionals in organisations across Wales to help them recognise and respond to signs of gambling-related harm so that more women are empowered to access treatment and support services.

If you would like to know more, please contact CIWA. All enquiries will be confidential.

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