RESIDENTS of the Haulfre Care Home in Llangoed, Anglesey, and pre-school children and their carers who attend a church-run playgroup in the village, are preparing for a fully interactive musical storytelling weekend on 28 and 29 March.
The Aberlleiniog Sculpture Trail will feature more than 50 artworks, installations, performances, and community projects, bringing the community together with local artists and makers. In Caterpillars and Butterflies, composed and choreographed by the Beaumaris-based composer Ellen Davies, the children are transformed into butterflies as the story unfolds.
Old and young have been working together in props and scenery-making workshops at the home. They will be joined by parents and carers for the performances: one in the care home itself, and one in the village hall. The project has been supported by the Sodexo Holyhead Community Micro Fund.
“Our residents always look forward to interactive sessions and the chance to do something a little different, especially when it’s supporting the wider community. We do our best to encourage these kinds of opportunities,” the deputy manager, Dawn Hudson, said.
“They don’t often have the chance to mix with other age groups, so they particularly enjoy spending time with the children in a safe and playful setting. Residents really enjoyed creating the artwork with our staff last week, and they threw themselves into the painting session with the children last weekend.”
The playgroup, Camau Bach, uses the village hall free of charge. It owes its continuance to a £10,000 grant to the Bro Seiriol Ministry Area in June 2025, from the Church in Wales Tier One Growth Fund: £100 million of capital reserves set aside to help local churches set up creative projects to share the faith and support their communities.
Families had been asking Anglesey County Council, in 2023, for a place where parents with young children could meet and have access to advice and support in a rural area where public transport is limited. A similar project had been run by churches in Menai Bridge, and an approach was made to Bro Seiriol, which has six churches.
Church volunteers run the group, which has 20 children and 15 adults each week, and acts as a hub where families can access multiple services such as play, housing, and child welfare, in one location. The diocese of Bangor has provided additional funding for buying Christmas storybooks, Easter goodies, and discipleship resources for families.