Last week marked the return of a favourite annual tradition, Cartrefi Fest! Organised by our Activities Team, this week-long celebration brings our communities together through fun, exciting activities that highlight the #EverydayRemarkable.
Here’s an area breakdown of the week’s activities:
Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan
Over in Bridgend and the Vale, we spent Monday at Barry Island for a day of sun, games, and of course, a dip in the sea! On Tuesday, we hosted a classic ‘chippy lunch’ at the Barry Community Centre.
Wednesday featured a fantastic animal interaction session, hosted at the Western Vale Day Centre. Our ‘Cartrefi seniors’ were joined by attendees from all areas of our organisation, making it a wonderful opportunity to socialise and connect with new faces.
We then wrapped up the week with a sports day at Kenfig Hill rugby club and a lovely picnic in our sensory garden, complete with roasted marshmallows!
(Fun at Barry Beach and making friends with Animal Cwtch)
Swansea
Our Swansea crew started the week off strong with a clear crowd favourite – an animal interaction session! Tuesday brought us together for our regular breakfast club, followed by an activity session where attendees crafted ‘Wanted’ posters, getting everything ready for the Cartrefi Hoedown the following evening.
This hoedown, held in Llanelli, brought our wider West Wales community together as members from Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire joined for an evening packed with line dancing – complete with cowboy hats.
As the week ended, we hosted an inclusive indoor sports day, allowing the people we support and our colleagues to take part in a range of activities suitable for all abilities. We also wrapped up with a lovely afternoon tea at The Social Bean, followed by a delicious Indian takeaway.
(Enjoying the Llanelli Hoedown and getting active at sports day)
Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire
In West Wales, we began the week with a jam-packed garden party, complete with mocktails, scones, art, and planting. On Tuesday, we enjoyed a fun-filled beach day at The Strand in Saundersfoot where we created some fantastic beach artwork that was later transformed into digital format by one of the individuals we support. Bravo!
On Wednesday, we hosted a lively ukulele session before heading off to our big Hoedown in Llanelli. Thursday and Friday saw us taking full advantage of the brighter weather, as we hosted a sports day and went on a wellbeing walk. We also visited the British Bird of Prey Centre in Carmarthenshire, proving the perfect way to wrap up an action-packed week.
(Creating beach art in Saundersfoot and jamming along at a ukulele session)
Mid Wales
Over in Mid Wales, we kicked the week off with an inclusive sports day, followed on Tuesday by a lovely boat trip along the Brecon Canal. Our group was delighted to welcome members of our senior leadership team, who joined in on the fun and took in the scenic views alongside us.
The rest of the week was just as busy, filled with beach trips, walking groups, and a picnic. We then closed the week off with a bang by hosting a big Cartrefi Fest party at the Brecon Workmen's Club! The people we support, and our colleagues enjoyed an evening of socialising, great food, and, of course, busting some moves on the dance floor.
(Taking in the canal views and creating memories at our end of week party)
North Wales
North Wales started the week off by putting their art skills to the test with a canvas painting session in our Bangor office. On Tuesday, we had an unforgettable day at the Dwyfor Rabbit Farm, followed by a lively Country and Western-themed party in Denbigh. There, attendees enjoyed a fantastic range of outdoor activities, including games and plenty of dancing!
On Thursday, we visited an alpaca farm in Anglesey, followed by a trip to Colwyn Bay on Friday for a picnic and beach games. It was a lively afternoon full of fun and festivities that perfectly rounded off a spectacular week across the region.
(Outdoor summer party fun and feeding our new alpaca friends)
Rhondda Cynon Taff
In Rhondda Cynon Taff, we kicked things off with a Cartrefi Fest quiz, where the people we support went head-to-head on general knowledge. This was followed by an action-packed sports day on Tuesday at Tylorstown Sports Centre.
Battling rainy weather on Wednesday, our team put picnic plans on hold and brought everyone indoors to do what they do best: crafts! On Thursday, we welcomed some very special visitors, large, small, and scaly, as Animal Cwtch hosted another wonderful animal interaction session.
We then wrapped up the week with a vibrant Pride Event to celebrate Pride Month. Attendees dressed in their most colorful clothes and took part in a range of activities, including a crowd-favourite ‘grab the mic’ session.
(Being brave at animal interaction day and waving the flag for Pride)
As we reflect on the week, we want to give a huge thank you to our amazing activity coordinators! Your hard work made Cartrefi Fest 2026 a huge success. We also want to thank everyone who came out to attend each activity, making the week so special.
Claire Lewis, who leads the Activities Team, reflected on the week, saying: "Cartrefi Fest is always a highlight, but this year was a standout. Seeing all the connections made and the enjoyment that was experienced across all our regions is exactly why we celebrate this week year after year. I’m incredibly proud of my team for delivering such a range of wonderful inclusive events, and so grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us."