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00:00Hi, my name is Philip Jones and I'm going to talk about how the community has enabled me to have an influence in my personal life.
00:11I was born 26 years ago in Bangor, England. I only weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces.
00:18And that means that I weigh less than a bag of sugar.
00:21I was 3 years old when I was diagnosed with cancer. My family and friends found out.
00:29I have no cancer at all. I can only see through my glasses.
00:35I went to primary school, the old school in Arfon, when I was 5 years old.
00:40They brought in a specialist teacher just to assess me.
00:44In the end, in 2010-12, they asked the local community of Gogledd Cymru...
00:52..if they could go over there to see what they could give me...
00:57..in terms of donations, to see what they could help me with in the old school.
01:02In terms of going to primary school, it was hard.
01:06In terms of making friends, it was hard. I thought it was the only way to start school.
01:11I was lucky to just be by myself.
01:14Years later, I packed my bags to come and make friends.
01:20One of the staff I bonded with at school...
01:24..was the head of the Bwmcath band, Elidir Glyn.
01:27They were one and the same to me.
01:29The bond is still there today, really.
01:32We were a clan, a community, ready to help at all times.
01:37There was nothing stopping us at all.
01:40If there was work to be done, we did it.
01:43After I finished primary school in 2019-2011...
01:48..I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life...
01:54..to move to Gogledd Cymru...
01:56..to go to the Royal National College for the Blind in Herithford.
02:01No-one else spoke the language there.
02:04I felt lonely.
02:05I was bullied because I spoke the language I loved.
02:10I'm one of those people who think...
02:13..people with disabilities have the choice...
02:16..of going to another country to study a different education.
02:21A disability doesn't have to go because the disability doesn't exist.
02:26HE SINGS IN WELSH
02:29HE CONTINUES SINGING
02:32The experience at the Royal National College...
02:35..took me from a shy, timid boy...
02:38..to a confident young man...
02:41..who was willing to give up anything to go.
02:49For two and a half years now...
02:51..I've been working at Pritchard Jones Lane...
02:55..which is located in Gynarfon ar y Maes.
02:58I work as a receptionist.
03:00In addition to that, I'm a telephone operator...
03:03..and I book points in.
03:05Right now, he's a member of the Pritchard Jones Lane community.
03:12He's also made friends here...
03:16..in partnership with the staff.
03:20I think that's been very helpful for Phil.
03:24It's a pleasure to be involved with him.
03:28I started playing snooker...
03:30..and I went with World Disability Billiards in snooker...
03:34..which gives people with disabilities the chance...
03:38..to compete in competitions across the country...
03:41..across Britain and across Europe.
03:43Right now, I'm playing pool in the gym in Gynarfon.
03:48I also sing on public weekends.
03:52I sing in groups in local theatres...
03:55..because I've learnt to play the guitar.
04:03I sing in Welsh songs.
04:05I sing covers by bands and Welsh bloggers.
04:16Learning to play the guitar has been a long process.
04:20It's a difficult process.
04:22It's impossible to live without music.
04:26I learn it by ear.
04:28It's all about muscle memory.
04:30It's like you're an automatic button.
04:33It just happens.
04:35When I pick up a guitar, it comes straight to me.
04:40The person who has the most influence on me...
04:43..is, in my opinion, no-one other than Elidir Glyn.
04:48She was my nanny in primary school.
04:52The band is all very supportive.
04:55They're not as supportive as Elidir.
04:58They all take me in from a distance.
05:02They put me in a position to start gigging on public weekends.
05:10I've had tattoos on my name and the band's logo.
05:14The support I've had from the community...
05:17..has helped me a lot in terms of confidence.
05:20It's given me the ability to be a normal person.
05:23So...
05:25..that's enough of space.
05:27I want more space.
05:29Working with Phil and being part of his development...
05:33..from a young swill hockey player...
05:36..to the confident man he is now.
05:39It's been a pleasure.
05:42It's been an honour to learn new skills...
05:46..and to have a great influence on children and young people...
05:52..on how to live with the environment.
05:56They've helped me to have more personal independence.
06:02I'd like to thank Steve, Dafydd and the crew.
06:07Before, I was a swill person.
06:09I didn't do a lot with a lot of people around me.
06:12I kept to myself.
06:14Now, I live my life as excitingly as possible.
06:19I thank the community.
06:21Without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
06:26I like Phil and I like anyone who has a problem with their hair.
06:30The Welsh Hockey Association is here to help at all times.
06:34Whether it's a big or small problem.
06:37I can contact them by calling 325 St Fawr Bangor...
06:43..or by phoning 01248 353 604.
06:49Thanks again, Phil.