A PILOT programme supporting people working in Wales’ screen sector with their mental health is set to benefit from additional £150,000 funding following a successful first phase, the Welsh Government has announced this week.

Funded through Creative Wales, the WellBeing Facilitators programme  is a partnership between CULT Cymru – the Creative Unions Learning Together programme and mental health and wellbeing specialists 6ft from the Spotlight CIC.

The programme has been driven and shaped by an Advisory Group of employers, unions and industry bodies to respond to issues and challenges that people working in the sector have raised.

In the first phase of the pilot that ran from September 2022 to March 2023, ten production companies accessed grants of up to £15,000 to place a specially trained WellBeing Facilitator on their productions to promote mental health and provide wellbeing advice in the screen sector.

Feedback from back both employers and the workforce showed that the facilitators made it much easier to resolve welfare issues and helped to improve the working culture. A number of productions also reported that having a Wellbeing Facilitator on set helped to increase their overall productivity.

Phase 2 of the pilot will build on the lessons learnt over the last six months and enable a new cohort of production companies to benefit from the support and advice on offer with the aim of increasing well-being on set and improving staff retention.

As part of phase 2 of the pilot six new Well Being Facilitators from under-represented groups including people from Global Majority Backgrounds, Disabled people and the LGBTQ+ community will be trained. There are also plans to open the pilot out to other creative sectors such as music.

Announcing the funding during Mental Health Awareness Week, Deputy Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Dawn Bowden said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure funding for the second phase of this important programme – and as we mark Mental Health Awareness Week  – it’s a good time for us to  think and talk about mental health, tackle stigma head on, and find out how we can create a society that prevents mental health problems from developing and protects our mental well-being.

“The first phase of the WellBeing Facilitators programme has had a significant impact on fair, safe, inclusive and supportive working practices in the sector – and we look forward to working with partners on the second phase.”

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs, said:

“Bectu has consistently campaigned for workers’ mental health and wellbeing to be a key priority for employers and engagers, and I am delighted that the union is working in partnership with other creative unions, Creative Wales and industry stakeholders on such an important and successful initiative.

“The role of a WellBeing facilitator not only provides guidance and support for employees and freelancers, but demonstrates a commitment from employers to prioritising mental health and wellbeing at work.

“The impact of the pandemic on the industry’s workforce followed by the cost of living crisis means that, prioritising mental health at work has never been so important. Through consistent and continued industry collaboration, we can better support the workforce and ensure that film and TV production is on a path to improving its working practices.”

Ruth Ballantyne – Regional Officer, Musicians’ Union & Chair of CULT Cymru, said:

“Working with union members in the creative industries everyday we can appreciate the need for WellBeing Facilitators and the important role they can play. This pilot has helped to highlight the need within the sector for wellbeing support and following its success we are looking forward to extending these roles for those working in music and live events.

“Many musicians work in isolated, high stress environments where access to WellBeing Facilitators would be a very welcome addition. These roles are a vital step to ensuring that mental health and wellbeing is a priority and the creative industries are accessible to all”.

Feedback from the first pilot by employers and workers identified the benefits of having a trained WBF on a production. It showed that:

• Having access to a Wellbeing Facilitator (WBF) was seen as demonstrating the employer’s positive commitment to supporting the wellbeing of its workforce.
• The workforce was more confident in raising often relatively easy to resolve welfare issues via the anonymity of the WBF.
• Voicing concerns around poor behaviour could help de-escalate issues.
• Highlighting sensitive issues in scripts helped alert cast, crew and management to potential trigger points for individuals.
• Being able to discuss in confidence personal challenges such as family issues, bereavement, poor mental health, financial problems, not getting enough work etc. & being sign-posted to appropriate support was seen as invaluable.
• Training around mental health & wellbeing, management and equality and diversity needed by employers and the workforce.
• Employers sought guidance on accessibility e.g. around disability, religion etc.

WELSH WATER has launched its new Community Fund to support local groups looking to enhance their communities. This forms part of the £100,000 initiative to support community initiatives throughout Wales and Herefordshire

The Fund, which is available to not-for-profit groups, will be open three times a year, and give organisations the opportunity to apply for funding up to £5,000.

Applicants for the community fund grants will need to demonstrate how their projects benefit their community and how it aligns with Welsh Waters values. The fund will give groups the chance to enhance the area they live in, to improve the environment or to support education.

Welsh Water has already made a significant impact through its Community Fund which launched in 2017. In 2022 alone, over 252 charities and organisations from all around Wales and Herefordshire have secured funding from the not-for-profit company’s Community Fund.

Lower Treginnis – Farms for City Children in Haverfordwest were successful in getting £500 through the community fund who said: “With thanks to Welsh Waters support, and other donations, we have replaced our chicken housing which was destroyed during Storm Eunice in February 2022”.

This wonderful group work to ensure that children who visit have the very best opportunity to enhance their wellbeing, mental health, and confidence during their stay and to ensure children head home with greater self-esteem and the tools to cope with the difficulties they face.

This new fund is part of a wider £100,000 social purpose initiative that Welsh Water are continuing to implement throughout 2023. This includes matching colleagues fundraising efforts, working closely with larger chosen charities such as WaterAId, and supporting the communities most effected by their investment work.

Claire Roberts, Head of Community Engagement said: “We launched our community fund in 2017 and to date have donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to local projects. We are pleased to continue supporting our customers and communities by helping the groups who work tirelessly to improve their communities.

The heart of our mission is a commitment to support the communities we serve, by funding projects that are doing important work, to make a real difference in their local area”.

To find out more, visit www.dwrcymru.com/communityfund

ON FRIDAY (Mar 31), Plum Tree Tearooms located at Tavernspite Garden Centre, held an Afternoon Tea Day and raffle to raise vital funds for the Pembrokeshire based Hospice at Home Charity, Paul Sartori Foundation.

The Afternoon Tea Day proved very popular and it was a great success. Janice Webb and her family chose to support Paul Sartori Foundation because of the care and support that was given to their family members and they wanted to give something back.

Toni Dorkings, Community Fundraiser at Paul Sartori Foundation recently attended a cheque presentation at the Tearooms, along with Val Harrold, Paul Sartori event volunteer. They received a cheque totalling an amazing £600.00.

Toni said “The Plum Tree Tearoom is a lovely, tranquil venue to hold an Afternoon Tea. Paul Sartori Foundation are always grateful for the support received from our wonderful community. A massive thank you to Janice Webb and the family for organising a successful Afternoon Tea Day.”

Janice said “Firstly, we would like to thank everyone that supported us, who donated raffle prizes and all that helped us on the day. We used all of the Paul Sartori services and were very grateful for the support we received. I phoned up to see if we could have a hospital bed and was very impressed that it was delivered the very next day. One of our family members had access to the bereavement support which was a massive help.”

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home provides a range of services to Pembrokeshire people living in the final stages of a life-limiting illness, including home nursing care, equipment loan, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, advance care planning and training.

The services provided by the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home enable people in the later stages of any life-limiting illness to be cared for and to die at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear, if that is their wish.

All of the services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to the generosity of the Pembrokeshire Community.

Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori.org, or by phoning 01437 763223.

Cover Photo: Left to Right – Janice Webb, Val Harrold, Matthew Web, Toni Dorkings, Tim Webb and Bob Webb