Charity

Charity funds wellbeing projects for Hywel Dda NHS staff

Published

4 years ago

July 19, 2022

Artist Bull Taylor-Beales from People Speak Up took a drawing class at the Hywel Dda University Health Board Annual Nursing Conference

HYWEL DDA Health Charities is funding six major projects to support the health and wellbeing of the 12,000-plus NHS staff working across the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

This has been possible thanks to a £242,000 grant from the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal which raised more than £130 million to help with the impact of the pandemic on NHS staff thanks to the kindness and generosity of the British public.

The projects are providing a range of opportunities and support including ecotherapy retreats, Wellbeing Champions, bereavement support and training, staff rest areas, a lifelong learning fund, and arts in health and wellbeing activities.

And more than 2,700 Hywel Dda University Health Board staff across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have already benefited from the projects.

One ecotherapy retreat for staff has already been held, with four more planned for 2022 and five for 2023.

The retreats have been specially designed for Hywel Dda staff and are aimed at those who are experiencing high levels of stress or who are at risk of burnout. They give an opportunity to slow down and reflect and experience restoration in nature and staff taking part have already talked of healing and nature becoming an ally.

Pictured are Julie Brennan, Bereavement Support Services Manager (left) and Katie Barrett, Senior Co-ordinator Bereavement Support Services (right) with the specialist trainers working on the project – Amanda Cardell and Sandra Edwards

More than 130 staff have registered to become Wellbeing Champions and 65 have already completed the induction programme. The aim is to have 100 champions in place by September this year, promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Local initiatives that have already been developed by the champions include lunchtime Tai Chi classes, ward-based wellbeing libraries, and programmes supporting hydration, exercise and relaxation.

Two Specialist Bereavement Staff Support Trainers have been appointed on a job-share basis to provide education for staff relating to death, dying and bereavement. They have established a bereavement support and training project, working with senior nursing teams and operational managers.

Workshops are being held for staff focusing on grief, loss and bereavement, including the effects of working through the pandemic and self-care. Participants to date have included senior nurses, staff nurses, family liaison officers, health care support workers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. They have reported that the workshops have been of huge benefit in supporting patients and families with symptoms of grief.

The grant funding will also enable new staff rest areas to be created as well as improvements to be made to existing rest areas, following engagement with staff. These indoor and outdoor rest areas will enable staff across the health board to benefit from fresh air and relaxation time as well as more comfortable surroundings for breaks.

The Lifelong Learning Fund has also been launched, which offers staff the chance to apply for funding to learn new skills to help them recover from the experience of the pandemic.

Arts in health and wellbeing activities are also being provided for staff. The Hywel Dda Arts in Health Coordinators have piloted a programme of creative activities, including live music performances, creative writing sessions, online singing activities and arts and culture events.

Lisa Gostling, the health board’s Director of Workforce & Organisation Development, said: “We consulted with staff to understand their experiences of working during the pandemic and, in understanding the huge impact the pandemic had on our staff’s wellbeing, we wanted to invest in programmes and initiatives that provided mechanisms for reflection and Recovery.

Jess Cox who took part in a jewellery-making workshop

“Some of our staff worked in extremely challenging circumstances and we have been able to invest in programmes that will all help to support the well-being of our staff at work. We are so grateful for the opportunity to provide these much-needed facilities and programmes for the staff at Hywel Dda. In supporting the wellbeing of our staff we can continue to support our patients and public to the best of our ability.”

Mandy Rayani, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience for the health board, said: “During the pandemic, our staff have gone above and beyond and have worked to ensure that appropriate 24/7 care has been available to meet patient needs across our three counties.

“We are so proud of our staff and one of our priorities now is to support their rest, recovery and the restoration of their wellbeing. These six new projects to support staff wellbeing and recovery in the longer term have been well received by our teams and we are very grateful for the support of NHS Charities Together and the public through their donations.”

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

8 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Charity

Afghan resettlement sex offence case “raises questions over public safety”

Published

5 days ago

June 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MINISTERS are facing calls to explain what checks were in place after the Ministry of Defence confirmed that an Afghan national resettled in the Vale of Glamorgan was convicted of a sexual offence.

Conservative Senedd Member Andrew RT Davies said the case raises “serious questions” for authorities after months of correspondence about the use of the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose as temporary accommodation under Afghan resettlement arrangements.

The issue was first raised by Mr Davies in August last year, after he met Ministry of Defence officials about the decision to house Afghan families at the hotel.

Following that meeting, he asked whether anyone housed in the Vale of Glamorgan under Afghan resettlement schemes had been charged with or convicted of sex offences or other crimes.

Delayed response

The Home Office initially refused to provide the information, saying it would exceed the cost limit for Freedom of Information requests because thousands of Afghan national records would have to be checked.

However, the Ministry of Defence has now confirmed that it holds information relating to ten cases in which a person relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy or Afghan Response Route later committed a criminal offence.

Of those ten cases, five people were resettled under ARAP, three under ARR, while the MOD said it did not hold information on which route applied to the remaining two.

The department also confirmed that one person was based in the Vale of Glamorgan at the time the offence was committed and had been convicted of a sexual offence.

The MOD said the individual is no longer part of the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

A further two of the ten cases related to sexual offences, bringing the total number of sexual offence cases held by the MOD to three.

‘Public safety implications’

Mr Davies said: “It’s disgraceful that the Government failed to provide this information for so long.

“After authorities chose to use the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose for temporary accommodation, I asked them to confirm if any individuals relocated under various Afghan resettlement schemes were convicted of sex offences.

“But they failed to answer the request repeatedly.

“Now it has confirmed an Afghan resettled in the Vale of Glamorgan was convicted of a sex crime, the Government has serious questions to answer.

“There are public safety implications that must be addressed.”

MOD caveat

In its response, the Ministry of Defence stressed that its figures should not be treated as a complete picture.

The department said that once an eligible person is resettled in the UK, integration and ongoing support becomes the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

It added that the MOD does not routinely collect data on people once they begin the resettlement and integration process.

The MOD also said it does not hold information on the specific category of sexual offences committed.

Mr Davies has previously raised concerns from residents about whether statements made about those housed at the hotel accurately reflected the schemes under which they had been resettled.

He said constituents deserved transparency over both the resettlement process and any public safety issues arising from it.

Charity

Charity football match raises £10,025 for Glangwili Hospital units

Published

5 days ago

June 15, 2026

Herald Sport

A CHARITY football event held at Carmarthen Town AFC has raised £10,025 for two key services at Glangwili Hospital.

The event, organised by LHP Accountants, took place on Saturday and raised money for the Chemotherapy Unit and the Special Care Baby Unit through Hywel Dda Health Charities.

Organisers said they had been “absolutely overwhelmed” by the support shown on the day, thanking everyone who played, donated, sponsored, volunteered, bought raffle tickets, bid in the auction or attended the event.

They said: “This achievement belongs to every single person who supported us. Thank you for helping us make a real difference.”

The event was also filmed by S4C’s Heno, with coverage due to air tonight between 7:00pm and 7:30pm.