Charity

Charity funds wellbeing projects for Hywel Dda NHS staff

Published

1 year 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

Mental Health support project in running for Lottery’s ‘Project of the Year’

Published

1 week ago

September 18, 2023

Tom Sinclair

A HAVERFORDWEST project which aims to improve the mental health of the people of West Wales by providing free support, is appealing for votes to be crowned National Lottery Project of the Year.

Get The Boys a Lift beat off stiff competition from 3,780 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrates the inspirational projects and people who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.

There are 17 shortlisted finalists from across the UK, all of which will compete in a four-week public vote from 11th September to 9th October to be named the National Lottery Project of the Year. Winners will receive a £5,000 cash prize for their project and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy.

Get The Boys A Lift (GTBAL) is a not-for-profit organisation launched by a group of friends which provides free mental health support to the people of Pembrokeshire while promoting open discussions about mental wellbeing. The project has gone from strength to strength since 2016, now offering a mix of in-person and online counselling services to anyone over 17.

The team run a clothing and coffee shop in Haverfordwest called ‘Our Place’, offering a unique café experience where visitors can chat to counsellors and make new friends. The project’s drop-in service has provided around 500 people with free and easy support, without the challenge of extensive waiting lists. The project’s online counselling service, which launched during the pandemic, also gives clients the option to have sessions remotely.

With support from The National Lottery, the project was able to buy a coffee van in 2022, allowing representatives to travel further afield, not only raising funds to maintain the organisation’s services, but promoting its core message about the importance of openness around mental health.

GTBAL runs regular events across the region, including outreach in schools and workplaces as well as community events. Its ‘Break the Stigma’ coffee van has been stationed at Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire across the summer, giving the team a chance to spread the GTBAL message to a wider audience, not only to local people, but the region’s many visitors. Profits from the project’s bespoke clothing range, which includes everything from hoodies to beach towels, go back into the team’s crucial work.

Greg Walters, Director at GTBAL, said: “It is a real honour to be nominated and to be part of this process. It feels really special to be recognised for the work we do at Get the Boys a Lift. Thanks the to support of our community we’ve been able to save a lot of lives. We hope that people will vote for us and we can continue to spread the word about the help we provide!”

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, added: “We’re so pleased to have received so many nominations highlighting the excellent work that National Lottery-funded projects are doing up and down the UK. It’s no secret that times are tough, so it’s great to see so many people and projects dedicating so much time and energy into giving something back to their communities.

“It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, that the work of these amazing projects is made possible.

“Get The Boys A Lift are making an incredible impact in their local community and they thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2023. With your support, they could be a winner.”

To vote for Get The Boys A Lift, please go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Or simply use their specific hashtag on X (formerly known as Twitter) #NLAGTBAL . Voting runs from 9am on 11th September until 12pm on 9th October.

For further information please contact The National Lottery Awards: Oswyn Hughes on 07976 324 179 or email [email protected]

Charity

How community-run pubs and shops revitalise west Wales

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2023

Tom Sinclair

WEST WALES celebrates as community-run pubs and shops promise a new wave of employment and trading opportunities. The recent trend of communities banding together to buy beloved establishments, turning them from privately-owned entities into cooperatively-run ventures, has become a lifeline for some local favourites.

At the heart of Newport, Pembrokeshire, Havards Ironmunger’s store stands as a beacon of hope. The community has rallied behind its purchase, ensuring its doors remain open and its products accessible to the locals. However, Havards isn’t the only establishment to benefit from this community spirit.

Each establishment purchased through this community cooperative model aims not only for profit but also seeks active participation from the community to steer its future. These “social businesses” have been sprouting all over West Wales. From the Tafarn Sinc pub in Rosebush, purchased in 2017, to the White Hart Pub in St Dogmaels and the recent community buyout of Tafarn y Vale in South Ceredigion, the wave of community-driven commercial ventures is unmistakable.

Two additional Pembrokeshire projects deserve special mention: the community-driven purchases of Cross Inn, Hayscastle and Tafarn Crymych Arms pub. Each cooperative business relies on the tireless work of volunteers, all united by a common goal: to ensure local trade thrives, offering employment to local residents.

The Tafarn Crymych Arms, which remained closed for two long years, is buzzing with activity once more. The team is actively seeking local suppliers for its restaurant and recruiting fresh talent for the roles they offer. With positions such as a 3-day-a-week Grants Manager and a full-time Pub Manager available, locals have a chance to be a part of this community resurgence.

Cris Tomos, a staunch supporter of these community cooperatives and a member of community development charity PLANED, expressed his enthusiasm, “The ability for communities to own and retain local establishments is pivotal. This model paves the way for local produce and offers competitive employment opportunities.” He adds that there’s a wealth of support for such ventures, urging interested parties to visit the PLANED website for comprehensive guidance on community ownership projects.

Job seekers, take note: the deadline for positions at Crymych Arms is approaching fast, set for the 16th of September. Full details can be found at www.cpdcrymych.cymru.

In Tomos’s words, “It’s truly heartening to witness the rise of community cooperatives. These hubs – be it shops or pubs – are essential for community life, and the support they’ve garnered is nothing short of commendable.”

Charity

Aldi donates 66,200 meals to Welsh charities over the summer

Published

3 weeks ago

September 7, 2023

Tom Sinclair

ALDI stores in Wales donated 66,200 meals to families in need during the recent summer school holidays.

All of its Welsh stores supported local charities and foodbanks during a period of increased demand by redistributing surplus food via community giving platform Neighbourly.

Since Aldi’s partnership with Neighbourly began in 2019, Aldi stores across the country have already donated more than 35 million meals – including over seven million meals so far this year.

This summer, Aldi also gave every child in the UK a chance to try an Olympic or Paralympic sport for free as part of its ‘Get a Taste for Sport’ initiative, helping parents meet the cost of providing healthy activities during the summer holidays.

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “The school holidays are always an incredibly hard time for households across the country, made even worse by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. That’s why we committed to supporting even more families in Wales this summer via our food donations scheme with Neighbourly, helping vital charities provide meals to those who need them most.”

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “Demand on charities and foodbanks in Wales is incredibly high. This push in donations from Aldi was essential in helping so many families during the school holidays and we know how grateful the organisations were for the supermarket’s support.”

Shoppers can also donate food to local charities, food banks and community groups via the community donation points in Aldi stores nationwide.

Britain’s fourth largest supermarket also works with Company Shop, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, to redistribute surplus food from its Regional Distribution Centres to Community Shops around the country.