Director's Blog - January 2025 | Blog y Cyfarwyddwr - Mis Ionawr 2025
16/01/2025 | Author: Angela Rogers
Happy new year everyone!
Happy new year everyone!
After a restful break, we’re off to a flying start this year, finding new ways to connect, inspire and influence. We’re immensely grateful for support from the Arts Council Wales Resilience and Job Opportunities funding which will help ensure our longer-term sustainability, enabling us to continue supporting our members, developing strategic partnerships and influencing policy.
Following a membership drive in December, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve now reached our target of 1,000 members! This represents a whopping 89% increase in just two years, including several new nature, health and third sector professionals. Our 1,000th sign up was Branch Out Wild, a new Pembrokeshire based creative nature green prescribing CIC just in the early process of setting up. Please can we ask all members to complete our Members Survey by 4th February, to help us plan our training and activity for 2025 and beyond.
As a new charity, we are excited about opportunities to grow and scale our work and look forward to welcoming new trustees in the coming months, bringing new ideas and fresh perspectives on our strategic direction. 3 new trustees will be appointed by March 2025, and we hope to offer further opportunities over the coming year.
Building on the success of our inaugural WEAVE conference in 2023, we are delighted to ask you to ‘save the date’ for our next event: 8th - 9th September. Working in partnership with ACW, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Wrexham University, we plan to bring an exciting programme of speakers and workshops to celebrate the innovative practice taking place across Wales as we work to influence politicians and policy makers to embed the arts across healthcare and wellbeing systems. More news to follow shortly.
One of the core strands of our programme is our monthly network meetings. When the network started these meetings took place in person, but with the technology available to us now, we know that working online allows us to reach more people. If you can’t attend a meeting but would like access to the recording, please sign up via Eventbrite and you will receive an email with the link after the meetings.
Our January network meeting had a record number of sign-ups to hear Simon Jones, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Mind Cymru share the latest ‘Big Mental Health Report’ highlighting major challenges and recommendations for tackling mental health inequalities, racism and stigma. There were some challenging messages coming out around the increase in mental health challenges for people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, young people, and people who experience poverty. It was great to hear from David Cutler, Director of The Bearing Foundation who are putting approximately £1.5 million funding for arts initiatives to support artists and participants with mental health problems. This includes the Arts and Minds programme in Wales, which is co-funded by Arts Council Wales.
With a growing number of creative health and nature focused projects, we look forward to welcoming Joseph Conran, Natural Resources Wales to our February network meeting on 13th February to share nature connectedness evaluation tools. We will be representing the sector at the Nature Service Wales – Building the foundations for a national movement in Cardiff on 4th February.
National Social Prescribing Day takes place on 19th March and we will mark it with our March network meeting that will include guest speakers Professor Carolyn Wallace, Director of Wales School for Social Prescribing Research who has been working with Kathryn Lambert, Arts and Health Coordinator at Hywel Dda University Health Board on their new arts referral programme (HARS). We are delighted to be partners on this pioneering project, in collaboration with GP surgeries, Public Health consultants and arts organisations to measure the impact of creative prescribing. We are also looking forward to learning more about the new Wellbeing Studio in Bangor – an ACW funded partnership between Gwynedd Council, Fran Wen, Bodnant Surgery and Bangor University Student Wellbeing Service where 16-30 year olds will be offered a safe, creative and supportive space. Kathryn Lambert and Rhian Rees, HDUHB will also be sharing their arts referral developments at the upcoming Centre for Creative Health Creativity and Social Prescribing webinar on 6th March aimed at commissioners, GPs and others.
It's great to see HDUHB’s recent new article, “An Introduction to Creative Health” in InnoVAIT – the official journey of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Sage Journals, co-authored by Dr Catherine Jenkins, Dr William Mackintosh and Kathryn Lambert, providing GPs across the UK with an introduction to the benefits of incorporating the arts into healthcare. Dr Catherine Jenkins says “we know that there is good evidence that arts and creativity benefits health. Lack of awareness of the benefits amongst healthcare practitioners may be a barrier to referrals. There is little formal training on arts and creative health for GPs and this not generally covered in medical training curriculums. We hope that sharing knowledge will lead to greater awareness and understanding. This may increase referrals and support for projects and result in improved clinical outcomes.”
At this month’s Betsi Cadwaladr UHB arts steering meeting we were joined by Strategic Partnership Manager, Public Health, Brian Laing who bought us up to speed on the Well North Wales programme which is focusing on prevention, tackling health inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of communities across North Wales.
It was a pleasure to meet the new cohort of MA Arts Practice (Arts students in, Health & Wellbeing) students in December, offering an opportunity to share the landscape in Wales and support them to build knowledge around the key health challenges and existing practice in this field. We wish all the students undertaking their assignments the very best and look forward to connecting with them again. We look forward to meeting the BA Creative Therapeutic Arts students at University of South Wales next month to introduce them to the network and the arts, health and wellbeing sector in Wales. We are very glad to support students as they come into the sector to ensure the ecology continues to develop and grow.
It’s been great to see a new wave of creative challenges across January organised by The January Challenge 2025 - 64 Million Artists in collaboration with Public Health Wales, which continues to promote creativity and wellbeing across Wales, aligned with the Hapus national conversation around mental wellbeing. This January, writer, translator and poet Sian Northey is the Wales Ambassador. Public Health Wales supports this initiative as part of their broader strategy to improve public health through creative engagement. WAHWN and Amrita Jesurasa, Public Health Consultant joined the 15th January What Next Cymru meeting to share research and practice around social prescribing. It's clear that there are still challenges within our sector around referral pathways and how to evaluate individual interventions in meaningful ways, and more work is needed in this area.
As we all look to diversify our income streams, we welcome the recent free to access training offers for members from Arts & Business Cymru and Richard Newton Consulting on fundraising for organisations who deliver events, supported by Event Wales. WAHWN is delighted to have secured a series of 1-2-1 coaching sessions to help us grow corporate partnerships. Although we were unsuccessful with our FORE Foundation application, we are pleased to have been offered pro-bono support and look forward to taking advantage of this. Community Music Wales are also offering heavily subsidised ‘Community Music in Mental Health Settings Tutor Training Course in March 2025 for just £60 (plus limited bursary places). It’s designed to equip practitioners with the skills to be able to deliver music sessions that benefit communities. For more information and registration details, please contact admin@communitymusicwales.org.uk
Following the success of the Wellbeing Economy Festival of Ideas event in 2024, we’re pleased to see that plans are under way for a further two events in North and South Wales in 2025. If you missed the last event, here’s a link to Kate Raworth’s fantastic opening presentation and the opening video. Spoiler alert from WE’s Dawn Lyle:
“YES! Wales' is more than ready for an achievable alternative to the consumer economy. The politics of promising minor tweaks to a fundamentally unjust and unsustainable economic system won't inspire voters in upcoming elections. Only economic systems change will deliver the change we need.”
Onwards and upwards!
Angela
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Blwyddyn newydd dda i bawb!
Yn dilyn seibiant hamddenol, dyma fwrw iddi ar ddechrau blwyddyn newydd i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd newydd i gysylltu, ysbrydoli a dylanwadu. Rydyn ni’n hynod o ddiolchgar i dderbyn cyllid Amddiffyn Swyddi a Magu Gwytnwch gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru fydd yn helpu i sicrhau cynaladwyedd i ni yn y tymor hirach, ac yn ein galluogi i barhau i gefnogi aelodau, datblygu partneriaethau strategol a dylanwadu ar bolisiau.
Yn dilyn ymgyrch aelodaeth ym mis Rhagfyr, rydyn ni’n falch i gyhoeddi ein bod wedi cyrraedd y targed o 1,000 aelod! Mae hyn yn gynnydd anferthol o 89% mewn dwy flynedd yn unig, gan gynnwys nifer o weithwyr proffesiynol ym maes natur, iechyd a’r trydydd sector. Branch Out Wild oedd y milfed i gofrestru - CIC presgripsiynu gwyrdd natur greadigol newydd yn Sir Benfro sydd newydd ei sefydlu. Gofynnwn i’r holl aelodau gwblhau’r Arolwg o Aelodau erbyn 4 Chwefror, i’n helpu i gynllunio hyfforddiant a gweithgareddau ar gyfer 2025 a thu hwnt.
Fel elusen newydd, rydyn ni’n llawn cyffro am y cyfleoedd i dyfu ac ehangu ein gwaith ac edrychwn ymlaen at groesawu ymddiriedolwyr newydd dros y misoedd nesaf, fydd yn dod â syniadau a safbwyntiau ffres i’n cyfeiriad strategol. Caiff tri ymddiriedolwr newydd eu penodi ym mis Mawrth 2025, a’r gobaith yw cynnig rhagor o gyfleoedd dros y flwyddyn nesaf.
Gan adeiladu ar lwyddiant cynhadledd gyntaf GWEHYDDU yn 2023, mae’n braf cael gofyn i chi nodi dyddiad y digwyddiad nesaf: 8-9 Medi. Gan weithio mewn partneriaeth gyda CCC, Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr a Phrifysgol Wrecsam, rydyn ni’n cynllunio rhaglen gyffrous o siaradwyr a gweithdai i ddathlu’r arfer arloesol sydd ar waith ledled Cymru wrth i ni weithio i ddylanwadu ar wleidyddion a llunwyr polisïau i wreiddio’r celfyddydau ledled systemau gofal iechyd a llesiant. Bydd rhagor o newyddion yn dilyn yn fuan.
Un o edafedd craidd ein rhaglen yw’r cyfarfodydd rhwydwaith misol. Pan ddechreuodd y rhwydwaith cynhaliwyd y cyfarfodydd hyn wyneb yn wyneb, ond gyda’r dechnoleg sydd bellach ar gael, fe wyddom fod gweithio ar-lein yn caniatáu i ni gyrraedd mwy o bobl. Os na allwch chi ddod i gyfarfod ond yn dymuno gweld y recordiad, cofrestrwch drwy Eventbrite a byddwch yn cael ebost gyda’r ddolen yn dilyn y cyfarfodydd.
Cofrestrodd mwy nag erioed i ddod i gyfarfod rhwydwaith mis Ionawr i glywed Simon Jones, Pennaeth Polisi ac Ymgyrchoedd Mind Cymru yn rhannu’r ‘Adroddiad Iechyd Meddwl Mawr’ diweddaraf sy’n tynnu sylw at y prif heriau ac argymhellion ynghylch mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl, hiliaeth a stigma. Roedd negeseuon heriol yn codi o’r cynnydd mewn heriau iechyd meddwl i bobl o gymunedau Du, Asiaidd a Lleiafrifol Ethnig, pobl ifanc, a phobl sy’n profi tlodi. Roedd yn wych clywed gan David Cutler, Cyfarwyddwr Sefydliad Baring sy’n cyfrannu tua £1.5 miliwn o gyllid i fentrau celfyddydol i gefnogi artistiaid a chyfranogwyr â phroblemau iechyd meddwl. Mae hyn yn cynnwys rhaglen Celfyddyd a Chrebwyll yng Nghymru a gyd-gyllidir gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru.
Gyda nifer cynyddol o brosiectau’n ymwneud ag iechyd creadigol a natur, edrychwn ymlaen at groesawu Joseph Conran, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i gyfarfod rhwydwaith mis Chwefror ar 13 Chwefror i rannu offer gwerthuso cysylltedd natur. Byddwn ni’n cynrychioli’r sector yn Adeiladu sylfeini mudiad cenedlaethol - Gwasanaeth Natur Cymru yng Nghaerdydd ar 4 Chwefror.
Cynhelir Diwrnod Cenedlaethol Presgripsiynu Cymdeithasol ar 19 Mawrth a byddwn ni’n ei nodi yng nghyfarfod rhwydwaith mis Mawrth gyda’r siaradwyr gwadd yr Athro Carolyn Wallace, Cyfarwyddwr Ysgol Ymchwil Presgripsiynu Cymdeithasol Cymru sydd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Kathryn Lambert, Cydlynydd y Celfyddydau ac Iechyd, Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda ar eu rhaglen atgyfeirio celfyddydol newydd. Rydyn ni’n falch i fod yn bartneriaid ar y prosiect arloesol hwn, mewn cydweithrediad gyda meddygfeydd teulu, ymgynghorwyr Iechyd Cyhoeddus a sefydliadau celfyddydol i fesur effaith presgripsiynu creadigol. Edrychwn ymlaen hefyd at glywed mwy am y Stiwdio Llesiant newydd ym Mangor -partneriaeth, a gyllidir gan CCC, rhwng Cyngor Gwynedd, Fran Wen, Meddygfa Bodnant a Gwasanaeth Llesiant Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Bangor sy’n cynnig lle diogel, creadigol a chefnogol i bobl rhwng 16 a 30 oed. Bydd Kathryn Lambert a Rhian Rees, BIPHDd hefyd yn rhannu eu datblygiadau atgyfeirio celfyddydol yng ngweminar Presgripsiynu Creadigol y Ganolfan Iechyd Creadigol ar 6 Mawrth a anelir at gomisiynwyr, meddygon teulu ac eraill.
Mae’n wych gweld erthygl newydd ddiweddar BIPHDd, “An Introduction to Creative Health” yn InnoVAIT – cyfnodolyn swyddogol Coleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol a Sage Journals, gan y cyd-awduron Dr Catherine Jenkins, Dr William Mackintosh a Kathryn Lambert, sy’n cynnig cyflwyniad i fanteision cynnwys y celfyddydau mewn gofal iechyd i feddygon teulu. Dywed Dr Catherine Jenkins “rydyn ni’n gwybod bod yna dystiolaeth dda sy’n dangos bod y celfyddydau a chreadigrwydd yn fanteisiol i iechyd. Gallai diffyg ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith ymarferwyr gofal iechyd fod yn rhwystr i atgyfeirio. Does dim llawer o hyfforddiant ffurfiol ar y celfyddydau ac iechyd creadigol i feddygon teulu ac ni chaiff ei gynnwys mewn cwricwla hyfforddiant meddygol ar y cyfan. Gobeithio y bydd rhannu gwybodaeth yn arwain at well ymwybyddiaeth a dealltwriaeth. Gallai hyn gynyddu atgyfeiriadau a chefnogaeth i brosiectau ac arwain at well canlyniadau clinigol.”
Yng nghyfarfod llywio’r celfyddydau BIP Betsi Cadwaladr y mis yma ymunodd y Rheolwr Partneriaeth Strategol Iechyd Cyhoeddus, Brian Laing â ni gan roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ar raglen Gogledd Cymru Iach sy’n canolbwyntio ar atal, mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd a gwella iechyd a llesiant mewn cymunedau ledled y gogledd.
Roedd yn bleser cael cyfarfod y garfan newydd o fyfyrwyr MA Ymarfer Celf (Celfyddydau, Iechyd a Lles) ym mis Rhagfyr, gan gynnig cyfle i rannu’r dirwedd yng Nghymru a’u cefnogi i feithrin gwybodaeth ynghylch yr heriau iechyd allweddol ac arfer presennol yn y maes. Dymunwn y gorau i’r holl fyfyrwyr sy’n cyflawni eu haseiniadau ac edrychwn ymlaen at gysylltu â nhw eto. Rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen at gwrdd â’r myfyrwyr BA Celfyddydau Therapiwtig Creadigol ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru fis nesaf i’w cyflwyno i’r rhwydwaith ac i sector y celfyddydau, iechyd a llesiant yng Nghymru. Rydyn ni’n falch iawn i gefnogi myfyrwyr wrth iddyn nhw ddod i mewn i’r sector er mwyn sicrhau bod yr ecoleg yn parhau i ddatblygu a thyfu.
Bu’n wych gweld ton newydd o heriau creadigol ym mis Ionawr a drefnwyd gan Her Mis Ionawr 2025 - 64 Miliwn o Artistiaid mewn cydweithrediad ag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru sy’n dal i hybu creadigrwydd a llesiant ledled Cymru, ynghyd â sgwrs genedlaethol Hapus ynghylch llesiant meddwl. Ym mis Ionawr eleni, yr awdur, cyfieithydd a bardd Siân Northey yw Llysgennad Cymru. Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru’n cefnogi’r fenter fel rhan o’u strategaeth ehangach i wella iechyd y cyhoedd drwy ymgysylltu creadigol. Ymunodd WAHWN ac Amrita Jesurasa, Ymgynghorydd Iechyd Cyhoeddus â chyfarfod What Next Cymru ar 15 Ionawr i rannu ymchwil ac ymarfer ynghylch presgripsiynu cymdeithasol. Mae’n amlwg fod heriau’n parhau yn y sector ynghylch llwybrau atgyfeirio a sut i werthuso ymyriadau unigol mewn ffyrdd ystyrlon, ac mae angen mwy o waith yn y maes.
Wrth i ni i gyd roi ystyriaeth i amrywio ein ffrydiau incwm, rydyn ni’n croesawu’r cynigion o hyfforddiant am ddim i aelodau gan Celfyddydau a Busnes Cymru a Richard Newton Consulting ar godi arian i sefydliadau sy’n cynnal digwyddiadau, gyda chefnogaeth Event Wales. Mae WAHWN yn falch o fod wedi sicrhau cyfres o sesiynau hyfforddi un i un i’n helpu i dyfu partneriaethau corfforaethol. Er na fuom ni’n llwyddiannus gyda’n cais i Sefydliad FORE rydyn ni’n falch i fod wedi derbyn cynnig o gefnogaeth pro bono ac yn edrych ymlaen at fanteisio ar hyn. Mae Cerddoriaeth Gymunedol Cymru hefyd yn cynnig Cwrs Hyfforddi Tiwtoriaid Cerddoriaeth Gymunedol mewn Lleoliadau Iechyd Meddwl â chymhorthdal hael ym mis Mawrth 2025 am £60 yn unig (ynghyd â bwrsariaethau cyfyngedig). Mae wedi’i gynllunio i roi sgiliau i ymarferwyr allu cyflwyno sesiynau cerddorol o fudd i gymunedau. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth a manylion cofrestru cysylltwch ag admin@communitymusicwales.org.uk
Yn dilyn llwyddiant Gŵyl Syniadau'r Economi Llesiant yn 2024, rydyn ni’n falch i weld bod cynlluniau ar waith ar gyfer dau ddigwyddiad arall yng ngogledd a de Cymru yn 2025. Os colloch chi’r digwyddiad diwethaf, dyma ddolen i gyflwyniad agoriadol rhagorol Kate Raworth a’r fideo agoriadol. Rhybudd ‘spoiler’ gan Dawn Lyle o’r Economi Llesiant:
“YDY! Mae Cymru’n fwy na pharod am ddewis ymarferol ar wahân i economi’r defnyddiwr. Dyw gwleidyddiaeth addo newidiadau pitw i system economaidd sy’n sylfaenol annheg ac anghynaliadwy ddim yn mynd i ysbrydoli etholwyr mewn etholiadau yn y dyfodol. Dim ond newid i systemau economaidd fydd yn sicrhau’r newid sydd ei angen arnon ni.”
Ymlaen!
Angela
