Director's Blog - July 2025 | Blog y Cyfarwyddwr - Mis Gorffenaf 2025
29/07/2025 | Author: Angela Rogers
Director's Blog - July 2025 | Blog y Cyfarwyddwr - Mis Gorffenaf 2025
Dear Members,
Having just returned from a few spectacularly sunny days on a nature reserve on the River Stour, I’m feeling recharged and energised for our upcoming national conference WEAVE | GWEHYDDU 2025 in just over a month’s time. With over 80% of tickets already sold, I encourage you to book your place soon before they run out. We’re inviting up to 8 volunteers to join our staff team as Event Assistants, helping us create a friendly and engaging experience for delegates. Deadline to apply: 6th August.
Our July network meeting tied in with Plastic Free July, sparking rich conversations about sustainable practice. Abi Makepeace shared her current mental wellbeing project involving foraging for local dye plants; Go and See bursary recipient Caroline Schofield shared how she experiments with local pigment from old mines and quarries bringing her closer to Welsh industrial heritage and WAHWN Trustee and founder of Benthyg Cymru, Becky Harford shared the evolving story of Wales first ‘library of things’, sparking interest in a Wales arts organisation library of things adopting a shared resource model to reduce waste and increase collaboration. Do get in touch with Becky directly if you are interested in getting involved. Our next network meeting will take place on 25th September, when we will revisit strategic priorities and calls for action that arise from WEAVE | GWEHYDDU 2025.
July has also seen a number of strategic shifts and opportunities. Following the recent restructure at Arts Council Wales, a new Head of Arts, Health & Wellbeing position has been advertised - a clear signal that arts health and wellbeing remains a core strategic priority. Leading on policy, partnerships, and programme development, this vital role will ensure that arts, health and wellbeing is embedded across ACW’s work. With Wales increasingly recognised as a leader in strategic arts and health integration, we were delighted to see David Cutler of the Baring Foundation championing our collaborative ‘Team Wales’ approach in his recent blog. His words affirm the value of our cross-sector partnerships and the growing impact of arts, health and wellbeing across the nation:
“Wales provides a model for a more strategic approach to cooperation between the arts sector and the NHS.”
– David Cutler, Baring Foundation
This endorsement reflects the dedication of so many individuals and organisations working together to embed creativity into health and wellbeing at every level. We do, however, still have a long way to go. Although the Cross Party Group on Arts and Health has strong leadership from Heledd Fychan, MS, there is still little representation from Senedd members at meetings and as David Cutler highlights, “there is no mention of creativity in the latest Welsh Government Plan for the NHS.”
We support the Welsh NHS Confederation call to action ahead of the Finance Committee’s 2026–2027 budget setting, urging the Welsh Government to make prevention and long-term investment the cornerstone of future health and care spending encouraging a shift from reactive to proactive care, from treating illness to promoting health and wellbeing through early intervention, creative health and community-based support.
“Let us build a Wales not defined by illness but strengthened by wellbeing.”
- Dr Helen Howson, Director, Bevan Commission
Other highlights this month include:-
- A new film created by Public Health Wales as part of the Hapus campaign, celebrating the inspiring work of Hapus
- A new Team Coordinator role with the Arts and Health team at Hywel Dda UHB, deadline 12th August.
- Velindre NHS Trust are developing an Arts and Health Charter, ensuring creativity is embedded across the Trust. You can respond here by adding your experiences and insights to help shape it.
“As a Trust, we want to make a long-term commitment to our Arts in Health programme, recognising the vital role the arts play in enhancing the well-being of our patients, staff, and supporters."
- Velindre NHS Trust
In other news, Aneurin Bevan UHB are making great headway with their Arts & Minds programme including Young Peoples’ Voices in partnership with the CAHMS team to amplify young people’s voices to support and enhance service delivery, and their Waiting Spaces Artist in Residence programme where their Youth Forum and Participation Panel have collaborated with artist Bill Taylor-Beales on finding ways that young people can be visible, seen and heard in clinical settings. Read more here.
“We were so anxious about our first visit. Meeting you has really helped.”
- Parent of Waiting Spaces participant
Creative interventions for young people experiencing mental health challenges or on CAHMS waiting lists are gaining momentum across the UK with growing evidence of impact, as was highlighted in the recent NCCH Creative Health Webinar on Children & Young People’s Mental Health.
Other opportunities this month include Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) call for quotes from freelance consultants for community engagement around the development of Tenby Cottage Hospital as an Integrated Health & Wellbeing Centre and South East Pembrokeshire Care Campus. Deadline 6th August. The National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) has issued a call for submissions for a special issue of the Royal Society for Public Health’s peer-reviewed journal, Perspectives in Public Health. The theme is “The Role of Creative Health in Public Health”, aimed at showcasing how creative approaches are supporting individual and community wellbeing through policy, research, and practice. Submission deadline 1st September.
A number of new resources have recently been published, including a new Storytelling Framework for Social Care; NAHN (National Arts in Hospitals Network) toolkit Arts in Hospitals Guidance written by Jane Willis which includes Wales Capacity Building Programme case study and Laura Bailey’s new podcast series, Creative Health Stories offering rich and thought-provoking conversations with artists, health professionals, and changemakers exploring how creativity supports wellbeing. Recent episodes spotlight trauma-informed practice, male mental health, and global arts and health policy.
And finally, a few events for your calendars - The National Eisteddfod will be held in Wrexham (2nd - 9th August) and is shaping up to be a vibrant platform for arts, health and wellbeing, including ‘The Power of the Arts with Health and Wellbeing’ creative activity and panel discussion on arts and health programmes across North Wales presented by the Betsi Cadwaladr UHB Arts Steering Group on Sunday 3rd August 1 – 3pm at the Art Village, Y Lle Celf. Save the date – Most Significant Change Creative Ways of Gathering Stories on 2nd October and Realta’s Checking In event will take place online on 4th November this year.
Thank you all for your continued energy, creativity, and commitment to building a healthier, more connected Wales through the arts. Let’s keep weaving these threads together.
Onwards and upwards!
Angela
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Annwyl Aelodau,
A minnau newydd ddychwelyd ar ôl ychydig o ddyddiau rhyfeddol o heulog ar warchodfa natur Afon Stour, dwi’n teimlo wedi fy atgyfnerthu ac yn llawn egni ar gyfer cynhadledd genedlaethol WEAVE | GWEHYDDU 2025 ymhen ychydig dros fis. Gyda thros 80% o’r tocynnau eisoes wedi’u gwerthu, hoffwn eich annog chi i archebu eich lle yn fuan cyn iddyn nhw ddiflannu. Rydyn ni’n gwahodd hyd at 8 gwirfoddolwr i ymuno a thîm y staff yn Gynorthwywyr y Digwyddiad i’n helpu i greu profiad cyfeillgar a difyr i’r cynrychiolwyr. Dyddiad cau ymgeisio: 6 Awst.
Roedd y cyfarfod rhwydwaith ym mis Gorffennaf yn cyd-fynd â Gorffennaf di-blastig a sbardunodd sgyrsiau gwerthfawr am ymarfer cynaliadwy. Rhannodd Abi Makepeace ei phrosiect llesiant meddwl cyfredol sy’n cynnwys fforio am blanhigion llifyn lleol; rhannodd y deiliad bwrsariaeth Mynd i Weld Caroline Schofield sut mae hi’n arbrofi gyda phigment lleol o hen gloddfeydd a chwareli gan ddod â hi’n agosach at dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol Cymru, a rhannodd Becky Harford, sy’n Ymddiriedolwr WAHWN a sylfaenydd Benthyg Cymru y stori sy’n esblygu am ‘lyfrgell pethau’ gyntaf Cymru, gan danio diddordeb mewn sefydliad llyfrgell pethau celfyddydol Cymreig a fyddai’n mabwysiadu model adnoddau cyffredin i leihau gwastraff a chynyddu cydweithio. Cysylltwch â Becky’n uniongyrchol os hoffech gymryd rhan. Cynhelir y cyfarfod rhwydwaith nesaf ar 25 Medi, pan fyddwn ni’n ailymweld â blaenoriaethau strategol a galwadau am weithredu yn sgil WEAVE | GWEHYDDU 2025.
Cafwyd nifer o symudiadau a chyfleoedd strategol ym mis Gorffennaf hefyd. Yn dilyn yr ailstrwythuro diweddar yng Nghyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, mae swydd newydd Pennaeth Celfyddydau, Iechyd a Llesiant wedi'i hysbysebu – arwydd clir fod y celfyddydau iechyd a llesiant yn parhau’n flaenoriaeth strategol graidd. Gan arwain ar bolisi, partneriaethau a datblygu rhaglenni, bydd y rôl hanfodol hon yn sicrhau bod y celfyddydau, iechyd a llesiant yn rhan annatod o holl waith CCC. Gyda Chymru’n cael ei chydnabod yn gynyddol yn arweinydd ym maes integreiddio celfyddydau ac iechyd yn strategol, roedd yn bleser gweld David Cutler o Sefydliad Baring yn hyrwyddo ein dull cydweithredol ‘Tîm Cymru’ yn ei flog diweddar. Mae ei eiriau’n atgyfnerthu gwerth ein partneriaethau traws-sector ac effaith gynyddol y celfyddydau, iechyd a llesiant ar draws y genedl:
“Mae Cymru’n cynnig model ar gyfer dull mwy strategol o gydweithio rhwng sector y celfyddydau a’r GIG.”
– David Cutler, Sefydliad Baring
Mae’r gefnogaeth hon yn adlewyrchu ymroddiad cynifer o unigolion a sefydliadau sy’n cydweithio i wreiddio creadigrwydd mewn iechyd a llesiant ar bob lefel. Fodd bynnag mae ffordd bell ar ôl i fynd. Er bod y Grŵp Trawsbleidiol ar y Celfyddydau ac Iechyd yn derbyn arweiniad cryf gan Heledd Fychan, AS, ychydig o gynrychiolaeth o hyd sydd o blith Aelodau’r Senedd mewn cyfarfodydd ac fel y noda David Cutler, “does dim sôn am greadigrwydd yng nghynllun diweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru i'r GIG”.
Rydyn ni’n cefnogi galwad Conffederasiwn GIG Cymru i weithredu wrth i’r Pwyllgor Cyllid baratoi i osod cyllideb 2026–2027, ac yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod atal a buddsoddi tymor hir yn gonglfaen gwariant iechyd a gofal yn y dyfodol er mwyn annog symud o ofal ymatebol i ofal rhagweithiol, o drin salwch i hyrwyddo iechyd a llesiant drwy ymyrraeth gynnar, iechyd creadigol a chymorth yn y gymuned.
“Gadewch i ni lunio Cymru na chaiff ei diffinio gan salwch ond ei chryfhau â llesiant.”
- Dr Helen Howson, Cyfarwyddwr, Comisiwn Bevan
Mae uchafbwyntiau eraill y mis hwn yn cynnwys:-
- Ffilm newydd a grëwyd gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru fel rhan o ymgyrch Hapus yn dathlu gwaith ysbrydoledig Hapus
- Swydd Cydlynydd Tîm newydd gyda thîm Celfyddydau ac Iechyd BIP Hywel Dda, dyddiad cau 12 Awst.
- Mae Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Felindre yn datblygu Siarter Celfyddydau ac Iechyd, i sicrhau bod creadigrwydd wedi’i wreiddio ledled yr Ymddiriedolaeth. Gallwch ymateb yma drwy ychwanegu eich profiadau a’ch syniadau i helpu i’w lunio.
“Fel Ymddiriedolaeth, rydyn ni’n awyddus i wneud ymrwymiad tymor hir i’r rhaglen Celfyddydau mewn Iechyd, gan gydnabod y rhan hanfodol sydd gan y celfyddydau yn cyfoethogi llesiant ein cleifion, staff a chefnogwyr."
- Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Felindre
Mewn newyddion arall, mae gwaith BIP Aneurin Bevan yn datblygu’n dda gyda’r rhaglen Arts & Minds gan gynnwys Lleisiau Pobl Ifanc mewn partneriaeth gyda thîm CAHMS i amlygu lleisiau pobl ifanc i gefnogi a chyfoethogi’r gwasanaeth, a’r rhaglen Artist Preswyl Waiting Spaces lle mae’r Fforwm Ieuenctid a’r Panel Cyfranogi wedi cydweithio gyda’r artist Bill Taylor-Beales i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd y gall pobl ifanc fod yn weladwy, a chael eu gweld a’u clywed mewn lleoliadau clinigol. Rhagor o wybodaeth yma
“Roedden ni mor bryderus am yr ymweliad cyntaf. Mae cwrdd â chi wir wedi helpu.”
- Rhiant cyfranogwr Waiting Spaces
Mae ymyriadau creadigol i bobl ifanc sy’n profi heriau iechyd meddwl neu sydd ar restrau aros CAHMS ar gynnydd ledled y DU gyda thystiolaeth gynyddol o effaith, fel yr amlygwyd yn y gweminar Iechyd Creadigol gan NCCH ar Iechyd Meddwl Plant a Phobl Ifanc.
Mae cyfleoedd eraill y mis hwn yn cynnwys galwad Cymdeithas Gwasanaethau Gwirfoddol Sir Benfro (PAVS) am ddyfynbris gan ymgynghorwyr llawrydd ar gyfer ymgysylltu cymunedol ynghylch datblygu Ysbyty Lleol Dinbych y Pysgod yn Ganolfan Iechyd a Llesiant Integredig a Champws Gofal De Ddwyrain Sir Benfro. Dyddiad cau 6 Awst. Mae’r Ganolfan Iechyd Creadigol Genedlaethol (NCCH) wedi cyhoeddi galwad am gyflwyniadau ar gyfer rhifyn arbennig o gyfnodolyn Cymdeithas Frenhinol Iechyd y Cyhoedd a adolygir gan gymheiriaid, Perspectives in Public Health. Y thema yw “The Role of Creative Health in Public Health”, a’r nod yw dangos sut mae dulliau creadigol yn cefnogi llesiant unigolion a chymunedol drwy bolisi, ymchwil ac ymarfer. Dyddiad cau cyflwyno: 1 Medi.
Mae nifer o adnoddau newydd wedi’u cyhoeddi’n ddiweddar, gan gynnwys Fframwaith Adrodd Straeon newydd ar gyfer Gofal Cymdeithasol yng Nghymru; pecyn cymorth NAHN (National Arts in Hospitals Network) Arts in Hospitals Guidance a ysgrifennwyd gan Jane Willis sy’n cynnwys astudiaeth achos Rhaglen Meithrin Gallu Cymru a chyfres podlediad newydd Laura Bailey, Creative Health Stories sy’n cynnig sgyrsiau gwerthfawr a meddylgar gydag artistiaid, gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol a gwneuthurwyr newid sy’n trafod sut mae creadigrwydd yn cefnogi llesiant. Mae rhifynnau diweddar yn edrych ar ymarfer wedi’i lywio gan drawma, iechyd meddwl gwrywod a pholisi celfyddydau ac iechyd byd-eang.
Ac yn olaf, ambell ddigwyddiad i’r dyddiadur – cynhelir yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn Wrecsam (2 – 9 Awst) ac mae’n argoeli’n llwyfan bywiog i’r celfyddydau, iechyd a llesiant, gan gynnwys gweithgaredd creadigol Grym y celfyddydau gydag iechyd a llesiant a thrafodaeth panel ar raglenni celfyddydau ac iechyd ar draws y Gogledd a gyflwynir gan Grŵp Llywio’r Celfyddydau BIP Betsi Cadwaladr ddydd Sul Awst 3 am 1 – 3pm yn y Pentref Celf, Y Lle Celf.
Nodwch y dyddiad – Newid Mwyaf Arwyddocaol – Ffyrdd Creadigol o Gasglu Straeon ar 2 Hydref, a chynhelir digwyddiad 'Checking In' Realta ar-lein ar 4 Tachwedd eleni.
Diolch i chi i gyd am eich egni, eich creadigrwydd a’ch ymrwymiad parhaus i feithrin Cymru fwy iach, fwy cysylltiedig drwy’r celfyddydau. Gadewch i ni barhau i wehyddu’r edafedd at ei gilydd.
Ymlaen!
Angela
