Stepping In Phase Two: 2026
Wales Arts Health and Wellbeing Network is proud to announce the 12 participants selected for phase two of our ‘Stepping In’ programme.
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The programme, piloted in 2024, supports creative practitioners facing barriers entering the arts and health sector, particularly those with lived experience of mental health challenges and those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Our 2026 cohort includes Arawn Bryn (illustration, animation); Catrin Cheung (poetry, creative writing); Catrin Wilson (dance); Ceris Dyfi Jones (visual art, textiles); Francesca Simmons (sound artist, musician); Joe Pelé Boyd (musician, drums); Lowri Hedd Vaughan (poetry, creative writing); Mariel H Griffiths (music, dance); Maysie Bye (occupational therapy, nature, visual art); Nia Haf (theatre); Peri Haf Smith (visual art); Tilly Butters (illustration).
Rebecca Hardy-Griffith, Stepping In Project Manager, said: “After such a great response to our phase two call-out for mentees, we are thrilled to have such a strong cohort on board, reflecting a range of creative practices and lived experience. The programme provides structured training, mentoring and placements to support progression into arts and health settings. We can’t wait to get started.”
About Stepping In
Stepping In was developed in response to WAHWN-led consultations that identified systemic barriers to entry into the creative health workforce. These included a lack of paid entry routes, limited Welsh language provision, gaps in supervision and mentoring, and underrepresentation of global majority, D/deaf and disabled practitioners, and those with lived experience.
Our pilot programme in 2024 supported four practitioners through training, placements, mentoring and wellbeing support. A later evaluation of its impact found all participants had increased their confidence and secured paid work in creative health within six months.
The programme in 2026
In 2026, our programme has trebled in size to 12 mentees, with funding support from Arts Council of Wales, the Baring Foundation and Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity.
For this round, the focus is on North Wales, where we will partner with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, Pontio (Bangor University), Fran Wen, Theatr Cymru, Theatr Clwyd, and Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias to close gaps in access to creative health opportunities, including Welsh language provision.
Participants will take part in a week-long training programme covering mental health awareness, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and facilitation. This will be followed by placements in community and clinical settings, with opportunities to shadow and co-facilitate.
Each mentee will also receive one-to-one mentoring, a £1,000 bursary and access to wellbeing and supervision support, including peer networks.
WAHWN is a national network supporting creative health and wellbeing across Wales. Stepping In forms part of the organisation’s wider work to develop a more representative and accessible workforce in arts and health.