WAHWN News
Stepping In returns for phase 2
Pic: Our inspirational Stepping In phase one team
Following the success of our pilot Stepping In programme, we're delighted to share that Stepping In 2 will take place from January to December 2026 – supporting a new cohort of eight creative health practitioners across North Wales.
With funding confirmed from Arts Council of Wales and working in partnership with Fran Wen, Pontio, Theatr Cymru, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, the second phase of the programme will focus on nurturing practitioners who bring diverse lived experiences, protected characteristics, and Welsh-first-language backgrounds into the creative health workforce.
Participants will receive:
- A week-long immersive training residency
- A placement on a live arts-in-health project
- One-to-one mentoring
- A bursary
- Full wraparound provision including supervision and wellbeing support
Mentees will gain hands-on experience across hospital and community contexts, including placements alongside experienced practitioners on Ar Y Dibyn, Heulwen Unit, Dance for Parkinson’s, and projects with refugee and asylum seeker communities.
"The success of the first phase of Stepping In, which attracted 58 applications for just four spaces, highlighted the growing appetite for training routes into arts and health," said Angela Rogers, WAHWN Executive Director. "Stepping In 2 expands the programme’s reach and continues our commitment to developing a highly skilled, inclusive and representative creative health workforce."
Further details and application information can be found here.