WAHWN News

Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team Cardiff & Vale UHB Annual Report

We couldn’t have done it without a lot of help and support and we want to thank everyone, especially our Executive Team at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Arts Council of Wales

This year has been one of the most challenging the NHS has ever experienced. COVID-19 has placed a tremendous strain on health service provisions and we are proud that as the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team, supported by the official Health Charity of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, we have been able to play a key role in supporting staff and patients during this period. The drastic effect of COVID-19 on our day-to-day lives has continued to be felt throughout 2021.

New virtual ways of working have now become embedded in our society and the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team has had to continue to evolve and adapt to enable us to continue providing Arts experiences to our patients, their families and our NHS colleagues. We can all agree that this year has not been easy, adapting to the ‘new normal’ as well as keeping friends, family and fellow human beings as safe as possible has added tremendous stress and anxiety into everyday life. The Arts Team is immensely proud that despite these difficult times, we have continued to bring joy, peace and creative opportunities, allowing solace and respite from the pressures of life. One of the key aims of the Arts Team during 2020-21 has been to align itself with the Health Board’s objective of supporting staff wellbeing and this report provides some excellent examples of how we have succeeded