Opportunities & Events
Open call for film maker: An Umbrella Against the Rain a creative wellbeing project with people experiencing mental health challenges
Location: North Wales | Start Date: August 2025
Summary:
We are seeking to appoint a filmmaker to document the impact of the Umbrella against the Rain project on participants in supporting or possibly improving their well-being through creativity.
Content:
Summary An umbrella against the rain is a partnership project between Besti Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), Conwy Local Authority (Creu Conwy) and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd Arts, using creativity to improve mental wellbeing post covid-19 through a community programme of Arts for people accessing Mental Health Services or experiencing mental health challenges.
We are seeking to appoint a film maker to document the impact of the project for participants in supporting or potentially improving their wellbeing.
The project is funded by NHS Charities Together, approved by the Charitable Funds Committee for Awyr Las at BCUHB.
Project briefing Post-covid there has been a notable impact on the population’s mental health and wellbeing. Recent practice is pivoting to a focus on prevention and early intervention to reduce pressure on NHS services, and to ensure people are able, in line with the Health Board Strategy, to ensure where possible that they receive care closer to home. There is robust evidence for the efficacy of utilising the arts within healthcare (e.g., Fancourt, Warran, & Aughterson 2020). Stimulus, focus, distraction, re-assurance, respite, social, enjoyment and pleasure … all can be cultivated by creativity. This project is a partnership with Creu Conwy and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd Arts teams to deliver arts interventions in community settings within Conwy and Denbighshire. This means the project can cover a cross spectrum of the population in terms of severity of illness as an adjunct to treatment, to support prevention of worsening mental health, and sustaining current mental health and improving mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, the project includes community partners hosting activities and supporting participants. This partnership supports the BCUHB Arts in Health Strategic Framework in working in partnership to enhance the health of the population of North Wales through the arts. The focus of this project is on the community as a way to reduce pressure on local mental health units and services in engaging those experiencing mental ill health: early in diagnosis or treatment, or as part of ongoing support after in-patient stays, or to prevent recurrence of illness. Similarly, the project should support overall wellbeing in this group, alongside potential improvement in mood, increased confidence, sense of value and worth, enjoyment and pleasure, distraction and focus. Staff training and development will provide confidence building in integrating the arts within healthcare, support their personal wellbeing, and their engagement with patients. This is intended to have benefits for both the staff and patients to enhance healthcare provision. Partner and artist training and development will support the wider sector to meet demand and need, and ensure there is adequate training and expertise in North Wales to utilise the arts and creativity with people experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. A key part is maintaining the health and wellbeing of those working in this area, to prevent burnout and ensure they themselves remain well to continue this work. Project aims The project has two components to achieve its aims: 1. Creative activities in community settings in Conwy and Denbighshire in partnership to support a wide remit of people experiencing mental health difficulties either: having recently been discharged from in-patient services, awaiting treatment for their mental health, having approached their GP or other services for support for their mental health. This community element aims to support Healthcare by reducing pressure on services by supporting those with mental health difficulties sooner as well as for those experiencing ongoing challenges, to support their mental wellbeing to reduce the need to access primary and secondary healthcare provision. 2. Arts training and development for partner organisations, healthcare staff in BCUHB, and artists. A range of benefits anticipated including, for staff: to increase confidence, satisfaction, support patient-staff engagement, alongside supporting staff mental wellbeing. For partners, increased confidence using the arts to support mental health and wellbeing with their participants and for own health and wellbeing. For artists, improving the range of artists skilled to work with people experiencing mental health challenges, as well as supporting their mental health and wellbeing to ensure a supportive and thriving sector able to meet demand and need. This will be delivered in partnership who are experienced in delivering short courses and Higher Education provision in Arts, Health and Wellbeing, as well as making use of a range of resources and expertise. Anticipated outputs Activities will be carried out by externally contracted artists. The project will be managed by the BCUHB Arts in Health Team, with each county Arts Team leading on delivery and reporting within their respective areas. Activities will take place as follows: • A series of art making activity workshops in the community for those on waiting lists and who are waiting for diagnosis/ treatment, or who have recently left mental health services in primary and secondary care across Conwy and Denbighshire • Staff and partner training and professional development around embedding arts in health practice • Artist training around maintaining the health and wellbeing of the artist workforce and developing those working with people with mental health challenges to support best practice Progress will be reported twice a year to the Charitable Funds Committee Location The project will be taking place at various community locations in Conwy and Denbighshire This may include: wellbeing hubs, arts venues, community spaces, as examples Total fees/budget £2’500 (including VAT) please add in detail of what is included in the fees/budget e.g. Travel, subsistence, materials, preparation time, meetings, site visits etc. This should include: Artist/ film maker fees (including VAT) and any other inclusions Travel and any subsistence costs Materials Meetings / site visits Drafting and editing of the film Please note we may require receipts as evidence of materials purchased. Responses to this call out should include accurate pricing, inclusive of expenses, and provide a detailed breakdown of costs. Please note that assessment of responses to this invitation will be on perceived quality of service and demonstrable ability to meet the brief, rather than the lowest cost, however, value for money is a selection criterion. We invite all applicants to put forward their most cost-efficient proposals. Methods / approaches and requirements We are seeking a filmmaker to capture the spirit of the project producing an engaging and informative short film, that demonstrates the value of the project to stakeholders. We envisage that this will include filming some of the creative activities and training taking place, some of the work made by participants, as well as a small number of short interviews with key partners and potentially with a small number of project participants (subject to their agreement). The filmmaker will be engaging with a range of age groups and with people with varied experiences related to their mental health and other health challenges impacting their mental health, and so should be able to work with this diverse participant group. There will be a need to film sensitively to ensure anonymity for participants and ensuring confidentiality in attending any of the activities. The filmmaker will work closely with the project team to deliver the film of the arts/creative activities as outlined in this brief. The filmmaker may be required to participate in evaluation and reflective practice, and invited to engage in other training or development on occasion, as part of the project. The film should be available with Welsh and English subtitles (translations can be undertaken by BCUHB). Data and confidentiality The project will comply with BCUHB relevant policies and procedures. To ensure the safety of all project participants and partners including artists, the film maker may be required to agree to a data security and confidentiality agreement. For the purpose of the project, and should the filmmaker consent, they may be asked to sign a photography or consent to video record form(s). The filmmaker will provide quality assurance to the project team that the highest quality standards for the methods undertaken have been met, including any key deliverables. The team may occasionally ask the film maker to amend or explore alternative methods for discussion in relation to the remit of the project. Risk Assessment The film maker may be asked to provide a risk assessment for any activity undertaken including materials to be used and/or may be asked to contribute to team or service risk assessment for the activity. The film maker may need to adapt their practice dependant on the participant group and/or location and may need to comply with local protocols (e.g., infection control, medication or other medical requirements).
Deliverables
• Produce a dynamic and engaging short film approx. 5-10 minutes in length, and with a potential shorthand 1–2-minute version
• Conduct some specific interviews with project partners and select participants. These will be coordinated in conjunction with you
• Work alongside the project team to share drafts/edits and respond to updates
• Liaise with the project team and provide information required in a timely manner Project timeline An indicative timeline for the application process and a tentative project timeline, is provided below
Application and project timeline: Milestone Date Open call out shared 07/07/25 Deadline for submitting to callout 31/07/25 at 5 pm BST Shortlisting and decision 01-03/08/25 Contracting 05/08/25 Project delivery including site visits and any required training or evaluation 07/08 – 31/01/25 (subject to agreement for specific date and weeks) Delivery of project film 31/03/25 Eligibility This call is open to artists/film makers who are able to meet the project brief, deliverables, and timeline. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this role. How to apply • Please send your expression of interest to: BCU.ArtsInHealth@wales.nhs.uk by 5pm BST on 30/07/25
• You will be informed of the outcome of your submission by the date in the timeline above
• We anticipate that the project will start as indicated in the timeline above If you have any questions regarding the open call, please get in touch over email via BCU.ArtsInHealth@wales.nhs.uk BCUHB Arts in Health team will endeavour to circulate a response to these queries within 3-4 working days Your EOI should include:
• A brief statement on why you are interested in this opportunity (500 words max), and your initial approach • 2 examples of relevant work in this field, you may include links to online examples • 2 recommendations (this could be a short quote or contact details but should make clear the relationship of the recommender to you and their knowledge of your work) • A quote on letterhead paper providing your costings -The above should be to a maximum of 4 pages in total or audio/video/ alternative equivalent Optional:
• Your CV Application assessment Your application will be assessed by the project partner team. The strength of applications will be assessed on the below criteria: The application – meeting the project brief
• How well the application answers the brief • How well it articulates the ability to deliver all requirements and deliverables Fees / Budget • Feasibility based on the budget submitted for any costs/ materials (if required) • Value for money The project team:
• Ability of the artist/film maker to provide assurance on their stability and viability for the duration of the project
• Ability of the artist/ film maker to demonstrate their ability to work in partnership and to work with participants experiencing a range of mental health and other health challenges that impact their mental health and wellbeing Data Confidentiality and Risk Compliance
• Ability of the artist to ensure data and confidentiality compliance
• Ability of the artist to ensure appropriate risk assessed processes Additional guidance The project team reserves the right, acting reasonably, to:
• Discontinue the award procedure in the absence of appropriate applications;
• Change the timetable for the procurement of the Contract, and in such circumstances BCUHB Arts in Health will notify all applicants of any change by the fastest means possible;
• Terminate discussions with artists/ film makers that apply;
• Discontinue the procedure leading to the award of the Contract;
• Not to award any Contract at all as a result of this process Under no circumstances shall BCUHB Arts in Health incur any liability in respect of any of these actions.
• No publicity regarding the project will be permitted until BCUHB Arts in Health has given express written consent to the relevant communication. No statements may be made to any part of the media regarding the nature of this application, its contents or any proposals relating to it without the prior written consent of the project partners. • BCUHB Arts in Health will not reimburse any costs incurred by artists / film makers in connection with preparation of their applications.
• If you are unsure of the meaning of a question or anything in this invitation to tender then it is the applicant’s responsibility to ask BCUHB Arts in Health to clarify in writing via email.
• BCUHB will endeavour to circulate a response to any queries within 3-4 working days. BCUHB Arts in Health may also decline to answer a question if it deems the question to be inappropriate. If BCUHB Arts in Health is unable to answer a question, this will be communicated.
• BCUHB Arts in Health welcome artist access riders to support artists to undertake employment in line with the remit of the project and will offer relevant support and supervision as appropriate to the project.