Stepping In
WAHWN is looking for an outstanding Wales-based freelance Programme Manager with experience of overseeing and delivering multi-partner projects, training or mentoring programmes.
Deadline 12th January 2026. More information here.
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'Stepping In' is WAHWN’s flagship training, mentoring and experiential learning programme supporting underrepresented practitioners to ‘step in’ to the arts, health and wellbeing field. It is specifically aimed at practitioners with lived experience of mental health; Welsh language practitioners and those from global majority; LGBTQ; D/deaf/disabled backgrounds, responding to the lack of diversity within the arts and health creative workforce.
Funded by Arts Council of Wales, our 2026 programme will be delivered in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Fran Wen, Pontio, Theatr Cymru and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Our Stepping In pilot project in 2024 supported 4 practitioners to take part in a full week’s intensive training residential, shadow an experienced artist on a live project in a health or community setting; receive mentoring sessions, a bursary and full wrap-around support including supervision and peer support. In 2026 will be inviting applications from Welsh speaking and underrepresented practitioners to apply for a maximum of 8 places. Further details will be posted in early 2026.
“I have never been part of anything like this that is so well thought out in its pilot stage, I’ve never been part of anything like that, so I’m more confident, the risk has paid off…”
“I think that Stepping In and the support that I’ve had is giving me confidence. I’m living more of being myself, the whole process has helped a lot with that. It’s giving me a bit of a kick, and a lot of motivation.”
“I can get out of it what I need. We have wide ranging discussions that are tailored to what I need, basically I’m loving it and I feel super supported.”
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'Stepping In' is a training and mentoring programme for a small cohort of 4 mentees, funded by the Arts Council of Wales Arts Health & Wellbeing Lottery and delivered in partnership with Swansea Bay University Health Board; Hywel Dda University Health Board; PeopleSpeakUp, Caerphilly County Borough Council Arts Development, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff School of Art.
Stepping In has been designed to respond to a lack of diversity within the arts and health creative workforce. It aims to nurture a cohort of practitioners to deliver projects in healthcare settings who share the lived experience of people from minoritised communities. Mentee practitioners with lived experience of mental health, global majority backgrounds, social exclusion or low socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the programme and will be supported to take part in a full week’s intensive training residential, shadow an experienced artist on a live project in a health or community setting for up to 10 days (supported by project partners), receive mentoring sessions, a bursary and full wrap-around support including supervision and peer support.