COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES - ARTS4WELLBEING
Arts4Wellbeing, a personal and community development organisation who strive to improve emotional health and wellbeing through social and community cohesion, set up 8 Compassionate Communities Hubs around Ceredigion.
The purpose of the hubs was to facilitate A4W Compassionate Communities training and empowerment toolkits in the community hubs, and then to follow a rolling out of A4W Compassionate Communities training and empowerment toolkits by these member groups, to other local groups in other surrounding villages.
The A4W Compassionate Communities training and empowerment toolkit was devised and designed, researched and developed over the past 6 years by Arts4wellbeing through specific community projects, in collaboration with; Family Centre networks, Day centres, Community centres, village halls, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire councils, West Wales Action for Mental Health (WWAMH), MIND and the Alzheimer’s Society.
The toolkit facilitated by the Hubs around Ceredigion compromises of a series of everyday practical mental and physical exercises that strengthen resilience, increase physical and mental wellbeing, the development of a positive mental attitude, promotion of reciprocity and the building of social cohesion and friendship networks.
The inclusive groups and open conversations promoted understanding and reduced fears around for example aging, dementia, loneliness, disability, autism, being a carer, resulting in bigger picture thinking, increased understanding, acceptance, openness, tolerance and compassion. Overall, project was a big success, and as an outcome of the project 7 self-sustaining weekly creative/social drop in hubs have been created. Closer social ties and friendship support networks within and between community hubs have also been an outcome of the project alongside an increase in confidence and participation in wider community events and activities.
To view the interim report, click here.
This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Further Reading
