Community collaboration brings 'Spaces to Talk and Sing' to Princess of Wales Hospital
A new community-led project designed to support the emotional health of older patients and their families at Princess of Wales Hospital has been celebrated this week, transforming hospital day spaces into welcoming environments for connection, conversation and live music.
Led by Daring to Dream – the Emotional Health Charity, the initiative introduces dedicated ‘Spaces to Talk’ and regular ‘Spaces to Sing’ live music afternoons for Acute Care for the Elderly patients, relatives and carers, and for those with dementia. The project reflects a growing recognition that emotional health and wellbeing is a vital part of care, particularly for people living with illness and those who support them.
The celebration brought together patients, unpaid carers, health professionals and community partners, many of whom have supported the project from the outset. The work builds on the wider collaboration between Daring to Dream, across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg region to better recognise the emotional impact of caring and illness. The charity showcased the ‘Hear Our Voices’ project in Lleswyl 2024.
From underused rooms to welcoming spaces
Daring to Dream’s original vision was to redevelop two underused dayrooms on Care of the Elderly wards at the Princess of Wales Hospital into warm, accessible Spaces to Talk. Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy MS, visited the new and improved dayrooms in Bridgend as part of the launch celebrations.
In addition to the dayroom refurbishments, the Charity has also established well-attended live music afternoons, known as Spaces to Sing, for Acute Care for the Elderly patients and relatives, as well as for people living with dementia in Ward 15. The next phase will now see new Spaces to Talk created at Ysbyty George Thomas in Treorchy, where many patients continue their recovery, with plans to extend the live music sessions there too.
These spaces provide a calm setting, away from the bedside, where patients, families and unpaid carers can spend meaningful time together, talk openly, and feel supported beyond their clinical treatment.
The power of music
Speaking about the impact of live music in hospital settings, Caroline Gardener, Senior Nurse at Princess of Wales Hospital, said:
“The value of music within the hospital, it cannot be understated. People who have long stays in hospital disengage because it becomes of the daily routine. Then they have this experience of live music thanks to Daring to Dream and the talented musicians and they light up. It is honestly just the best feeling. It’s had patients and staff in tears at the reactions we’ve seen.”
The project recognises that every patient is supported by someone, often an unpaid carer, and that illness affects emotional wellbeing as much as physical health. By creating opportunities to talk, listen and sing together, the initiative helps reduce isolation, ease anxiety and strengthen relationships at the bedside.
A community effort
Daring to Dream has led a wide-ranging collaboration to make the project possible, working closely with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s estates and clinical teams, alongside strong community support.
Key partners include Lions Club Bridgend, Moondance Foundation, Bridgend Camera Club, Bridgend College, whose talented undergraduate musicians deliver the live music sessions, as well as representatives from the Regional Partnership Board, Bridgend County Borough Council and Awen Cultural Trust.
“This is all about community,” said Barbara Chidgey, Chair of Daring to Dream. “Emotional health is a natural human response to illness. It is not a mental health problem, but it does need recognition and support. By creating Spaces to Talk and Spaces to Sing in hospitals, we help people live well with illness, not simply survive it. We now need the community at the Princess of Wales hospital to get behind the project to ensure it is sustainable.”
Daring to Dream, the Emotional Health Charity, supports the emotional health and wellbeing of the 1.2 million adults in Wales living with physical illness. The Charity’s work is grounded in the belief that strong emotional health helps people manage illness, reduces the risk of developing further mental health difficulties, and improves overall quality of life.
The Charity has thanked everyone involved in helping bring the project to life and looks forward to continuing work at Ysbyty George Thomas and expanding access to both Spaces to Talk and Spaces to Sing in the future. You can support the Charity’s ongoing Spaces to Talk and Sing projects here.
04/02/26