New Cwm Taf Morgannwg creative workshop - Finding Hope within Loss and Bereavement

Our Health Board Chaplaincy Service, together with our Arts in Health Service, have started (October 5) an innovative pilot aimed at supporting people through grief, death and loss through the use of creative arts.

Our new community-based workshop, ‘Finding Hope within Loss and Bereavement’ is the first of its kind in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and is a collaboration with our CTM2030 partner - The Lighthouse Community Project, located in Tonyrefail in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Over six sessions, CTM Chaplaincy lead, Wendy Evans and Arts and Health Coordinator, Esyllt George will be using creative methods to enable participants to share thoughts and feelings about grief, loss and bereavement.  This will include creative visualisation, story making, drawing, creative writing and music.

Starting the pilot today, Wendy Evans, CTM chaplaincy lead said:

“These sessions have been designed to guide participants safely, at their own pace, on a journey of sharing and support. During each session, there will be opportunity to reflect on the subjects of grief, death and loss, which can sometimes be difficult to discuss or share in day to day life. We’ve designed a creative booklet as a tool for supporting everyone taking part in the sessions.  

“We are so pleased to be working in partnership with our local community, to highlight the benefits of creative arts and to hopefully bring hope to people who are affected by feelings of loss and bereavement”.

During the summer, an initial exploratory session was held in Tonyrefail, with participants very keen for a more in-depth support programme to get underway. 

‘Finding Hope within Loss and Bereavement’ has developed from a community partnership formed with the Lighthouse Project in March 2022, following a community engagement event to discuss our Health Board’s work towards a new organisational strategy – CTM2030: Our Health, Our Future.  

During the event, residents were asked to share any key issues of importance to them; everyday things affecting their overall health and wellbeing.  Coping with bereavement and loss was identified as a key area of community importance.

If you think this would be of interest to your local community, please get in touch with Wendy or Esyllt to discuss your needs further -Wendy.Evans8@wales.nhs.uk and Esyllt.George@wales.nhs.uk