January 2026
Guest Speakers:
April Heade
Welsh National Opera
Bryony Parry
Violence Prevention Team
Working Group Spotlight:
Monitoring and Evaluation
Cathy Madge, Well-being and Economics Team (WEAVE)
The Trauma-Informed Wales Implementation Steering Group (ISG) visited the Seibiant Sanctuary in Cardiff today.
The Seibiant Sanctuary is Cardiff and the Vale’s first non-clinical, community-based and trauma-informed alternative to the Emergency Unit. The facility, run by Platfform, and operating in partnership with funders Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, offers a safe alternative space for anyone who is experiencing crisis or needs mental health support across Cardiff and the Vale. Huge thanks to colleagues at the Seibiant Sanctuary for facilitating our visit and welcoming us.
The Trauma-Informed Wales Implementation Steering Group (ISG) held its January meeting today at Cardiff University’s Aberdare Hall.
The meeting welcomed guest speaker, April Heade, Welsh National Opera to discuss song as therapy. The group heard about how its wellness programme is an initiative that utilises singing and breathing exercises to alleviate chronic pain. The programme has been successful in its pilot phase, with participants reporting significant improvements in pain management, mental health and overall quality of life. The initiative is supported by Arts Council Wales and NHS Wales, and it aims to provide transformative experiences through music and song. The discussion emphasised the importance of the programme, and how it is a testament to the power of music in pain management and offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional therapies.
Bryony Parry, lead for the public narrative event development, for the Trauma-Informed Wales team provided the latest update on the plans for the launch event on the 12th February, which will include the third iteration of the #TimeToBeKind campaign.
The ISG is committed to offering a spotlight session to our working group co-chairs at our meetings. Dr Jo Hopkins and Dr Annette Leponis, co-chairs of the Monitoring and Evaluation working group invited Cathy Madge, Well-being Economics and Value (WEAVE) team, Public Health Wales to present on How taking a Social Return on Investment will inform impact. The WEAVE team focuses on health economics, well-being impact, social value, value based public health, the well-being economy and foundational economy.
To find out more about the working groups and how you could get involved, visit: https://traumaframeworkcymru.com/our-approach/