Games for Wellbeing

by David Granero  

Project Coordinator

Modern board games have come a long way. They are engaging, accessible, inclusive and tickle parts of our brains in the most delightful way. I am not talking about old games like Monopoly or Cluedo, which rank at the bottom of the list of over 23,500 board games (to date). The mechanics of modern board games allow players full control of actions, balancing of decisions and a sprinkle of luck in the mix.

I have played board games for many years. I am part of a gaming group that meets weekly, where we try a plethora of new games and replay classic ones. In 2019 I had a severe mental health breakdown and our weekly gaming meetings became a life saver for me. It was then that I discovered the benefits of having a supportive social environment and started researching the mental health benefits of board games. I did a mental health first aid course and created Games for Wellbeing.

In December 2019 Comic Relief granted a small fund to pilot Games for Wellbeing in Llanidloes in North Powys (supported by LLANI Ltd). The first two sessions were well received (15-20 participants), but then the pandemic hit. The project tried to adapt by becoming a library of games and as restrictions eased it was hosted again face to face at the Hanging Gardens in the town.

At present Games for Wellbeing is looking for funding to expand into a permanent library of games at the Hanging Gardens, and to focus on the younger generations by bringing in role playing games and graphic novels. It runs every Thursday from 6-9pm and, as always, it is free for everyone.

Feedback from participants

“I’ve learned of new games, met new people and been entertained. The evenings have helped me feel less isolated and more a part of the community.” - Lawrence R

“I enjoy coming to the games evening as I live on my own so it does me good to come and socialise and learn new games. I really look forward to coming each week.” (sic) Marian H

“I absolutely love these game evenings. I’ve discovered so many new games and stretched my brain and had lovely evenings with people I’ve just met; and we’re all having a great time!” - Keran

“Well the games evening is amazing. It really helps the community for people to come out and to socialise. And to learn and play new games and it really helps intellectually. I hope the Games Evening will carry on. It means a lot to have them once a week.” - (sic) Elsa C.J.

Find out more

Games for Wellbeing Facebook page

email: gamesforwellbeing@gmail.com

Owen's 5 x 5 Ways of Wellbeing: Part 1

by Owen Griffkin

Mental Health Participation Support Worker

If you have been reading our blog recently you will have seen a number of articles about The Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Maybe these have inspired you to undertake an activity or take up a new hobby to improve your wellbeing. I’ve been looking at ways I can implement this in my life, and at the same time maybe provide some ideas for readers of our blog. I’ll provide 5 ways to engage in each of the 5 ways to wellbeing. The best thing about many of these activities is the fact that they straddle more than one ‘Way to Wellbeing’, often combining social activities with creative or active hobbies.

Part 1 - Connect

The advice is to connect with those around you as this will support and enrich you every day. Sometimes in rural areas it can feel hard to connect socially with people so maybe give yourself a jump-start by using an activity or interest to create social relationships.

1. Gaming Hubs

Gaming is a rapidly growing industry, with clubs springing up all over the county. Game designers are releasing board games that are reaching a much wider audience then in the heyday of Dungeons and Dragons. The subject matter and scope of these games is huge - I have played these myself sometimes with friends and strangers, and so far I have re-enacted the 1960 US election (I was JFK obviously and destroyed Nixon), started a railroad company in 1850s America, and pushed the boundaries of taste with the worldwide phenomenon of ‘Cards against Humanity’. Gaming is a great social activity as it allows for pressure free conversation and the fun of friendly competition.

An evening at the gaming hub in full swing

Two local hubs/shops that are very welcoming to newcomers are:

• Llandrindod - KDM Gaming Hub 
• Newtown - EGO Gaming - Newtown

I went to a gaming night at KDM Gaming with my daughter, and whilst she was kept interested by an old version of Pac-man, I was able to have a game and chat with other attendees.

2. Sing!

It’s only natural living in the land of song that we would feature a musical activity. A community choir is a wonderful way to connect, and we are blessed with many friendly and welcoming choirs in Powys.

Your first port of call should be Sing Your Heart Out. This is a purely social choir, and they do not do public performances so there is no pressure to perform. There are weekly sessions in Llandrindod and Meifod. If these aren’t close enough check local noticeboards for info on choirs closer to you. I attended a free taster session and was warmly welcomed and had a lot of fun - even if my vocal gymnastics were more Alan Ball then Michael Ball.

• Sing Your Heart Out
• Dolau Mixtures
• Guilsfield Singers
• Brecon Choir 
• Harmony Junky - runs fun, community choirs in Machynlleth, Welshpool Shropshire and Herefordshire. 

3. Men's Sheds

The Men’s Shed is a movement to create community spaces for men to come together to socialise and to reduce loneliness and isolation. Imagine lots of cups of tea, usage of power tools, and a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. Sounds brilliant! Especially the power tools bit. The local Llandrindod group, aka The Golden Boys, works together on projects commissioned by groups such as Mid Powys Mind.

• Llandrindod Wells
• Knighton 

4. Book Club 

I love reading, but sometimes it’s hard to have the self-discipline to sit down to plough through a lengthy tome - and once you’ve finished the book all you want to do is discuss it with someone. This is where book clubs come in. They have been popular for a few years now and are still one of the most fun and rewarding social activities you can enjoy at your own pace. Like the gaming hubs, book clubs take a lot of pressure out of socialising, as conversation is created by the discussion around the book and you can engage with other club members. Not surprisingly Powys has a plethora of book clubs, lots of which are based at local libraries. Your library is the best starting point, but also check out independent book shops like The Hours in Brecon and the Great Oak Bookshop in Llanidloes.

5. Clubs and Societies 

An early meeting of the United Nations in Builth Wells*

Ok, number 5 is quite vague. That’s because there is probably a club (or society) for whatever activity you would like to engage in. A club is a good way to learn more from other people about one of your interests, share ideas or work, and maybe organise day-trips or social events.

In a quick five minute search I have found active groups in Powys for astronomy, beekeeping and cameras. I then gave up on the ABC approach and also found model railway, community arts, historical societies and not forgetting the excellent Women’s Institute, who have groups all over the county.

Think about what activity you may like to do in a social setting - and if there isn’t a club already - why not set one up. One thing Powys doesn’t lack is space to hold meetings/events. From local church/village halls to rooms in pubs. Some of the largest societies in the world started out as small groups so who knows where it could lead. For example, the United Nations started as a monthly meeting in Builth Wells Village Hall of like-minded people from Powys who wanted to stop all wars and bring about world peace. *

*disclaimer - citation needed. Might not be factually accurate...

Read Part 2 of Owen's blog series here.