From London Zoo to Brecon & District Mind - introducing Matt

Matt Sowerby (right front above) recently joined the team at Brecon & District Mind as the new Volunteer Co-ordinator. His work involves co-ordinating a number of new volunteer projects, including an environmental project working in partnership with the Brecon Beacons National Park and Brecknock Wildlife Trust.

Matt’s background is in conservation. He previously worked in South Africa and at London Zoo, and more recently as a warden at the Brecon Beacons National Park.

We caught up with Matt at his Brecon base to find out more about several exciting new developments at the mental health charity recently.

Tree identification group

Tell us more about the Eco Project you are working on

The ‘Brecon and District Mind Eco Project’ is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is interested in the natural world and how to care for their environment.

The project, in partnership with the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, allows volunteers to take part in Environmental Conservation work which includes wildlife surveys on native species, pond clearing, invasive plant control, and bird box siting amongst many other interesting and enjoyable tasks. Members will be assisting in the management of a National Park wildlife garden and varied habitats where activities such as hedge laying and drystone walling can be done. We also offer our volunteers the opportunity to gain recognised accredited training in rural skills and conservation work.

What benefits does your conservation background bring to the project?

Having worked in conservation for over 10 years I have been able to work with a lot of amazing organisations where education and conservation were one of the main focuses. So I have seen a lot of ways to enthuse people on conservation.

Also I have worked at the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority for a year and have been able to meet a lot of different people in the organisation that was helpful in starting this project, as we wanted to work in partnership with them. I have also worked with other groups such as the BIS group ‘Biodiversity Information Service’ and the Brecknock Wildlife Trust who are also working with us on this exciting eco group.

Tree identification

Describe the garden at BBNP and the work you and the volunteers are planning

The wildlife garden is about a quarter of an acre of land set aside by the national park to create a wildlife garden at the visitor centre near Libanus. We have an impressive variety of wildlife already living there, from our ‘insect hotel’ area (this is a specially designed set of pallets and different objects for insects to nest in and take shelter), to our bird feeding stations and wild areas where brambles and long grasses are left for animals to shelter in and find food. We also have a large wildlife pond that that we’ve surveyed and found smooth newts and common frogs as well as fresh water snails and water boatmen among other things.

The eco group has already done work on improving the paths and seating area for the visiting public and designed an interpretation panel that tells visitors about the flora and fauna you can see.

We have a lot of different plans for the garden that include drystone walling, hedging and creating a foraging area for edible plants as well as creating a compost area where we can recycle all the food waste from the national park tea rooms.

Who can volunteer to join the project?

Anyone is welcome to join this project whether you have worked in conservation before or never done anything like it - it’s a good place to learn. It is ideal for people who are struggling with social isolation and just need some confidence building and would like to work with liked minded people.

Eco volunteers walk up Pen y Fan: L-R Fred, Aimee, Gregor, Joe, Stuart, Dave & Dec the dog

How does working outdoors impact on people's mental health?

Working outside has been proven to help with mental and physical health for many years. Working outside in this way can have lots of positive health benefits. For example, it can help you manage your mental and physical health, and could help prevent future periods of ill health by getting active and meeting like-minded people. It also improves fitness as well as improving the area around the participants who contribute to the work which is carried out.

‘It gives me structure, makes me utilise the daylight and get out of bed. It gives me something outside of myself to nurture and look after and that helps me to better look after myself.’ Volunteer

I hear you are developing other volunteer projects. Can you tell us about these?

This is a big question as there have been so many new projects to work on. 

Firstly, we have developed our ‘supporter’ volunteer project which is where volunteers who are interested in working in mental or social health can assist the staff in the day to day running of groups and outreaches and take on roles to assist in running courses and other events such as our complementary therapies.

We have also started the ‘Woman’s Zone’ an all-female work group where participants create art and craft work in a therapeutic environment and then run a quarterly exhibition of their work.

The ‘Men’s Shed’, which is at the development stage, is an all-male work group that will be taking part in practical projects and social activities that improve social isolation and mental health.

Our filming volunteers are being given workshops on lighting and sound, interviewing skills, and camera work as well as presenting and editing film. The group is planning on filming short documentaries on the work done here in Brecon Mind.

Westenders community ART is a programme designed in partnership with the Westenders Theatre Group from Brecon. The volunteers will be creating a large art installation of the Westenders logo and installing it at their hall in Llanfaes.

We also have volunteer ‘Ambassador’ roles to engage members of the public to promote, advocate and fundraise on behalf of Brecon and District Mind.

Eco volunteers outside the bee friendly garden in Brecon with Co-op staff who helped

What kind of support do you offer volunteers who sign up for these projects?

We can offer support to our volunteers through an induction and training programme. We also offer monthly supervision to all our volunteers so they can set themselves personal goals and targets and discuss any problems.

As well as receiving ongoing support through the entire volunteer activities, we also want to give all our volunteers the chance to control the direction of the programmes and have their say in the volunteering, so we encourage people to express their thoughts and ideas, and take control of their own volunteering when they feel able to.

Eco volunteers working outside Brecon Library to add a bee friendly planting

Tell us how your work fits in with that of other voluntary sector groups

We have a running partnership with lots of organisations such as Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) and the Brecon Volunteer Bureau, as well as working with the National Park volunteer programmes and Wildlife Trust. The volunteers are encouraged to work with other volunteer groups to promote networking and confidence. We also take referrals from other organisations in the third sector, such as Kaleidoscope and Gwalia Housing.

What is the most challenging aspect of working on this project?

Keeping an eye on all the projects! We now have six programmes running plus four outreach centres and twenty supporter volunteers who work in the centre, as well as another  thirty people volunteering on our specialist programmes.

Working with so many different groups and organisations takes a lot of concentration and logistics but it is fun to get it right, meet so many people and learn about their work.

Now tell us some of the rewarding aspects about working on the project

I have a lot of creative control over these projects which is a lot of fun and working with volunteers that get something out of the process is good, but also I value the chance to work on conservation and education as it's my background and what I have always wanted to be able to work in.

Eco volunteers building benches at the BBNP Mountain Centre in Libanus
L-R: Stuart, Fred, Elwyn, Joe, Aimee

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt since starting your role?

Organisation. I have always been very scatter brained but being back in a managing role has helped me focus more on planning my day.

What do you like to do in your own time when you’re not working for Brecon & District Mind? 

My wife and I run a dog boarding house, where we are licenced to keep six dogs, including our own, in our house while people are on holiday. And we have one dog of our own called Dec.

We also have a pet rat called Hugo who is a training rat that we are using to teach animal care. I am a keen artist and am currently on three local committees, including the Westenders Theatre Group Committee where I am Vice Chair. We are both performers in the local panto with Westenders every January and enjoy meeting up with the group for a few drinks and a good chat every week.

Many thanks to Matthew for telling us about the latest volunteer projects at Brecon & District Mind. 

If you would like to get involved then you can contact Matthew by emailing matthew@breconmind.org.uk or ringing 01874 611529.

The Eco Project is funded by WCVA.

Diwrnod yn Eisteddfod 2015 Our day at the Eisteddfod 2015

Ar 5ed Awst bu ein tîm yn helpu ar stondin PAVO a Chyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru (WCVA) ar y cyd yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. Cynhaliwyd yr eisteddfod eleni ar gaeau Mathrafal ger pentref Meifod yng Ngogledd Powys. I’r rhai hynny ohonoch sydd heb ymweld â’r Ŵyl, gweler isod disgrifiad ohoni:

On 5 August our team helped staff the joint PAVO and Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) stand at the National Eisteddfod of Wales which this year was hosted by the village of Meifod in North Powys. For readers who have yet to visit the annual Eisteddfod Festival, it is described as:

“Uchafbwynt calendr diwylliannol Cymru, sy’n teithio o le i le, sy’n ymweld â’r Gogledd a’r De bob yn ail, a thrwy hynny’n rhoi cyfle i gymunedau ar draws y wlad groesawu hyd at 160,000 o ymwelwyr dros gyfnod o wyth niwrnod.”

“The pinnacle of the Welsh cultural calendar, it travels from place to place, alternating between north and south Wales, giving communities across the country a chance to welcome up to 160,000 visitors over an eight day period.”

Chwith i dde: Freda Lacey (PAVO), Gill Colerick (Hafal), Glynis Luke a Lisa Banfield (PAVO).
L - R Freda Lacey (PAVO), Gill Colerick (Hafal), Glynis Luke & Lisa Banfield (PAVO).

Prif nod yr Eisteddfod yw hybu’r Gymraeg a diwylliant Cymru. Y diwrnod roedden ni yn yr Eisteddfod, roeddem yn ffodus i gael cymorth Lisa Banfield - mae hi’n gweithio yn yr Adran Gyllid, ac mae hi wrthi’n dysgu Cymraeg. Wrth gyrraedd y safle lle cynhelir yr Eisteddfod byddwch yn mynd i’r Maes - ac yma y ceir gwledd o bebyll amrywiol a stondinau sy’n llawn gweithgareddau, gan gynnwys y Pafiliwn Pinc hynod enwog. Edrychwch ar rai o’r lluniau gwych o’r Eisteddfod ar wefan yr Ŵyl, fydd yn rhoi blas i chi o’r hyn sy’n digwydd yno.

The Eisteddfod’s main aim is to promote the Welsh language and Welsh culture. Luckily our English-speaking team had the support of Lisa Banfield on the day we attended – she works in our Finance Department and is a keen Welsh learner. When you arrive at the valley where the Eisteddfod is hosted you find the Maes – which means “field” in Welsh and is where visitors are drawn to explore numerous marquees and stalls packed with activities, including the Eisteddfod’s iconic pink pavilion. Do check out some brilliant photographs on the Eisteddfod’s own website which give more than a flavour of the festival.

Penderfynodd PAVO gael themâu ar gyfer dyddiau gwahanol yr Eisteddfod ac estynnwyd croeso i grwpiau gwirfoddol eraill ar draws y sir i ymuno â ni er mwyn hyrwyddo eu gweithgareddau i gynulleidfa ehangach. 5 Awst oedd y Diwrnod Iechyd a Llesiant a chawsom gwmni Cymdeithas Ponthafren, Hafal, Ymddiriedolaeth Bracken a’r Gronfa Loteri Fawr.

At PAVO we decided to theme our days at the Eisteddfod and we invited other voluntary groups from around the county to join us and promote their activities to a wider audience. 5 August was our Health & Wellbeing Day, and we welcomed Ponthafren Association, Hafal, The Bracken Trust and the Big Lottery Fund Wales.

Jan Rogers, (Ymddiriedolwr – Cymdeithas Ponthafren), Rhian Davies (Prosiect YAPS, Cymdeithas Ponthafren)
Jan Rogers, (Trustee - Ponthafren Association), Rhian Davies (YAPS project, Ponthafren Association)

Roedd cyfle i ymwelwyr ymuno ag un o ymddiriedolwyr Cymdeithas Ponthafren, Jan Rogers, a chynrychiolydd y grŵp cysylltiadau cyhoeddus, Ken Davies, i greu clychau gwynt o gyllyll, ffyrc, llwyau, gemwaith a broc wedi’u hailgylchu. Yn ogystal, roeddynt yn dosbarthu gwybodaeth am y gwasanaethau amrywiol a gwerthfawr a gynigir gan yr elusen hon sy’n gweithio ym maes iechyd meddwl yng ngogledd Powys yng nghwmni Rhian Davies, sy’n gweithio ar y Prosiect Cymorth Cyfoedion Oedolion Ifanc ym Mhonthafren.

Visitors could join Ponthafren Association trustee Jan Rogers, and public relations group rep Ken Davies, to make wind chimes from recycled knives, forks, spoons, jewellery and driftwood. They and colleague Rhian Davies, who works for the Young Adult Peer Support Project at Ponthafren, also provided information about the varied and much valued services provided by this mental health charity in North Powys.

Daeth Gill Colerick, Swyddog Cefnogi Teuluoedd Powys gyda Hafal yr elusen iechyd meddwl i’r maes hefyd, ar ôl treulio Wythnos yn Sioe Frenhinol Cymru lle bu’n cefnogi’r Ymgyrch ‘ Gyda’n Gilydd Nawr!’. Mae’r ymgyrch yn teithio ar hyd a lled Cymru yn ystod yr Haf eleni, i fynd i’r afael â gwarthnod a phroblemau iechyd meddwl trwy gerddoriaeth.

Gill Colerick, Powys Family Support Officer with the mental health charity Hafal, was straight from her week at the Royal Welsh show where she joined the All Together Now! Campaign. This is travelling the length and breadth of Wales this summer, tackling stigma and mental health issues through the power of music. 

Ac ar stondin Ymddiriedolaeth Bracken roedd y nyrs Helen Davies yn rhoi profion pwysedd gwaed am ddim - profiad gwerth chweil yn yr Eisteddfod oedd mor hamddenol ei natur. Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Bracken, a leolir yn Llandrindod, yn cefnogi pobl yng Nghanolbarth Cymru i “fyw gyda, trwy a thu hwnt i ganser trwy ddod â chymorth proffesiynol a chymunedau cymorth at ei gilydd a thrwy greu canolfan eithriadol i gynnig gofal canser.”

And at The Bracken Trust stand nurse Helen Davies was providing free blood pressure tests – well worth doing in the relaxing atmosphere of the Eisteddfod. The Bracken Trust, based in Llandrindod Wells, supports people in Mid Wales “to live with, through and beyond cancer by bringing together professional help, communities of support and creating an exceptional centre for cancer care.” 

Daeth aelodau tîm Cyfathrebu’r Gronfa Loteri Fawr atom am y diwrnod hefyd. Ar hyn o bryd, maen nhw’n datblygu rhaglen cyllid newydd ar gyfer cefn gwlad, ac roeddynt yn awyddus i glywed barn y bobl.

The Big Lottery Fund Wales’s Communication team also joined us for the day. They are currently developing a new rural funding programme and were keen to hear people’s views.

Rosie Dent, Swyddog Cysylltiadau’r Gronfa Loteri Fawr yn gosod ei rhuban cochRosie Dent, Communications Officer at Big Lottery Fund Wales, pins her red volunteering ribbon

Roedd nifer o ymwelwyr â stondin PAVO yn awyddus iawn i ddysgu mwy am gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli o fewn y sir. Ac ar ôl cael sgwrs, bydden ni’n gofyn iddyn nhw osod rhuban ar ein map o’r DG i ddangos eu statws gwirfoddoli presennol - coch: rwyf eisoes yn gwirfoddoli; gwyrdd: buaswn yn hoffi gwirfoddoli; a gwyn: hwyrach y byddaf eisiau gwirfoddoli yn y dyfodol. Erbyn canol yr wythnos roedd Powys yn goch i gyd - arwydd fach o lwyddiant go iawn - mae pobl yn gwirfoddoli ar hyd a lled y sir yn barod!

Visitors to the PAVO stand were particularly interested to find out more about volunteering opportunities in Powys. And once we’d had a chat we asked some of them to pin a ribbon on our map of the UK to flag up their current volunteering status – red: I am already volunteering, green: I would like to volunteer, and white: I may wish to in the future. By the middle of the week Powys was already ablaze with red ribbons - a small symbol of a genuine success story – people really are volunteering like mad!

Ken Davies, un o wirfoddolwyr Grŵp CC Cymdeithas Ponthafren, gyda Choeden Ceiniogau Powys
Ken Davies, volunteer with PR Group at Ponthafren Association, with the Powys Pennies Tree

Buon ni hefyd yn hyrwyddo cynllun Ceiniogau Powys sy’n codi arian ar gyfer grwpiau cymunedol ac elusennau ar draws Powys trwy grynhau cyflog net staff i’r bunt agosaf, a’r ceiniogau dros ben yn mynd i’r cynllun. Ar hyn o bryd mae Cynllun Ceiniogau Powys ar agor i staff sy’n gweithio i PAVO a Chyngor Sir Powys, ond mae’n bosib y caiff ei ehangu yn y dyfodol. Caiff y cyfraniadau a gesglir eu dosbarthu i gymunedau ym Mhowys trwy grantiau cymunedol. Yn ystod yr Eisteddfod cafodd ymwelwyr gyfle i “Gyfrannu at gynllun Ceiniogau Powys” trwy ddewis eu hoff ganwr opera - Catherine Jenkins neu Bryn Terfel - ar goeden Ceiniogau Powys!

We also promoted the Powys Pennies scheme which raises funds for community groups and charities in Powys by rounding down staff net pay to the nearest pound with the spare pennies being donated to the scheme. Powys Pennies is currently open to staff working for PAVO and Powys County Council but may well be extended in the future. Contributions raised from the scheme will be distributed to communities in Powys in the form of community grants. At the Eisteddfod visitors had the opportunity to “Grow the Powys Pennies scheme” by choosing their favourite opera singer – Catherine Jenkins or Bryn Terfel – on the Powys Pennies tree!

Jackie Newey (PAVO), Menna Reese (Bwrdd Iechyd addysgu Powys)
Jackie Newey (PAVO), Menna Reese (Powys teaching Health Board)

Yn ystod y dydd, cefais sgwrs gyda Menna Reese sydd wedi gweithio ar brosiectau amrywiol gyda thîm iechyd meddwl Bwrdd Iechyd addysgu Powys Yn ddiweddar mae hi wedi bod yn rhan o ddatblygu prosiect cyfrifiadurol Mastermind, ym maes Therapi Ymddygiad Gwybyddol, ’yn ystod yr haf y llynedd bu Menna a’i chydweithwyr yn ysgrifennu am y prosiect hwn. Dywedodd Menna fod dros 100 o bobl ym Mhowys wedi cofrestru bellach ar-lein ar gyfer Therapi Beating the Blues Mae wedi addo diweddariad manwl ar gyfer y blog yma - felly gwyliwch allan amdano!

During the day I caught up with Menna Reese who has worked with Powys teaching Health Board’s mental health team on various projects. Of late she has been much involved in the development of the Mastermind computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy project, which she and her colleagues originally wrote about last summer. Menna told me that over 100 people in Powys had now signed up to the online Beating the Blues therapy. She has promised a more detailed update for this blog – so watch this space!

Lesley Griffiths (canol) y Gweinidog dros Gymunedau a Threchu Tlodi yn lansio Polisi Gwirfoddoli Llywodraeth Cymru
Lesley Griffiths (centre) Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty, launched the Welsh Government Volunteer Policy

Lansiwyd nifer o brosiectau a chynlluniau pwysig ar stondin PAVO-WCVA yn ystod yr wythnos hefyd. Yn ystod y dydd buom yn gwylio dwy araith bwysig gan Weinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru.

Our PAVO-WCVA stand was also the venue for several important project launches and initiatives over the course of the week. During our day we watched two key speeches from Welsh Government Ministers and their chosen guest speakers. Most of the speeches were made in Welsh, but translation facilities were available for anyone who required them.

Lesley Griffiths, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Cymru dros Gymunedau a Threchu Tlodi, oedd yn lansio Polisi Gwirfoddoli newydd LlC, gyda’r is-bennawd: “Rydym yn cydnabod cyfraniad enfawr y Trydydd Sector i fywyd yng Nghymru”. Bu Elan, gwirfoddolwr ifanc, yn trafod ei phrofiad fel hyfforddwr chwaraeon gyda’r Urdd, ac wedyn bu Carwyn yn trafod ei rôl fel gwirfoddolwr gyda Pride Gogledd Cymru.

Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty, launched the new Welsh Government Volunteer Policy, with the strapline: “We recognise the huge contribution made by the Third Sector to life in Wales”. Young volunteer Elan talked about her experience as an Urdd sports coach, whilst Carwyn from North Wales Pride spoke about his volunteering role.

Mark Drakeford, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Cymru dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol fu’n rhoi anerchiad blynyddol ar Blant yng Nghymru
Mark Drakeford, Welsh Government Minister for Health & Social Services, made the annual Children in Wales speech

Yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn, rhoddodd Mark Drakeford, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Cymru dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ddarlith flynyddol ar destun Plant yng Nghymru a’i ddewis destun oedd plant mewn gofal, ac wedyn, atebodd cwestiynau gan y gynulleidfa.

Later in the afternoon Mark Drakeford, Welsh Government Minister for Health & Social Services, gave the annual Children in Wales lecture on his chosen topic of looked after children, followed by questions from the audience.

Glynis Luke (PAVO) gyda chyfaill o Sefydliad Prydeinig y Galon

Glynis Luke (PAVO) with friend from the British Heart Foundation

Roedd yn ddiwrnod prysur iawn, gyda llawer o ddigwyddiadau, ac fel y dywedodd pawb y buom yn sgwrsio gyda nhw, roedd awyrgylch yr Eisteddfod yn hynod gyfeillgar o ystyried maint yr ŵyl.

All in all it was a very full day, with lots happening, and, as everyone we met commented, one of the friendliest atmospheres we have come across at a large event or festival like this.

Paid workers – a voluntary group’s “essential” or “luxury”?

Another debate that has been very much “in the air” recently, is about whether or not groups of people who come together to pursue a common goal should receive more formalised support, particularly in the early stages. This could apply to any type of voluntary group, not just those focusing on mental health issues. Just because individuals decide they want to work together to campaign, for example, for better or different services, does not necessarily mean that they have the skills required to set up, run and sustain the group.

Working at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations for the last few years I have come across many people volunteering across all spheres – health, the arts, heritage, sport and more. The one thing which brings them together is their passion – in my own case, volunteering for The Quilt Association in Llanidloes, it is a love of quilts both old and new that is the common bond. In mental health people might want to press for new services in a particular geographical area, or provide support for a specific group such as carers, for example.

But... what all these people (including me), with their diverse range of interests and skills and goals, suddenly find they also have in common – is the need to skill-up fairly quickly on the day-to-day basics of running and maintaining a group and the implications that has for them all. This is particularly the case for those groups which decide to become charities, where legal and financial responsibilities can create a lot of work – work which has absolutely nothing to do with the original reason why the group was set up!

So, whether promoting heritage quilts or campaigning for increased mental health services... we suddenly all need chairs, treasurers, secretaries and incredibly hard-working individuals who don’t mind finding out the nitty-gritty about insurance, equal opportunities policies, expense procedures and so it goes on...

The question is, should some of these groups – in the area of health often referred to as “user-led organisations” - be provided with a paid development worker in the early stages to help them? According to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) “strong user-led organisations help commissioners tackle inequality, build social capital, contribute to prevention, and be more responsive to the local community.” You can read some of the guidance given to people commissioning services to develop and strengthen these organisations here.

What do you think? Are you involved in a voluntary group yourself, or thinking of setting one up? (Wales Council for Voluntary Action has useful information here if you are).  And if you believe paid support is required on a regular basis – who is going to fund it?

PS: Whilst reading around the issues for this post I discovered that the Office for Disability Issues has a Strengthening Disabled People’s User-Led Organisations Programme - short-term grants to groups in the UK. “The programme is a £3 million investment over four years (until 2015) that will aim to promote growth and improve the sustainability of DPULOs.”  You can find specific advice for organisations based in Wales here.