Centre helps patients boost wellbeing through range of dedicated programmes

People in parts of Swansea can access yoga, trauma support, pain management groups and more to help them boost their wellbeing.

Swansea Wellbeing Centre, a not-for-profit organisation based on Walter Road in the Uplands area, provides a mixture of classes, projects and courses aimed at supporting and improving wellbeing.

Both Bay Health and City Health Local Cluster Collaboratives (LCCs) provide funding for the centre to deliver a number of initiatives to patients.

Staff at GP practices within the LCCs can refer patients to the centre who may benefit from the support available.

Pictured: Emma Evans and Rachel Parkyn of Swansea Wellbeing Centre, with Lois Woodward, social prescribing coordinator at Swansea Council for Voluntary Services.

Bay Health covers areas including Sketty, Uplands, Killay, Mumbles, Gower and the university campus, with City Health covering areas including Mayhill, Sandfields and the city centre.

The support available ranges from yoga classes for students, breathwork for anxiety sessions, life after trauma groups, women only support groups and more.

Emma Evans, Swansea Wellbeing Centre director, said: “GP practices can make referrals to us, or they can give their patients information about what we offer. We welcome people dropping in.

“They can make a referral if a patient has mobility or pain management issues, for example.

“While some people come to us for help with anxiety, depression and mental health issues.”

All of the courses are free for patients registered at any of the GP practices within the two clusters.

Finding Your Innate Resilience is a six-week, women only support group for those feeling held back by anxiety, stress, depression and overthinking.

While a Life After Trauma six-week group aims to teach people a mixture of acceptance and change coping strategies to stabilise symptoms of trauma and is available across both clusters.

A Dial Down Your Pain group is also open to patients within both clusters and covers a variety of strategies to help manage chronic pain.

Strong Mind, Strong Body is another course on offer for both Bay Health and City Health, and is made up of exercises to build resilience, strength and inner calm.

Early years wellbeing support and family wellbeing workshops are also available for patients within Bay Health LCC.

Students registered with a GP practice within Bay Health LCC can also access a yoga for emotional balance class.

Lois Woodward, social prescribing coordinator at Swansea Council for Voluntary Services, has referred many patients to the centre for support through her role within Bay Health LCC.

“The services delivered through the Swansea Wellbeing Centre are an invaluable resource to the social prescribing service,” she said.

“Many who I have referred into the women’s resilience group and coping skills group have fed back that they felt very welcome and able to share.

“They said they felt more resourced to manage their own wellbeing and had even made some lasting friendships.”

Bay Health LCC lead, Dr Nicola Jones, said: “We enjoy a longstanding relationship with the Swansea Wellbeing Centre in Bay Health Cluster and work collaboratively to create the right solutions for the residents of our area.

“The centre is a great resource for the community and we look forward to seeing what innovative programmes we can create to keep the momentum going for out residents.”

Beyond Blue is a five-week course which patients registered with a City Health LCC GP practice have access to.

It covers new ways to move beyond and transform stress, anxiety and low mood and is described as a safe and supportive space to help build confidence, reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

Riding the ADHD Waves is another workshop specifically for City Health LCC patients, providing practical tools to help manage overwhelming feelings.

Emma added: “Working in partnership with the clusters and experienced wellbeing practitioners, helps us offer a wide range of programmes dedicated to improving mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

“From resilience courses and support groups to mindfulness, movement, and family wellbeing activities, the initiative empowers people to build healthier, more connected lives in a welcoming and supportive environment.

“Together, the project aims to demonstrate that strong communities are built through compassion, collaboration, and accessible care for all.”

City Health LCC lead and GP partner at Kingsway Surgery, Dr David Howell said: “The Swansea Wellbeing Centre provides an excellent service, offering high-quality support for a wide range of mental health and wellbeing needs.

“We have been fortunate to work closely with the team over the past two years and have consistently received excellent feedback from our patients about the care and support they provide.

“The Centre has become a valued part of the support available across the cluster, and we are proud to work in partnership with them to improve the wellbeing of our local community.”

Patients registered at a GP practice within Bay Health or City Health LCC can find a full list of the free support available on the Wellbeing Centre website.

Follow this link to the Swansea Wellbeing Centre website to find a list of the support available.