More than sun, sea and sand to staff's beach events
Staff have been heading to Swansea Bay’s beaches for sessions which offer more than just sun, sea and sand.
The Sharing HOPE team have set up a number of beach sculpture days, which combine fun activities and serious discussions.
Staff can create shell jewellery along with sand and stone sculptures with the help of an artist at the events.
It is a platform which hopes to generate conversations around wellbeing and mental health, along giving staff an opportunity to express themselves through art.
PICTURED: A crab was created using shells on Port Eynon Beach.
All staff can attend the events, while they can bring their family and friends along too.
Events like this have led to the Sharing HOPE project being nominated for the staff wellbeing initiative of the year at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards, which takes place in Manchester in September.
Jayne Whitney, quality lead for suicide and self-harm prevention, is one of three health board staff leading the Sharing HOPE project.
She said: “We have these beautiful beaches around our sites, so it’s a great opportunity to make the most of that.
“We recently had one in Port Eynon, which proved really successful, so we are now putting on more dates.
“It was out of the work setting, family and friends could also come along, and it gave everyone a really good platform to express themselves. It’s a normal day out with a bespoke artist who can help with shell jewellery, stone and sand art.
“It’s a lot of fun, but also has a serious element to it in terms of staff having the chance to express themselves through this form of art and discussing mental health and wellbeing if they are comfortable enough to do that.
“Sometimes it can help hearing colleagues talking about their own experiences and worries as it shows your not alone.”
PICTURED: Jayne Whitney shows off the shell necklace she made at the event.
There are three further beach sculpture days planned. They will take place on:
- Sunday, 13th August, 2023: Oxwich - meet in front of the restaurant
- Monday, 21st August, 2023: Blackpill - meet in front of the lido
- Sunday, 27th August, 2023: Aberavon - meet in front of Remo’s
Events run between 10am-4pm, with participants asked to meet at 10am.
Attendees will collect materials for art work such as shells or wood debris from the beach, while black bags for any waste products will be supplied.
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