A team of dedicated staff from Hafan Y Mor Children’s Centre, part of Swansea Bay University Health Board, volunteered their time on the weekend to give the Centre’s garden a much-needed refresh. They even brought along their families to help!

The “Garden Tidy-Up” event was led by Hannah Carter, Senior Orthopaedic Physiotherapist, as part of a wider wellbeing initiative to foster a “greater sense of belonging” among colleagues. With just a few days’ notice, staff and their children came together to pull weeds, clean up pathways and bring new life into the planters. This has totally transformed the outdoor area into a brighter, more welcoming space for patients and staff alike.

The garden has grown into a much-loved heart of the centre – a place where patients, families and staff can come together to enjoy a calming, playful space away from the hospital setting. Thanks to charitable funding from Swansea Bay Health Charity, the garden now offers children awaiting appointments a chance to relax and feel at ease, while also providing a nurturing environment for one-to-one outdoor therapy sessions. On sunny days, its shaded corners even give staff a peaceful spot to step outside, work and recharge.

“What we achieved in just a couple of hours, with a few snacks to keep the little ones going, was incredible,” says Hannah Carter. “It’s amazing what a bit of teamwork can do. The space is now so much more enjoyable for families, and it’s lovely to know our children played a part in that.”

The transformation of Hafan Y Mor’s garden is just one example of how Swansea Bay Health Charity creates enhanced facilities and environments across our hospitals and community services. As the official charity of Swansea Bay University Health Board, it provides funding beyond core NHS budgets.