Platfform

24/04/2026

Wishing Rhys Hewings, our Head of Crisis Prevention & Home, all the very best as he takes on the TCS London Marathon this weekend, Sunday 26 April.

Rhys will be running in memory of his mam to raise funds for the amazing Hospice of the Valleys, who provided support, compassion and care for the family when they needed it most.

Good luck Rhys, you'll smash it!

Fundraising link here: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/rhys-hewings

23/04/2026

“You helped me feel like I matter.”

Our Power Up team supports young people in schools and the community. Young people can share their thoughts and feelings and talk about what is important to them in a safe, judgement free space. The social change element is a collaboration with young people via a youth advisory board to ensure we are providing support that is relevant to and shaped by young people, whilst giving them the platform to be able to have their views heard.

We're looking forward to the evaluation work by Cardiff Metropolitan University

Researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University are leading a project aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing services for children and young people. They are carrying out a major evaluation of Power Up - an innovative wellbeing and social action programme supporting young people aged 10 to 25 across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Delivered by Platfform, the programme offers wellbeing support, peer networks, workshops and volunteering opportunities to help young people build resilience, confidence and community connections.

With youth mental health in Wales at a critical point, this research by Cardiff Met’s Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR) will explore the programme’s impact, from individual wellbeing to wider system change.

Dr Paul Sellars said: “Young people’s voices are central to this work. By understanding both the visible and less obvious impacts, we hope to shape future support and policy across Wales and beyond.”

Read the full story in the comments 👇

13/04/2026

A mental health and wellbeing hub for young people aged 11-18 near King Square in Barry has undergone a recent extension, enabling the service to support a larger number of young people across Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Platfform Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

24/03/2026

The Hangout, the mental health and wellbeing hub for young people aged 11-18 in the heart of Barry has been extended, and we'll be able to invite more young people across Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan.

One 15-year-old who has been coming regularly over the last year said: “Everyone at the Hangout is very kind and sociable and have made me want to go out more. The staff always make me feel included.”

It gives young people a safe, accessible space where they can build confidence, develop coping skills and feel supported during difficult times.

Developed in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and available in both Cardiff and Barry, the open access service offers drop-in mental health support, scheduled individual sessions and wellbeing-focused groups.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

13/03/2026

Thank you Cardiff and Vale University Health Board for shining the spotlight on our brilliant team at the Seibiant Sanctuary in Cardiff who support people facing mental health challenges 365 days a year!

We're so proud of the work you all do ❤️

Meet the some of the team behind the Seibiant Sanctuary at Platfform.

They support people experiencing mental health crisis, either over the phone or in-person.

The Sanctuary offers a welcoming space to those in-need across Cardiff and the Vale. The team offer advice, support and a safe space to breathe and connect between the hours of 5pm and 1am.

“We can give individuals in a mental health crisis tailored support for two hours either over the phone or face to face that same evening” explains Ben, a Caseworker who works at the Seibiant Sanctuary. “We offer a safe space to calm down and regulate.”

The service, which is partly funded by the Health Board in conjunction with Platfform, offers trauma-informed and person-centred care. “What this means is we’re here to talk about what you want to talk about” says Ben. “We try and make the whole process as open and easy as possible, so people get care specific to their needs.”

To access the Sanctuary, call NHS 111 Wales and select option 2. You can either ask directly to be connected to the Sanctuary, or the call handler will assess your needs and refer you to the service if appropriate.

04/03/2026

Yesterday, Emma and Jess from our Employment Team attended the Gwent Women's Conference organised by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board at the Lysaght Institute in Newport to mark the upcoming International Women's Day 2026.

The conference was opened by Sue Tranker, Chief Nursing Officer for Welsh Govt, and throughout the day, key themes and topics were discussed including the importance of community and how collectively, working together, we can bolster each other and improve our own mental health and of those around us.

One session in particular resonated with our team - how inclusive mental health support should be a priority for any organisation. The key message reinforced that representation builds trust and cultural understanding reduces stigma around mental health and wellbeing.

26/02/2026

“Giving voice to my experience allowed me to confront a fear within the system: not a fear in me, but a fear of listening, of honesty, and of acknowledging that practitioners are not always the experts." Jess’s lived experience was one of thirty sets of evidence which guided our call for change. Jess shares her story in the blog linked in comments.

Stories we received through the Truth Project are first-hand accounts of people’s experiences within the mental health system, shared as unedited as possible. Openness reduces shame, and helps create shared understanding of what needs to chamge.

25/02/2026

What a brilliant session with Sarah Brown, Phil Richardson and Pete Johnson yesterday in the last of our current strength-based learning programme.

We were talking about looking after ourselves while supporting others, especially when the work can sometimes be tough.

🟥Some key takeaways were the importance of reflective spaces:
“Reflection is about slowing down in the middle of overwhelm, looking up from the task and making sense of what’s happening”

🟥We also heard honest reflections about what happens when we lose that space:
“I couldn’t see where I needed to point the direction to give people hope and agency because I was too much in it. I was just giving, giving, giving… and it took that for me to realise that’s a bad strategy”

🟥And this reminder:
“Looking after ourselves is what makes this work possible because we are the tools”

🎞️Watch the full recording here: https://youtu.be/rdswSeYdnY0?si=yaWju6jN9Nt7jMD2

20/02/2026

It was fantastic to deliver our first training session with Race Council Cymru and The Windrush Cymru Elders yesterday.

Together, we explored communication, understanding group dynamics, and the importance of good relationships when navigating group conflict and difficult situations.

By understanding what’s really happening beneath the surface, we can respond with curiosity rather than reaction.

Thank you for such an open, thoughtful and engaged session, we’re really looking forward to continuing the conversation.

19/02/2026

We know the importance that community and connection play in the route to healing, and Platfform's Employment Team based in Bargoed know too well the value of investing in their community's wellbeing activities.

We'd like to extend a huge thank you to Kevin from Enterprise Mobility for their donation of £2.5k to support these activities. This will enable Julie and the team to continue supporting people, giving them a sense of belonging and the opportunity to connect with each other ❤️

Read more here: https://platfform.org/boost-for-bargoed-wellbeing-activities/

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