PAVO Health and Wellbeing Network Event Summary
Over 20 organisations came along to the PAVO Health & Wellbeing Network event in Llanidloes Community Centre on Wednesday 1st October.
As the organisations arrived on site they were welcomed, signed in and for those who wanted were able to set up their stalls whilst grabbing a cuppa and catching up with familiar faces.
The morning was kicked off by Cecilia Harman – Health & Wellbeing Information officer who got the crowd moving with a 5 minute wellbeing wake up & shake up!
Throughout the morning organisations were invited to stand up and give a 2 minute whistlestop tour of the services they offer.
The participants were then split into 4 groups each supported by a member of PAVO Staff to explore and discuss the current opportunities and challenges being faced by the 3rd sector. There was some fantastic conversation and these important and valuable discussions were then fed back to the group as a whole. Some key points that emerged from these discussions were that, in the short term, grant-based funding models are not working effectively: Statutory partners need to commission third sector organisations effectively: voluntary but not amateur, and that lots of passion, care and dedication are keeping things going!
Refreshments, drinks & snacks were provided throughout the session, keeping everyone hydrated and energised.
A few more introductions were made by the organisations and then Nick Venti and Louise Hardwick, PAVO Development Officers presented to the group ‘Shared Prosperity Fund – Powys Community Conversations’ encouraging those individuals living in Powys to speak with them, complete the survey in order to help shape their communities and input into future conversation opportunities.
Following a small break there was opportunity for some all important networking where groups and organisations could learn more about other services on offer in the area and links could be made between services.
The group then returned to the main stage for a presentation from PTHB (Carly Skitt & Sue Ling) & were updated on the PTHB Better Together future planning of health services project and the North Powys Wellbeing Programme. Participants were informed of work to date, the findings and the opportunities to input in the future to help shape health services in Powys.
A few more 2 minute introductions were given and then Sam Powell and Julia Toy, PTHB talked to the audience about the service they provide under a partnership project ‘Workforce Futures’, supporting engagement and wellbeing of employees across many organisations – including voluntary. Sam got us to think about our own wellbeing, whether we were getting enough sleep, drinking enough water and moving enough.
A final opportunity for 2 minute introductions, the sit down part of the event was concluded by asking participants how they would like to see future network meetings shaped. Then back to the stands for a last opportunity for networking.
We have received some fantastic feedback from the event with words such as “vibrant” , “Informative” and “interesting” with a number of people commenting that it was really useful to meet and understand what colleagues in other organisations do and where they can work together. Suggestions were made that future events could be open for part of the day for the public to attend and that moving these events around the county is a great idea to allow smaller organisations to attend.
The next Health & Wellbeing network will be held in Spring 2026.
Images and words from Karen G
Main Image Louise H