Llanelli’s People Speak Up has been shortlisted at the national Social Business Wales (Social Business Wales Awards 2026) for its Creative Home Delivery Service scheme it runs across Carmarthenshire in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Connecting Carmarthenshire.
People Speak Up and Creative Home Delivery Service has been shortlisted in the Prove It: The Social Impact Award, sponsored by ELITE Supported Employment. Also shortlisted were Boss and Brew Academy and With Music in Mind.
Creative Home Delivery Service, created in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Connecting Carmarthenshire, is designed to help older people, especially those who are lonely and living in isolation, to be engaged and help improve their mental health and wellbeing using arts and creativity. The Creative Home Delivery Service sees GP’s, facilitators and Connecting Carmarthenshire refer cases and match them with a professional facilitator and freelance artist from PSU. Over the course of a few weeks, the artist and facilitators go into that older person’s home and delivers a one to one session.
The Creative Home Delivery Service was born out of a need to stay connected with PSU’s community of older people during COVID, but the need to continue delivery this essential service was highlighted when they ran a pilot project, Kreative Kinship on Prescription in 2023, and seeing how important this bespoke one to one service is needed in rural areas and limited access. Last year an evaluation of the scheme reported that:
- 96% of participants and carers reported increased wellbeing
- 78% of participants show an increase in improved mobility.
- 89% of participants and carers reported an increase in skills, knowledge and confidence to independently manage their wellbeing ·
- 85% of participants reported feeling more connected to others in their day-to-day life
- 92% of participants and carers reported a reduction in feelings of isolation
- 100% of participants/ carers reported the support they received as good or excellent
“We have been working on improving this bespoke home delivery service since the start of the Covid Pandemic, when we were locked down as a community, when we realised that our older people needed to have those community services taken to where they live, in their homes. Zoom was not accessible for all!“
PSU’s Founder and CEO, Eleanor Shaw.
“We want to thank all our freelance artists – storytellers, poets, writers singers, dancers, rappers and visual artists who go into people’s home and help them overcome barriers to engagement, and support their mental health and wellbeing. We want to thank the 100s of participants who have taken part in this project. Thank you for trusting in our team, our artists and welcoming us into your homes to help you on your journey.
People Speak Up (PSU) is a social, arts, health, mental-health, and well-being community organisation working across Carmarthenshire.
PSU connects people to help them find their voice, and create healthier and resilient communities through storytelling, spoken word, creative writing, conversation-based activities, participatory arts, volunteering and training.
CHDS participants and their carers also said:
“Look how happy my mother looks; I haven’t seen her like this for years.” CHDS participant’s daughter
“Lovely company became lovely friends! I enjoy the art sessions, very happy with what you guys do, thank you for making my Wednesdays worth going out for!” CHDS participant
“Partnership working has been key to developing this service: Carmarthenshire County Council & Hywell Dda University Health Board have trusted us with referring the most vulnerable older people into the service and commissioning us as part of The Connecting Carmarthenshire Project. A Big Thank you to Arts Council Wales for funding us and continuing to support our arts and health services.” Eleanor Shaw, Founder and CEO of PSU.
More information about Creative Home Delivery Service can be found on the People Speak up website and social media channels
Peoplespeakup.co.uk
