A community hub providing regular access to health and wellbeing support in Swansea is continuing to grow following a successful pilot.

The Penderi Wellbeing Hub was developed by the Penderi Local Cluster Collaborative (LCC) as a place where local residents could drop in and chat to various services and organisations.

Now, it is being delivered in partnership with Swansea Council’s CREST (Community, Recovery, Education, Skills and Training) mental health and wellbeing service based in Cwmbwrla.

The expansion will help create a stronger emphasis on health and wellbeing and mental health support available in the community.

Pictured: Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj, Penderi LCC lead, Sharlene Goshawk, CREST service manager, Alex Smith, tutor facilitator at CREST, Ian Richards, peer support lead at CREST, and Dawn Burford, cluster development support manager.

The hub is now based at CREST Recovery College, on Heol y Gors, every Monday between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

It will run alongside CREST’s popular wellbeing café on a Monday, helping to create a welcoming and supportive environment for local residents.

The hub will provide a free, informal drop-in where people can access advice, information and support from a range of local organisations, as well as opportunities to connect with others in their community.

Each week, a range of organisations attend on a rotating basis, offering support on topics including mental health and wellbeing, lifestyle changes, community activities and practical advice.

Penderi LCC lead and GP at Fforestfach Medical Centre, Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj said: “Following on from the successful pilot, we have established a strong collaboration with CREST and developed the Penderi Wellbeing Hub.

“The hub will allow people to access information and support on a more regular basis, and it is very convenient for patients within our cluster as it is based close to their homes.

“They will also benefit from the wider support and activities on offer at CREST as it provides lots of activities and has support groups taking place.

“The timetable of organisations who will be attending will be released a month in advance so people will know which services will be based at the hub.

“We also hope GP practices, pharmacies, dental practices and health visitors will direct patients to the hub so they can access the right services and support at the right time, close to home.”

A range of partners including Local Area Coordinators, Citizens Advice, Swansea City AFC Foundation and the health board’s Help Me Quit team attend the hub, alongside other community organisations.

Through its partnership with CREST, the hub will now also offer enhanced mental health support in a relaxed, non-clinical setting, with staff and volunteers available every week to provide a listening ear and guidance.

Sharlene Goshawk, service manager at CREST, said: “Working in partnership with Penderi LCC has allowed us to build on what was already a strong community offer and create something even more accessible and inclusive.

“By bringing together health, social care and third sector partners in one space, we’re making it easier for people to get the support they need, particularly around mental health and wellbeing.

“Whether someone wants to come in for a chat over a cup of tea, is feeling anxious or overwhelmed, or needs help to access longer-term support, there is always someone here to listen and help them take that next step.”