USW works with Happy Café supporting community wellbeing

The University of South Wales (USW) is supporting the work of a community centre, which is transforming support for mental health and wellbeing in a South Wales village.

Based in Aberbeeg Community Centre, Happy Café, was established in 2019 as a social space to combat loneliness. It has evolved into a vital hub for those struggling with their mental health. Recognising the growing demand for professional support, local healthcare providers have been socially prescribing the Café as a resource for individuals in need. However, as the scale and severity of mental health concerns have increased, so too has the necessity for more structured support.

Linc Cymru’s Community Engagement Officer, Suzy Bowers, highlighted the organisation’s long-standing commitment to supporting Happy Café. “Pat Tovey, who runs the café, is a Linc Cymru tenant, and when she took over the Community Centre, she asked us what we could do to help,” she explained. “We secured funding for a new kitchen to ensure food could be served safely, and we also helped install solar panels to reduce heating costs and keep the space open for the community.”

Buildingon this, USW’s Therapeutic Studies team, led by Anna Playle, has introduced a series of innovative workshops aimed at improving access to psychological therapies. The first session brought together members of the Happy Café community to explore their experiences with mental health through creativity.

Anna said: “Last year, we hosted an event with 28 experts from across Wales, including mental health professionals, charity organisations, and people with lived experience. The event aimed to improve access to mental health services for marginalised and underrepresented groups. One of the priorities identified was amplifying community voice through working with people in the communities. So, through our partnership with Linc Cymru, we were introduced to Happy Café.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive space where people feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions in ways that go beyond traditional verbal communication. Using creative, hands-on methods allows individuals to articulate abstract feelings and experiences, helping us understand their needs and how we can better support them.

“This partnership highlights the power of community-driven solutions in addressing pressing social issues, demonstrating that when universities, housing associations, and local organisations come together, they can create meaningful change in people’s lives.”

A workshop participant, who cares for family members, said: “Happy Café gives me the chance to talk to others who are also struggling. I give a lot of emotional support to my family so it’s nice to come here and feel supported and to not feel ashamed or guilty for talking about how I feel.”

The workshop forms the first phase of an ongoing project designed to provide sustained, meaningful engagement. Feedback collected from participants will inform future workshops, with a focus on recording key concerns, such as long waiting lists, accessibility barriers, and a perceived lack of investment in community wellbeing, which will be passed on to relevant organisations.

In addition to direct community engagement, Anna plans to integrate insights from this initiative into teaching. “Findings from these workshops will be used to develop learning for our students,” she said. “We’ll also be placing students at Happy Café to work with the community firsthand, further bridging the gap between education and real-world impact.”