The Power of Daring to Dream’s Spaces to Talk and Sing at Princess of Wales Hospital

Here, Rachael shares her insights:

“My first visit to the Princess of Wales Hospital was to help set up a new ‘Space to Talk’ in the Ward 8 Dayroom (a Trauma & Orthopaedic rehabilitation ward for the elderly, where many face lengthy stays). After spending the morning there, I accompanied our musicians to Ward 15 (a dementia ward) for a double set of live music—a ‘Space to Sing’ for patients, staff, and visitors.

Suddenly, the work of Daring to Dream sprang to life for me. I saw staff visiting Ward 8, bursting into smiles and saying, ‘This is just what our patients need!’ On Ward 15, the live music beautifully brought people together, creating a welcoming escape from the clinical environment.

Two weeks later, I returned for our collaborative Celebration & PR gathering: the official opening of the Ward 8 ‘Space to Talk’. It was a heartwarming, emotional event. We were joined by hospital staff, a Ward 8 patient, and representatives from local supporting groups, including The Lions Club of Bridgend, Bridgend Camera Club, Penybont Masonic Lodge, Bridgend Hospital Radio, and two of our contracted musicians from Bridgend College. (While the Moondance Foundation and Plan B sadly couldn’t attend, both have been vital to this collaboration). We were also pleased to welcome Cllr Jane Gebbie in her roles as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing in Bridgend County Borough Council, and as Chair of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board.

Listening to the speakers, I could feel, hear, and see how much this community collaboration matters to everyone. During a performance by Lylia and Ffion of their charity single, ‘Here Together’, two nurses became tearful. One spoke repeatedly about how fantastic and necessary it is to have a non-clinical dayroom. A photograph on the wall, provided by Bridgend Camera Club, even showed the place where she had been married, adding a deeply personal connection to the moving moment. Seeing this response drove home the importance of non-clinical environments that support wellbeing, offer privacy, or simply provide a space to be.

Later, I rejoined Ffion and Lylia on the dementia ward. Patients were singing, waving their arms, and smiling alongside relatives and nursing staff. In one memorable moment, a patient who used to be a musician began conducting with his arms and singing along to Elvis Presley’s ‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You’.

His daughter was absolutely delighted to witness her father connect again like this and suggested songs for future visits. It was a beautiful reminder of how music sparks connection when words are difficult.

Afterwards, we returned to Ward 8 Dayroom, where our musicians played their second set. The music filled the ward, reaching patients both in the dayroom and to those listening from their hospital beds and to the staff. The impact even extended into the corridors; a gentleman waiting anxiously for his wife to come out of surgery stopped to listen, commenting on how beautiful the music was and how wonderful it was to have it in a hospital.

My biggest takeaway is that Daring to Dream’s work reaches far beyond the individual listener. Their work:

• Brings joy to patients
• Creates meaningful moments for families
• Offers staff opportunities to connect with patients as people, not just patients

I left with a much deeper appreciation for these physical spaces and the ways music can bring comfort, spark memories, and create moments of shared humanity.

Sometimes, a Space to Talk and a Space to Sing truly can make all the difference.”

Lylia and Ffion perform “You Are the Reason” to patients, family members and the staff who care for them in Ward 8 – https://vimeo.com/1241728288?share=copy