What we do

Daring to Dream supports and promotes the emotional health and well-being of adult* (those aged 16 years and above) patients in Wales.

Daring to Dream:

• Raises awareness of the need for support of emotional health and wellbeing for all patients in Wales.
• Provides that support through the creation of non-clinical, interior designed ‘safe havens’ in hospitals for patients, their relatives and the staff who care for them.

These safe, comfortable, and comforting spaces are being developed in different clinical areas. They are rooms that do not feel or look like ‘hospital rooms’ but offer spaces for patients to enjoy and chat with others and a relaxing space for relatives to rest in when keeping bedside vigil with a loved one. The Quiet Rooms provide a comforting safe space for a patient or their family to talk with clinical teams, including for those really tough conversations about end of life.

We collaborate with different clinical areas to transform:

– Patient dayrooms on wards
– Relatives’ Rooms
– Quiet Rooms

Daring to Dream also facilitates services and activities that support the wellbeing of patients at home and in hospital.

– In hospital the facilitation of activities and services such as live music and hairdressing
– A live-streamed, free, inclusive ‘festival at home’ supporting those living with long term illness and disability, called Lleswyl.

After Daring to Dream had completed the Relatives Room and Quiet Room in Critical Care at UHW Dr Julie Highfield explained just how important the room transformations are in supporting emotional wellbeing. (Dr Julie Highfield is Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Lead Psychologist for the ICU and MTC Psychology Team, University Hospital of Wales).