Carmarthenshire home arts service reports wellbeing gains before award final
A Carmarthenshire service that takes artists into older people's homes says it completed 585 visits with 100 participants during its evaluated delivery period. People Speak Up reports that 96% of participants and carers experienced increased wellbeing, while 92% reported reduced feelings of isolation. The Llanelli organisation is now one of three finalists for the Prove it: the Social Impact Award at the 2026 Social Business Awards Wales. The award, sponsored by the Co-op, recognises established social enterprises for their impact measurement and stakeholder reporting.
Creative Home Delivery Service
- Visits
- 585
- Participants
- 100
- Reported increased wellbeing
- 96%
- Reported reduced isolation
- 92%
- Rated support good or excellent
- 100%
What happens in a home visit
The Creative Home Delivery Service supports older people who may be lonely or isolated through creative activity in their own homes. Its facilitators offer visual arts, creative writing, storytelling, pottery, wire work, music, movement and singing. Referrals come through social prescribers, Age Cymru Dyfed, Connecting Carmarthenshire admiral nurses and the community. People Speak Up delivers the service with Carmarthenshire County Council's Prevention and Wellbeing team, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Connecting Carmarthenshire.
How the impact was measured
People Speak Up says its evaluation used a wellbeing rating scale at the beginning and end of sessions, calls at the start and end of the project, a reflection session with artists and facilitators, and a Most Significant Change process. An 18-person panel of staff, participants, funders and partners met on 12 March 2026. It considered three written stories, three recorded spoken stories and three pieces of visual art. The organisation also reports that 100% of participants and carers rated the support as good or excellent, 89% increased their skills, knowledge and confidence to manage their wellbeing, 85% felt more connected to others and 78% showed improved mobility.
What the figures do not show
The published impact page does not state the number of respondents behind each percentage or give exact start and end dates for the 585 visits and 100 participants. The six measures may therefore have different respondent bases. They show what People Speak Up reports from its evaluation, but they should not be converted into participant counts or treated as proof that one outcome caused another.
A service developed from lockdown
People Speak Up says the service grew from its work to stay connected with older people during the Covid pandemic and from the 2023 Kreative Kinship on Prescription pilot. Founder and chief executive Eleanor Shaw said taking support into people's homes mattered because online access did not work for everyone. The organisation says the service is now operating at capacity without dedicated systemic funding. Its evaluation recommends consistent funding from health and social care budgets.
What happens next
People Speak Up is shortlisted with Boss & Brew Academy and With Music in Mind. The finalists will be celebrated at Y Muni in Pontypridd on 7 October 2026, when the award result is due.
Background and supporting figures
Where this sits
The impact page reports that 96% of participants and carers reported increased wellbeing.
The impact page reports that 78% of participants showed improved mobility.
The impact page reports that 89% of participants and carers increased their skills, knowledge and confidence to manage their wellbeing independently.
People Speak Up is one of three finalists in the Social Impact Award category, alongside Boss & Brew Academy and With Music in Mind.
Cwmpas says the finalists will be celebrated at Y Muni in Pontypridd on 7 October 2026, when the award outcome is due.