A new bilingual mural has been installed on Space Ward at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales to help encourage Welsh speaking patients feel comfortable using their chosen language on the ward.
Supported by Cardiff & Vale Health Charity Arts for Health and Wellbeing, the space-themed mural has launched on St David’s day.
The mural, which was designed using ideas from patients and staff from Space Ward, features Welsh phrases and images of popular Welsh landmarks such as Snowdonia, Castell Coch and the Principality Stadium, to encourage young patients, their families and Health Board staff to be proud of our heritage and to access the Health Board’s services through the medium of Welsh.
Jessica Sharp, Welsh Language Officer at Cardiff and Vale UHB said: “It’s important that our Welsh speaking patients of all ages can feel comfortable accessing our services through the medium of Welsh if it is their chosen language, so I am very pleased with the installation of this new mural.
“I’d like to thank the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity for making this project possible, and patients and staff at the children’s hospital for bringing Cadog’s journey through space to life with their brilliant ideas.”
As part of the mural, the Health Board has also introduced a new mascot named Cadog, which will become an increasingly familiar face throughout the Health Board to help promote the Welsh Language.
The mascot’s name was chosen from suggestions shared by children on Space Ward, who also had fun colouring a picture of Cadog in.
Simone Joslyn, Head of Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and Arts said: “We were delighted to support funding for this project which not only brightens up the ward, but helps to highlight the Health Board’s commitment to the Welsh language for our young patients and their families.
“By providing murals and art such as this in hospitals, it really helps to make environments feel more welcoming and friendly, especially at what is a difficult time for both the patient and their family.”
The mural is one small step as part of the Health Board’s mission to become a fully bilingual organisation. It forms part of the Meddwl Cymraeg – Think Welsh campaign, which encourages Health Board employees to put the Welsh Language at the forefront of their thinking, and consider how they can contribute to making services more accessible to Welsh speakers.
The design and installation of the new mural was supplied by Grosvenor Interiors and was supported by Cardiff & Vale Health Charity.
Find out how you can support future projects that enhance clinical environments on the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity website.