The Wales winners for the 2022 Creative Lives Awards

“It was wonderful to feel that recognition and it really did spread the word about us, almost overnight. It gave us an incredible confidence boost” Previous Winner Chosen from a shortlist of 36 creative groups from across England, Ireland/Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all the groups were recognised for creative engagement within their communities Using creative crafting to bring people together to combat loneliness and improve mental health and wellbeing, Doncaster-based Dadesley Crafting wins the England award Dublin-based Fatima Groups United wins the Ireland award – offering counselling, health and wellbeing, arts and creativity sessions to create wider access to the arts and encourage participants to develop from audience members to co-creators Paisley-based Sewing2gether All Nations wins the Scotland award – a grassroots craft organisation for members of the refugee and asylum seeker community, primarily women, to practice English and build new friendships Oasis One World Choir from Cardiff wins the Wales award, offering a lifeline for many people who are faced with restarting their lives in a new country. It uses the language of music to allow people to make new friends and build a new community The full list of winners was announced at Aspire in Leeds on Tuesday 7 March Creative Lives, the registered charity that champions community and volunteer-led arts activity, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2022 Creative Lives Awards. From a shortlist of 36 inspiring groups across the UK, the panel, comprising Creative Lives staff and trustees, representatives from local stakeholders and previous winners, had the hard task of choosing the winners from across the four nations. Each year, the Awards are held in a different location across the UK and Ireland. This year, it is took place in Leeds as part of LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture.