Cefn Mawr Shutter Mural

The Advanced Brighter Futures workshops were a series of wellbeing-focused sessions delivered as part of the project, exploring how the canal and surrounding landscape can support mental health and social connection. Delivered in partnership with health and community organisations, the workshops formed part of a wider green and social prescribing approach, using heritage and nature as tools for improving wellbeing.

The sessions brought together participants from local communities to engage in activities such as walking, creative expression and group discussion, often centred around the canal, towpaths and nearby community spaces. They provided a supportive environment for individuals to connect with place, with others and with their own experiences, helping to reduce isolation and build confidence.

Importantly, the workshops tested how heritage-led spaces can be used as part of long-term wellbeing provision. They demonstrated the potential for the World Heritage Site to function not only as a visitor destination, but as a resource for health, recovery and community support, contributing to wider ambitions around preventative health and place-based care.