Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board Annual Conference
16th May 2025
Stronger Together: A Celebration of Collaboration and Innovation at the Cardiff and Vale RPB Annual Conference 2025
On Friday, May 16, the Temple of Peace in Cardiff was alive with energy and optimism as the Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board (RPB) hosted its Annual Conference 2025. Under the theme Stronger Together: Celebrating Our Partnership, the day brought together over 250 professionals, partners, and community members from across the region to reflect, reconnect, and re-energise efforts to improve health and social care.
A Day of Shared Learning and Partnership
Attendees engaged in a packed programme of keynote addresses, interactive workshops, and a vibrant partnership marketplace. Workshop themes explored key priorities such as:
- Empowering local communities
- Strengthening consistent care through cluster working
- Building multi-professional partnerships
- Supporting people at risk of crisis
- Improving outcomes for children and young people
There was a strong focus throughout on practical collaboration, co-production and celebrating the progress being made through integrated working.
Agenda
This was our agenda for the day!! As you can see it was full of collaboration, partnership and opportunities for meaningful discussion.
Joint Area Plan 23-28
We used time at the conference to look at our goals for the future, and asked attendees to help us set that vision.
Conference Maps
Keynote Speakers
Our keynote speakers and senior figures that attended on the day played a vital role in engaging attendees, and setting the scene for the day.
The conference opened with a keynote address by Dr David Fluck, Executive Medical Director of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. His speech, The Power of the Possible – Innovation and Partnerships in the Community, emphasized the transformative potential of integrated care models and the importance of aligning with partners to keep people well and closer to home. Dr Fluck’s insights underscored the Health Board’s commitment to co-production and innovation in service delivery.
Charles Janczewski, Chair of both the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the Regional Partnership Board, set the tone for the day by highlighting the strength of partnership working. His opening remarks celebrated the collaborative efforts that have led to tangible improvements in community health and well-being.
Charles Janczewski
Chair – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Chair – Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board
Dr David Fluck
Executive Medical Director – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Question and Answer Session with Senior Leaders
One of the most engaging moments of the day was a Q&A session with senior leaders, featuring Dr Suzanne Rankin, Lance Carver, Sarah McGill, Sam Austin and Councillor Ash Lister. Together, they responded to audience questions on pressing issues such as:
- The future direction of integrated care
- Communication and messaging at different tiers of the UHB
- Supporting communities to take a more active role in health
- Addressing the needs of underrepresented groups
- Sustaining momentum across system-wide transformation
- How can we better connect the ‘human-ness’ across the various strands of the RPB?
This open and honest dialogue reflected the RPB’s commitment to transparency, learning, and engagement. Click here for a full list of the questions asked
See the panellist biographies below.
Suzanne Rankin
Chief Executive Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Sarah McGill
Corporate Director of People and Communities Cardiff Council
Lance Carver
Director of Social Services
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cllr. Ash Lister
Deputy Chair – Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board
Sam Austin
Deputy Chair – Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board
Interactive Workshops: Shared Learning in Action
The mid-morning workshop sessions allowed attendees to explore and contribute to key areas of work across the RPB:
Attendees pre-selected one of seven themed workshops, each showcasing a specific service or area of work funded through the Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board (RPB).
Each session served to highlight the impact of partnership working across sectors and settings, demonstrate how RPB investment is delivering tangible outcomes, and open the floor for discussion around future priorities and areas for development.
You can catch up on information from all of the workshops below:
Marketplace: Celebrating What’s Working Locally
The Marketplace was a vibrant, interactive space showcasing real-world examples of partnership work across five themed zones:
🔸 Starting Well – Led by Anna Tee
Spotlighting early years and youth initiatives, including school-based health and wellbeing programmes and integrated family support.
🔸 Living Well – Led by Chris Ball
Highlighting community connectors, mental health support, and the use of arts and culture to improve wellbeing.
🔸 Ageing Well – Led by Versha Sood
Focused on falls prevention, dementia-friendly communities, and proactive care planning.
🔸 Capital projects – Led by Jim Wilcox
Demonstrating joined-up responses to housing need, emergency care, and caring for people closer to home.
🔸 Enablers – Led by Sioned Owen
Presenting digital tools, workforce development strategies, and system integration innovations.
Each area was tailored to reflect local service models, spark conversations, and encourage visitors to explore links with the regional Area Plan. Delegates could interact with facilitators, pick up resources, and share their own feedback and ideas on how to shape the next phase of work.
Some of the contributors to the marketplace included:
Starting Well
- AP Cymru
- VAWDASV
- EPAtS
- Early Years PH
- Llamau
- CAVUHB
- ARC
- Goleudy
- Family Group Conferencing – Your Family Matters
- Family Lives
- Community Connectors
- UHB
- Platfform
- Barnardos
- CALDS
Living Well
- Unpaid Carers Delivery Plan
- Learning Disabilities Delivery Plan
- Neurodiversity Delivery Plan
- Sensory Impairment delivery plan
- YMCA
- Carer Friendly / Young Carers in School / Vale Carers Hub
- Young Carers Cardiff
- Cardiff unpaid carers (Care’Diff)
- Vale Unpaid Carers
- Mike O-Brien (ADVOCAD)
- IAS
- Diabetes / Public Health Team
- UHB Allied Health Professionals
- Glamorgan Voluntary Services
- C3SC
- Shared Lives
- LD Day services
- LD Innovate Trust
- LD third sector – Cardiff People First
Ageing Well
- Dementia Connector Funding
- Alzheimer’s society
- Social prescribing – Action for Careau and Ely (ACE)
- Hospital Therapeutic Activities
- Mental Health Matters
- Broker services – Age Connects
- Cardiff Council CRT
- Vale Council CRT
- UHB CRT
- Safe@Home
- Age Friendly Vale & Day Centres
- Vale Council Wellbeing Matters
- Cardiff Council Independent Living Services –
- Vale Age Friendly Dementia Friendly Cardiff
- CAV ED & WAST Collaboration
Capital
- Care and Repair,
- TeleCare Cardiff
- TEC Cardiff.
Enablers
- RCB Delivery Plan
- Regional Digital Board delivery plan
- Joint Equipment Store
- Tech Cymru
The Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board Awards
Recognising Excellence in Partnership Working
The day concluded with a moving awards ceremony, recognising individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the values of co-production, innovation, and partnership as well as celebrating outstanding individuals who go above and beyond to support people and communities across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Award categories included:
- Empowering Communities
- Co-production and Engagement
- Collaborative Working
- Innovation
- Making a Difference
- Chair’s Award
Each winner and nominee reflected the conference’s core theme: that we are Stronger Together.
You can see details of the awards and who won them below:
The Chair’s Award for Partnership
An outstanding example of partnership working to meet the needs of at last one priority population group at a regional level.
This prestigious Award was presented to Keith Ingram in recognition of his outstanding contribution to neurodivergence services across both Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Local Authorities. Keith’s dedication to inclusive practice, partnership working, and championing the needs of neurodivergent individuals has led to meaningful improvements in services and support.
His work exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and innovation that underpins the Regional Partnership Board’s vision — making a lasting difference to people’s lives through empathy, expertise, and co-production.
Empowering Local Communities Award
In recognition of an individual or service where a tangible difference to promoting independence and prevention has been achieved.
The Award was proudly presented to the Chai Chat Club, part of the Opening Doors to Brain Workout series. Their inspiring work to raise awareness of Dementia within the local Indian community has opened vital conversations, reduced stigma, and fostered greater understanding.
By creating culturally sensitive, welcoming spaces, the Chai Chat Club has empowered individuals and families to engage with support services and take proactive steps toward brain health and wellbeing.
Their impact is a shining example of community-led change.
Co-production and Engagement Award
An outstanding example of co-production with at least one RPB priority population group to create tangible improvements in community-based care and support.
We were proud to present the Award to Miles Utting, in recognition of his exceptional work supporting Dementia services in the Vale of Glamorgan. Miles has exemplified what it means to work with people, not for them — ensuring that the voices of those affected by dementia are not only heard but are central to shaping services.
His commitment to meaningful engagement, community inclusion, and improving quality of life for individuals and families is a powerful example of co-production in action.
The Collaborative Working Award
Where two or more organisations or individuals from different professions / specialisms have come together to make a tangible improvement to delivering community-based care and support.
Safe@Home was honoured with the this Award for their dedicated support to older people in crisis, helping to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
By working across health, social care, and community services, the Safe@Home team delivers rapid, person-centred responses that enable individuals to remain safely in their own homes.
Their work not only supports independence and dignity but also showcases the power of integrated care in action.
The Innovation Award
A superb example of where partners or individuals have developed a new way of doing things that has led to a step change in service delivery.
This Award was presented to Innovate Trust for their pioneering collaboration between the third sector and both Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan local authorities. Their ground-breaking work harnesses mainstream technology to enhance independence and quality of life for adults with learning disabilities.
By embedding smart, accessible solutions into everyday settings, Innovate Trust is not only transforming lives but also leading the way in inclusive, future-ready service design. Their innovation stands as a model of what’s possible when creativity and partnership go hand in hand.
The Making a Difference Award
In recognition of a local business or individual who’s support for their community has demonstrated an outstanding, tangible and positive impact for local people who’s care and support is a priority for the RPB.
This Award was awarded to Jackie Askey in recognition of her unwavering dedication as a long-standing supporter and enabler of the Cardiff and Vale Dementia Champions Network and Dementia Programme.
Jackie’s passion, commitment, and behind-the-scenes leadership have played a crucial role in growing a movement of dementia-aware professionals and improving experiences for people living with dementia.
Her quiet but powerful influence has truly made a lasting difference across the region.
Thank You and Share Your Feedback
The Stronger Together conference was a celebration of shared progress, inspiring leadership, and the power of partnership working across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. From thought-provoking discussions to the heartfelt recognition of those making a real difference, the day reflected our collective commitment to keeping people well and closer to home.
An Atmosphere of Connection and Joy
The conference was full of warmth, connection and genuine celebration. From the buzz of conversation in the marketplace to spontaneous birthday singing for a colleague, the atmosphere reflected the strong relationships and shared purpose at the heart of the RPB.
A special moment came as musicians from the Welsh National Opera performed live, having come straight from delivering one of their regular sessions for older people at St David’s Hospital. Their moving performance beautifully continued the conference’s central theme of wellbeing and care, and was a reminder of the power of the arts to support health and human connection.
Feedback from Attendees
“It was a superb event that I believe everyone enjoyed and took some learning from. The smooth, friendly, and professional way in which the whole day was managed is a real credit to you and your team. I am so very proud of you all.” – Jan Janczewski
“There was a lovely buzz and atmosphere throughout the day and lots of great networking and conversations.” – Sam Austin
“Well done to you and the team for putting such a great day together. It was really good!” – Suzanne Rankin
“A great event – everyone looked like they were thoroughly enjoying it.” – Sarah McGill
“Congratulations on a very successful conference.” – Lance Carver
“The event was excellent today.” – Gareth Newell
We’d also love to hear your thoughts to help us shape future events.
Please take a moment to complete our short feedback form via this link
Looking Ahead with Purpose
As the RPB reflects on the success of the day, planning is already underway to build on the learning and momentum. Feedback from attendees and contributors will shape next year’s conference, ensuring it remains a dynamic and inclusive space for everyone involved in shaping health and care across Cardiff and the Vale.
The Cardiff and Vale RPB Annual Conference 2025 was more than a moment—it was a milestone. Diolch to everyone who played a part in making it such a special day.