Daring to Dream Founder Barbara Chidgey has called for Wales to recognise and respond to the significant emotional realities and impact of illness, a message she shared at the charity’s fifth annual Ball, which raised over £5,500 to support its work across the country.
Barbara emphasised that emotional health is about how people feel and cope with adversity, including illness, whereas mental health is about how the mind functions. While clinical care addresses physical needs, illness often unleashes emotional responses that are frequently overlooked. This is the gap that Daring to Dream seeks to fill.
Barbara said, “This is why Daring to Dream is the emotional, not mental, health charity, and why we provide vital ‘Spaces to Talk’ and ‘Spaces to Sing’ in hospital ward areas. These spaces help the 1.2 million adults in Wales living with chronic illness process their feelings and live as well as possible.
“When we live with illness, we react emotionally just as acutely as we do physically. To live well with a long‑term condition, clinical care and emotional health must go hand in hand.
“The strong emotions that accompany serious illness are a natural part of being human, not signs of mental ill health. In recent years, it has become more common for normal emotional responses to be described as mental health issues.
“At Daring to Dream, we challenge this by encouraging people to talk openly about how illness makes them feel, rather than carrying those emotions alone.”
Funds raised at the Ball will help the charity continue creating safe, supportive Spaces to Talk in hospitals across Wales. These are calm, dignified rooms where patients and families can process difficult news, share emotions or simply breathe. The charity also develops Spaces to Sing, recognising the power of music to connect, comfort and lift people during illness and long hospital stays.
The Ball also showcased the charity’s single Here Together, written and performed by Lylia Young and Ffion Parry, members of the Princess of Wales Hospital Spaces to Sing musician team.
Barbara explained the song’s origins: “Lylia was inspired to write a charity single for us. We had discussed the lyrics between us, and she had picked up my frustration that the emotional impact of illness is simply not heard. People don’t talk about it, they don’t acknowledge it, they don’t share it. We are so grateful to be able to share this message in such a powerful and beautiful song.”
Held at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff, the event included performances from the Tenovus Cancer Care Cardiff Sing with Us Choir, Daring to Dream Trustee Leigh Manley who shared poetry from both him and Bethany Handley, and an auction led by broadcaster and long‑standing supporter Jason Harrold.
The charity also welcomed support from civic leaders including Cllr Heidi Bennett, Mayor of Bridgend; Cllr Michael Michael, Lord Mayor of Cardiff; and Cllr Jane Gebbie, Chair of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
To find out more about Daring to Dream and support its work, visit About us – Daring to Dream or contact Barbara at barbarachidgey@daringtodream.wales
To access the charity video & single, visit Here Together
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