Amplifying Real Voices in Health and Care

The Bevan Commission are once again working in partnership with Llais on ‘In Your Shoes’ – an initiative is designed to shine a light on the real experiences of people navigating the health and social care system.

In order to build a deeper understanding of what care truly looks like in practice, we aim to work with individuals (adults) from across Wales with a wide range of backgrounds and conditions including:

• Cancer
• Dementia
• Neurodiversity ( (eg. Autism, ADHD)
• Maternity
• Stroke
• Diabetes

Over 12 months, participants will capture their journeys in real time through video, audio, or written reflections. These first-hand accounts offer an unfiltered view of both the strengths and challenges within the system, showing the real impact on individuals and their families.

Alongside these lived experiences, data and statistics will provide additional context, helping to create a richer picture of health and care services in Wales and how they can be improved.

The initiative starts in October 2025 and we look forward to sharing the findings at the end of 2026!

For more information about the initiative contact Bevan Commission Project Manager: Sarah Owen – s.k.owen@swansea.ac.uk

If you would like to take part in the initiative and have one of the six conditons listed above, please contact Llais on  inyourshoes@llaiscymru.org

2022: The Bevan Commission partnered with ARUP—experts in the built environment—to publish People, Places, Health: Constructing a Health and Care Ecosystem for Wales, a paper exploring how place-based design can support a healthier, more integrated health and care system.

The report envisions a future where health and social care are easily accessible within local communities, often within a “15-minute neighborhood” concept, reducing the reliance on general hospitals. It calls for a rethinking of roles for government, health leaders, city planners, and policymakers, emphasising better collaboration, cooperation, and coordination across various agencies and sectors.

Read the paper here.

June 2022: The Bevan Commission hosted an industry round table sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, to explore how Wales can harness health and care data—including AI and digital technologies—to deliver more prudent, integrated, and effective care. The rountable was attended by senior leaders and stakeholders from across the Welsh health and care system, including representatives from the Welsh Government, Digital Health and Care Wales, Public Health Wales, the Wales Cancer Network, third-sector organisations, academia, and the life sciences industry. The discussion focused on overcoming fragmentation, building public trust, and improving coordination and investment in the health data landscape, with key recommendations including the development of a national roadmap for data use, complementing the existing National Data Resource strategy.

To find out more, read the summary report here

May 2024: The Bevan Commission convened a Round Table with then First Minister Vaughan Gething and industry leaders to explore how businesses can support population health in Wales. The discussion under Chatham House rules focused on employee wellbeing, corporate social responsibility, and opportunities for collaboration and shared learning between sectors.

In response, the Bevan Commission—working with CBI Wales, Healthy Working Wales, Business in the Community (BITC), and Industry Wales—launched the Learning Together series: three themed events focused on employee health and wellbeing (April 2025), CSR, and learning from industry (dates to be confirmed in 2025).

Read the ”Industry Round Table Report” here.

October 2024: The Bevan Commission—supported by Boots—hosted a Round Table on ”Health on the High Street” to explore innovative, community-based approaches to improving health and wellbeing. With increasing pressure on Wales’ health and care services, the event brought together cross-sector partners to develop integrated, sustainable solutions.

Published in February 2025, the Health on the High Street Round Table Report captures insights from key stakeholders on embedding health and wellbeing services within local high streets. It explores what communities value and identifies practical, locally driven ways to meet health needs closer to home.

Read the report: Health on the High Street: Roundtable Report (Eng),     Health on the High Street: Roundtable Report (Welsh)

April 2025: The Bevan Commission, in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Healthy Working Wales (HWW), held the first of three planned ‘‘Learning Together’’ round table events, on the topic of ”Employee Health and Wellbeing’‘. At the event, Welsh industry leaders shared practical strategies to support workforce wellbeing. Following the event, a best practice booklet has been produced with practical recommendations, tools and resources,for businesses to support employee health and wellbeing and to help build healthier workplaces.

Download the Best Practice guide here: Employee Health and Wellbeing (English),     Employee Health and Wellbeing (Welsh)

Download the Round Table Executive Summary in English and Welsh

Download the Round Table Summary Report in English and Welsh

If you are  interested in collaborating with us, get in touch: bevan-commission@swansea.ac.uk>

In the meantime, stay tuned for more updates relating to future planned roundtable events and industry collaborations.

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