As the current phase of the 3 year Wales REACH project comes to an end, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the creativity, confidence and connection it has brought to our customers at Kensington Court and our wider community.

What is Wales REACH?

Wales REACH (Residents Engaging with Arts, Culture and Heritage) is a national project led by The Open University in Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, working across five Welsh communities.

The project has helped people explore and share the histories, heritage and stories that matter to them through creative arts, discussion, and community activity.

“We’ve discovered fantastic stories, local treasures and hidden talents through our development workshops. Using the opinions and suggestions of residents, we’ve been able to shape activities that truly reflect each community.”
Ruth Poultney, Project Officer for Wales REACH at The Open University

This inspiring initiative has been made possible thanks to the players of the National Lottery through funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

ateb’s involvement in Pembrokeshire

ateb was proud to be part of the Pembrokeshire strand of Wales REACH, working closely with customers at Kensington Court in Steynton and DeClare Court in Haverfordwest. Together, we’ve run creative workshops and storytelling sessions where customers have explored their personal histories and the places that mean something to them.

A key part of the project has been ‘Museum in a Bag’, a collection of individual bags, each containing objects that tell a personal story. Every participant has created their own “mini-museum”, forming part of a collective history that will be shared with the public.

Our Project Officer, Anne Kerr-Hughes, has seen the difference it’s made:

“We’ve noticed so many positive changes – from wellbeing and confidence, to people trying new things and learning new skills. One lovely outcome has been more residents using the local bus service, gaining confidence to travel independently after using it for a trip to the Archives in Haverfordwest. It’s been heart-warming to see.”

Partnerships that made it happen

We’ve been lucky to work alongside fantastic local partners at the VC Gallery, Mencap and Cartref Cymru who have helped make the sessions inclusive, creative and welcoming for everyone involved.

These partnerships have brought together people of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom are ateb customers, to celebrate local heritage and community connection.

Rex commented “I have enjoyed the planned sessions – being able to get out and about and take part in the activities where possible, I also enjoyed the social aspect, mixing with other residents and sharing our local knowledge of the area, and learning new facts”

Joan, another customer adds “it has revived my school level love of history… I am loving all the given work with interest.”

Anne, our project officer added, “Seeing Rex with the artefacts from the Museum of Wales was heartwarming, because it lead on to the story of him doing six months work experience at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, and going to Caerleon for a dig. It is a town in South Wales, which is an extremely important archaeological site, primarily known as the location of Isca Augusta, a permanent legionary fortress”.

Sharing our stories

The creativity doesn’t stop here. From Tuesday 10th February 2026, we’ll be hosting a week-long exhibition at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, showcasing the work of our Kensington Court customers and partners, both physically and digitally.

After that, our customers’ “Museum in a Bag” creations will become part of the main REACH exhibition at St Fagans National Museum of History, opening in late October 2026 and running through to May 2027 – giving our community stories a national stage.

Looking ahead

Whilst this phase of the Wales REACH project is coming to a close, its impact will last far beyond the end date. The friendships formed, confidence gained, and stories shared will continue to enrich our communities for years to come.

The Open University will also develop a digital exhibition and permanent online archive, ensuring everyone’s contributions are preserved. Learning resources inspired by the project will appear on the OpenLearn platform, helping heritage professionals and communities explore new ways to engage people across Wales.

We’re incredibly proud of what our customers and partners have achieved together, and we can’t wait to see their work take centre stage next year.

For more information on the REACH project visit https://walesreach.org/

Published: 05/02/2025