In Wales, we have a history of making laws that support caring and compassionate communities. These laws make it necessary for organisations to work with people and their communities so we can all live well. Here in West Wales, fairness has been important for a very long time.
Hundreds of years ago, a king called Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) made laws to help people live safely and kindly together. He tried hard to do what was right, and people respected him for it. Hywel Dda University Health Board is named after him - his life and story inspire us to do the right thing today.
In West Wales, County Councils, voluntary organisations and the Health Board have worked together to turn this inspiration into a set of shared ideas and principles. These ideas guide how organisations work with our communities and support each other. We call this way of working a Social Model for Health and Wellbeing.
- A social model for health and wellbeing means supporting people to live healthy, happy lives in strong, supportive communities.
- In March 2025, different organisations agreed to work together to make this happen.
- Their agreement is captured in a social model for health and well-being charter.
- The Charter has different layers because health, well-being, and communities are made up of many things.
- The first layer is about Living Well for Longer. On each page, you will find helpful links with advice, ideas, research and apps to support healthier and happier lives. Everyone is different, so we have included a range of options to suit different people.
- The information on this page explores layers 2, 3 and 4 - the outer layers of the charter.
To see more information on the first layer - the Six Ways of Living Well for Longer - click on the button above.
We also have a section on Protecting your Health which explores the different ways you can protect your health - taking up opportunities for health screens (e.g getting a Breast Test) and getting your vaccinations and immunisations (e.g for Flu and Shingles). We are also sharing information on delaying or preventing dementia.
