Together We Rise: Celebrating the Launch of Project HER

On 3 October 2026, Polish Women of Wales brought women together for a day of wellbeing, creativity and personal safety, with time to meet, share experiences and feel part of a community.

What helps a woman feel supported? Sometimes it begins with understanding her own body. Sometimes it is knowing where to turn for help. And sometimes it starts with meeting someone who listens.

These questions ran through the launch of Project HER. Our speakers and community partners brought different experiences and perspectives to a shared conversation about women’s lives in Wales. The programme made room for practical learning, personal stories and a gentle pause at the end of the day.

A Welcome and a Vision for the Future

Sylwia Dziewulska, Founder and CEO of Polish Women of Wales CIC, opened the event with the story behind PWOW: a wish to bring women together and create somewhere they could feel they belonged.

She introduced Project HER, which stands for Health, Empowerment and Resilience. Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, the project develops that vision through activities centred on women’s wellbeing, access to information and opportunities to connect.

Sylwia also shared plans beyond the launch, including quarterly events, an online community and subsidised wellbeing sessions. She invited women to help shape this community, whatever their background or stage of life.

Ty Roots: Connecting People Through Art

Ty Roots is a non-profit organisation founded in 2022 to help Eastern European communities in Wales access the arts and creative activities. It places particular emphasis on children and young people with fewer opportunities to take part, creating space to develop talents, express themselves and meet others through shared artistic experiences.

One of its projects, Art4Roots, combines arts and wellbeing activities for young people from the Polish community in South Wales who experience social isolation or barriers to accessing mainstream services. Cultural exchange and connections between communities are also central to its work.

Sylwia and Paulina represented Ty Roots at our event, introducing the organisation and exploring the benefits of creative activities. Their team also organised children’s activities, creating a safe space for play and creativity. Mothers who attended with their children could leave them in the team’s care while joining the talks and conversations.

That support meant a great deal to us. It helped more women take part and enjoy some time for themselves.

Magdalena Ford: Sauna Rituals Inspired by Nature

Magdalena Ford, the woman behind Mindcrafted Wellbeing, creates sauna experiences inspired by her Polish roots, nature and ancient rituals. Her work blends Aufguss, a sauna ritual involving the movement of heat and fragrance, with aromatherapy, music and movement.

Her sessions offer time to slow down, rest and connect with others. Warmth, scents and a carefully considered atmosphere create an experience that engages the senses and leaves room for each person’s own feelings and reflections.

During her talk, Magdalena introduced the world of sauna rituals and her work with warmth, herbs and sensory experiences. She invited us to discover this approach to relaxation and consider how we make space for rest in everyday life.

Dr Michelle Evans: Befriending Your Nervous System

Dr Michelle Evans, a psychotherapist and Chartered Psychologist specialising in trauma, anxiety and complex PTSD, explored what it means to “befriend” our nervous system.

She explained how experiences of threat can affect the body and mind, introducing the window of tolerance as a way to understand moments when we feel overwhelmed, shut down or able to engage calmly with the world around us.

Her session included grounding approaches such as tapping, soothing rhythmic breathing and movement. She also introduced defusion, which involves creating some distance from difficult thoughts. Her contribution gave participants ways to reflect on their own responses and tools to explore when they need to feel more settled.

Avril Bryan: Reflexology and Holistic Wellbeing

Avril Bryan runs Luna at Miskin Manor Business Centre in South Wales. Her work includes reflexology, massage, Reiki, guided meditation and sound sessions. She also offers Reiki training and leads Shamanic Journey Circles.

Her services include different forms of reflexology, Swedish massage and Indian head massage. She works with adults and children, offering sessions adapted to sensory needs, with an emphasis on individual attention and a calm, welcoming atmosphere.

At the event, Avril shared the personal experiences and spiritual journey that led her into this work. She introduced Luna and described how she brings different practices together. It was an opportunity to discover both her work and the story of the woman behind it.

PCSO Monika: Awareness and Personal Safety

PCSO Monika, a Police Community Support Officer with more than six years’ experience, brought a practical focus to women’s safety.

Her self-protection session covered recognising potential risks, staying aware of our surroundings and responding when approached by a stranger. She also addressed what to do if a situation becomes threatening, emphasising opportunities to get away and seek help.

Her contribution connected everyday awareness with the wider work of building safer, more supportive communities.

Holly Newton: Homeopathy and Women’s Experiences

Holly Newton runs Holly Newton Homeopathy, with a particular interest in working with women who experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

During her talk, Holly introduced her practice, shared her own story and described her approach to individual consultations. She outlined the principles of homeopathy, explained what her appointments involve and introduced her educational courses.

Her contribution brought menstrual experiences into the day’s conversation, exploring the physical and emotional concerns women bring to her practice.

Monika Racova: Finding Her Path Through Movement

Monika Racova is a Zumba and fitness instructor with a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification. She creates welcoming classes for women of different ages and fitness levels, with an emphasis on enjoying movement, building confidence and connecting with others.

At the event, she shared the personal journey that brought her to where she is today. She spoke about changing direction from a career in supply chain and logistics to teaching fitness and working with women through movement.

Her story helped us get to know the person behind the classes and the motivation behind her wish to create spaces where women feel comfortable taking part and being themselves.

Cath Little: A Story That Had Us Spellbound

Cath Little is a storyteller, singer and author from Cardiff. She draws inspiration from the traditional songs and stories of Wales, including the myths of the Mabinogion. In ancient tales, she finds themes that speak to contemporary life, giving particular attention to women’s voices. She shares stories in schools, libraries, museums and community spaces.

At our event, Cath drew us into the world of one of her stories. Her voice and the atmosphere she created held us spellbound, taking us deeper into the tale as it unfolded.

Its beautiful message gave us something to reflect on long after the telling. For those moments, we shared the experience of listening together, our attention held by a single story.

Balance & Harmony: A Gentle Close to the Day

Jola and Beata from Balance & Harmony – Sound Baths led our final relaxation session, inviting participants to pause, breathe and immerse themselves in sound.

After a day filled with new ideas, personal stories and conversation, this was time to rest and settle. The sound bath brought our gathering to a peaceful close before Sylwia’s final thanks.

Conversations Around the Table

The time between talks was an important part of the day. Over coffee, tea, cakes and refreshments, we got to know one another, returned to the stories we had heard and spoke with our guests.

Networking and visits to community and business tables offered opportunities to discover local initiatives, exchange experiences and explore possible collaborations. These informal conversations are often where new friendships and shared ideas begin.

The Local Businesses Who Supported Our Gathering

Our shared table also reflected the generosity of local businesses. We would like to thank our sponsors for their involvement and support with the refreshments:

• Big Mamma’s Sandwich Club: a Cardiff food business offering sandwiches, wraps and baked potatoes.

• Aggie Fusion Cafe: a Cardiff café serving coffee, hot food, cakes and desserts.

• Pierogi – Homemade Dumplings: a business at Cardiff Market making homemade pierogi using traditional recipes.

• Tom Bake – Homemade Cakes & Catering: a Newport business offering celebration cakes, desserts and catering. Tom Bake made a beautiful, delicious cake especially for our event, and it disappeared in no time!

• Delikatesy Miś: a Polish shop in Cardiff offering groceries, bread, cold meats and dairy products, among other everyday essentials.

  
  

Your support helped create a welcoming atmosphere and a place for conversations around the table. Thank you for being part of this day. We encourage our community to discover and support the businesses that support PWOW.

The Words That Stayed With Us

Our visitors’ book captured what the day meant to the people who joined us. Participants wrote about the friendly atmosphere, meeting like-minded people and having space to share and grow.

One message read:

“Thank You for bringing us all together! Giving the community a safe space to be”

Another described:

“What a beautiful, heartfilled inspiring day.”

These words mean a great deal to us. They remind us why creating opportunities to meet is worth the work, and why we want to keep going.

Thank you to every speaker, partner, supporter and participant who helped make the Project HER launch happen. Thank you, too, to the PWOW team and the National Lottery Community Fund for supporting this next chapter.

Would you like to be part of our community? Explore our upcoming events, get involved or talk to us about partnering with PWOW at https://www.pwow.co.uk/contact

Together we rise. You are not alone. You belong here.