**Community In Dismay as Cardiff and Vale UHB Ends Funding for Key Mental Health Charity**
The recent announcement by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) to end financial support for Cardiff and Vale Action for Mental Health (CAVAMH) has sparked consternation and distress amongst mental health campaigners and voluntary sector organisations across south Wales. The cessation of funding, effective from April 2025, is expected to lead to the closure of the vital mental health service by September of the same year, raising pressing concerns about the future of support for vulnerable individuals in the region.
CAVAMH has long served as a central hub for mental health information, training and development for third sector organisations in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The loss of such a service has drawn sharp criticism. Rachel Connor, chief executive of Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS), expressed her frustration and disappointment at a recent joint liaison committee meeting, describing the decision as “a great loss” to both service users and the charity sector in the region.
The director of CAVAMH, Linda Newton, shared concerns about how the closure might exacerbate existing challenges for those experiencing mental health difficulties. Speaking at a recent Vale of Glamorgan Council meeting, she commented: “We are a bit worried about the impact it’ll have… in terms of a lack of resource and we know it is a really stressful time at the moment for organisations and people with lived experience. The numbers of people with mental health lived experience are growing at the moment.”
Cardiff and Vale UHB maintained that the decision emerged after a thorough review and scrutiny process. According to a spokesperson, the health board evaluated feedback, engagement levels, and alignment with strategic aims, particularly regarding wider consultation and integrating co-production under their new Mental Health Strategy. However, critics argue that greater transparency was needed, with Ms Connor indicating there was little warning such a drastic measure might be on the horizon.
This development comes at a time when the Welsh Government has announced significant changes to mental health provision across the country. As of April 2025, new strategies intend to allow people to access open access services without the need for a formal referral. The ten-year plan aims to shift the focus towards early intervention, prevention, and community-based ‘social prescribing’, all in an effort to better address the growing demand for mental health support.
Despite these overall system changes, many within the voluntary sector remain concerned about the disruption the closure of CAVAMH could cause. Ms Connor reflected on the scale of the challenge, stating, “It is going to be very difficult for all of us as partners, whether we are third sector organisations or statutory partners, to actually engage as effectively with people who have lived experience of mental health. That is going to be a big loss for all of us and I am not quite sure how that will be managed moving forward.”
For now, CAVAMH is working to ensure that those who rely on its services are directed towards alternative sources of advice and assistance. Nevertheless, serious concerns endure regarding the potential gap in provision once the organisation ceases operations.
The health board, for its part, says alternative support remains available for residents in Cardiff and the Vale, emphasising access via NHS Wales services and other mental health charities. An official reiterated, “Those in need of urgent mental health support can get advice and guidance via the NHS Wales call 111 and press 2 service.”
As the region prepares for this transition, questions linger over the long-term impact these funding decisions may have on already stretched services. It is apparent that, while structural reforms offer hope for improved access and co-production in future, the immediate reality is one of uncertainty and, for many, deep disappointment. The true impact of this decision is likely to become clearer as the closure date draws closer, leaving communities and service providers alike hoping for swift adaptations and innovative solutions to bridge the looming gap.