At Mental Health Matters Wales (MHM Wales), celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion isn’t just about what happens within our organisation—it extends throughout the people and groups we support. Our Chinese New Year celebrations this year reflected this commitment, with activities taking place both among staff and throughout our well-being groups, ensuring that the spirit of cultural awareness, connection, and inclusivity was shared by all.
Bringing Staff Together: A Festive Potluck Lunch
Within our MHM Wales team, we celebrated Chinese New Year with a potluck lunch, bringing together staff from all departments for a fantastic shared experience of food, tradition, and connection.
The Retreat room was beautifully decorated with a Chinese New Year theme, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere for everyone. To mark the occasion, red envelopes containing small talismans representing the Year of the Snake were gifted to attendees—a symbol of luck, protection, and prosperity.
The lunch itself was a true feast, with a variety of dishes that carried symbolic meaning in Chinese culture:
🍜 Noodles, representing long life and prosperity
🍚 Rice, symbolising nourishment, fertility, and abundance
🥟 Spring rolls, resembling gold bars, and representing wealth and financial success
🥠 Prawn crackers, puffing up when fried, symbolising prosperity and growth
🥤 Wood apple juice, a Sri Lankan tradition, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange
With plenty of food for all, the potluck lunch was not just about celebration—it was about coming together to share traditions, embrace diversity, and strengthen connections across the team.
Extending the Celebration Beyond the Workplace
At MHM Wales, our commitment to cultural inclusivity goes beyond staff. In the week leading up to Chinese New Year, our well-being groups took part in activities to recognise and celebrate the occasion in their own way.
🧧 Creative Activities:
Participants engaged in Chinese lantern-making workshops, learning about their symbolism of light, hope, and renewal.
🌏 Cultural Conversations:
Groups explored the traditions and meanings behind Chinese New Year, sharing their own cultural experiences and perspectives.
🎉 Celebrating Diversity:
The focus wasn’t just on one culture, but on embracing the richness of different traditions, encouraging understanding and appreciation across different backgrounds.
By celebrating Chinese New Year not only with staff but also through our well-being groups, we reinforced our commitment to cultural awareness, inclusivity, and creating spaces where people feel seen and valued.
Aligning with the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan
Our Chinese New Year celebrations align with the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP), which emphasises the importance of cultural representation and inclusion in all areas of society. This initiative highlights:
✔️ The celebration of diverse cultures and heritage
✔️ The importance of recognising and respecting all communities
✔️ Embedding anti-racist and inclusive practices in organisations
At MHM Wales, we are committed to these principles—not just through internal celebrations, but by ensuring our services, outreach, and engagement reflect and respect the diversity of the people we support.
Our Diverse Cymru Silver Award is a testament to our continued efforts to champion cultural competence and inclusivity, both within our organisation and through our wider activities.
Looking Ahead: More Opportunities to Celebrate and Connect
Our Chinese New Year celebrations showcased the importance of diversity, shared experiences, and connection—not just within our team, but among those who engage with our services.
As we move forward, we will continue to recognise, celebrate, and learn from different cultural traditions, strengthening understanding, inclusion, and well-being.
We now look ahead to our next team gathering in March when we will be celebrating St. David’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day with another potluck lunch, fun activities, and cultural appreciation.
We will continue to recognise and celebrate diversity in meaningful ways—both within MHM Wales and through the people we work with every day.
Happy Chinese New Year! 新年快乐! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
! 🎉🐍🏮
Commentaires