This is an important week in the ‘awareness and prevention’ calendar, and as always, there are plenty of opportunities to engage with a host of campaigns which occur this month. Falls Awareness (sometimes referred to as Prevention) Week highlights the importance of being mobile and active in later life and campaigning groups such as Age Cymru as well as the local health authorities, including ours here in Cardiff and Vale, are offering awareness advice and prevention tips in an effort to ensure that more of us stay on our feet safely and for longer.

For those of you who are in the catchment area of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, the authority has a dedicated Falls Team, and this week they are based at Barry Library for three mornings, 10-12, to offer advice and support around preventing falls. Their first day is Monday 20th and they are also there on Tuesday and Thursday. And if you can’t get to Barry but you’re concerned about your mobility you can get in touch with the Stay Steady Clinic on 02921 832552.

It is also Migraine Awareness Week, where the campaign tagline is ‘believe me/us’ as the Migraine Trust calls for more action on raising awareness and getting skeptics to believe those who suffer with the debilitating headaches. On Wednesday, Sept 23, the United Nations will mark International Day of Sign Languages, which coincides with Deaf Awareness Week.

And, this week is also Organ Donation Week. Today, 8691 people are waiting for a transplant in the UK and 1572 have received a transplant from a deceased donor since April this year. Almost 40% of opt-in registrations on the organ donation register are people aged between 18-34 and since 2020/21 consent for organ donation has fallen from 69% to 57% this year, but the good news is that almost 29 million of us have agreed to donate our organs after death.

And a big ‘thank you’ to the organisers of the South Wales Business Awards and to one of our trustees, Byron Brain, for a chance to showcase the great work of Hospital Radio Glamorgan.

If like out programme presenter, Julie, you have never heard of International Dot Day, rest assured, you’re in for a treat. The show also highlights the work of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s immunisation co-ordinators who are offering MenB vaccinations to first-year undergraduate students aged under 25 and as it is National Inclusion Week, we hear what one school in the Vale of Glamorgan is doing to ensure its pupils know what its like to learn in a ‘highly inclusive and respectful environment’.

American author Peter H Reynolds, wrote The Dot, a book about self discovery and the creative journey of a little girl called Vashti. She fretted that she couldn’t draw, but her first mark showed otherwise. A few years after the book was published a teacher called Terry Shay started International Dot Day, which falls (roughly) on September 15. It has become a day to celebrate creativity, courage and making your mark.

MenB is a serious bacterial infection that can cause sepsis and can become life-threatening very quickly. The CVUHB vaccination team will be visiting universities across Cardiff and the Vale throughout September and October to offer the vaccine to all eligible first-year undergraduate students.

It’s National Inclusion Week, a week dedicated to inclusivity and encouraging us all to start important conversations centred around this year’s theme of ‘build trust; navigate change’. As we all adapt to more technological changes, skills needs and economic pressures our expectations of ourselves and one another evolve. This can be challenging and exciting but also leave people feeling uncertain about what it means for them. This annual campaign is designed to celebrate inclusion and respect and valuing all individuals. At Cogan Primary School in the Vale of Glamorgan the school’s Hearing Resource Base was recently praised by Estyn as a particular strength, with inspectors describing Cogan as a “highly inclusive and respectful environment” where pupils with hearing loss are fully integrated into school life. We hear about it from two members of the school’s staff.

It’s August, and incredibly, the sun is still shining in south east Wales, and beyond! The school holidays are in full swing, some will be on annual leave, others will be enjoying some rest and relaxation, so what better way to while away some time than to test your general knowledge and find out how much you know about Wales? You’ll get a chance to do that with the Joining the Dots quiz!

We all know how important it is to keep our minds as well as our bodies active, so why not test yourself and let Julie know how you get on?

Send her an email at [email protected] and tell her how many marks you got. There were 21 up for grabs and quiz questions included:

*South Wales is home to the second largest castle in Britain. Windsor is the biggest castle, so what is the name of the biggest in Wales?

*What is the name of the Welsh terrier dog that originated from Pembrokeshire and became popular with Hollywood stars and royalty after the First World War?

Programme 21 also offers some insight into what you might want to watch, listen to and maybe even go and see. Julie’s recommendations are Ann Droid on BBC iPlayer for something to watch; How to Fail, with journalist and author Elizabeth Day for something to listen to, or watch if you prefer and Jersey Boys at Wales Millennium Centre if you fancy treating yourself to a simply spectacular musical. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the true-life musical phenomenon. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note ….

According to Public Health Wales, diabetes is on the rise with one in five adults affected. That means the number of people living with diabetes in Wales is rising faster than previously projected, new data from NHS Wales has revealed. Public Health Wales and Diabetes UK Cymru have joined forces to call on people to know their risk of Type 2 diabetes and act swiftly.

The latest figures (2025) show that 230,371 people aged 17 and over in Wales are now living with diabetes. That is an increase of 7,685 people, or 3.5 per cent, in a single year (222,686 in 2024). The rate of growth significantly outpaces projections made by Public Health Wales in 2021/22, which forecast that Wales would reach 260,000, or one in 11 people diagnosed as living with diabetes, by 2035. At current rates of growth, that milestone could arrive considerably earlier.

There are several types of diabetes, although type 1 and 2 are what we hear about most often. In all types, glucose can’t get into our cells properly so it builds up in the blood and too much glucose can cause lots of different problems. Diabetes UK has a range of information and support on its website.

And we be look at the impact the hot weather can have on us, especially if you’re on medication or if you’ve found that your mental health has declined as a result of the heatwave. The Medicines and Respiratory products Healthcare Agency has issued advice on keeping you medicines and medical devices safe in the hot weather.

There was also a quiz on the show - no theme, but the questions were connected to the songs and stories on the show. How many did you get right?

And as this was our 20th programme, we have a request for you, what else would you like to hear about on Joining The Dots? Theatre/arts news and reviews, regular quizzes, a 'good news' feature have all been suggested. If you have other ideas please email [email protected]

ARFID, Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder impacts between 0.5% and 5% of the population. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, individuals with ARFID limit the volume and/or variety of foods they consume, but unlike other eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, food avoidance or restriction is not related to fears of weight or distress about body shape, size or weight. Instead, in ARFID, selective eating is motivated by a lack of interest in eating or of food itself, or what is called sensory sensitivity (e.g., strong reactions to taste, texture, smell of foods), and/or a fear of aversive consequences (e.g., of choking or vomiting). ARFID Awareness UK offers support and resources online, as does the Cardiff and Vale Eating Disorders Service.

Happy birthday to the National Health Service for July 5th – 78 years old! Established in 1948 by Welshman Aneurin Bevan, Britain was the first western country to offer free at the point of use medical care to the whole population. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support our local NHS, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board here at Hospital Radio Glamorgan and the people who work there, including Charis Joyce, an immunisation co-ordinator who explained why over 75 year olds and babies would benefit from the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccination. GP’s surgeries and walk-in clinics are being held this month, including across Cardiff and the Vale.

And pet loss, something many of us struggle with. Would you know where to get support?

• Pet Loss Support Group
• Blue Cross
• Pet Bereavement Support

The final part of our interview with Samaritans volunteer, Adam, focuses on loneliness and why there is no ‘typical’ caller to the 24/7 listening service.

Could you take part in a fundraising event for the Samaritans? The charity is asking people to join its 24 minutes a day challenge. Can you join with others and commit to 24 minutes of daily activity for 24 days from July 1 to 24 – it can be any activity from running to crafting, walking to knitting? If you can, Samaritans would love you to help them raise vital funds.

Cardiff Foodbank, which a couple of weeks ago appealed for help in restocking its bare shelves, has received a significant £20,000 donation from American hard rock band Metallica, who played the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday night (28 June 2026). The band’s charitable foundation, All Within My Hands, routinely donates to local food banks while on tour, to make a positive impact in the communities they visit.And if you’re local to Cardiff and have some time on your hands, there’s a volunteering opportunity available on our doorstep here at the University Hospital of Wales.

Armed Forces Day was marked on June 27 this year and it was celebrated with a range of activities taking place across Wales. It is a chance to show appreciation for those who form the Armed Forces community, from currently serving personnel to service families, veterans and cadets.

We all know the name Samaritans, and many of us know what they do - or do we? We hear from Adam, a volunteer with the Samaritans. Our conversation follows on from last week’s loneliness awareness theme and we discover more about the charity, what it takes to be a volunteer and why the Samaritans are always available for those who want to talk.

Samaritans provide a listening service 24/7 for those who want to talk. Whatever you're going through, the call to them is free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

And, as we in Wales and the rest of the UK experience a heatwave, there are some useful reminders on keeping cool, whether you are a human or an animal.

Advice from the Met Office includes:

• Keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am to 3pm when the sun is the strongest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Close your curtains in rooms that face the sun
• Look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated. Older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone are particularly at risk.
• If you are going out, take water with you, keep in the shade, wear sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat

And animal charities, including Dogs Trust and RSPCA, warn against walking dogs in extreme heat and offer advice on keeping pets safe, including:

• Making sure they have shade
• Giving them constant access to fresh water
• Putting ice cubes in their water bowl
• Giving them damp towels to lie on

Loneliness Awareness Week, an important date in the calendar and a time for us to focus on what the World Health Organisation has called a pressing global health threat. Its report on social connection showed that social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with serious but under-recognized impacts on health, well-being, and society. It called for social health to be treated with the same urgency as physical and mental health.

Dealing with loneliness isn’t just about joining a club, making a phone call, reaching out to others - although we know those things can help. At the men's mental health hub Helpu, one of their founding principles is 'connection is protection', ie strong, healthy relationships can keep us safe, supported and resilient during times of difficulty. We also heard from Natalie Ereira-Guyer, of Steps to Togetherness, a national grassroots organisation seeking to help build connections.

Where would we be without volunteers? What would happen to many of our charities and community-focused organisations without the people who give up their time to keep them running? If you volunteer, THANK YOU, for all that you do and for the sacrifices you make.

We're continuing to celebrate those who give to our communities ... We're shining a light on some of those who give their time and energy, expertise and commitment to help others. We hear from volunteers at the Salvation Army donation centre in Cardiff, as well as representatives from Hope Rescue and Wales Air Ambulance.

University of South Wales Media, Culture and Journalism student, Rosie Clay, has been busy interviewing volunteers at the Salvation Army donation centre, finding out why they give up their time to help and what they get out of it. Vanessa Waddon, the CEO of Hope Rescue, shares a message of thanks for the selfless work of volunteers in helping discarded and mistreated dogs across south Wales. And we hear from Steven Stokes, director of strategic communications at Wales Air Ambulance, about the impact volunteers have on the charity.

It's Volunteers Week, a time when we celebrate the people who volunteer across a host of charities and organisations and remember that without them, many of the things we take for granted simply wouldn’t happen. So, a huge shout out to those of you who volunteer and a big thank you for all you do.

Volunteering Wales is the place to start if you want to dip your toe into volunteering but you also want help to identify what and where is best for you. They aim to make volunteering easy for volunteers and organisations across the country and there are loads of volunteering opportunities on their website . They currently have 2622 advertised and the opportunities range from befriending to being a Welsh translator to a support assistant, a driver, sitting on a youth-led grant panel to being an oral history recorder.

Here at Hospital Radio Glamorgan, our station is run entirely by volunteers, that means everyone on air and off it gives up some of their time to keep our station running, online, in the hospitals and on DAB and via our app. And on this show, some of our volunteers share what being able to contribute to the station means to them. Jayne Jones wakes us up on a Sunday morning and she’s on air between 7-10am. Jayne is a huge music fan and also contributes specialist music shows across the station. Jayne is also a runner and has run to raise money for HRG.

Andrew Woolfe is the voice who brings us Music Was My First Love. He's had some incredible guests over the years. The programme is now into its eighth series and we hear from one of its latest guests and our oldest volunteer, John Webber. Saturday Matinee's Jill Brinkworth also shares her reasons for volunteering at HRG and beyond. Jill is also fundraising for the station this month (June) by cycling the 54 miles from London to Brighton. You can support Jill HERE.

We hear from the station's chair, Jamie Pritchard, too. Jamie has broadcasting in his blood and he shares how volunteering at Hospital Radio Glamorgan started and what the station has meant to him over more than two decades of involvement.