In Gwynedd and Anglesey, the Co-producing Community Narratives project worked with communities in Porthmadog and Bro Aberffraw to explore what it feels like to live, belong and grow older (or younger) in place. Through gentle, inclusive creative activity, people of all ages were invited to share their experiences of everyday life, alongside their hopes for the future of their communities.
Rather than asking people to respond to formal questions or consultations, the project created space for conversation to emerge naturally through making, storytelling and shared time together. What surfaced was a rich picture of community life, one shaped by connection and care, but also by practical barriers that affect who can take part and how.
Creative spaces rooted in everyday life
In Bro Aberffraw and nearby Bodorgan, sessions were embedded within familiar, trusted community settings. Creative activities took place alongside baby and toddler groups, dementia open days, art groups and community events, making participation feel relaxed and accessible.
Participants engaged with mark-making, painting, drawing to music and three-dimensional artmaking at their own pace. For many, the act of creating together offered a comfortable way into conversation, particularly for those who may feel excluded from more formal engagement. These spaces allowed people to reflect on their local area while also building confidence, connection and a sense of belonging.
Across generations, participants spoke about the importance of community groups and creative activity in reducing isolation and stigma, particularly for older residents and those living with dementia. Simply being visible, active and welcomed in shared spaces was seen as vital to feeling part of the community.
Transport, isolation and the realities of rural living
A recurring theme across sessions in Bro Aberffraw was transport, not as an abstract issue, but as a daily reality shaping people’s lives. Limited and unreliable public transport meant that many residents relied heavily on cars or volunteer-led transport to access services, social activities and community spaces.
For older residents in particular, these barriers contributed directly to feelings of isolation. Bus passes were often underused because services were infrequent or impractical, and the loss of independence that comes with limited mobility was keenly felt. These challenges were discussed openly during creative sessions, highlighting how closely transport, social connection and wellbeing are linked.
Participants also spoke about pressures on community cohesion, including the impact of second-home ownership, which some felt reduced year-round social activity and weakened local networks.
Age-friendliness and learning across generations
In Porthmadog, the focus turned to age-friendliness and how different generations experience the same place. Creative sessions brought together older residents in extra-care housing, primary school pupils and young people attending local youth provision.
Through clay work, drawing and collaborative making, participants were asked to imagine what an age-friendly Porthmadog might look like. Older residents shared their experiences of navigating the town with mobility or sensory impairments, while younger participants showed strong empathy, expressing concern about loneliness and accessibility for older people.
While Porthmadog was widely described as friendly and socially active, significant barriers were identified. Poor pavements, a lack of dropped kerbs and limited non-digital communication made it difficult for some residents to fully participate in community life. The intergenerational sessions helped surface these issues in a constructive way, grounded in shared understanding rather than blame.
Imagining more connected futures
Across both Gwynedd and Anglesey, the creative sessions enabled participants to move beyond describing problems and begin imagining change. Inclusion, kindness and connection emerged as shared values, alongside a desire for more accessible spaces and opportunities for people of all ages to come together.
The work demonstrated how creative engagement can act as a bridge, between generations, between lived experience and policy, and between challenges and possibility. By listening carefully to the stories people tell about their own places, richer and more human understandings of community begin to emerge.