Wellbeing does not tend to occur in a vacuum.

In that multiple layers can affect our health. If we have a physical illness, it can quite easily affect our mental and social health especially, just as a psychological illness can affect both mental and social health. Porr social and/or ecological health can affect both physical, and psychological wellbeing. The interactions are multiple, and ideally we would work at all levels to support wellbeing in communities.

One way that Creuynni has been involved with for the past 12 years is through community resources sharing through free stalls.

Give and Take and Free Stalls In Wrecsam.

The free stalls in Wrecsam were originally inspired by Give and Take – which originated with free stalls in Connah’s Quay in 1992. Genny took them on as Bring and Take pop up stalls, and later Give and Take and Creuynni supported pop ups and more permanent free stalls in diverse places from The People’s Market for 6 months, Wrexham University pop ups with the Sustainability Society, World Peace Day events at St. Christopher’s School, pop ups at Ty Pawb, Lle Hapus, and more recently with the excellent Repair Cafe Wrecsam, leading to a more permanent site at Caia Park Partnership Hub in 2025.

A stall where everything is free.

So much of what we need in this world or can use has already been made. Like reinventing the wheel, we remake items when there are many already in circulation. Years ago perhaps we would share around our families, our communities what we had as we lived so close knit. Now, the free shop helps facilitate that sharing with our family, our neighbours – it’s just that ourr family, our neighbours are now extended number all of the area and nearby areas that the free stall is at.

How does this help wellbeing.

The levels of wellbeing support are many.

Starting with the ecological. In just its first week, the free shop In Caia Park saved over 18.3 tonnes of CO2 emoissions – enough to power 9 long-haul flights, 183 short-haul flights, heat 8 households for a full year, and estimated to be the equivalent of  ⁠planting a small woodland of 300–350 trees (Let’s do this too please!!). It also saves tens of thousands of litres of water, Kjs of energy – and reduces the pollution of chemicals used to make many of these products massively.

In coming together as a community to do this, this enriches the social – particularly where the base is in a more permanent place – communities can begin to grow through this. Supporting each other – there is no middle man – simply giving and receiving – with givers also being takers, takers – givers, with zero need to give to take, all mixing together – all playing their part in helping the environment and helping local communities.

This helps mentally too. Whether it’s the mental support reported of having access to craft items, the ease of pressure on the cost of living of basic needs such as clothes, shoes, household items or toys for kids, or the mental boost in knowing your actions to share and support here are helping others, and helping the environment.

There is in turn the potential for a physical impact – whether that’s the physical activity of volunteering – walking to the free shop, sorting stock – working together, or the physical benefits in the world of less pollution. Ideally there would be a community sharing free shop in each area that people can easily walk to, socialise, and reduce their environmental impact by reusing quality items.

It’s very easy to set up a pop free stall Many places will offer you free places at events when they know what you offer. If charged a small amount, you can set up a donation pot – while not encouraged to donate per se, you may find people donate enough to cover the free stall. We have found it depends on the type of location or set up as to whether people simply share freely, or whether they insist on paying even if they are told they do not have to.

The difficulty for pop ups can be – storage, and the lug – the moving of items, setting up and packing down each time. There is a a great quote from Give and Take, ‘The more we gave, the more we got’ rings true for the Wrecsam events too. Pop ups also requires a lot more advertising compared to regular opening hours that a more permanent free shop can have nor does it have the convenience of having more times of being able to pop by as when is available. If you have energy, storage (or are happy to take the excess to charity shops), and motivation – it is really worth doing. If you have to choose wisely, a more permanent option is ideal.

Most of our years have not been permanent, except twice – a free stall at an events at The People’s Market led to 6 months of a free use of a pitch there. Then, when funding was offered to a Low Carbon Communities Caia Park group, this enabled 2-3 months rent, and 1-2 months of 4 hours most weeks of a paid worker to support volunteers. As the only thing about a permanent site, is the need for volunteers to make that happen – to be available week in, week out. A lot of wonderful items are given, and they take sorting- people are welcome to put the items they bring out themselves – however many do drop off, and people do need to sort these, put them out on the shelves, hang them up etc. In one way, as everything is free, the stall can run itself – in another way for health and safety, and to keep it tidy, it benefits from having people regularly working there. As it is such a quick and easy way of helping the environment, ideally this would be a key part in reducing waste initiatives – therefore the council may be able to help you sometimes, especially if there are Low Carbon Community initiatives. Otherwise there are great funding available to apply for. This is not so easy usually, but there is support to help. Some people just put free items out on the street. Whatever way works for you is great. And if you do, you can let the charity shops know – they may appreciate having somewhere to bring quality items that have not sold at their shop.

We do recommend gaining insurance too, and frequent risk assessments, and shared agreements for volunteers – of common sense but for clarity agreements such as only putting out safe items, not pressuring people for donations, and welcoming people from diverse backgrounds, birthplaces, cultures, identities, LGTBQIA+ etc. And also taking contacts, emergency contacts. With the amount of vulnerable that come in, we also recently added a not coming in if you have flu policy! Clear agreements so people know where they stand.

The problem we have had consistently is space. In our experience – people love to give – to share – and we are so often overloaded by the sharing. It is inspiring though. – how much people naturally wish to share – especially with the connection here.

The benefits are multiple and it is great for volunteers. They often have first dibs on what comes in – as well as the excitement like Christmas opening the bags of wonderful items given. They also can get Tempo Time Credits to exchange at places like National Trust sites.

If you are thinking about setting up a free stall, or have any questions in general – perhaps you would like to volunteer, or do research into the impact of these initiatives, please get in touch!

•⁠  

Ecovillages give opportunities to enhance wellbeing on multiple levels – physically, psychologically, socially and ecologically.

Having researched Ecovillages, Eco-Projects and Communities, and Project Managing the Rhwydwaith Pentref Eco Cymru – Ecovillage Network Cymru since 2011, Katherine set out this year to find what is happening now as Ecovillages in Europe expand in number more and more.

Here are are some of the projects Katherine, Calon and/or Brian have visited and learned from in the past 10 years:

Lammas, Pembrokeshire

Photo: Group study visit to Lammas.

Lammas has been a great support to many fledgling groups, pioneers of ecovillage living in Cymru – and very willing to lend a hand to make more projects like this happen. They also provide many resources – videos, documents and consultancy.to groups.

Iona Community

Photo: Calon and Katie’s trip with Wrexham Community Choir to stay with and learn from the Iona Community.

Iona Community are a spiritual community, coming together with this shared purpose. Based on Iona, they also have connections and community in other parts of the world – and can even be found as a temporary commuinty at Glastonbury Festival. on the way to Block 9

Brithdir Mawr

Photo: Group study trip to Brithdir Mawr.

Brithdir Mawr was a long standing community – bought by a couple, who later split – one half of the couple lives next door, and the other half rented the buildings out to these community members.

Embercoombe.

Photo: To Follow

Embercoombe is a very special place – with opportunities to learn leadership and other wellbeing skills to assist us live in the world in a way mindful for the next seven generations.

Karuna

Photo: Janta from Karuna demonstrating fruit tree grafting techniques at the project

Karuna is made up of an amazing couple who live close to nature, enhanced by great permaculture skills, and the building of a wonderful roundhouse, Karuna is a very special place..

Cae Mabon

Photo: To follow

Cae Mabon is a stalwart of eco-projects. With natural buildings forming a retreat centre that a small community looks after and serves, Cae Mabon is in an exquisite, natural, magical location. Really special.

Centre of Alternative Technology, Machynlleth

Photo: To follow

Legendary in Cymru, this project has been going over 50 years – since 1973 – a key educational resource and research centre – so many projects owe a lot to this centre.

Garth Organic Garden

Photo: To follow

A beautiful garden on the slopes of Garth, working with Permaculture methods – supporting wellbeing through organic practices.

Ty Mawr

Photo: CLAS training at Ty Mawr.

A community natural space that holds community events, including the Community Land Advisory Service training, pictured here, that taught us about co-creating community projects in Cymru.

LILAC (Low Impact Living and Communuity)  – eco co-housing project, Bramley, Leeds.

Welhealth, near Corwen

Tamera Peace Resarch Centre and ecovillage, Portugal

Sieben Linden, Germany

Zegg  (ecovillage), Germany

Cloughjordan (ecovillage), Ireland

Felin Uchaf, Llyn Peninsula

Photo: Calon on top of the amazing Community Earthhouse, Felin Uchaf

Landmatters, Devon.

Steward Wood, Devon

Wibbly Wobbly Way

Permaculture Gardens, Glastonbury

Brooke End Farm

Sustainability Centre, Hampshire.

El Douceur et Harmonie, France

Photo: Calon and Bart celebrating making and hanging a door (pictured) at Douceur et Harmonie.

Wilderness Farm

Photo: Bill giving a tour to the group and sharing his experiences of his conservation and wildlife rehabilitation work with Wilderness Farm.

Inglenook Farm

Photo: Lavender growing commercially at Inglenook Farm

Lupton House

Auroville, India.

Findhorn, Scotland.

Findhorn is a legend in the ecovillage world. Established in 1962, this ecovillage has gently grown. United by spiritual principles – this is now a well sought out area to live in general by people from so many walks of life.

Ravenwood, Italy

Based on the Anastasia books, this project that includes domes, and living close to nature – aims to cultivate the way of kin – of family – with eachother and nature.

Darmunhur Italy

Darmunhur is another long standing community – 1975, from 10s of people it has grown to hundreds, spread over the area’s lands.

More recent adventures.

This year in 2025, Katherine journeyed to find more ecovillage projects in Europe, some very new indeed and achieving so much. More information and videos to be added to this post soon!