The SEREN Connect programme has achieved remarkable success in empowering young people living with Type 1 diabetes. Developed to bridge the gap between paediatric and adult transitional care services, this innovative, award-winning initiative has already made a lasting impact on participants—and now, an in-depth evaluation reveals just how transformative it has been.

In 2020, SEREN Connect was recognised with two prestigious Quality in Care awards. The judges highlighted the programme’s success in addressing a key issue in paediatric and young people’s education: the lack of national programmes. As they stated, “The SEREN Connect project has identified that one of the big problems in paediatric and young people education is that there aren’t any national programmes, and lots of people have been trying to develop them without real success. This work has done just that and is also incredibly innovative, with spectacular outcomes.”

A Groundbreaking Approach to Transitional Care

SEREN Connect was created to address the challenges young people face during the critical transition to adult services. The programme’s dynamic format combines structured educational sessions with peer support and group activities, fostering a sense of connection and belonging for participants. By blending professional guidance with lived experience, SEREN Connect ensures that young people feel supported both medically and emotionally as they prepare for young adulthood.

Key Findings from “The First 100” Evaluation

An evaluation of feedback from the first 100 participants across Wales and England underscores the programme’s success:

• Improved Confidence and Motivation: 99% of participants reported increased confidence in managing their diabetes, while 94.5% felt more motivated to take charge of their health.
• Exceptional Satisfaction Rates: Every participant said they would recommend SEREN Connect to other young people with Type 1 diabetes.
• Community and Connection: A recurring theme in the feedback was the value of meeting others with shared experiences. Participants highlighted how the sessions reduced feelings of isolation and fostered a sense of belonging. One participant expressed, “Finding people who have common goals and struggles allows me to know I’m not alone.

Shaping the Future of Diabetes Care

SEREN Connect has already made a significant impact across Wales, parts of England, and the Channel Islands, and we are committed to ensuring its continued success. In response to feedback from multiple stakeholders, we are working closely with individuals who have lived experience to co-create content that will promote the programme and support healthcare teams in recruiting future participants. Healthcare teams delivering the programme are encouraged to collaborate, share best practices, and ensure inclusive, diverse sessions that meet the unique needs of every participant.

Additionally, we now have Easy Read resources available to further increase accessibility for all participants. These will be available on the website for download soon, and hard copies have been distributed to all teams. Teams are encouraged to utilise these resources to support young people in engaging with the programme.

Share Good Practice

Got a success story worth sharing? We’d love to hear from you! Contact SERENConnect@wales.nhs.uk to share your experiences and help inspire others. We’ll also be updating the network regularly, so keep an eye out at network meetings for further updates.

Explore the full evaluation report and learn more about how SEREN Connect is shaping the future of transitional diabetes by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.

Continuing to Improve and Grow the Programme

It is important that we continue to collect participant feedback to strengthen and grow the programme, and ensure it is meeting the needs of its participants. We encourage healthcare teams to ensure they are using the most up-to-date MS Forms. If you are unsure, please contact Sara Crowley, Diabetes Transitional Care National Coordinator, at Sara.Crowley2@wales.nhs.uk.

****************************************************************************************

Trawsnewid Gofal Diabetes i Oedolion Ifanc

Mae rhaglen SEREN Connect wedi cyflawni llwyddiant rhyfeddol wrth rymuso pobl ifanc sy’n byw gyda diabetes Math 1. Fe’i datblygwyd i bontio’r bwlch rhwng gwasanaethau gofal pontio pediatreg ac oedolion, ac mae’r fenter arloesol hon, sydd wedi ennill gwobrau, eisoes wedi cael effaith barhaol ar gyfranogwyr—ac yn awr, mae gwerthusiad manwl yn datgelu pa mor drawsnewidiol y mae wedi bod.

Yn 2020, cydnabuwyd SEREN Connect gyda dwy wobr nodedig Ansawdd mewn Gofal. Tynnodd y beirniaid sylw at lwyddiant y rhaglen wrth fynd i’r afael â phroblem allweddol mewn addysg i blant a phobl ifanc: diffyg rhaglenni cenedlaethol. Fel y nodwyd ganddynt, “Mae’r prosiect SEREN Connect wedi nodi bod un o’r problemau mawr mewn addysg i blant a phobl ifanc yw nad oes unrhyw raglenni cenedlaethol, ac mae llawer o bobl wedi bod yn ceisio’u datblygu heb wir lwyddiant. Mae’r gwaith hwn wedi gwneud hynny, ac mae hefyd yn hynod arloesol, gyda chanlyniadau rhyfeddol.”

Dull Arloesol o Ofal Pontio

Crëwyd SEREN Connect i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau y mae pobl ifanc yn eu hwynebu yn ystod y cyfnod hanfodol o bontio i wasanaethau oedolion. Mae fformat deinamig y rhaglen yn cyfuno sesiynau addysgol strwythuredig gyda chymorth cymheiriaid a gweithgareddau grŵp, gan feithrin ymdeimlad o gysylltiad a pherthyn i’r cyfranogwyr. Drwy gyfuno arweiniad proffesiynol gyda phrofiad byw, mae SEREN Connect yn sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn teimlo cefnogaeth, yn feddygol ac yn emosiynol, wrth iddynt baratoi ar gyfer oedolaeth ifanc.

Canfyddiadau Allweddol o’r Gwerthusiad “Y 100 Cyntaf”

Mae gwerthusiad o adborth gan y 100 cyfranogwr cyntaf ar draws Cymru a Lloegr yn tanlinellu llwyddiant y rhaglen:

• Hwb i Hyder a Chymhelliant: Nododd 99% o’r cyfranogwyr fod eu hyder wrth reoli eu diabetes wedi cynyddu, tra bod 94.5% yn teimlo’n fwy cymhellol i gymryd rheolaeth dros eu hiechyd.
• Cyfraddau Boddhad Eithriadol: Dywedodd pob cyfranogwr y byddent yn argymell SEREN Connect i bobl ifanc eraill gyda diabetes Math 1.
• Cymuned a Chysylltiad: Thema gyson yn yr adborth oedd gwerth cyfarfod ag eraill gyda phrofiadau tebyg. Amlygodd y cyfranogwyr sut y mae’r sesiynau’n lleihau teimladau o ynysigrwydd ac yn meithrin ymdeimlad o berthyn. Mynegodd un cyfranogwr, “Mae dod o hyd i bobl sydd â nodau a heriau cyffredin yn fy ngalluogi i wybod nad ydw i ar fy mhen fy hun.”

Llunio Dyfodol Gofal Diabetes

Mae SEREN Connect eisoes wedi cael effaith sylweddol ledled Cymru, rhannau o Loegr, ac Ynysoedd y Sianel, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau ei lwyddiant parhaus. Mewn ymateb i adborth gan randdeiliaid lluosog, rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda phobl sydd â phrofiad byw i gyd-greu cynnwys a fydd yn hyrwyddo’r rhaglen ac yn cefnogi timau iechyd wrth recriwtio cyfranogwyr yn y dyfodol. Anogir timau iechyd sy’n cyflwyno’r rhaglen i gydweithio, rhannu arfer gorau, a sicrhau sesiynau cynhwysol ac amrywiol sy’n diwallu anghenion unigryw pob cyfranogwr.

Yn ogystal, mae gennym bellach adnoddau Hawdd i’w Darllen ar gael i gynyddu hygyrchedd i bob cyfranogwr ymhellach. Bydd y rhain ar gael i’w lawrlwytho o’r wefan cyn bo hir, ac mae copïau caled wedi’u dosbarthu i’r holl dimau. Anogir timau i ddefnyddio’r adnoddau hyn i gefnogi pobl ifanc i ymgysylltu â’r rhaglen.

Rhannwch Arfer Da

Oes gennych chi stori lwyddiant i’w rhannu? Hoffem glywed gennych! Cysylltwch â SERENConnect@wales.nhs.uk i rannu eich profiadau a helpu i ysbrydoli eraill. Byddwn hefyd yn diweddaru’r rhwydwaith yn rheolaidd, felly cadwch lygad ar gyfarfodydd y rhwydwaith am ddiweddariadau pellach.

Archwiliwch yr adroddiad gwerthusiad llawn a dysgwch fwy am sut mae SEREN Connect yn llunio dyfodol gofal pontio diabetes trwy glicio ar y dolenni ar waelod y dudalen hon.

Parhau i Wella a Thyfu’r Rhaglen

Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn parhau i gasglu adborth gan gyfranogwyr er mwyn cryfhau a thyfu’r rhaglen, a sicrhau ei bod yn diwallu anghenion ei chyfranogwyr. Rydym yn annog timau gofal iechyd i sicrhau eu bod yn defnyddio’r Ffurflenni MS diweddaraf. Os nad ydych yn siŵr, cysylltwch â Sara Crowley, Cydlynydd Cenedlaethol Gofal Pontio Diabetes, yn Sara.Crowley2@wales.nhs.uk

Links / Dolenni

SEREN Connect Full Evaluation – English / SEREN Connect Gwerthusiad Llawn – Saesneg 

SEREN Connect Full Evaluation – Welsh / SEREN Connect Gwerthusiad Llawn – Cymraeg