Saint David, celebrated this weekend, is said to have spent many hours standing in icy Pembrokeshire water saying his prayers. Today even the least religious of people will admit to seeking divine help in a tight situation. But does praying ever change anything?

On All Things Considered' this week (Sunday 28 February at 8.30am, repeated on Wednesday 3 March at 6.30pm) Roy Jenkins and a panel of guests discuss prayer. What is it? How should we set about it? What should we expect from it?

This Friday will see millions on every continent sharing in the annual Women's World Day of Prayer, and Roy Jenkins is joined by Jean Hackett, from Newport, who represents Europe on the international committee overseeing the day. The relief agency Tear Fund are marking this week as Global Poverty Prayer Week, and their president Elaine Storkey joins us from a studio in London. Patrick Thomas is a canon of the cathedral founded on the site of St. David's original cell, and he joins us from Carmarthen, where he's a writer and parish priest.

And also with Roy to offer the perspective of another faith tradition is Abdalla Yassin Mohammed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Wales.

For further information:

Women's World Day of Prayer Tel: 01892 541411

Tearfund Global Poverty Prayer Week Tel: 0845 355 8355