Foundational Economy Community of Practice

The foundational economy community of practice started in July 2020 as part of the Welsh Government’s Foundational Economy Challenge Fund. Its aim was to share learning and innovation, build relationships and encourage collaboration.

The Challenge Fund provided support to projects looking to try out new ways to address challenges – some emerging, some age-old – faced by foundational economy businesses or those relying on their services.

These included:

  • the recruitment, retention and skills of the workforce
  • the delivery structures and design of services
  • the recruitment, retention and skills of the workforce
  • the delivery structures and design of services

The aim was to explore a range of solutions that could potentially generate viable, adaptable models that could be scaled up and spread to strengthen local economies and community wealth-building.

Staring in 2019 with an initial 52 projects, it was always expected that some experiments would not succeed and conditions were made even more challenging by the impact of the pandemic.

A community of practice was also however put in place to help capture some of the rich learning and insights generated by all the projects taking part. The examples in the case studies below give a flavour of the projects supported by the Fund – their successes, challenges and above all learning, about how best the foundational economy in their area or sector can be supported. The Fund closed in March 2021 but, at the request of members, the community of practice has continued. Its role continues to be to share learning, encourage and expand dialogue and facilitate collaboration.

Foundational Economy Community of Practice Read More »

Doing the little things in Cardiff on St. David’s Day

This St David’s Day, we are asking organisations across Cardiff to think about the little things they can do to ensure a fair day’s pay for their workers, whether it’s understanding how to become an accredited Living Wage employer, or reaching out to other organisations to encourage them to consider the real Living Wage, or helping us share the positive messages about the difference that paying the real Living Wage can make.

Cardiff Council is currently the only accredited real Living Wage local authority in Wales. The Council and partners are championing Cardiff as a Living Wage city which is having positive impact on the city and its employees. As of 1 February 2021, 45% of Wales’ total accredited employers were based in Cardiff and Cardiff employers had contributed to 69% of total uplifts in pay. Recent research by Cardiff University has shown that real Living Wage accreditation by 124 Cardiff employers has resulted in 7,735 workers receiving a pay rise which has added over £32m to the local economy in just over 8 years.

To hear more about the benefits of the real Living Wage from employers and employees in Cardiff please watch this video.

Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, said:

“The seemingly small things really can make a big difference, and I know the significant impact paying the real Living Wage has had in the lives of our own staff. We’re pleased to be supporting organisations across the city to enable them to do the same for their own employees, and this St David’s Day I would encourage any Cardiff business interested in paying the real Living Wage to get in touch to find out more.”

Cardiff Council understand the wider benefits that the real Living Wage can bring to individuals and employers, as well as to the City; and they have made a commitment to reimbursing accreditation fees for SME employers based in Cardiff through their accreditation support scheme. For more information about the real Living Wage in Cardiff please visit the website.

Cardiff Council also encourages local employers to provide a Payroll Savings and Loans Scheme to their staff, enabling their employees to save directly from their salaries and if needed, access affordable credit from an ethical provider. More information can be found on this on the Cardiff & Vale Credit Union’s website.

Cynnal Cymru is the accrediting body for the real Living Wage in Wales and are here to help you through the accreditation process. Get in touch, join the movement, do the little things.

We wish you all a happy St David’s Day. Diolch yn fawr!

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Are we living our way into the future we desire? 

How can we proactively co-create the future we would like to see? 

What does this future look and feel like? 

What is futures thinking and how could this help us in delivering a better world? 

These were some of the questions explored in the recent Living the Future event that took place in Aberystwyth on the 21st January 2026.  

To build upon the Light Up the Future event held in Cardiff last year marking the 10-year anniversary of the ground-breaking Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, Cynnal Cymru’s Sustainability Trainer, Chris Woodfield, co-organised Living the Future to shine a light on the great work happening in Mid and West Wales. The event, co-created in collaboration with Porthi Aber, The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), The Welsh Government’s Sustainable Futures Team, The Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, Public Health Wales, and Hwb Dyfodol, was an opportunity to take stock, celebrate successes, share challenges, and explore positive visions of the future through a facilitated co-creation process. 

The event took place in the Aberystwyth Bandstand, perched beautifully between land and sea on the Aberystwyth promenade, and attracted 80 attendees from across the public and private sectors, civil society and local grassroots organisations.  

The day started with short changemaker talks from local project leads and organisations taking positive action towards a brighter future, including: 

  • Cian Llywelyn of Coetir Anian (Cambrian Wildwood) highlighting the importance of nature restoration and connecting people with nature. 
  • Joanna Jordan of Parents for the Future Ceredigion showcasing how we can all be activists to facilitate change in our communities. 
  • Erannan Bent of Niku-Naka sauna in Bala, emphasising saunas as a place for connection, listening, and play for all ages, whilst supporting physical and mental well-being. 
  • A short film showing of the Llyfrgell Zine Cymru (Welsh Zine Library), curated by Elin Angharad, highlighted how zines can be a form of slower, creative and inclusive expression in an increasingly fast-paced and digital world.  
  • Owen Shiers (artist / musician) representing the Llafur Ni Network shared how seeds can be metaphors for long-term and futures thinking, the lost story of the Welsh black oat, and how seed sovereignty can be an opportunity to rebuild a local and resilient food system. 

Following this, with the guidance of volunteer facilitators participants discussed how their own work aligned with the Seven Well-being Goals of the Act, highlighting the importance of systems thinking and how we need to view the Well-being Goals as interconnected and mutually supporting each other, rather than individual goals, or boxes to tick-off.    

The Future Generations Commissioner, Derek Walker, shared his reflections and thoughts on how Wales is doing and what more needs to be done to live our way into the future in a positive and inspiring way, before participants enjoyed a spiced parsnip and banana soup produced by local not-for-profit Porthi Aber, who are taking action to improve the local food system.  

The importance of creativity ran through the day with the Aberystwyth Town Poet, Hywel Griffiths, performing a futures poem of a positive vision of the future he had written for the event, and outlining how and why Aberystwyth had recently been recognised as Wales’s first UNESCO City of Literature. A local artist, Harrie Fuller from Spork Studios, designed an artistic impression to go alongside the poem, and all the participants took away with them a bilingual copy of the poetry and design.  

The rest of the day enabled participants to practise “futures thinking”, and to deeply discuss their visions of the future and what we can do today to make that vision become a reality. Wales has an ambition to become a Future Literate nation, with Hwb Dyfodol being an avenue to support organisations to understand what futures thinking is and how it can be used to not just think about the future, but to deliver meaningful change in the present to enable that desired future to thrive. The day finished with a beautiful starling murmuration on the Aberystwyth seafront as a perfect reminder of collaboration, emergence, and embracing the beauty, awe and wonder of nature.   

So, what next? Where do we go from here? Cynnal Cymru were involved in leading the national conversation of the “The Wales We Want” back in 2014, which supported the development of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. This latest event brought futures thinking to the fore, with our next (and ongoing) challenge being “how do we ensure we combine futures thinking with creative, practical and proactive action on the ground today?”. 

We are living our way into the future, and let’s ensure it is a flourishing and thriving future we all want to live in. To finish, I’ll leave you with three provocations to reflect upon: 

Whose future are we co-creating and how can we ensure we incorporate unheard voices into our futures thinking discussions in inclusive and accessible ways? 

How can we bring more creativity, play and culture into our futures work? 

Where are the stories of hope in your community and how can you help amplify these pockets of the future to become the new normal? 

If you’d like to respond to these questions, feel free to reach out to Chris on chris@cynnalcymru.com or find him in Aberystwyth for a coastpath conversation outside his home on the seafront, where all the best stuff happens on the edge.  

——— 

Cynnal Cymru are a member of Hwb Dyfodol and you can find out more on futures thinking tools and approaches on the Future Generations website. 

Are we living our way into the future we desire?  Read More »

Cynnal Cymru train the trainer course

June | Train the Trainer Carbon Literacy

Gain the knowledge, capacity and confidence needed to support others to take action on climate change.

Whether you want to create your own Carbon Literacy course, build on an existing one, or support others to do so, these sessions will give you the tools, confidence, and structure to make it happen.

This online Train the Trainer Carbon Literacy course is designed for individuals who are already Carbon Literate and are ready to take the next step: leading, delivering, or supporting Carbon Literacy training sessions within their organisation or community.

For more information on the course structure and learning, visit our Train the Trainer course page.

To book your place or to find out more, please email training@cynnalcymru.com

Cost and group size

Online open course £750 plus VAT (cost per person)

Discounts available for Cynnal Cymru members

This course is designed for four participants and will only go ahead once all places are booked.

Interactive and practical

This is a highly practical course. You’ll not only learn how to deliver Carbon Literacy training, but you’ll practise delivering it, receive feedback, and build confidence in a supportive environment. By the end of the sessions, you’ll be better equipped to train others, engage meaningfully, and inspire action.

Timetable

Our standard course runs over three morning sessions, 9:00am-12:30pm plus 1.5 hours of homework. A total of 12 hours, typically across a two to three week period.

Tutor-led sessions take place on:

Session 1

Monday 29th June

9:00am-12:30pm GMT

Session 2

Wednesday 1st July

9:00am-12:30pm GMT

Session 3

Monday 6th July

9:00am-12:30pm GMT

You will need to attend all sessions to receive your Cynnal Cymru Train the Trainer certificate.

June | Train the Trainer Carbon Literacy Read More »

Backing Local Firms Fund – How Low Carbon Timber Networks are Supporting a Sustainable Economy

Wales’s commitment to reaching net zero emissions has brought greater focus on building with low-carbon materials, sustainable forestry, and strengthening the local economy. Timber is an important part of this shift, offering benefits such as reducing the overall carbon footprint of buildings, making structures more energy-efficient, and supporting local jobs and communities. 

However, the timber and housing industries face some difficulties, including complicated supply chains, limited options for training, tough competition, and a lack of cooperation between different sectors. 

Wood Knowledge Wales (WKW) works to support teamwork and shared efforts across forest-based industries to boost prosperity and wellbeing in Wales. The Low Carbon Timber Networks project aims to tackle these challenges by creating strong partnerships that bring together housing providers, forest managers, manufacturers, designers, builders, researchers, and other key groups to work together and develop shared solutions.

The approach

The Low Carbon Timber Networks project delivered an ambitious program of sector-wide engagement:

  • 28 Community of Practice meetings, held both online and in person, covering topics such as forestry land use and contractors.
  • Engagement coordinated with over 95 organisations, including social housing developers, architects, timber frame manufacturers, sawmillers, contractors and land‑use experts, helping to improve and strengthen the supply chain networks.

Impact

The Communities of Practice (CoPs) created a variety of practical and strategic benefits. The Strengthened Networks built a thriving network of 60+ Welsh organisations, expanding to over 95 participants during the project. This work enhanced collaboration across forestry, manufacturing, construction and housing. The Communities of Practice (CoPs) created a variety of practical and strategic benefits. Additionally, the network was able to create and benefit from training and skills development sessions, based on the specific needs of the industry, and provided valuable skills and knowledge.

The Communities of Practice (CoPs) served as advice-sharing spaces for Welsh Government projects. They provided valuable insights for the Welsh Government’s Timber Industrial Strategy and played a part in major programmes like Tai ar y Cy. This project helped develop ideas for procurement that align with net zero goals and encourage greater use of Welsh timber. By promoting the use of low-carbon building materials and supporting housing providers to cut down the amount of carbon embedded in buildings, the initiative helps strengthen local supply chains that are vital for Wales’s sustainable future.

This joint effort across different sectors helped to bring about new ideas and solutions that covered all parts of Wales’s supply chain.

Challenges

WKW identified several challenges and responded proactively:

  • Engagement capacity varied, especially among small businesses. To manage this WKW increased outreach and used site visits to maintain participation.
  • Competition across the sector sometimes restricted collaboration. However, Neutral, trusted facilitation helped overcome this.
  • Gaps in training and future workforce pipelines were evident. WKW fed into skills‑development planning and influenced sector education conversations.

Looking ahead

Wood Knowledge Wales aims to build on the success of the Low Carbon Timber Networks by:

  • Expanding CoP membership to new sectors and disciplines.
  • Strengthening the forestry education network to address long-term skills needs.
  • Continuing to support government and industry in scaling low-carbon construction.
  • Developing new opportunities for locally owned businesses within the Foundational Economy.
  • Acting as a central enabler of sustainable growth through Welsh timber.

Wood Knowledge Wales is strategically positioned to enhance its impact and contribute to the development of a resilient, low-carbon built environment in Wales. This project underscores the importance of building trust-based networks and maintaining flexibility in engagement strategies across all sectors of the Foundational Economy. Through initiatives like this, Wales is progressing towards its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.

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Backing Local Firms Fund – How Circular Economy principles can help Welsh SME’s work towards Sustainability

Introduction to Context

Wales’s Foundational Economy, encompassing everyday essential services such as care, housing, food, transport and energy, has long experienced structural challenges, particularly among smaller organisations facing capacity constraints, limited innovation infrastructure, and barriers to adopting circular and fair‑work practices.

These challenges are particularly acute among SMEs, which often lack access to structured learning and collaboration networks. FEIN was created to address these systemic barriers by providing a practical, regionally rooted framework that aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the Welsh Government’s ambitions for Net Zero and a fairer economic landscape.

The Approach

The Circular Economy Innovation Communities programme (CEIC Programme) is a two-day experiential workshop that introduces design thinking and circular‑economy principles. FEIN engaged 34 organisations from the Cardiff Capital Region and Swansea Bay Area through a structured programme of:

  • Experiential workshops
  • Mentoring and Specialist Support
  • Network Building
  • Peer‑learning activities with Practical Planning and Innovation Tools

The programme was enriched by collaboration with partners such as WRAP Cymru and Cwmpas, who provided technical guidance on procurement, marketing, resource efficiency, and fair‑work implementation. Participants developed innovation, HR, and Net Zero action plans tailored to their organisational context, while two new regional networks, in Cardiff and Swansea, were established to support ongoing collaboration. Participants consistently reported that the interactive format deepened understanding and translated effectively into workplace practice.

Impact

Between 2023 and 2024, 34 organisations joined the program Including 17 private SMEs, 7 charities, 5 community organisations, 4 social enterprises, and 2 public‑sector departments. During their participation in this program, Participants, 17 from organisations in the Cardiff region and 7 in the Swansea Region developed:

  • Clean Growth/Net Zero plans
  • Fair Work/HR development plans
  • Innovation plans

The programme generated meaningful improvements in innovation confidence, sustainability practices, and workplace culture.

  • 80% of participants reported increased innovation skills and understanding of circular and foundational economy principles
  • 77% reported improved circular‑economy knowledge; 72% improved innovation knowledge.
  • 94% of participants recommended the programme
  • 55% of organisations adopted the Real Living Wage, with a further 30% planning to do so, demonstrating a major shift toward fairer work practices

The development of multiple innovations, Net Zero, and fair‑work plans provided organisations with practical roadmaps for future action. This action has contributed to an increase in Fair Work adoption, an increase in innovation-active SMEs, and a Decrease in carbon footprints across participating SMEs. FEIN also strengthened relationships between SMEs and public‑sector partners, contributing to a more connected and resilient regional ecosystem.

Challenges

Some SMEs faced limited capacity to fully engage with circular‑economy practices or sustain innovation activity beyond the workshops. While the programme was praised for its inspirational style, a few participants found aspects of the content academic in tone. Regional economic disparities also shaped the readiness of organisations to adopt new practices. Nonetheless, the structure of the programme, particularly the mentoring and peer‑learning elements, helped organisations overcome many of these obstacles.

Looking Ahead

Evaluation findings suggest strong potential for scaling the FEIN model. Many participants expressed interest in continued support, further funding opportunities, and additional collaboration. Future iterations of the programme may focus on widening accessibility, refining delivery methods, and deepening support for circular‑economy implementation.

The FEIN model has demonstrated clear value as a driver of inclusive, sustainable economic development, deeply aligned with the Future Generations Act and Wales’s broader ambition for a resilient foundational economy.

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Backing Local Firms Fund: Unlocking Welsh land for nature-friendly food growing

To advance Wales’s Ambition for a more resilient, localised and nature-friendly horticulture sector, the Future Farms partnership has supported the planning permission and infrastructure for three new small-scale horticultural enterprises with rural enterprise dwellings in Powys. By laying the groundwork, creating planning permission guidance for small-scale growers and building infrastructure to pilot the guidance, the Future Farms project has taken big steps toward increasing land access for small-scale agroecological horticulture throughout Wales.

Background and vision

Wales faces a challenge: a limited local food supply. Domestic fruit and vegetable production is low, new growers struggle to enter horticulture, and planning rules often stop small-scale farmers from living on their land. To tackle this, Wales needs a more localised food system that uses agroecological methods – farming that supports biodiversity, ecosystem health, fair work, and strong local communities.

The Future Farms Partnership was created to address these issues. Its vision is to grow more agroecological horticulture businesses across Wales through foundational economy principles:

  • Unlocking publicly owned land for food production
  • Supporting fair livelihoods for growers
  • Building a rural economy based on local supply and community wellbeing

By boosting small-scale horticulture on public land for local fruit and vegetable production, the partnership will help public bodies buy Welsh produce locally, seasonally and sustainably.

The project has piloted 3 new horticulture enterprises on Wern Farm near Newtown, Powys, to show what’s possible when planning policy positively supports small farms.

The approach

The Future Farms project created three small horticulture businesses with homes for growers through four key phases between 2024 and 2025:

Phase 1 – Planning Permission

The project secured approval for three micro-horticulture enterprises on a Powys County Council farm, including temporary Rural Enterprise Dwellings (REDs).

Phase 2 – Policy & Guidance

The project worked with Specialist consultants (TerraPermaGeo), SFG planners and Powys CC and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to develop new planning guidance for REDs in small-scale horticulture.

A collaboration with Shared Assets, the Landworkers’ Alliance co-produced a practical “How To Guide” for growers to apply for REDs in small-scale horticulture.

Phase 3 – Infrastructure & Testing

The project commissioned essential surveys (SuDs, flood, ecology, tree assessments) and submitted a full planning application—creating a template for future growers.

Phase 4 – Supporting Growers

After planning permission approval, three enterprises began operating at Wern Farm, backed by partnership organisations and the wider horticulture network.

This approach combined policy innovation, practical testing, partnership working, and community engagement.

Future Farm’s progress so far

Piloting Wern Farm

  • The project piloted the new guidance at Wern Farm, securing a new dwelling and establishing three horticultural enterprises on a 15-hectare site.
  • Over 2,400 tree varieties have been planted, and regenerative agroecological practices are improving soil health and biodiversity.
  • Further infrastructure improvements and the introduction of renewable energy is being supported by funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Policy and System Change

  • The new planning guidance for Rural Enterprise Dwellings was adopted by Powys County Council and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, with strong support from planning teams.
  • A national horticulture planning task group has been established.
  • The guidance is now being considered for inclusion in future Planning Policy Wales updates.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

  • Weekly partnership meetings built shared understanding.
  • The resources shared and created include:
    • “Criteria for Land for Small Farms”
    • “Notes for Developing Leases”
    • Survey lists for horticulture planning applications
    • Grower‑oriented planning tools
  • Over 35 growers contributed their knowledge and experience to the How To Guide.
  • Over 60+ planning officers were trained in the new planning guidance as of January 2025
  • Ongoing support continues through steering group members and new partnerships.

Challenges and lessons learned

Key lessons learned from this project have been invaluable in guiding its progress and informing future projects:

Policy planning

While creating entirely new policy can be challenging, early engagement with planning policy officers and working from the base of existing policy, interpreting and aligning it with a specific goal, proved crucial.

Initially, the planning phase of this project took longer than expected due to workload pressures within local planning authorities, the need for additional surveys and data, and the typical delays associated with complex rural applications. However, the project found that by working with public bodies with a proactive, “can-do” attitude, the process can run smoothly.

Governance and Capacity

The large, multi-partner steering group created challenges related to time management and decision-making clarity. However, being flexible and smaller working groups, and clearer reporting structures, although stretched staff capacity, ultimately lead to enhanced efficiency.

Identifying partner skills early and allocating roles clearly proved essential. Effective collaboration among planners, growers, and land officers was critical. This project garnered quick support from farmers and engagement with the local community helped to avoid objections.

Looking ahead for future farms

Projects of this nature have the potential to substantially enhance the Foundational Economy by strengthening local food systems and facilitating community wealth development. By increasing the local production of fresh, seasonal vegetables in a way that supports nature recovery objectives, we can support sustainable rural livelihoods. Furthermore, by using public land, such as county farms, can bring important economic, social, and environmental advantages to Wales.

The success of the Future Farms pilot has generated a lot of momentum to expand this approach across Wales. Future plans for this project include:

  • Collaborating with more Local Authorities to adapt and roll out the guidance.
  • Working with housing providers to address accommodation needs for new farmers.
  • Identifying further county farm sites in Powys suitable for horticultural enterprises.
  • Continuing training for growers navigating the planning system.
  • Supporting national policy development on horticulture and rural enterprise dwellings.

Future Farms has demonstrated that, with the right planning, interpretation, collaborative partnerships, and practical testing, Wales can unlock land for new agroecological enterprises and build a thriving, resilient horticulture sector. The project has already had a measurable impact in Powys and is influencing national policy. It offers a replicable model for using planning as a tool to strengthen local food systems and the Foundational Economy, embedding long‑term benefits for communities, the environment and the nation.

Future Farms has shown that with careful planning, collaboration, and practical testing, Wales can make better use of land for sustainable farming projects and develop a strong horticulture sector. The project has already made a real difference in Powys and is influencing national policy. It offers a model that others can follow, demonstrating how planning can be used to strengthen local food systems and support Wales’s social and environmental wellbeing in the long term.

Backing Local Firms Fund: Unlocking Welsh land for nature-friendly food growing Read More »

Creating change at scale: The benefits of becoming a Carbon Literacy Trainer

This year we will be running our first Train the Trainer: Carbon Literacy Course. Our new Head of Training and Advice, Jason Shilcock, spoke to our Senior Sustainability Adviser, Farah Lodhi-Jones, to ask her who our new course is for and what are the added benefits in designing and delivering your own Carbon Literacy Course.

First, tell us a little bit about your own Carbon Literacy journey and what led you to becoming a trainer?

I was living in China for a number of years and I had experience of their industrial growth and development, and the terrible air quality. I was living through that daily, so I started to question how people lived and what the cost was of socio-economic development vs environmental impacts. I was able to travel around Asia, and became more aware of how more people were being affected by the environment, in the name of development. This led me to,  an MSc certification in climate change and water resource management policy from SOAS and subsequently worked on projects in Indonesia with local farmers, using legacy funding from BAT and Fauna and Flora conducting their biodiversity risk assessment on key island watershed.  I then moved to Italy where someone mentioned the Carbon Literacy Project to me in 2021. With starting a family, and changing the pace of work, I volunteered with them and then joined them in Advocacy, using all the skills I’d learnt on the ground to create courses for clients. 

Can you tell us why Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales developed this new course?

Good question! I think it was just the right time! Cynnal Cymru is so experienced in this field and has seen how companies and organisations roll out this training to some of their staff, but can then be at a bit of a loss what to do next. The knowledge just “sits there”, unless you’ve got a passionate person who is going to take that up or different teams to drive it forward. We’d received requests to do Train the Trainer courses, so we needed to help people learn how to run peer-to-peer learning in their own organisations.

Who is this course for and what can they hope to gain from the course personally and professionally?

This course is for anyone who’s already Carbon Literate and who is ready to take the next step. Whether that’s leading, delivering, or supporting Carbon Literacy training sessions in your organisation or community. It’s ideal for senior managers, team leaders, board members or volunteers and is a space where they can get sort of reflections and peer-to-peer conversations and collaborations with other people in the room as well.

What practical training skills can participants expect to gain from the course?

This is a highly practical course where trainers gain hands-on experience in delivering Carbon Literacy training that works for all kinds of audiences. Traditionally it’s spread across three half-days and looks at the Carbon Literacy standard, how to find your confidence and skills in being a trainer and finally a hands-on session where we look at a section the trainer has prepared and give peer feedback. So, it’s very dynamic. It… can be quite challenging. It’s quite an intense few days, but also, I think, quite rewarding for people when they have been through that process and they can reflect. It also teaches the trainers flexibility and how to think on their feet, as every course is different.

What do enjoy most about supporting new Carbon Literacy trainers, and what impact do you hope participants will go on to have after completing the programme?

I love seeing the passion that people bring, and people really wanting to believe that they can make a change. It’s about unlocking feelings within that room – people do feel like they can unlock a little bit of positivity for themselves personally. Some trainers have been tasked by their leadership to do this sustainability training work, while still doing another full-time job on the side, so it can be daunting. So, a huge part of my enjoyment comes from unlocking that passion in people again and seeing them recognise their growth over the three sessions.

Finally, when is the next course and how do people sign up?

The next open course starts in June, with three sessions taking place on the 29th June, 1st and 6th July

You can find out more about the course and how to book on out Train the Trainer web page.

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Backing Local Firms Fund – Localising the Welsh food system for the public plate

The two programs, Authentic Foods (Hirwaun)  and Celtica Foods, are working together to increase the availability of healthy, Welsh-grown food in public sector meals. They aim to:

  • Build a strong, reliable network that connects food from farms to public plates.
  • Create climate-resilient, commercially viable multi-portion meals for schools and hospitals.

Background and vision

Castell Howell Foods (CHF) is a wholesaler committed to embedding sustainability and local sourcing into food supply across Wales. Recognising the risks of heavy reliance on imported produce, CHF set out to reshape public sector supply chains. By prioritising Welsh-grown vegetables and meat products, the two new programs set out to deliver healthy meals to schools and hospitals that are:

  • Resilient to a changing climate
  • Supporting local growers
  • Helping to reduce carbon emissions
  • Positively impactful to the food system beyond financial profit

“The supply chain has to work collaboratively, especially with the impacts of climate change being seen. We need that holistic collaborative approach to reverse out of the dependence on an increasingly risky global food system.” – Edward Morgan – ESG Manager Castell Howell Foods 

The approach

From the start Castell Howell knew that any effort to unpick and detach from the global food system would need to involve those at every stage of the food process – from growing, washing, packing and distributing to processing, tasting, purchasing, catering and eating. The Wholesaler needed investment to change the supply chain. The Welsh Government’s Backing Local Firms Fund enabled the two complementary projects to be launched:

  • Authentic Foods: focused on evolving the public sector vegetable supply chain by working with growers, local authority caterers, and procurers to develop lower-carbon, nutritious multi-portion meals using Welsh produce.
  • Celtica Foods a project working to develop a new product of value-added Welsh meat-based foods for schools and wider public sector supply, including hybrid recipes enriched with vegetables and pea protein.

Growth, progress and early outcomes

Authentic Foods

Between 2024 and 2025, CHF purchased and transported 32 tonnes of Welsh vegetables all delivered directly from working with 8 Growers to local schools. The Authentic Foods project has allowed CHF to work closely with Food Sense Wales through the Welsh Veg in Schools Programme, alongside companies like, Holden’s Bwlchwernen Farm, Awens Organics, Bonvilston Edge, and Langton’s Farm. Strong relationships have been developed across the supply chain, making Welsh food a priority at the heart of public sector catering. This has helped shorten the supply chain for vegetables and supported local Welsh businesses.

Thanks to the support from this project, CHF has been able to help farmers meet Farming Connect standards and improve on-farm efficiency processes. A valuable finding was that previously, Welsh-grown vegetables had to be sent out of Wales to be washed and packed, then sent back to be eaten. This project provided funding to wash and package the vegetables. Now, with new equipment, vegetables like carrots can be grown, processed, and eaten within Wales, saving time, money, and reducing environmental impact.

This initiative provides a useful example for wider public procurement of local Welsh vegetables. It highlights the importance of transparent procurement practices that consider not just price but also social benefits, environmental effects, and community involvement. Understanding the true social value of these purchases helps Local Authorities make more informed decisions about selecting local Welsh produce, beyond just considering the cost.

 “One of the key outputs is our collective understanding of what can be grown profitably in Wales, what schools want, and aligning harvest with menus, and menus with harvest. Spinach, chard, cucumbers, tomatoes and courgettes available during the summer months, however with limited scope to sell to the public sector when harvested in July/August.” – Edward Morgan – ESG Manager Castell Howell Foods 

Celtica Foods and Authentic Foods

Since 2023, CHF, through Celtica Foods and Authentic Foods, have created a suite of school meals that are healthier, better for the planet and more cost-efficient to produce. Dishes such as Welsh Beef Bolognese, Cauliflower Cheese, and tomato bases enriched with spinach and chard will improve meal nutrition and lower carbon impacts. The creation of Welsh meat hybrid meatballs containing Welsh beef/lamb with spinach and chard will improve nutritional density and cost efficiency through local sourcing.

Understanding how important consumer feedback is, the project organised tasting sessions with over 500 pupils and their families across Caerphilly, Torfaen, Swansea, and Carmarthen. This allowed the children to share their honest opinions about meals made with Welsh produce. Their feedback helps to refine and improve the recipes, ensuring the meals are enjoyed by children. Additionally, this process provides valuable insightsfrom the children eating the food to the local farmers and growers, helping strengthenthe connection in the food supply chain.

Challenges and lessons learned

Understanding the obstacles to creating a localised food supply chain was helpful for both projects and will guide future efforts. The main lessons learnt include: 

  • Appreciating that growers need fair ways to share risks across the supply chain and long-term collaborative planning to keep them engaged. 
  • Recognising the investment required in infrastructure and capital costs to scale up volume, e.g. harvesting equipment, storage, processing & bagging and extending life.
  • Making sure that growing seasons align with the school term for meals can be tricky, especially with changing weather patterns that bring more extreme conditions. The project found that if food was harvested too early, it created gaps in the system, such as limited storage and facilities for extending life (such as freezing), which made it harder to expand production. 
  • The price of Welsh lamb can fluctuate quite a lot, which makes it difficult to plan costs consistently. 
  • When delivering leafy greens and lamb-based meals to children, acceptance varied depending on the region; so, customised marketing will be needed to encourage more children to try certain dishes.

Looking ahead

In 2026, CHF aims to buy 40 tonnes of Welsh vegetables, working closely with growers to invest in the right places to increase efficiencies and reduce gap prices. The aim is to supply 12 of Wales’s 22 local authorities, whilst continuing to measure carbon emissions and focus marketing efforts on lamb and leafy greens. The company also plan to develop new hybrid products, including flexitarian options.

Investment will be needed for:

  • Infrastructure:  Larger washing and packing machines to make processes cheaper and more efficient.
  • Efficiency: Investment is also needed to improve efficiency on farms, ensure health and safety for growers, and cover the costs of automation. 
  • Availability: It’s important to reduce the difference in cost between organic and non-organic vegetables.
  • Flexibility: All calculations need to be tailored to seasonal growing, and risk needs to be accounted for to support commercial success. For example, growing vegetables on a small scale, like an acre, involves costs that we need to understand and manage, especially when upscaling to field-scale crops. Financial support, such as loans to help with cash flow, can make the scheme more sustainable. To make growing vegetables less risky, fixing prices and sharing risks with supply chain partners can be a stable path.

Both the Authentic Foods and Celtica Foods programs demonstrate that sourcing locally on a larger scale is possible, welcomed and brings environmental, economic, and social benefits. The continued collaborations between Castell Howell and local food supply partners are working to build a resilient, health-focused food system that supports Wales’s people and foundational economy.

Backing Local Firms Fund – Localising the Welsh food system for the public plate Read More »

Wales’s Future Fuels: Powering industrial vehicles and plant in a net zero Wales 

In November 2025, Cynnal Cymru convened a roundtable on behalf of our member, Wales & West Utilities, to explore the challenges of decarbonising vehicles and plant currently unsuitable for electrification.

We welcomed multi-sector stakeholders comprising fleet managers, policy and sector specialists, industry experts and alternative fuel providers to discuss policy, investment, impact on workforce, public perception and driver experience of different fuels.

There was consensus that for many fleet operators, a transition to current battery-electric technology and infrastructure alone will not be viable without significant change or compromise of services. The emerging insights centred on an urgent need for enhanced data, mapping, fleet manager support and recognition of current user-experience to build confidence in transitioning away from diesel.

Citing uncertainty as a prime reason for delays in decarbonisation, stakeholders also called for equitable investment in alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, hydrogen and HVO and opportunities for those on the ground to access and trial these alternatives.

Read the Wales’s Future Fuels Roundtable Report.

If you are interested in Cynnal Cymru’s facilitation or convening services, please get in touch!

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Living Wage Week 2025 – the difference it makes

This month, the Fair Economy team at Cynnal Cymru look back at the highlights from this year’s Living Wage Week – an annual celebration of the Living Wage movement in the UK.

Cynnal Cymru are the Living Wage Foundation’s accreditation partner for Wales and have been championing the Living Wage movement in Wales since 2016.

During this time, around 20,869 additional people in Wales have been uplifted to the Real Living Wage, adding £141m in additional income for low-wage earners, with almost 600 employers including Principality, Coaltown Coffee, Fabulous Welshcakes and Ogi becoming accredited. 

Living Wage Week highlights

We kicked off Living Wage Week in Wales with our annual national event held at the beautiful Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay.

Together, we celebrated the real impact of the Living Wage, Living Hours, and Living Pensions, and looked ahead to new developments across the Living Wage in Wales.

We heard talks from Leaders of local authorities, talking about why they have made their local authorities Living Wage Employers – we were delighted that Vale of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire both took the final step in accreditation to mark this Living Wage Week.

The Future Generations Commissioner Derek Walker spoke about why they’ve asked all public bodies in Wales to make a plan to become Living Wage Employers by 2027.

“The Future Generations Commissioner, Derek Walker, has asked all councils to commit to paying their staff a Real Living Wage, in his Future Generations Report, 2025, published ahead of May’s Senedd elections. Each of Wales’ 56 public bodies, he says, should have a plan for accreditation within two years in a critical step towards tackling poverty.” 

And it was also great to have a video from the First Minister, Eluned Morgan talking about the Welsh Government’s commitment to the Living Wage.

On Wednesday of Living Wage Week, we attended the Well-being Economy – Festival of Ideas event, held in Swansea arena. Here we had some great conversations around the Living Wage, with already accredited organisations and organisations who wanted to hear more about it.

We ended the week in Wrexham. We were delighted to attend the Living Wage North Wales event, hosted by the Future Generations Commissioner. Bringing together partners from across the public, private and voluntary sectors to discuss how we can promote the Living Wage and tackle in-work poverty across the region.

A big thank you to everyone who joined the conversation and shared insights, experiences and ideas.

If you’re interested in joining the Living Wage, Living Hours, and Living Pensions movement, please contact the Living Wage Wales team.

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Backing Local Firms Fund – Tonnes of change  

“We are excited to be growing veg for schools because it’s important that children have nutritious food and know where it comes from. Healthy food, healthy children, healthy Wales.”
— Geraint Evans, Welsh Grower

Introduction

The Welsh Veg in Schools initiative is a pioneering project that aims to increase the production and consumption of organic Welsh-grown vegetables by supplying them directly to primary schools. By aligning local food production with public sector procurement, the initiative offers a powerful example of how sustainable food systems can support health, education, and the environment, while strengthening local economies.

Launched with support from the Backing Local Firms Fund, the project brings together farmers, distributors, policymakers, and educators to deliver fresh, organic produce to school meals across Wales creating meaningful connections between children and the food they eat.

Background and vision

At the start of this project, an overwhelming 94% of vegetables used in primary schools in Wales were sourced from outside the country, often frozen and non-organic. The Welsh Veg in Schools project set out to change that by:

  • Increasing local organic vegetable production.
  • Creating new markets for Welsh growers.
  • Promoting sustainable agriculture and biodiversity.
  • Supporting children’s health and food education.

The project is coordinated by Food Sense Wales, in collaboration with Castell Howell (Wales’ largest food distributor) and Farming Connect Horticulture, run by Lantra. These partners are part of a wider network of growers and stakeholders working to create a fairer, more resilient food system in Wales.

Growth and progress

Woman smiling inside a poly tunnel used for growing veg

What began three years ago with just one grower has now grown into a vibrant, multi-stakeholder project. By 2024:

  • 8 growers were actively supplying schools.
  • 14 tonnes of organic Welsh veg were used in school meals.
  • The project reached 219 schools across 6 local authority areas – Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Powys, Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan.
  • 400 children visited four farms enabling them to connect directly with the land and the farmers growing their food.

By 2025, the initiative has scaled to:

  • 15 local growers participating.
  • 12 local authorities engaged.
  • 3 wholesale partners distributing produce across school catering networks.

This expansion means that approximately 1 million portions of local, organic veg will be served to school children in Wales.

Challenges and lessons learned

2023 presented significant challenges:

  • Delays with funding disrupted planning cycles, misaligning crop production with school meal requirements.
  • Adverse weather led to reduced yields, impacting supply.

However, these challenges led to valuable learning:

  • Earlier coordination with local authorities began in late 2023, allowing better crop planning.
  • More growers were brought on board to build resilience and reduce risk.
  • Castell Howell’s existing supply chains absorbed surplus produce, avoiding waste.

The Backing Local Firms Fund played a critical role in allowing experimentation, system development, and the formation of new networks. It also opened doors to collaborate with other food projects across Wales.

Impact and looking ahead

The project has proven that a local, organic supply chain for school food is not only possible but desirable. Interest has grown across Wales and beyond, with stakeholders from across the UK contacting the team to learn how to replicate the model in their own regions.

Key highlights to date include:

  • A shift from imported to local organic veg in school meals.
  • Creation of alternative income streams for Welsh growers.
  • Hands-on learning experiences for children, connecting food, farming, and health.
  • The establishment of a new North Wales growers’ group, expanding the reach of the project across the country.

In April 2025, Food Sense Wales published a series of reports noting the project’s achievements. You can read the various reports by clicking on the relevant links below:

Welsh Veg in Schools: Summary Report

Welsh Veg in Schools: Full Report

The Story of Welsh Veg in Schools

Looking to the future, Food Sense Wales is actively exploring new funding opportunities to grow the project further. The ambition is clear: to bring more Welsh-grown organic produce into more Welsh schools, involving more local authorities, more growers, and more children in the journey toward a sustainable, healthy food system.

Conclusion

The Welsh Veg in Schools project exemplifies how public procurement can drive meaningful change, from farm to fork. It strengthens local economies, supports sustainable farming, and helps young people understand and appreciate where their food comes from. Thanks to the support of the Backing Local Firms Fund, the foundation is set for long-term, scalable success across Wales and beyond.

Backing Local Firms Fund – Tonnes of change   Read More »

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