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Cynnal Cymru Response to the 2025 Future Generations Report

All 56 public sector bodies in Wales to be real Living Wage employers in the next five years

As the Living Wage Foundation’s accreditation partner for Wales we host Living Wage Wales in-house, and are funded by Welsh Government to support any employer who wants to commit to this proven method of poverty alleviation. We will be following up with the public bodies to support them in fulfilling their new obligation.

Supercharge actions with multiple benefits

We will continue to provide the tools and support to 100s of organisations and 1,000s of individuals within Wales through our training programmes in areas such as Carbon Literacy and Nature Wise. We will improve how we report on our multiple impacts as a charity on areas such as cost, jobs, carbon, and healthy life expectancy.

No more short-term fixes

There is a wealth of strategies, evidence and plans for a better future for Wales. Building on our work on the Well-being of Future Generations Act Business Toolkit, we will work with partners to distil key ‘no-regrets’ actions different size organisations can take for improving the future now. This will help support a movement of change, rather than a reliance on help that may never come.

A national food resilience plan

We will continue to promote good practice with our members and networks around the procurement and supply of local food for schools, the NHS, local authorities. Our recent celebration event with the Welsh Government Foundational Economy team and pioneering individuals and organisations showed what is happening now, and what is possible in the future.

Simplify partnerships and funding

We will continue to challenge public sector grant funding to be multiple years, and continue to challenge ourselves in working with the right partners or supporting others who are better placed to deliver.

Review and strengthen the Well-being and Future Generations Act

We will help use our history, and current experience and networks to help inform the future review. We were the lead partner of the previous ‘The Wales We Want’ National Conversation’ which helped inform the Act, and many of our staff helped set up the Future Generations Commissioner’s Office. We are proud of our history and want to continue to help others shape a better future for us all.

We want to make Ameerah proud!

Simon Slater, CEO

The 29th April marked the 10th anniversary of the Well-being of Future Generations Act becoming law in Wales. The Future Generations Report 2025 — is a statutory publication released every five years by the Future Generations Commissioner to track progress and guide the steps public bodies should take.

Cynnal Cymru Response to the 2025 Future Generations Report Read More »

Should we chase wellbeing over growth? 

The theme of this month’s Cynnal Cymru newsletter is ‘growth’ in its broadest sense. It’s a word that is often associated with positivity. I’m writing this on the first working day of British Summer Time, although it is still very much spring. Growth is in the air – with the daffodils having sprouted and blossom season in full swing. Growth in this context is very much welcome, even to hay fever sufferers like myself. But there are some debates where the concept of growth is more contentious. 

Our role as Cynnal Cymru’s Fair Economy team is to make a contribution towards a fairer economy for Wales. Our two core work strands are partnering with the Living Wage Foundation in Wales – hosting Living Wage Wales in-house – and working with the Welsh Government to support their ambitions for Wales’ foundational economy. For those of you who don’t know, that’s the ‘mundane’ areas of the economy that are nonetheless incredibly important in underpinning everyday life – think care and health services, food, utilities, and similar. They haven’t always got the attention from economic policy makers that advanced manufacturing or cutting-edge technology have, but they make up a huge section of the economy – with 51% of Welsh employees working in the foundational economy. Their working lives and the contributions they make deserve attention too. 

It’s predominantly through these living wage and foundational economy workstreams that we engage with the concept of growth – the narrower idea of economic growth. Far from springtime flowers to some this concept evokes thoughts of industrialisation and environmental harm. The public policy debate in Wales – particularly where it intersects with the third sector – has seen a debate around whether economic growth is a desirable goal, with efforts to move towards a ‘wellbeing’ approach instead. 

Whereas in years past many would look to settle the inherent tensions between development and sustainability via an ambition for ‘sustainable growth’, some in the Welsh policy space are now looking to other concepts, such as ‘degrowth’, or asking for a ‘wellbeing economy’ to replace efforts to increase GDP. 

To me, a wellbeing economy is clearly a highly desirable aim. Focusing on a broader set of metrics than simply growth makes a huge amount of sense. We know that a rising tide doesn’t always lift all boats. The gap between the rich and the rest is growing. There is increasing evidence that, to some extent, pay has partly decoupled from productivity. The labour share of national income in the UK has fallen in recent decades, as a greater share goes to those who own, rather than those who work. 

Source: Our World in Data

But does that mean we should eschew the quest for economic growth in favour of a wellbeing economy? The chart above – which maps life satisfaction and GDP per capita – suggests this may be a false dichotomy. There is a clear correlation between reported life satisfaction (which I would suggest is fairly synonymous with wellbeing) and GDP per capita. It follows that a growth in GDP per capita – economic growth – is very likely to correspond to a growth in wellbeing. 

It’s right that we look to a broad set of measures when trying to create a fairer economy for Wales. It is fairly unsurprising that the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland find themselves at the top right of the graph – with some of the highest GDP per capita and life satisfaction in the world. 

The Nordic model of strong trade union rights and mass union membership to protect worker incomes is a successful one. It rebalances economies away from the ultra-rich having a unilateral say over how much they pay their workers and how much they keep in their own pockets. Wales would be sensible to emulate it as much as it can. But we shouldn’t forget that this model does include having amongst the highest GDP per capita in the world. 

And whilst there is some evidence of productivity growth (which tracks pretty consistently with GDP growth) and pay decoupling, there is no evidence of a total decoupling. Strong growth in GDP still means rising wages – for people of all income brackets. When we talk about how we can tackle poverty in Wales, economic growth is a tried-and-tested method. 

Economic growth is good for the rights of workers, too. Harvard University’s Dani Rodrik found in his paper ‘An Industrial Policy for Good Jobs’ that the ‘sine qua non’ (for fellow non-Latin speakers, that’s ‘without which, not’ – an indispensable ingredient) of good jobs is a high enough level of labour productivity. That is, increasing productivity (doing more with less), a key component of economic growth, results in jobs that ‘provide a middle-class living standard, adequate benefits, reasonable levels of personal autonomy, economic security, and career ladders’. 

The trade-offs between measures to support economic development and considerations such as equity and environmental protection are complex and multi-faceted. But Wales is one of the poorest areas of Western Europe on many measures. This results in human misery – including child poverty and people trapped in work where they are paid and respected too little. We should be hesitant about well-meaning calls to eschew economic growth. 

The ambition of many to become a wellbeing economy is a welcome one. But the increasingly common refrain of ‘wellbeing or growth’ is looking at the issue the wrong way around. We should instead consider how we can continue to decouple growth from carbon emissions and utilise economic growth in Wales to reduce poverty and increase wellbeing. 

Should we chase wellbeing over growth?  Read More »

CLCC: A fond farewell after five years of success

In 2019, a group of representatives from registered housing associations across Wales sat down around a table with one aim: to find a way to work together to help alleviate the climate emergency.

They agreed that understanding their carbon impact, both as individuals and organisations, and being able to make informed decisions on reducing carbon emissions, had the potential to be transformative for the social housing sector and communities. Thus Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru (CLCC) was born – a consortium that would provide a platform for knowledge sharing across the sector, collaborative problem solving, and peer to peer teaching to deliver Carbon Literacy training to staff across Wales.

One phrase in the meeting notes from the earliest days of the CLCC succinctly summarised what the approach would be:

“This consortium is about reaching you where you’re at and helping from there.” 

Fast forward five years, and the CLCC is now coming to a close, having achieved exactly what it set out to do. The consortium’s flagship project, a fully accredited Carbon Literacy training course tailored to the social housing sector, has been delivered to 598 people across Wales, thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of the CLCC trainers who have passed on their knowledge to their peers and colleagues. The course has received two substantial updates and has been fully translated into Welsh. Its final iteration will continue to be used by members to certify their staff as Carbon Literate. Many of those housing associations are now certified Carbon Literate Organisations, and continue to champion carbon reduction in the workplace. As was inevitable with a large group of disparate organisations, not everyone’s time as members of the CLCC looks the same. Each had their own priorities, their own challenges to overcome. But the consortium’s ethos of looking at where each member was and guiding them to where they wanted to be played a huge role in the success of the project.

Bron Afon Community Housing was a part of the CLCC from the start, and remained as members throughout the lifetime of the consortium. Nadine Davies, Community Decarbonisation Officer at Bron Afon, said, “The CLCC has enabled us as an organisation to come together and learn about the importance of climate change and carbon emissions. It provided us with valuable skills, networks, and guidance for us to deliver the course to our colleagues successfully.”

Reflecting on her term as Chair of the CLCC since May 2023, Nadine added,

“The CLCC created a space for us to discuss and share in confidence what was going well and what our struggles were when delivering Carbon Literacy. I found the regular meetings and coming together with others delivering the course useful and it was good to listen and take on board points raised. I very much enjoyed my time as Chair of the CLCC and without it I don’t think we would have had as much success with the delivery of Carbon Literacy as we have. I look forward to continuing to deliver Carbon Literacy to the rest of our staff and the wider community to help tackle climate change.”

Fast forward another five years from now, and we hope that we will still be seeing the positive impact the CLCC has had. Consortium members are talking about rolling out Carbon Literacy to their tenants – and with more than 100,000 houses owned across the consortium, that’s a lot of people. We’ve created a Climate Essentials course to help trainers pass on key knowledge in a shorter, more accessible format, and encourage interest in the full training. For some member organisations, certified Carbon Literacy training is now mandatory for all new staff, and will continue to be delivered long into the future. For those housing associations who want customised training or advice, individually or collaboratively, Cynnal Cymru’s team can work with them to ensure that the success of the CLCC is just the first step on their carbon reduction journey.

In November 2020, when the world was coping with an unprecedented global pandemic, 29 members of the CLCC still found the time to meet, to talk about what they wanted the consortium’s future to be. Many of the initial targets had already been met, with 65 people already certified as Carbon Literate, and 83 people about to take the Carbon Literacy Train the Trainer course, at the time making it the biggest ever Carbon Literacy Train the Trainer cohort. But the world had changed since the CLCC’s inception, with training now having to be delivered remotely, collaborative working much harder than it had been in the past, and organisations rightly prioritising core business continuity and the wellbeing of their staff over less immediate concerns. It would have been very easy for Covid-19 to spell the end of the CLCC, but luckily its members were committed to keeping it very much alive. It’s thanks to them, the dedicated support of their colleagues, and the enormous enthusiasm of hundreds of people across Wales, that we can look back on the past five years and honestly say that the CLCC has made a difference – and its success will continue to inspire more and better changes to how we live. 

CLCC: A fond farewell after five years of success Read More »

We’re going to the Eisteddfod!

Counting down to the 2024 National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd next week, I am filled with a sense of excitement and nostalgia. This year’s festival is not just a celebration of Welsh culture; it’s like a homecoming, both for the Eisteddfod and for me personally. 

The Eisteddfod has always been a special place in my heart. Growing up, it was more than just competition – it was a gateway to new experiences and learning opportunities. As a young attendee, I discovered hands-on science activities, engaged with charities, and explored new fields of interest from agriculture and Welsh wildlife conservation to animation and robotics. These experiences helped shape my interests and ultimately led me to where I am today, working for Cynnal Cymru. 

It has been 68 years since the Eisteddfod was last held in Rhondda Cynon Taf, when the first modern Eisteddfod was held in Aberdare in 1956.  

Pontypridd, one of the former coal and iron industrial centres of the three valleys, often does not get the recognition it deserves for its vibrant Welsh community and culture. By bringing one of Europe’s biggest festivals to this area, we are drawing attention to a community that really deserves it. 

The aim of the Eisteddfod is not just to celebrate our past; it is also about shaping our future. Over 160,000 visitors were expected, it gives our organization an opportunity to engage with people from all over Wales.  

Our presence at the Eisteddfod is about more than just showcasing what we do. It’s about making sustainability accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background or circumstances. The sustainability and environmental sectors are not only among the least racially diverse in the UK, but they are also dominated by individuals from middle-class backgrounds. We want to inspire the next generation of Welsh environmental champions, just as I was inspired years ago. 

Wales has been at the forefront of sustainable policies and actions in the UK and beyond. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is a great example of Wales’ innovative approach to sustainability. This groundbreaking legislation requires public bodies to consider the long-term impact of their decisions, work better with people and communities, and adopt a more joined-up approach to tackling persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities, and climate change. Wales was also one of the first countries in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2019 and has set ambitious targets for renewable energy and waste reduction. Our aim is to celebrate these successes and encourage even more people to join Wales’ sustainability journey. 

The Eisteddfod embodies the Welsh spirit – inclusive, progressive, and deeply connected to its roots. It celebrates our language and traditions and our links with cultures across the world. As a sustainability charity, we see our participation as an opportunity to weave environmental awareness into the fabric of Welsh culture. By attending the Eisteddfod, we’re not just taking part in a festival; we are investing in the future of Wales. 

It is necessary to create opportunities for young people who would not necessarily be able to access the world of sustainability and environmental work otherwise. And looking after our planet is an integral part of looking after our Welsh culture and communities. 

We invite you to join us on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th of August at the Voluntary Sector Hub. Come and discover how sustainability and the environment intertwine with Welsh culture, and help us build a greener, more inclusive future for Wales. 


Alys Reid Bacon is the Living Wage and Human Resources Administration Officer. Alys is passionate about sustainability and is currently working on her PhD in Biological Sciences, titled, “The influence of genotype, environment & management factors on yield development, grain filling & grain quality in oats.”

We’re going to the Eisteddfod! Read More »

Wales in 2051: Back to Reality

Over the past six weeks, Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen have shared a series of short stories, each one highlighting a key element of sustainable development that has helped shape a post-Net Zero Wales of 2051.

In this post, we aim to distil the key lessons we’ve learned and talk about how we came to write the stories. We know from trailblazers like the Arts Council of Wales and Futerra how important storytelling can be in moving towards transformational change. We also know that these stories need to reflect people from all walks of life and recognise that we can all drive change, whatever our role or job title. These stories aim to ignite conversations and add more puzzle pieces to the exciting, complex mix of solutions we’ll need to reach a fairer, more secure future. 

Whether it’s through sharing these stories, applying some of these initiatives in practice, or sparking conversations about sustainable development, we believe that each of us has a part to play in this ongoing narrative. 

How it all started

We, Camille and Karolina, originally wanted to organise a series of hands-on workshops to help SMEs explore how different, and sometimes overlooked, skills can help ready their workforce for a low-carbon economy. 

But to do so we needed an introduction, preferably a vision-setting piece that describes the impact green skills can make on one’s work. And we wanted to describe the impact of green skills in every line of work, not just in the energy or manufacturing sector.  

Before we knew it, we had created six characters and a future vision in which people in Wales live better lives through a complete system makeover. 

How it went

Every week, we published a story, set in the future, describing a day in the life of a person who meets a journalist who wants to learn about what went well for Wales.  

In doing so, we described what Wales could look like and what work, housing, schooling, farming and local governance could look like.   

In telling these short stories and giving voice to our six characters – Adi, Cameron, Luke, Aman, Cleo, and Gwen-Eddo – we wanted to highlight the role of skills that made that future possible and, more importantly, the role of government in creating conditions to use, elevate, and apply diverse skills, knowledge, capabilities and lived experiences.  

Although it was fiction, we drew inspiration from real people, social enterprises and initiatives, and the solutions we hear and read about but which have not yet become mainstream.  

Many ideas we presented in our stories were based on Welsh social enterprises. Having lived, studied, and worked outside Wales, we also drew on inspiring examples from other countries that show different, more inclusive, more holistic ways of doing things. We know that there are many more examples, from all sectors, that we could not include. 

When writing the stories, it became apparent that each sector we described, whether infrastructure, farming, or education, had to support another sector and that the demise of one business can negatively impact the ability of another business to stay afloat. This reinforced us in the conviction that all sectors are connected, and with them, the lives of our characters and the lives of people now, here in Wales and the world. 

The creative aspect of writing was relatively easy compared to our efforts to translate the vision of green skills into recommendations for hiring managers, recruiters, and directors of small and large organisations.  

To do so, we had to come back to reality and create events in which we explained green skills by giving examples, showing ways to embed these into existing jobs, and exploring what the future could hold for all families. We drew on existing toolkits, live job descriptions and reports to inform two online sessions.  

The Wales 2051 story series and practical sessions we delivered made us realise that the green skills agenda must not be taken for granted. It needs continuous reinforcement, whether through training, events, tutorials, or storytelling, to show that green skills matter to every job.

Where next?

This exercise has sparked excitement across our team as to how else we can use storytelling and initiatives like the Wales 2051 series to make sustainability concepts more relatable and achievable. We invite you, the reader, to share any ideas about how these stories can be further built upon and utilised. 

We’d like to thank all the individuals and organisations that provided the inspiration for this set of stories. You can find some of them below. We also drew from our experience in supporting the Mainstreaming Evidence in the Just Transition evidence panel and discussions around future skills linked to the foundational economy. 

We hope these stories and others like them become a talking point around creating conditions for everyone to thrive. 


If you would like Karolina and Camille to share more insights from this creative process, the role of storytelling in bringing about change, and of course our suggestions around recognising, valuing and embedding green skills, please get in touch! Email us at shwmae@cynnalcymru.com.

Please note that some AI-generated content is included in the featured image for this piece.


List of inspiration: 

Infrastructure

Education

Business collaboration

Farming

Health care

Policy/community engagement

General organisations and initiatives that have inspired us: 

Wales in 2051: Back to Reality Read More »

Wales in 2051: Learning environments that create curious minds

Our previous story was about Adi showing Swansea to a journalist who was eager to learn why Wales in 2051 is such a thriving nation. But it is not the end of his travels. Having spent time with Adi cycling around the city, he is now introduced to Cameron, an eleven-year old boy whom Adi babysits.

A day in the life of Cameron

Cameron swung the door open, his mother right behind him. He looked out to see Adi accompanied by an older man, who introduced himself as a journalist who had come to interview Cameron and his parents about his school and his experience of going there. Cameron’s face lit up with joy at the sight of Adi. Adi was more than just a neighbour and babysitter; she was his friend. At least, she had smiled warmly and said “Absolutely” when Cameron once shyly asked if she would be his friend.

He was always happy to see Adi because she would play fun games with him, and tell him about her work projects retrofitting the city sustainably, which he liked to hear about. He tried to imagine a mini version of his local area in his head; similar to but more intricate than the car roadmap carpet he had had when he was younger, which his brother now played with. He liked to imagine the landscape in miniature, as it would be from a helicopter, so that he could mentally view all the changes to the cityscape Adi talked about. He liked maps and nature. He also liked that Adi didn’t just tell him about the new building projects, but would explain how all the different aspects had been thought through – like accessibility for all people, the most suitable building materials to use to minimise ecosystem harm, how waste was recycled or repurposed, and how homes for wildlife were built in. The wildlife cameras and sonar equipment were his favourites, and Adi always let him listen to her recordings. He was learning many of these things in school, but listening to Adi they became more real, and he was able to imagine the miniature landscape of the area more clearly.

Learning through others

After exchanging formal introductions they settled down comfortably in the living room, although Cameron felt slightly nervous about answering the reporter’s questions. The first question was what Cameron enjoyed most about his school. Cameron thought about it, and then replied that he liked the buddy system, the volunteering days, the building modules, seeing his friends, and learning in general. He explained that the buddy system was a programme where all students were paired-up with a student from the year above them, to offer help with learning and with fitting in to the new school year. At his school, primary and secondary classes were held within the same grounds, so Cameron mentored a kid a year younger than him from the primary school, but also had his own mentor from the year above him. This system was put in place to prevent bullying, which had worked in the past in other countries and was rolled out in Wales too. Cameron had a big brotherly relationship with the kid he was teaching, and a strong desire to help and protect him. Cameron had also become good friends with his own mentor, whom he had now known for three years.

Learning with food

Next Cameron described the volunteering days – four days spread over the year when all the students would get involved in a project in their local area. Most recently they had all gone to the local community farm that helped supply nutritious and organic food to the school’s cafeteria. They had spent the whole day there, and they had all helped to harvest crops, feed the animals, and learn what was required for farming and how healthy soil is important for nutritious food. They had picked fruit and berries to eat and bring home.

Cameron had really enjoyed seeing how the food he ate every day ended up on his plate, and he enjoyed learning in a more practical way. The farm visit was a fixed yearly volunteering day, but the remaining three days were suggested and collectively chosen by the students, with the only requirement being that the project must make a positive social or environmental contribution to the local area. The next volunteering day would involve a regeneration project where students would plant native, pest-resistant tree species in parts of the city suffering from the new pathogens that had been introduced as a result of the warmed climate. The project would also help to provide shading and cooling for the city, and had been agreed in partnership with the Welsh Infrastructure Commissioner’s Office.

Learning by designing

Thirdly, Cameron explained that the environmental construction modules were weekly lessons where he and his classmates were introduced to technical environmental skills and given the chance to put them into practice. Projects ranged from building hydroponics to bird houses with green roofs, nature ponds, edible gardens and rainwater harvesting systems. It was still sometimes called Forest School by the older teachers even though, Cameron explained, all his friends called it EC, short for environmental construction. Cameron was excited about all the projects and felt encouraged by what he was learning, knowing that he would be able to use that knowledge to help his community thrive despite the difficult environmental challenges that all nations were facing.

Cameron paused and glanced from his mother to Adi, silently asking for confirmation that he had done a good job of explaining his school projects. Both were looking at him with immense pride. He looked down at the floor with a small smile on his lips, feeling a mixture of shyness and encouragement. The journalist said, “Cameron, that’s incredible and very inspiring.” He then followed up with his next question, asking what Cameron learned in school.

Learning by connecting diverse knowledge

Cameron once again took his time to think about the question, and then answered that he learned about history from different perspectives around the world, including Welsh folk traditions; maths; and economics, learning about many different economic models, including the old-fashioned ones that had only measured outputs around money and productivity. He explained that now the economic system was more complicated and was focused on nations’ well-being, security, and their ability to deal with hard times. Cameron asked what the water scarcity indicator had been when the correspondent was in school, and was bemused to learn that in the correspondent’s day, no such thing existed. Cameron also studied English, Welsh, geography, science and sustainability. Other subjects were arts, music, physical education, nutrition and computing.

Cameron explained that in all the different modules he studied, he learned about the impact of the subject on people and the planet. Almost everything they learned in the classroom they were given the opportunity to try out in practice. Meanwhile, the community volunteering and his country’s progress in the green transition made him feel a great sense of passion, excitement and belonging, while simultaneously learning about and embracing his Turkish heritage.

Learning by drawing on social skills and feedback

He liked that the teachers taught ways of learning. For example, they not only set tasks for group work, but also taught strategies for the students to learn effective collaboration. This also applied to other soft skills, such as active listening, leadership, communication, and analytical thinking. “No wonder an eleven-year-old can speak so eloquently,” the correspondent thought to himself. Cameron told the journalist he also really liked the fact that his teachers offered the students choices about what and how they learned.

Cameron’s dad had returned to the living room, and he said that from a parent’s perspective, he was happy that aspects of the curriculum were reviewed at fixed intervals and co-constructed by learners’ continuous feedback, as well as input from parents and carers, the local community, and experts who all contributed to curriculum development to ensure it remained relevant to local and global circumstances. Moreover, local and national schools shared best practice with each other, which had enabled a faster reworking of the curriculum to the stage it had reached today. Many of these practices were proposed by the Health WellBeing (Hwb) group of the Welsh Government around 2020. Cameron’s mother added that they were also grateful for the mandate to keep education free of cost to make it accessible for everyone.

Learning by helping others

A brief silence fell in the room before the journalist posed his next question, asking Cameron what he was most excited about doing a year from now. This time, Cameron didn’t have to think. He already knew the answer, as he had been waiting for this for a long time. He was most excited about the opportunity to learn how to use the most up-to-date technology at the local tech centre. The following year his school class would start a computer learning class which would progress from the basics to more in-depth teaching from professionals working in the field of technology.

Cameron’s mother explained that some of the profits from the community’s renewable energy farm had been spent on a shared tech centre, which all schools in the local area could use to stay on top of emerging trends. Cameron added that he was also excited about next year’s one-week work placement. Noticing the journalist’s confused expression, Cameron’s mother explained that over the past decades there had been much more emphasis placed on helping all children find careers that suited their skills, and helping employers understand the range of talent available to them. Work experience now started at a younger age and had become much more integrated within the education system. This built ties between businesses and communities, and had generated many different but equally respected career paths. Cameron added that he couldn’t wait to start his first placement – at Adi’s company. At that moment Adi felt like a proud sister, and she couldn’t believe how much of an inspiration she had been to Cameron.


Follow next week’s story about Cameron’s dad Luke, who runs a business benefitting not just his family, but the entire region and the planet too!

How can we develop and use the skills needed to create a 2051 we are proud of? Join Karolina and Camille for a free online Green Skills event on 28th May

Please note that some AI-generated content is included in the featured image for this piece.

Wales in 2051: Learning environments that create curious minds Read More »

Lunchtime challenge: Craft the future! Design a 21st Century business strategy

Lunchtime Challenge: Craft the Future! Design a 21st Century Business Strategy

Join Clockwise Cardiff for an exciting event where you can unleash your creativity and innovation!

Time: 1 Hour (with light lunch provided)

Host: Karolina Rucinska, Sustainability Strategist at Cynnal Cymru

Calling all innovators! Ready to shake things up? Join us for a dynamic lunchtime challenge where you’ll brainstorm and build a business strategy fit for the 21st century.

The Challenge: Craft a future-proof strategy that considers not just profit, but also social responsibility and environmental impact.

Lunchtime challenge: Craft the future! Design a 21st Century business strategy Read More »

May events: Green skills and your workplace

All upcoming Cynnal Cymru events can be booked via Ticketsource

Session 1: What do we mean by green skills and why are they needed?

Tuesday 14th May | 1pm | Online

Hosts: Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen

Green economy, green jobs, and green skills! What’s the difference and what do they mean in practice? Are these just for engineers and energy specialists or can anyone acquire these skills? Why they matter to every business and how they can help address changing legislation around energy, waste and social impact?

‘Green skills’ are the competencies required to create greater resilience and adapt to an environmentally flourishing and socially just present and future. Noticeably, these skills are broad and vary from technical to soft skills. Yet, many soft skills, ranging from the ability to think creatively, empathetically and analytically, are crucial for transition as they enable a reimagination of current ways of doing to allow new system designs that address the challenges we face as a society.

This session will:

  • Unpick key terms related to green skills so we can all better understand the skills we need for a future-fit society – how to nurture them and why they are important. It also outlines the main Welsh organisations that provide training and support in relation to climate, nature, and social justice.
  • Touch upon opportunities associated with green skills.
  • Provide useful names of organisations and resources to employees and employers alike.
  • Explore how green skills can help stay ahead of different legislation for environmental protection and just workforce conditions.

And of course, the session gives a chance to exchange contact details to make the most of this networking opportunity!


Postponed and merged with session 3

Session 2: Green recruitment and inclusive job descriptions

Tuesday 21st May | 1pm | Online

Hosts: Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen

This session focuses on how to rewrite job descriptions to be more inclusive and attract a wider pool of green talent, emphasizing skills beyond just technical expertise. It will cover:

  • Identifying Unconscious Bias: Recognise language that might exclude potential candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and communication styles. Offer alternatives for commonly biased terms and highlight the value of empathy and cultural understanding in sustainability work.
  • Highlighting Green Skills: Showcase the specific green skills required for the role, including creativity in problem-solving, system thinking for holistic approaches, and strong communication skills for building partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
  • Action-Oriented Language: Reframe job descriptions to focus on the impact of the role, promoting inclusivity and building a more sustainable future.
  • Inclusive Hiring Practices: Briefly discuss strategies for ensuring diverse interview panels and accessible application processes, emphasizing the importance of recognising the value of different perspectives for achieving sustainable solutions.

Please bring your own challenges and experiences to share.


Session 3: Greening every job

Tuesday 28th May | 1pm | Online

Hosts: Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen

This session explores how every job in a company can contribute to sustainability goals, emphasising broader green skills beyond technical expertise. It will cover:

  • Sustainability Integration: Discuss how seemingly unrelated roles can contribute to making the company more environmentally aligned and socially just. For example
    • Marketing & Sales: Highlight the importance of storytelling to engage customers with sustainability and collaboration with design teams to ensure products and services are truthful and do not perpetuate overconsumption and inequalities.
    • Finance & Accounting: Show how life cycle and circular economy principles (system thinking) can be integrated into financial decisions; and how to ensure investments are ethical and long-term.
    • Workforce Development: Explore strategies for building a fulfilled, diverse and inclusive green workforce.
    • Front of house, shopfloor and admin roles: Highlight the importance of the client facing roles in demonstrating the sustainable values of any organisation; ; and highlight the value of the on-the-ground knowledge that can aide in creating realistic solutions.
  • Everyday Green Practices: Offer practical tips for integrating sustainability principles into daily work routines while promoting collaboration and inclusivity (people skills).

May events: Green skills and your workplace Read More »

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Cynnal Cymru’s advice team grows

Camille will b responsible for helping guideing Cynnal Cymru’s clients towards more effectiveand through their transition to sustainable practices by providing them with personalised andmanageable action points. Camille joins our team of specialists providing advice to organisationswho want to become sustainable, led by our Sustainability Strategist Dr Karolina Rucinska., whohas recently been promoted as a manager to lead this growing team.Karolina said:‘Camille brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and has a talent for systems thinking,explaining complex topics in a engaging and impactful way, and insights that help shift mindsetswhile offering practical solutions.’Camille previously collaborated with Cynnal Cymru on sustainability guides for SMEs alongwith co-creator Gillian Rumsey. Theis free guides delves into a range of topics, such as wastemanagement, energy efficiency, responsible material sourcing, and sustainable supply chainmanagement, among others. Each guide delivers clear, actionable recommendations, illustratedwith real-life examples to motivate and steer SMEs towards a sustainable future.Camille said:‘As a recent Sustainable Development graduate, I am thrilled about the possibility to not onlycarry out my knowledge and skills in practice, but to work with a talented and inspiringSustainability Strategist who is able to think holistically in her approach to addressingunsustainable practices. Already in my first two weeks of being in my new role, I have beenencouraged to set goals for yearly progress that merges my personal passions with project ideasthat can be developed within the organisation. As you can image, I am excited to get started onsome of these projects and work towards minimising unsustainable business practices aroundWales.Whilst new to the role, this is not my first time working with Cynnal Cymru. Earlier last year, Idid a four-month internship working with Karolina Rucinska to develop sustainability guides forSMEs. It was based on this positive experience that I decided to apply for a job in theorganisation. However, I was unsuccessful in the first attempt. Nevertheless, the feedback I wasgiven following the interview process gave me great insight into what I did well and what I couldhave done better. So, when another relevant job posting surfaced from Cynnal Cymru monthslater, I applied for the job and I applied the feedback, which, I believe, is what gave me theadvantage. Being a little persistent does have its charm I suppose.’Camille moved to the UK from Denmark, pursuing her passion for and education in systems-focused approaches, and specifically how their application can build and enhance localcommunity agency and ownership. She brings with her extensive knowledge and understandingof how global challenges interlink, and their impact on local communities, and is always keen toexplore these challenges and find effective strategies for addressing them.CTA (signpost to new Sustainability Advice page or email?):So, whether your organisation is taking its first steps towards emissions-reduction or in need of acomprehensive footprint and action plan, we have the expertise to help you achieve your goals.If developing a sustainability strategy, action plan or staff workshop for idea-generation has been on your to-do list, then Camille and Karolina are keen tohelp! Please get in touch at…. Or learn more here (if Advice page ready

Camille will be responsible for helping Cynnal Cymru’s clients towards more effective and sustainable practices by providing them with personalised and manageable action points. Camille joins our team of specialists, led by our Sustainability Strategist Dr Karolina Rucinska.

Karolina said:
‘Camille brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and has a talent for systems thinking, explaining complex topics in a engaging and impactful way, and insights that help shift mindsets while offering practical solutions.’

Camille previously collaborated with Cynnal Cymru on sustainability guides for SMEs along with co-creator Gillian Rumsey. The free guides delves into a range of topics, such as waste management, energy efficiency, responsible material sourcing, and sustainable supply chain management. Each guide delivers clear, actionable recommendations, illustrated with real-life examples to motivate and steer SMEs towards a sustainable future.

Camille said:
‘As a recent Sustainable Development graduate, I am thrilled about the possibility to not only carry out my knowledge and skills in practice, but to work with a talented and inspiring Sustainability Strategist who is able to think holistically in her approach to addressing unsustainable practices. Already in my first two weeks of being in my new role, I have been encouraged to set goals for yearly progress that merges my personal passions with project ideas that can be developed within the organisation. As you can image, I am excited to get started on some of these projects and work towards minimising unsustainable business practices around Wales.

Whilst new to the role, this is not my first time working with Cynnal Cymru. Earlier last year, I did a four-month internship working with Karolina Rucinska to develop sustainability guides for SMEs. It was based on this positive experience that I decided to apply for a job in the organisation. However, I was unsuccessful in the first attempt. Nevertheless, the feedback I was given following the interview process gave me great insight into what I did well and what I could have done better. So, when another relevant job posting surfaced from Cynnal Cymru months later, I applied for the job and I applied the feedback, which, I believe, is what gave me the advantage. Being a little persistent does have its charm I suppose.’

Camille moved to the UK from Denmark, pursuing her passion for and education in systems-focused approaches, and specifically how their application can build and enhance local community agency and ownership. She brings with her extensive knowledge and understanding of how global challenges interlink, and their impact on local communities, and is always keen to explore these challenges and find effective strategies for addressing them.

So, whether your organisation is taking its first steps towards emissions-reduction or in need of a comprehensive footprint and action plan, we have the expertise to help you achieve your goals.

If developing a sustainability strategy, action plan or staff workshop for idea-generation has been on your to-do list, then Camille and Karolina are keen to help! Please get in touch at advice@cynnalcymru.com or learn more here.

Cynnal Cymru’s advice team grows Read More »

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Reconnecting face-to-face in a climate-conscious world

While convenient, virtual meetings can’t fully replicate the power of in-person interactions. Non-verbal cues, spontaneity, and the energy of shared space contribute to trust, understanding, and ultimately, sharper collaboration. Pre-pandemic travel patterns could have been better, but dismissing in-person meetings entirely ignores these significant benefits.

The answer lies in strategic, mindful choices with multiple co-benefits:

Reducing emissions: Connecting locally

  • Prioritise local clients: Connect with nearby clients face-to-face, favouring trains or carpooling for reduced emissions and increased productivity during commutes.
  • Embrace hybrid approaches: Combine virtual elements with smaller, local teams for distant clients, fostering strong relationships while saving travel time and costs.
  • Optimise travel when necessary: Choose the most fuel-efficient mode – trains, buses, or carpooling – for reduced emissions, individual cost savings, and potential networking opportunities.
  • Advocate for change: Encourage clients and organisations to prioritise sustainable travel options and infrastructure development, contributing to a wider positive impact on the environment and society.

Beyond the footprint: Optimizing for more than the environment

  • Maximising time: Careful planning and efficient travel modes can minimise travel time while maximising productivity, boosting your personal efficiency and client satisfaction.
  • Boosting well-being: Balancing virtual and in-person interactions offers both focused solitude and stimulating social interaction, contributing to increased personal well-being and potentially enhancing creativity during client meetings.

Leading the way: Beyond words, actions that speak volumes

As consultants, we have the opportunity to champion sustainable practices in a post-pandemic world. By demonstrating that face-to-face connections can thrive alongside environmental responsibility, we can:

  • Inspire clients and organisations to embrace sustainable travel solutions, driving positive change within the business community.
  • Drive wider change by advocating for infrastructure development that prioritises sustainability, contributing to a more liveable and environmentally friendly future for all.
  • Become exemplars of walking the walk, showcasing how success can be achieved while minimising our environmental impact, building trust and respect with clients who share similar values.

Leading by example: Cynnal Cymru’s commitment to sustainable client meetings

While the pandemic sparked the widespread adoption of virtual meetings, the desire for face-to-face client interaction is undeniably returning. At Cynnal Cymru, however, we recognise that prioritizing the planet shouldn’t come at the expense of strong client relationships. That’s why we’ve implemented specific measures to ensure our consultations are both fruitful and environmentally responsible.

Our travel policy: Walking the talk

  • Active Travel First: We prioritise walking, cycling, and public transport for all local meetings. By making this the default option, we minimise emissions and promote healthy lifestyles.
  • Open Communication: We openly discuss our travel policy with clients, explaining our commitment to sustainability and encouraging them to explore eco-friendly travel options when visiting our office.
  • Transparency and Tracking: We’ve added a dedicated line in our expense claims for employees to specify their mode of travel and destination. This allows us to monitor our impact and identify areas for further improvement.
  • No to Flights: As an organisation, we’ve made a conscious decision to avoid air travel entirely. While this may restrict our geographic reach, it underscores our unwavering dedication to minimising our carbon footprint.
  • Sustainable Directions: We provide clients with detailed instructions on reaching our office using public transport, cycling routes, and walking and wheeling paths. This empowers them to make informed choices that align with their own sustainability values.

Beyond the policy: Continuous improvement

While we’ve made significant strides, we acknowledge that there’s always room for growth. One area we’re focusing on is onboarding new staff. We recognise that not everyone instinctively integrates active travel into their business travel routines. We have incorporated sustainability awareness training into our onboarding process to ensure everyone understands and embraces our travel policy.

Join the conversation

We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences on navigating the balance between client relationships and environmental responsibility. Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable future for all.

Reconnecting face-to-face in a climate-conscious world Read More »

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