Case Studies
Over the last few months, we have been collecting good case studies of how the Act is being implemented on the ground across Wales.
These examples demonstrate what the Act is trying to achieve on a Wales-wide level and we hope that they will inspire others to follow.
We are sure there are many other great actions being taken by communities, public bodies and other organisations and would encourage people to get in touch on contactus@futuregenerations.wales if they want to share examples with us.
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Amgueddfa Cymru - Widening engagement with young people
Amgueddfa Cymru - Widening engagement with young people
Involving young people in all aspects of Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales’ work began as a way of supporting and developing skills and creativity, which was one of its wellbeing objectives. Now, their involvement is considered crucial for creating a more equitable museum that is relevant to the lives of young people, now and into the future.
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Arts and Culture in well-being
Arts and Culture in well-being
Most of the funding and efforts in relation to health go towards treating ill health instead of preventing it. We need a new system that prioritises keeping people well in the first place. Culture is a powerful mechanism for maintaining good health and preventing illness. A lot of public bodies recognise this and many have found a way to integrate this within their well-being objectives and steps. Collaboration between cultural and health bodies can be seen across Wales.
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People shaping their communities: Brecon Beacons
People shaping their communities: Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons is 835 mi² of some of Wales’ most beautiful and richest in natural resources land. Despite the natural beauty of the land, the national park is also characterised by poor connectivity links and health inequalities. The planning authority serving the 33,500 people living in Brecon Beacons has chosen to address these challenges in an integrated way through their revised Local Development Plan, which will be based around the 20-minute neighbourhood concept. To ensure that people are involved in the design of their future places, the planning authority have undertaken multiple involvement methods and exercises. This work will help meet several of Brecon Beacons’ well-being objective and contributes to multiple of the national well-being goals.
Read the full case study here.
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Transforming how we move around Cardiff
Transforming how we move around Cardiff
Some of Cardiff’s most significant challenges relate to air pollution, high levels of congestion and obesity. Cardiff Council has chosen to address these challenges in a joined-up way through their wellbeing objective ‘Cardiff grows in a resilient way’. They have set out to ‘lead a transformation of Cardiff’s public transport system, alongside promoting more active forms of travel’. Their efforts to promote active travel have been integrated with work on health to ensure that the solutions they come up with unlock multiple benefits and contributes to some of the Council’s other well-being objectives.
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Local Museums improving well-being
Local Museums improving well-being
Inequalities can impact the how different groups access and interact with culture differently and many still feel excluded from spaces which are inaccessible or considered as ‘high culture’. That is why the work of local museums, who work directly with the community is so important for the achievement of the vision set out in the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Small and large museums across Wales are taking actions to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of their area. They are using the medium of culture to contribute to each of the national well-being goals to the well-being objectives of their local authority.
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Swansea's approach to housing
Swansea's approach to housing
COVID-19 has prompted urgent action to tackle homelessness across Wales. Swansea Council has found long-term homes for hundreds of people during the pandemic and they plan to develop this work further postCOVID-19. Because solving homelessness, reducing carbon emissions and fuel poverty are linked – the Council is working on all issues holistically through its well-being objectives. Energy efficient technology is being integrated in affordable housing projects. Additional work is being placed on improving residents’ mental and physical health, thus contributing to multiple well-being objectives.
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Re-discovering our valleys: Valleys Regional Park
Re-discovering our valleys: Valleys Regional Park
The Valleys is an area rich with natural assets and community spirit, but this has been consistently overshadowed by its industrial heritage and the deprivation that this left behind. The Valleys Regional Park initiative, set up by the Valleys Taskforce, celebrates the Valleys’ vast and beautiful landscape by combining nature with community spirit and economic development. Using the natural landscape to educate people about climate issues, while ensuring livelihoods are maintained and skills are taught across the area, the project has helped those on the ground in Wales think long-term, collaborate with stakeholders and involve communities to get the most out of the unique and valuable Welsh landscape.
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Maximising wellbeing through spending
Maximising wellbeing through spending
We need a better way of measuring how procurement is delivering the outcomes of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. The National Themes, Outcomes, and Measures (TOMs) Wales are an agreed set of measurements to include in procurement contracts that incorporates the existing Community Benefits toolkit measures, but also provides additional opportunities to deliver on the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. The TOMs tool considers the whole procurement cycle, including commissioning, contract management and supply chain relationships. The well-being goals are used for the 7 themes of the toolkit and the 35 Outcomes are based on the headings within the Future Generations Commissioner’s Journeys to the goals. There is also space for organisations to consider how procurement outcomes can contribute to their well-being objectives.
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Supporting creative communities
Supporting creative communities
The Welsh Government has introduced A Freelancer Pledge as part of the Culture Recovery Fund. This work contributes to several of Welsh Government’s well-being objectives. Its aim is to integrate culture with the other dimensions of well-being, by pairing up freelancers (creatives and artists) with public bodies or Public Services Boards to provide creative and cultural services into tackling societal issues, address wellbeing objectives and take action in building back better. This might help pave the way for a Creative Participation Income and/or a Universal Basic Income approach.
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Making connections to improve environmental sustainability at Ysbyty Gwynedd
Making connections to improve environmental sustainability at Ysbyty Gwynedd
Climate change is the biggest global health threat of this century. If the global healthcare sector were a country it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In 2019, doctors, nurses and health professionals at Ysbyty Gwynedd joined together to form a Green Group, seeking to relocate their oath to ‘do no harm’ within the context of planetary health – the well-being of human beings together with the natural systems on which they depend. They set out to create a supportive platform for discussion and action around sustainability; where members could share and develop knowledge, cultivate skills, and envision local sustainability projects at the hospital and beyond.
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Beyond Recycling: our path towards a circular economy
Beyond Recycling: our path towards a circular economy
Keeping resources in use, avoiding waste and moving towards a circular economy goes hand in hand with Wales’ efforts to reach net zero by 2050. Wales’ recycling rates are ahead of most other countries and now Welsh Government has set out a new, ambitious plan that goes beyond recycling, is focused around the Well-being of Future Generations Act and aspires to maximise contribution to all four dimensions of well-being through bold and innovative actions. The delivery of this plan will rely on collaborative and integrated action by Welsh Government, local authorities, businesses and communities and we can already see innovative and inspirational action happening on the ground.
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Renovating Homes, Building Futures
Renovating Homes, Building Futures
The Community Impact Initiative (Cii) aims to regenerate communities through renovating empty properties. As a community interest company, Cii buys empty, run-down properties and oversees their restoration through involving and training a workforce of local people. Project participants are often those furthest from the labour market, with many having faced barriers to employment such as mental illhealth, homelessness, domestic abuse and substance addiction. Cii’s construction projects offer these individuals a chance to learn and grow and make meaningful contributions to society. Throughout the project and afterwards, they are given support to improve their health and well-being, build their confidence and self-esteem, learn new skills, achieve qualifications, and make positive life improvements. Meanwhile, empty homes are returned to the housing market in an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manner.
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Cardiff & Vale enhancing biodiversity
Cardiff & Vale enhancing biodiversity
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is working to increase biodiversity and address the climate and nature crises through their estate, while also improving the mental health and well-being of their staff, patients and community. From developing innovative spaces like Our Health Meadow – Ein Dôl Iechyd at its University Hospital Llandough site where they are collaborating with partners to establish an ecological community health park that will enhance biodiversity and help reconnect people with nature; to their Critical Care units planting trees to offset carbon emissions and clinicians reducing emissions through the supply chain; to organising a Green Health conference to encourage others to take part in this work, they are finding new and bold ways to address the challenges facing our current and future generations and contribute to the vision of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.
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Climate Ready Gwent
Climate Ready Gwent
Following the devastating wildfires and floods experienced in Gwent over the last few years it became clear that for Climate Action to be successful, it would require new and innovative ways of working. The Climate Ready Gwent network, a collection of Public Services Boards in Gwent overseen by Natural Resources Wales, has been sharing good practice and working together to help tackle climate change. Working collaboratively the network has provided 220 individuals with carbon literacy training, helped facilitate the Blaenau Gwent Climate Assembly where members can vote on recommendations for public service organisations’ climate action, and have delivered 62 Electric Vehicle charging points across Gwent.
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Protecting the well-being of firefighters
Protecting the well-being of firefighters
Modern firefighters are expected to keep people safe and protect their communities. Sometimes this involves exposing themselves to dangerous situations and witnessing tragedy in their attempts to meet the expectations of the public for protection. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, with a strategic theme dedicated to ‘Valuing Our People’, have made strides to ensure that while firefighters are protecting us, they are protected themselves from adverse mental and physical issues encountered on the job. To support staff and promote the well-being of firefighters, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have designed and created ‘Well-being Areas’ with the sole purpose of ensuring firefighters have a safe, stable and positive space to talk openly to colleagues about the dangerous and potentially traumatic situations they find themselves in.
