Co-written with Welsh consultancy firm The Means, this report draws on original research and the Understanding Welsh Places online tool to explore how Welsh places responded to Covid-19. We use stories from communities across Wales to understand how residents used local facilities and assets during the crisis, and what we learned about Welsh places’ preparedness to respond to an event of this scale. We then make recommendations about how the Welsh government and local authorities can invest in the facilities and planning to be better prepared for future crises. In this event chaired by Auriol Miller, Director of the IWA, attendees heard from a panel including: Andy Regan – Policy and External Affairs Manager, Institute of Welsh Affairs Peter Williams – Director, The Means Robyn Lovelock – Programme Manager, North Wales Economic Ambition Board

Institute of Welsh Affairs

7/10/2021 - IWA Report Launch: Stepping Up: How Covid-19 Tested the Resilience of Welsh Places

At this free online event, attendees heard about our latest report, part of our project on the Foundational Economy, funded by CREW. Produced in collaboration with The Means, a consultancy working on economic regeneration across the UK, our report outlines how regulations and their enforcement can disproportionately impact small and medium sized businesses, making it hard for new firms to enter established markets and to expand. Hear more about the series of recommendations we make of how Welsh regulators can ‘think small’ first and ensure a more level playing field. The event was chaired by Andy Regan, Policy and External Affairs Manager at the IWA, who was joined by: Jack Watkins – Foundational Economy Project Lead , Institute of Welsh Affairs Peter Williams – Director, The Means Llyr ap Gareth – Head of Policy, Federation of Small Businesses You can read the report and find out about the recommendations here: https://www.iwa.wales/our-work/work/the-impact-of-regulation-in-the-foundational-economy/ 

23/09/2021 IWA Report Launch: Regulation and the Foundational Economy

This event discusses the surge in volunteering during the Covid-19 pandemic, and explores the challenges the sector has faced as well as whether there has been a shift in policy over the past 15 months. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, interest in volunteering in Wales has seen a significant increase. It has played a crucial role in supporting communities and helping people meet their basic needs. In this last edition of our Rethinking Wales series we explore the reasons behind this surge and examine how Covid-19 has changed what volunteering looks like. We also discuss the role of infrastructure and public services in Wales to ensure the long-term engagement in volunteering post-pandemic. Panellists: Sue Leonard, Chief Officer, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services Sue Husband, Director, Business in the Community Cymru Kerry Marlow, Coordinator, Porthcawl Covid-19 Strategy Group Judith Stone, Assistant Director of Volunteering, Wales Council for Voluntary Action This is an hour long panel discussion on Zoom chaired by the IWA Director, Auriol Miller. An open, politically independent and inclusive space for discussion and debate is the best way to identify the challenges we face in Wales because of Covid-19, and work out where the opportunities for real change are. We are well placed to bring those voices together, and the IWA’s #RethinkingWales series (supported by the National Lottery Community Fund) will explore how various sectors need to respond to this crisis and how we need to start thinking differently.

08/07/2021 Rethinking Wales: Volunteering in a Pandemic

This event, jointly organised by the Media Reform Coalition and the Institute of Welsh Affairs, is part of ‘The BBC and Beyond’, an MRC campaign which aims to reimagine public media for the digital age. The event focusses on what a reformed public service media landscape within Wales could look like. The BBC has set out its strategic goal to recreate itself as a ‘truly UK wide organisation (…) decentralising power and decision-making across the four nations’. But a healthy media landscape cannot depend on any single organisation, so this event explores how to embed public service media principles across more of the media ecosystem in Wales and the UK. All political parties in the Senedd supported the IWA’s call for the Welsh Government to create a new, contestable fund to support independent news. This event considers the innovative journalistic models and practices this fund could nurture and how to ensure it embeds public service media principles – of independence, accountability, democracy and universality – at its heart. We also talk about digital – what role can technology play in enabling more participatory processes, and does Welsh Government’s digital strategy contain the right policies to maximise this potential? Where does community media sit in this ecology, and how can the rest of the UK learn from the best innovations coming out of Wales? Panellists: Debs Grayson (Chair) – Campaign Coordinator, Media Reform Coalition Emma Meese – Director, Independent Community News Network Shirish Kulkarni – News Storytelling Researcher, Clwstwr Creadigol Andy Regan – Policy & External Affairs Manager, Institute of Welsh Affairs Lucas Batt – Membership Coordinator, The Bristol Cable This is an hour long panel discussion on Zoom, with an introduction by IWA Director, Auriol Miller.

01/07/2021 Beyond the BBC: Reimagining Public Service Media in Wales

This event discusses changes to how communities in Wales are using banking services, and explores the possibilities of more community-oriented models.One of the most dramatic changes to Welsh high streets in the last decade has been the decline of banking, with the closure of just over 40% of bank branches leaving customers and businesses struggling to manage their cash.In this edition of our Rethinking Wales series, we explore the reasons behind this change and what can be done to ensure that people can continue to access this vital basic service in the future, whilst also finding ways to make the banking system work better for the interests of Wales.Panellists: Tegid Roberts, Banc Cambria Ben Joakim, Head of Strategy, Principality Building Society Valentine Mulholland, Senior Policy & Propositions Manager, Money & Pensions Service This is an hour long panel discussion on Zoom chaired by the IWA Director, Auriol Miller.An open, politically independent and inclusive space for discussion and debate is the best way to identify the challenges we face in Wales because of Covid-19, and work out where the opportunities for real change are.We are well placed to bring those voices together, and the IWA’s #RethinkingWales series (supported by the National Lottery Community Fund) will explore how various sectors need to respond to this crisis and how we need to start thinking differently.

17/06/2021 Rethinking Wales: Banking for the Community

“If you can’t afford a bike, having the freedom to go cycling doesn’t mean anything.”This event discusses access to sport for Welsh communities and how the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities.Whilst elite sport has been able to continue fairly uninterrupted since the first wave, we examine the public’s access to sport and exercise, and explore how inequalities have manifested themselves.We explore inequalities of access to sports equipment and facilities, what effect this has had on regular and irregular participants in sport and what needs to change as we emerge from the pandemic.Panellists:- Victoria Ward, CEO, Welsh Sports Association- Brian Davies, Director of Sport, Sport Wales- Mark Lawrie, CEO, StreetGames- Dean Pymble, Campaign Manager, Show Racism the Red CardThis is an hour long panel discussion on Zoom chaired by the IWA Director, Auriol Miller.

27/05/2021 Rethinking Wales: Community Sport and Inequality

The Welsh Places Charter has been created by the Welsh Places Influencing Group, convened by the IWA. We are a coalition of organisations, practitioners, and academics passionate about creating a Wales in which people’s social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing is at the centre of our communities.It is clear that the way in which we live and work will not be the same as we emerge from the pandemic and big questions need to be asked about what we need to do to ensure that our places can not only recover but are thriving and resilient.We believe that the answers to these questions lie within our communities, and throughout this Charter we set out a vision for a Wales where more economic power is returned to local citizens, and it is the norm for people to have a greater say in how they shape their communities.Our panel will explore why this Charter matters and why it can make a difference to our communities. The event is chaired by Auriol Miller, Director of the IWA, who is joined by: Ellen Jones – Consumer Council for Water (former Understanding Welsh Places Project Lead) Roisin Wilmott – Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru Chris Jones - Chris Jones John Heneghan – Centre for Local Economic Strategies 

24/05/2021 Welsh Places Charter

Our panel look back at the 2021 Senedd election and assess what the outcome means for the future of Wales.We look at the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the results, the impact of young people being given the right to vote for the first time and whether the electoral landscape of Wales has shifted in the wake of the results.Our panel discusses the election campaigns and share their opinions of the outcomes, including what drove voters to make the decisions they did.We also discuss the implications of the result for policy-makers in Wales over the next Senedd term, examining where the newly-elected Welsh Parliament might lead Wales over the next few years.The event is chaired by Auriol Miller, Director of the IWA, who will be joined by: Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy, Cardiff University Rocio Cifuentes, CEO, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales (EYST) Andy Regan, Policy & External Affairs Manager, IWA This is an hour long panel discussion on Zoom and attendees were able to engage in the conversation and ask questions via the live chat.

13/05/2021 Senedd 2021: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

In December, Professor Gerry Holtham stepped down as an IWA Trustee after nearly twenty years and in this event one of the evergreens of Welsh public life seeks to balance the inter-generational books.Wales has the highest median age in the UK and in 20 years 1 in 4 of the population will be over 65.This figure reflects the fact that educated, young people are leaving in their tens of thousands resulting in Wales facing the lowest retention rates – with regards to both the proportion of students studying and staying to find work – than any other UK nation.Facing less secure work and high house prices – especially in coastal areas – it could be argued that young people today in Wales are less well-off relative to their elders than any generation since WWII.This calls for a radical reorientation of public policy to favour the young.We must consider: Free tertiary education for all students who are resident in Wales or who remain and work in Wales for five years post graduation. Free or concessionary public transport for the young, while  limiting free travel to those over 70 years old. A large and compulsory increase in council tax on second homes and no stamp duty (Land Transaction Tax) on first-home purchase by people under 30. The session is chaired by IWA Director, Auriol Miller, and attendees are able to ask questions.

13/04/2021 Prof. Gerry Holtham: Rejuvenating Wales

Our panel of transport experts and local leaders discussed how to create a region-wide travel network that works for everybody who lives and works in the capital. Is it time for Cardiff to have a congestion charge? What are the politics of big changes to the transport system? The panel explore the challenges and opportunities for transport in the Cardiff City Region as we move from the Covid-19 crisis and towards the ‘new normal’. We looked at plans for the region and delved into what lessons can be learned from successful transport solutions from further afield. Panellists: Prof Mark Barry, Cardiff University Christine Boston, Sustrans Cymru Cllr Huw Thomas, Cardiff Council Allison Dutoit, Gehl, UWE Bristol Attendees were able to engage in debate and ask questions of the panel. The Cardiff University – IWA debate series brings together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to discuss topical issues at the heart of politics, society and the economy in Wales. Challenging assumptions and offering fresh thinking, the sessions support informed policymaking through constructive and engaging debate. 

24/03/2021 Mobility in Our Fast-growing Capital City

During this panel discussion we hear from people with a learning disability about their experiences during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, specifically in regards to relationships and connections.Mencap Cymru have been collecting oral histories which show how important friendships and relationships are for people, often supporting our identity and validation of our worth.However, there remain significant challenges for people with learning disabilities when it comes to connecting with others.We hear from people with a learning disability about their experiences during Covid-19, and discuss if the pandemic has highlighted anything that they would like to see change when we return to the “new normal”.Sian Davies, Head of Strategic Programmes, Mencap Cymru will Chair the event.She will be joined by:- Stuart Todd, Lecturer, University of Wales Trinity St David- Sophie Hinksman, Co-chair, Learning Disability Ministerial Advisory Group- Joe Powell, Chief Executive, All Wales People First- Michael AllcockThe IWA’s #RethinkingWales series explores the challenges we face because of Covid-19, and works out the opportunities for change.

18/03/2021 Rethinking Wales: Re-defining Community and Connections

This report presents an analysis of policy and practice in business support in Wales and its impacts on the Welsh economy. We argue that business support needs to be reoriented to be more accessible to firms in the foundational economy, and that doing so will have both economic and social benefits. This launch event will include a presentation of our findings and recommendations, along with an opportunity for questions, comments and debate with our audience. We want this report to be the beginning of a wider conversation. The report was produced as part of the IWA’s collaborative project with CREW looking at the foundational economy as a policy agenda in Wales. Our report calls for policy makers: To develop smarter approaches to sector policy, informed by engagement with firms and by a wider variety of data sources; To rethink ‘productivity’ so that it includes the quality of outputs in foundational sectors, and invest in spreading new processes and technologies; To invest in a way that strengthens the entrepreneurial eco-system by encouraging links between firms and being more accessible to small and micro-businesses; To get economic development structures right, ensuring that economic development policy has a degree of consensus support and outlasts individual Ministers, whilst also diversifying funding after Brexit.

02/03/2021 IWA Report Launch: Business Support for the Foundational Economy

To understand the ongoing impact of the pandemic on individuals, work, the community and the world around us, we need to listen to people’s experiences. That is why the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Wales Co-operative Centre, alongside 8 other partner organisations, launched a new initiative to gather these stories using the online storytelling tool Sensemaker®. This event launches a second report on our findings and outlines why this unique method of collecting people’s unfiltered experiences will bring stories across Wales to the attention of decision-makers. It’s not our intention to collect personal information about people. This tool will be used to spot general trends and patterns for us to better understand how the pandemic has affected us all. We also show you how to access the anonymised data, which will be available to the public, so anyone can analyse the stories and information gathered to spot specific trends. Sophie Howe, the Future Generations Commissioner, attends as our keynote listener, reflecting on the information that we’ve collected and its value going forward. The Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) and the Wales Co-operative Centre (WCC) are co-leaders of the Live Learning Partnership, along with: • Business In the Community (BITC) • Cardiff Business School (Cardiff University) • Care Forum Wales • Community Housing Cymru (CHC) • Cymorth Cymru • The Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team (EYST) • Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) • Y Lab (Cardiff University/Nesta) The IWA’s role in this project is part-funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

02/03/2021 Live Learning Partnership: Findings and Analysis

The topic of this discussion is proposed changes to GCSEs and qualifications for 16 year olds as part of the ongoing reform of the curriculum.  How can assessment remain robust whilst supporting the curriculum’s radical vision? How can the new curriculum balance freedom for teachers with public expectations about content, including on Welsh history and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic history? We explore what these changes will mean for learners and teachers, and drawing on lessons learned about the education system from COVID-19. We are joined by: Oliver Stacey – Qualifications Wales Ceri Reed – Parents Voice in Wales Community Interest Company Dave Stacey – Senior Lecturer and AoLE Humanities Lead, University of Wales Trinity Saint David This is an hour long panel discussion on Zoom chaired by the IWA Director, Auriol Miller, and attendees were able to engage in debate and ask questions on the live chat.

25/02/2021 Rethinking Wales: Curriculum and Assessment Through the Lens of COVID-19

This Rethinking Wales is led by the Bevan Commission and will explore health and care challenges in vulnerable communities and the mental health impacts of Covid-19. The event will also look at the wider picture, outside of the NHS itself, that is having a big impact on population health and wellbeing including; unemployment, poverty, inequality, social care and mental health. Panellists: Dame Sue Bailey, Bevan Commissioner Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy and Governance, Wales Governance Centre and IWA Trustee Kelechi Nnoaham, Director of Public Health, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB Dave Street, Director of Social Services Caerphilly CBC

4/2/2021 Rethinking Wales: Our Tough Choices for Health and Care

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