A series of think-pieces and podcasts that discuss how the voluntary sector can help create a better Wales in the wake of Brexit.
Leaving the EU is a huge societal upheaval for Wales. With the current crises enveloping the nation, voluntary organisations have had to mobilise quickly and postpone plans to deal with the difficulties presented by our impending exit of the European Union.
WCVA is actively working to make sure that the voluntary sector in Wales is ready for the challenges that Brexit has already brought – and is yet to bring.
That’s why we’re announcing three think pieces, accompanied by podcasts that focus on the future of wellbeing in Wales.
Responding to the climate emergency
We’ve seen potential for future change in how we treat the environment over the lockdown phase of the pandemic. Can we carry these benefits over into a post-Brexit Wales?
In the podcast we hear co-authors of the paper Gethin Rhys from Cytûn and Susie Ventris-Field from the Welsh Centre for International Affairs outline the challenges they think the voluntary sector in Wales can help meet in respect of the climate emergency.
A wellbeing economy
The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales recently released a statement announcing that ‘a healthy economy should deliver a fair distribution of health and wealth and well-being, while protecting the planet’s resources for future generations and other species.’ What role does the voluntary sector have in the implementation of an economy focused on our wellbeing?
In the podcast, Duncan Holtham from the People and Work Unit outlines some of the ideas in the paper he co-wrote with Dr Sarah Lloyd-Jones: ‘The role of the voluntary sector in shaping a new economy for Wales’.
Duncan is joined by WCVA’s Director of Strategy & Sector Development, Anna Nicholl, Dr Jack Price (Wales Centre for Public Policy, Cardiff University), Sarah Hopkins (Cynnal Cymru) and Russell Todd, an independent podcast producer.
In particular, they draw attention to how diverse the voluntary sector’s contribution to the Welsh economy is; how a new economy for wellbeing will need different governance arrangements; and how the voluntary could be financed in a new economy for wellbeing.
Transforming Health and Social Care
Another field that has been permanently affected by the pandemic is the Health and Social Care sector. How can voluntary organisations shape the future of health and social care?
In the podcast, [link] Prof Mark Llewellyn and Dr Carolyn Wallace from the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care at the University of South Wales discuss their research into the future of social care in Wales and the voluntary sector’s role in re-shaping that. In particular, they explain how they had to adapt their methodologies to reflect the lockdown that prevented face-to-face sector involvement in the research
They are joined by Sally Rees, National voluntary Sector Health & Social Care Facilitator at WCVA and host for the discussion, Russell Todd, an independent podcast producer.
How you can get involved
Please let us know what you think of the series by joining the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #BetterFuturesWales, or get in touch with the Policy team on policyteam@wcva.cymru.