Building Better Futures in Wales
“In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, voluntary organisations in Wales told us about their shared ambitions for a future post-pandemic that is more equal, just and green. They told us that they want the voices of diverse communities across Wales to be heard and able to actively shape our futures.”
We all have our own hopes and dreams for the future. But it can feel daunting to dream collectively about what a post-Covid world should look like, or to identify the steps that are needed to achieve that vision. Luckily, the Better Future Wales project is on hand to ensure communities get their say in shaping the future.
Better Futures Wales is an exciting partnership between WCVA and the School of International Futures that helps communities design and implement their vision of a better tomorrow. The initial pilot project, supported as part of TNLCF's Emerging Futures Fund, used a community foresight exercise with voluntary and community groups across three different communities in Wales.
The partners have developed an easy-to-use toolkit, with activities that are participatory and inclusive. The first two activities are open-ended and diverge into the realm of exploration. They guide readers to look for signs of what a positive future might look like and help them draw inspiration and brainstorm what might be applicable in their own context.
The remainder become increasingly focused, guiding readers to explore aspects of a preferred future that their community might want to call their own, as well as the challenges and opportunities they might encounter on their journey. Finally, the outcomes of the different exercises converge into a set of practical steps they could take to realise their vision.