Last week, members of the public attended a National Conversation event to make sure that they had their views heard on exactly what Wales they want to see for our future generations.
Facilitated by leading research company Miller Research, the evening proved a valuable insight into what the people of Wales view as they key goals that the Welsh Government should be pursuing in the coming decades. Key priorities from those who attended emerged as:
- Sustainability
- Equality
- Future-focused
- Pride in being Welsh
Attendees were asked to partake in a range of different activities, including creating collages from magazine cuttings to depict what “Wales they Want” by 2050. They then finished the sentence “I want a Wales where…”.
Groups were also asked to engage in the detail of how their visions of future Wales could be implemented. They discussed “practicalities” of how these goals could be achieved, who the beneficiaries would be, who might miss out, and how realistic they thought their ideas were.
The event was a great success, with positive comments from those who attended such as “Inspiring to see that people from all walks of life want the same fundamental basics,” and “It was a great feeling of being heard and having an opinion which matters for the whole of Wales.” As one attendee said, “It’s obvious that people do care about the Wales’s future! Hope it will encourage bold action!”.
Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, Peter Davies, spoke at the event and explained why taking part in the National Conversation should be a priority for Welsh citizens: “This Bill will lay out the long term goals for Wales in order to create a sustainable, vibrant and prosperous Wales. Anybody who lives in our country should make sure they take part and have their say, because it will be important that these goals are shared by all of us this so we can all make a contribution to achieving a common vision for the future of Wales.”
There are a number of ways people can join in with the National Conversation. By visiting www.thewaleswewant.co.uk, they can complete the online survey and give their opinion. They can also join the Conversation on twitter (@TheWalesWeWant) and facebook.
People can also get involved by becoming Futures Champions and hosting their own Conversations in their local community. You can find out more about becoming a Futures Champion via The Wales We Want website at thewaleswewant.co.uk or ygymruagarem.co.uk.
