The 4theRegion Podcast

37. Election Special 2021

In this Election Special bonus episode, we're bringing you a recording of the online hustings event hosted by the Wellbeing Economy Alliance for Wales. With the Senedd elections less than one month away, here's your opportunity to meet some of the candidates and hear what they have to say about their vision for Wales.

In particular, do they really understand what we mean when we talk about a Wellbeing Economy? And are they committed to the 7 Wellbeing Goals of Wales' future generations act? Or do they still believe "economic growth" will solve all of Wales' problems? Listen in to find out!

Co-chaired by Youth Climate Ambassadors Ellie Sanders and Caitlyn Williams, and facilitated by Dawn Lyle from 4theRegion, this hustings was organised by the Wellbeing Economy Alliance.

We invited the top five parties from January's voting preferences poll: Labour, the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and Abolish (with Abolish declining the invitation).

• Jeremy Miles, Labour
• Calum Davies, Conservative
• Luke Fletcher, Plaid Cymru
• Amelia Womack, Green Party

Young people from the age of 16+ have the vote in Wales for the first time this year. We hope this discussion helps clarify what Wales' main political parties actually stand for, so you can vote in alignment with your own values in the upcoming Senedd elections.

The Wellbeing Economy Alliance for Wales is part of the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance, a movement to promote an economy that serves the wellbeing of humanity within planetary limits, rather that the pursuit of 'growth' and 'productivity' at any cost.

To find out more, join our monthly online meetings via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/138789000637

36. Power to the People with Ant Flanagan

Today we speak to Ant Flanagan, director of Gower Power Co-op CIC. Gower Power is a community co-operative owned and controlled by its members. In Swansea alone, Gower Power have put over £1.5 million of renewable energy assets into community ownership across 3 projects and helped to establish over £2m in social impact funds for the benefit of the Swansea community.

Gower Power are excited to announce a new partnership with Ecotricity to deliver more renewable power to those in the Swansea area. To find out more about this initiative, please attend our event on the 6th May 2021! Further details can be found on our Eventbrite page.

Find the event here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/4theregion-18049840590 Gower Power: https://www.gowerpower.coop/

35. Giving Something Back with Dave Kieft

In this episode, we speak to Dave Kieft, group director of RD Group, which comprises EFT Consult, RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services and DRS Facilities Management. We're really pleased to have RD Group as members of 4theRegion and helping in our mission to make the region a more prosperous place.

Dave shares his experience in using business as a platform to give back to the community, creating training opportunities, delivering sustainable development projects and partnering with exciting local initiatives such as Garrison Farm, which will deliver charity services and support for veterans.

RDM Electrical: http://www.rdmelectrical.com/
DRS Facilities Management: http://www.drsfmservices.co.uk/
EFT Consult: http://www.eftconsult.co.uk/

Garrison Farm CIC: https://garrisonfarm.org/

34. Building Back for the Future with Andy Middleton

This week we speak to Andy Middleton from TYF in St. Davids about the importance of not only building back better, but building back in a way that is fit for the future.

 

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Featuring

Dawn Lyle - 4theRegion

Andy Middleton - TYF, www.tyf.com

33. Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure is a key part in major developments across our region, including the Biophilic Living Swansea development, community gardens and other regeneration projects across the South West Wales Region. What is considered green infrastructure, what's planned for the region and how can green developments help businesses and communities to build back better?

 

Featuring:

Dawn Lyle & Zoe Antrobus - 4theRegion

Carwyn Davies - Hacer Developments

Fran Rolfe - Natural Resources Wales

Andrew Collins - Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Kate McCabe - Pobl Housing Group

32. What Next For Regional Tourism with Andrew Campbell

With lockdown restrictions slowly being eased in Wales, it's time to consider what this means for the reopening of the visitor economy and tourism sector. We spoke to Andrew Campbell, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance about his thoughts on the return of tourism in our region, what preparations businesses must make and the future of tourism and travel for Wales.

31. Investing in Future Skills with Barry Liles

Dawn Lyle from 4theRegion speaks to Barry Liles OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Skills and Lifelong Learning at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David about the transition to remote learning and teaching, accelerated by the pandemic and the importance of digital and employability skills and maintaining lifelong learning. Are you a learner who has been impacted by the switch to online learning? What opportunities and careers do you think will be available in the future? We hear Barry's perspective in this latest conversation from 4theRegion!

30. Action on Food Waste

Dawn Lyle and Zoe Antrobus from 4theRegion talk to Puffin Produce, Bluestone Resort, Castell Howell, Pembrokeshire Eco Champions, Matts Cafe and WRAP about food waste in hospitality, retail and in our homes for Food Waste Action Week 2021. Food waste is a massive contributor to climate change - and over 70% of food waste comes from domestic kitchens - so we can all make a difference.  Do you peel your potatoes before making mash?  Do you know what you can make with the leftovers in your fridge?  Perspectives from across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot in this latest conversation from 4theRegion!

29. Biophilic Living Swansea

Biophilic Living Swansea is a mixed use development that includes affordable and shared ownership housing, as well as retail and commercial space. In this episode, Carwyn Davies, director of Hacer Developments and Andrew Nixon, director of Powell Dobson Architects share an engaging presentation about this innovative development.

The vision for Biophilic Living Swansea is to enable reconnection with nature in the urban environment, and the creation of a cohesive community to tackle issues of social exclusion and loneliness in an innovative way.

This project by Hacer Developments has been designed by Powell Dobson Architects in Swansea. The concept is the result of extensive collaborative working among a range of local organisations, including Swansea University, the Active Building Centre, Public Health Wales, Swansea Community Farm and Sero Homes Ltd.

Discover more about Biophilic Living here: www.biophilicliving.co.uk

The video shown during the presentation can be found here: www.biophilicliving.co.uk/about

28. A New Currency for Wales with Eifion Williams

We speak to Eifion Williams, CEO of Circular Economy Wales about current community projects such as the Community Fridge and Precious Plastics and the launch of Wales' Complementary Currency, the Celyn.

Backed by the Welsh Government’s Foundational Economy scheme and inspired by successful economic models in Sardinia and Switzerland, the Celyn is a complementary currency known as a mutual credit system that is exclusive to Wales.

Precious Plastic is an open-source project which helps communities turn the plastic waste in its rivers, streets and beaches into everyday products. The Community Fridge is a public facing, non-means tested solution for sharing and distributing in date food.

Find out more about the Celyn at: www.celyn.wales

Discover how to get involved with Precious Plastic: www.preciousplastic.com/

For more on Circular Economy Wales' projects: https://circulareconomy.wales/