
“The shape of progress is not endless growth. It’s thriving. And we already know, in our own bodies… that thriving lies in balance.”
Kate Raworth, Swansea 2024
“When you say that our number one goal for this country is growth, you’ve made it so narrow. All you can say is, I wish it was bigger, I wish it was faster. That’s what happens when we diminish our values and our goals into just one number.”
“[Instead] you’ve got to be subtle, thoughtful, about what it is you’re asking for. And that’s why a Wellbeing Economy concept takes us into answering those questions, making sense of what we are actually aiming for with our economy.”
Wellbeing Economy Cymru Festival of Ideas 2024: A Collective Step Towards a Thriving Wales
On 18th November 2024, Swansea Arena welcomed over 500 participants to the first-ever Wellbeing Economy Cymru Conference, an event co-created by WE Cymru, 4theRegion, Cwmpas, Public Health Wales, Oxfam Cymru, and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. The day was a testament to the shared commitment of communities, organisations, and policymakers to transform Wales’ economic future into one that prioritises well-being for all.
This event reflected the belief that the shift to a Wellbeing Economy is already underway in Wales, built on the dedication and collaboration of people across all sectors. From grassroots movements and third-sector organisations to businesses, policymakers, and local authorities, every part of the system is contributing to this shared vision.
Highlights of the Day
The Festival featured inspiring contributions from speakers and participants alike. Economist Kate Raworth delivered a compelling keynote on Doughnut Economics, challenging us all to redefine progress and take action in all the ways that are open to us.
“This is the state of the world, and it’s for us to start to turn the story around. So that we can tell our kids, and their kids: This is what we did, once we knew. This is how we helped to turn the story around.”
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, reflected on the event’s scale and the energy in the room, describing it as a clear message to the Welsh Government and others with economic levers to embrace this vision. He praised the collective energy of everyone in attendance, noting how the event created a mandate for change that no single organisation could achieve alone.
A Collective Effort
At the heart of the Festival was collaboration. The event brought together people from the B Corp movement, those advancing foundational economics in the health system, economic development teams from local and regional governments, and community organisations. Together, they explored how their work contributes to a Wellbeing Economy. Interactive Open Space sessions allowed attendees to explore key questions and ideas, sharing insights and laying the groundwork for collective action.
Public Health Wales highlighted the role of health systems as vital drivers and beneficiaries of a Wellbeing Economy, launching a new report on the day. Oxfam Cymru emphasised the importance of equity and sustainability in shaping a just economy, adding a global perspective to Wales’ efforts.
Cwmpas has published a blog sharing their reflections on the event, which you can read here.
Building Momentum
The Wellbeing Economy Cymru Conference was not about claiming that all the answers are ready – it was about recognising the progress already made and the strength of working together to tackle the challenges ahead. Across communities, organisations, and sectors, the day demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, and action.
Wales’ Wellbeing Economy journey is not led by one voice but by many, each contributing to a movement that is already reshaping how we think about prosperity. As one participant put it, “This isn’t a new agenda – it’s the work we’ve already started, just brought together in a more connected way.”
The organisers extend their deepest thanks to all who attended, contributed, and collaborated on the day. Together, we are taking meaningful steps towards building an economy that serves people, planet, and future generations.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you and will share details soon about future opportunities to come together and build on this momentum.
Opening Film
The Wellbeing Economy Festival of Ideas 2024 opened with a powerful short film from WE Cymru, capturing our hopes for the day and featuring the voices of people from across Wales. We welcome you to use and share this video.
Notes from the Open Space session
At the heart of the Wellbeing Economy Cymru Festival of Ideas was an Open Space session, designed to harness the collective knowledge, curiosity, and creativity of everyone in the room. We have now processed all of these notes into concise summaries, which we hope will serve as a valuable resource for collective action. Download the PDF.
Useful Links
Click here to looki back at the full Event Programme