Annual conference
#MakeADifference
Annual Conference 2026
Thursday 19 March 26, SBARC Cardiff 9.30am-3.30pm
Annual Conference 2026
Thursday 19 March 26, SBARC Cardiff 9.30am-3.30pm
How to make a difference?
Every year Foundational Economy Alliance Cymru holds an in-person conference for policy makers, practitioners and community activists. This year’s conference will be held on Thursday 19 March 2026 at SBARC in Cardiff.
Our question is How to make a difference? and our belief is that we now need new ways of working. We will explore this theme primarily in the three foundational areas of housing, food and the visitor economy where we have active groups and where the discussion sessions will be opened by our panellists:
9.30 – 10.00 Registration, tea & coffee
10.00 – 10.15 Welcome and Scene Setting
Food insecurity: 10.15 to 11.30am
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner
Dr Neil James, Deep End Cymru
Cleide Correia, Merthyr Cynon Foodbank
11.30 – 11.45 Refreshment break
Social rents and housing affordability: 11.45 to 1pm
Jemma Bere, activist tenant
Lorraine Oates, CFO Merthyr Valley Homes
Emma Nicholas, Independent Tenant Voice Cymru
1.00 – 1.45 Lunch
Tourism that works for communities: 1.45 to 3pm
Rebeca Roberts, Gwynedd Councillor
Chris Johnes, Building Communities Trust
Eli Elis-Williams, Slate valley community researcher
3.00 – 3.30 How I can Make a Difference
3.30 Close
If we are to deliver on these issues, top down must meet bottom up with a much larger role for citizens’ voice. In all these areas behaviours and structures must change so that we create opportunities to give and receive support, to learn from successes and failures, and create strong and effective alliances.
Every year Foundational Economy Alliance Cymru holds an in-person conference for policy makers, practitioners and community activists. This year’s conference will be held on Thursday 19 March 2026 at SBARC in Cardiff.
Our question is How to make a difference? and our belief is that we now need new ways of working. We will explore this theme primarily in the three foundational areas of housing, food and the visitor economy where we have active groups and where the discussion sessions will be opened by our panellists:
9.30 – 10.00 Registration, tea & coffee
10.00 – 10.15 Welcome and Scene Setting
Food insecurity: 10.15 to 11.30am
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner
Dr Neil James, Deep End Cymru
Cleide Correia, Merthyr Cynon Foodbank
11.30 – 11.45 Refreshment break
Social rents and housing affordability: 11.45 to 1pm
Jemma Bere, activist tenant
Lorraine Oates, CFO Merthyr Valley Homes
Emma Nicholas, Independent Tenant Voice Cymru
1.00 – 1.45 Lunch
Tourism that works for communities: 1.45 to 3pm
Rebeca Roberts, Gwynedd Councillor
Chris Johnes, Building Communities Trust
Eli Elis-Williams, Slate valley community researcher
3.00 – 3.30 How I can Make a Difference
3.30 Close
If we are to deliver on these issues, top down must meet bottom up with a much larger role for citizens’ voice. In all these areas behaviours and structures must change so that we create opportunities to give and receive support, to learn from successes and failures, and create strong and effective alliances.
