A new manifesto published by Building Communities Trust (BCT) is calling for a fundamental shift in how Wales values, funds and works with its community groups.
Thriving Welsh Communities has been shaped by more than 250 people from more than 200 organisations. It calls for a modern, people-centred approach to public services – one that reflects the lived realities of local areas and recognises the essential role communities play in supporting wellbeing.
From tackling isolation and poverty, to running warm, welcoming community hubs, to stepping in where public services have been scaled back – community organisations now deliver support that is both preventative and responsive, said BCT. Yet their work remains marginal in policy terms and chronically under-resourced, the organisation said.
BCT said that the manifesto, which is built on the insights of 19 workshops, sets out a clear and achievable vision for the next Welsh Government: trust communities, value their contribution, and invest in the social infrastructure that makes local places thrive.
The manifesto calls for action in four key areas:
1. Embed community action in policy
Create a cross-government Communities Policy that recognises the central role community organisations play in local wellbeing. This includes requiring public bodies to work in genuine partnership with communities and ensuring funding is channelled to the organisations best placed to deliver impact.
2. Secure fair, strategic and long-term funding
End the cycle of short-term, unstable grants that force groups to continually reinvent the wheel. Implement a simplified funding system aligned with the Funding Code of Practice; ensure multiyear funding; and make all Welsh Government funding payable in advance, not in arrears.
3. Invest in Community Anchor Organisations
Recognise and strengthen local hubs – from miners’ halls to converted pubs to grassroots collectives – that provide cradle-to-grave support. Establish a national endowment fund (circa £30–100m) to secure their long-term futures and protect the trusted relationships and local leadership they sustain.
4. Champion community asset ownership
Introduce a Community Right to Buy in Wales, giving communities the ability to protect valued local buildings and land at risk of loss. Establish a register of Assets of Community Value, create a 12-month moratorium on sales, and provide the capital, revenue and guidance needed for communities to take ownership sustainably.
Chris Johnes, Chief Executive of BCT, said:
“Across Wales, community groups are quietly doing extraordinary things, but they’re doing it despite the system, not because of it. This manifesto makes a simple but significant request: let’s invest in a Wales where community action is respected, resourced and reflected in policy. Not as an afterthought, but as a core part of how we build healthier, happier places.”
Eleri Williams, Policy and Research Advisor at BCT, added:
“Everywhere we went, we heard the same story. Communities are stepping up, offering connection, support and hope, yet they’re having to fight for scraps of funding or navigate processes that make their work harder. With long-term investment, fair access to assets and a joined-up approach from government, communities can deliver extraordinary, lasting impact. We’re very grateful to everyone for their input, which has resulted in a strong and straightforward set of actions for the future.”
