The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion heard calls for closer cooperation between governments, local authorities and civil society organisations during a dedicated visit to Cardiff last week.
The visit came days after the UK Government announced its new social cohesion strategy. Welsh stakeholders have long argued that closer coordination between Westminster and the devolved administrations will be essential if cohesion policy is to succeed across the UK.
The day included a roundtable discussion bringing together leaders from across Welsh civil society, with representatives from the health, education, housing, faith, business and voluntary sectors, alongside Welsh Government officials. This was followed by a dedicated session where the Commission heard directly from Welsh local government leaders about the challenges playing out in communities across Wales.
A recurring theme across discussions was the need for greater transparency and earlier collaboration between national government, local authorities and civil society organisations working on community connection and cohesion. Participants stressed that poor communication is felt keenly by communities and the organisations working within them — and that those in positions of leadership — in government, local authorities and across the sector — must model the cooperation they hope to see reflected across society.
Alongside these challenges, the Commission heard strong examples of effective local practice — from community-led projects in some of Wales’ most deprived areas to long-standing partnerships between the voluntary sector and local government that have helped sustain connection where it is most under pressure.
Other clear themes from discussions included:
- The role Welsh national identity and pride in place play in strengthening community bonds and a shared sense of belonging.
- Economic inequality, housing pressures and strain on public services as key underlying drivers shaping community tensions.
- Wales’ long-standing approach to cohesion policy, including sustained cross-sector collaboration between government, local authorities and the voluntary sector.
- The importance of strong grassroots and third sector networks in sustaining local connection, alongside concerns about short-term funding and pressure on community infrastructure.
Jon Cruddas, Co-Chair of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion said:
“What struck us in Wales was not just the seriousness of the challenges, but the seriousness of the response. Across government, the voluntary sector and local communities, there is a genuine understanding that cohesion is not something you can bolt on at the end of policymaking; it has to be built into the foundations.”
Emeka Forbes, Director of the Commission Secretariat, said:
“Our discussions in Wales echoed the findings from our early evidence: much of the trailblazing work to strengthen communities is happening at a local level. That is exactly what the Commission wants to understand and reflect in its recommendations.
“Our job is to learn from where things are working and, crucially, where they are not — and we heard powerful examples of both.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt said:
“We are pleased that the Independent Commission has recognised that Wales has long led the way on community cohesion, having published our Cohesion Strategy in 2009 and funded the Community Cohesion Programme since 2012. We are grateful to the Independent Commission for coming to Wales to hear directly about our experiences, the progress we have made, and the opportunities to address challenges. Meaningful cooperation and strong partnerships are key to solving the challenges in our communities.”