A new pamphlet was launched at Clwb y Bont in Pontypridd last night (3 September 2025) offering an alternative vision for valleys communities in Wales. Beth Winter, the former Labour Member of Parliament, and Leanne Wood, former leader of Plaid Cymru launched the document in front of a full room of local community members, activists of all kinds and representatives from community organisations from across the valleys.
The pamphlet was written by Dr. Huw Williams from Cardiff University’s Philosophy Department, following a series of ‘community assemblies’ organised by Beth Winter and Leanne Wood in Merthyr Tydfil, and the Cynon and Rhondda valleys earlier this year. The desire for real change was evident in these workshops according to the organisers. Attendees of the events expressed a strong desire to see more community ownership, ensuring sustainable local economies, and a future where the wealth of local areas is kept and invested in communities.
The venture was inspired by the late Sel Williams, founder and one of the main leaders of the Cymunedoli movement in Wales. Sel defined the idea of Cymunedoli as “community ownership and control of a community’s assets so that the income created is kept locally”. Those responsible for organising and preparing the pamphlet believe it represents the energy and vision expressed in the workshops and provide an alternative idea of the future inspired by Sel which is more positive one than that which we are used to hearing about the valleys in recent years.
Among the proposals for next steps outlined in the pamphlet are:
- A return to communities where the workshops were held in order to create community action plans
- Bring Cymunedoli members from north Wales to the south Wales valleys in order to inspire change
- Support local networks to develop community action plans
- Establish local governance structures
- The creation of a Valleys Cymunedoli network
- Develop policy demand that would support a thriving Cymunedoli network
In a statement, Beth Winter said:
“I want to thank everyone involved in this initiative for their invaluable contributions and for providing us with renewed hope and inspiration. The journey we are on strengthens my firm belief that community is where real power lies and that by coming together we can and will build a grassroots movement to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future for current and future generations across our Valleys and beyond. A future where we not only create wealth but crucially retain that wealth within our communities for the benefit of all. I am looking forward to going back to the valley communities to work alongside people to turn their fantastic ideas into action.”
Leanne Wood said:
“The conversations that took place in the valleys community assemblies have lit a spark. People have a clear understanding of the difference community assets that can generate a profit can make, compared to being dependent on handouts that may or may not be there. There is power in community ownership, the democracy that comes with that. And there is strength in pulling together with other communities carrying out similar work. Raymond Williams called it “real independence”. It involves a mindset shift that we can already see happening. We can do things for ourselves. We just need to get on and do it.”
You can read the pamphlet in full by following this link.
