who we are

We are a grassroots charity focused on enabling sustainable lifestyles


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We are located in Porthcawl on the south Wales coast, currently operating our own projects locally and supporting other community groups and networks across Wales.

We are known for challenging the status quo; instigating forward-thinking projects and activities; providing confidence and direction; offering support, training and facilitating events; providing mentoring and volunteer experiences.

Meet the team

We are a passionate team with a diverse range of backgrounds, including art, design, literature, science, media, culture, community, environment, archaeology and music. More details...

join the team

Sustainable Wales is looking for new trustees and advisors, to help broaden our knowledge, skills and diversity of talent. Interested? Just get in touch.

structure

In 2022 we became a charitable incorporated organisation (Charity Commission registration number 1200330). We were originally formed in 1997 as an unincorporated charitable trust (registration number 1065789/0). Sustainable Wales is managed by an elected board of Trustees/Directors, who appoint any staff. More details...

history

Established in 1997, we were the first community based sustainable development organisation in Wales. More details...

Some of our previous campaigns such as Real Nappies.

sustainable wales patrons

‘green agenda’ and ‘radical agendas’

Arrival in the Green Room of Hilary Llewellyn Williams on June 30th 2023 to share her recent writings, gives Margaret and myself the opportunity to make a brief statement about the original patrons of this charity.

Hilary was invited to become a patron because of her writing. Other patrons included Jonathon Porritt, Edward Goldsmith, Dafydd Iwan, John Barnie, and Angharad Tomos.

These people were selected for their enthusiasm for ‘radical’ causes, including ‘environmentalism’, ‘language campaigning’ and ‘literature’.

We were very influenced by organisations such as Friends of the Earth (after all, we created FoE Cymru), CND, Cymdeithas yr Iaith and Wales Anti Apartheid. Also, we took part in support for the Miners’ Strike of 1984/5, and this was another factor for the creation of Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynaliadwy.

Our anthology ‘Gorwelion: Shared Horizons’ is thus linked to volumes such as CND Cymru’s ‘Glas Nos’ and the Anti Apartheid anthology of writings of 1986.

In 1994, FoE Cymru and Seren Books published ‘Green Agenda: essays on the Environment of Wales’, edited by myself, with contributions from writers and lecturers such as Alwyn Jones, himself a focus for the ‘Global Citizenship’ essays now being judged, and initiated in 2022.

25th anniversary logo 2023

To celebrate the 30 years anniversary of ‘Green Agenda’, Seren will publish ‘Radical Agendas’ in late 2024, a look forward to what might transpire ‘radically’ in coming years, and demonstrate how ‘radical’ issues in Wales have broadened.

- Robert Minhinnick, June 2023

Margaret minhinnick

At the Cynnal Cymru annual award ceremony held in Cardiff on 17 November 2016, our co-founder Margaret Minhinnick (bio) became only the second ever recipient of the ‘Special Recognition Award’, recognising her thirty plus year’s innovative work in environmentalism and sustainability. 

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Steve Harris obituary

Steve had been a trustee of Sustainable Wales for five years. Members of the board had known him for a little longer, from when he worked at the University of Glamorgan, on the ‘Science Shops’ initiative, and other projects.

Alwyn Jones obituary

Alwyn Jones had a close relationship with Sustainable Wales. Robert and Margaret Minhinnick first met Alwyn Jones when they were working for Friends of the Earth Cymru in the 1980s. Alwyn was of help to FoE Cymru, helping with talks, supporting various events and conferences.