Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales: Empowering Communities through Research for a Wellbeing Economy

This presentation will introduce Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales, the Rural Wales Local Policy and Innovation Partnership and its work with community-led research to support the inclusive, sustainable development of a wellbeing economy. The presentation will first set out the role for research in building the evidence based to support the ambition of a wellbeing economy in Rural Wales and argue for the necessity of including communities in that process. Drawing on the developmental phase of Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales, it will then discuss the challenges involved in effectively engaging communities and lessons that can be learned from previous initiatives. Finally, the outline how Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales will work with communities to support action research and strengthen capacities for ensuring that community needs and interests are embedded in policies for rural development.

Biography

Michael Woods is Professor of Human Geography and Director of Cymru Wledig LPIP Rural Wales, the Rural Wales Local Policy and Innovation Partnership. He has over 25 years experience of working with and on communities in Rural Wales, including in current roles as Co-Director of the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society and Co-Director of the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD), and previously as Co-Director of the Wales Rural Observatory.

His previous work has made recommendations to the Welsh Government on strengthening town and community councils, co-produced a Rural Vision for Wales with the Welsh Local Government Association, and explored best practice for partnership working in rural regeneration and for civil society action to address polarisation in communities.